From Tags to Riches: The Unlikely History of Graffiti, with J. Robert Harris

From Tags to Riches: The Unlikely History of Graffiti, with J. Robert Harris

Wed, Oct. 2 10:30-11:45am

When one hears the word “graffiti,” it usually elicits the following question: Is it art or is it vandalism? But graffiti has more substance than this simple dichotomy. Indeed, graffiti has a fascinating history. From covert spray paint tagging on New York City walls and subways to multimillion dollar curated museum exhibits, graffiti has had a spectacular evolution. This highly visual presentation will give you an in-depth, objective look at what has become an artistic and cultural phenomenon. Graffiti was an important component of the hip-hop movement. It has its own vocabulary and ethics and it’s been used to make political statements as well as to sell products. What you see and hear will show you graffiti in a way that may change how you feel about it. J. Robert (“J.R.”) is a native New Yorker who has been photographing graffiti in cities around the world for 40+ years. His collection of 5,000+ images is one of the largest, if not the largest, of its kind in the world.