THE TIMES

(Original publication: August 15, 2003)

Stephen Sperduto is doing the right thing. The Larchmont art gallery owner has offered a job to the graffiti vandal, who calls himself "Melon."

Melon picked the name because for the past couple months he's been painting large watermelons on the sides of buildings in New Rochelle, Larchmont and Mamaroneck.

While certainly colorful and sometimes described as pretty, the watermelons are mainly a nuisance for these communities. Even worse, these watermelons have defaced private property, are costly to clean up for property owners and can be distracting to drivers, causing a dangerous situation on the roads below.

But what makes the watermelonist unique is that his work is so exposed to the public, reaching as high as watertowers and the sides of mid-rise office buildings.

The elusiveness of the seedy character added to his appeal and it wasn't long before national media outlets — such as CNN and CBS — joined the local newspapers in covering the story.

Police have been looking for the vandal since the outbreak of fruit began to spread in January. New Rochelle police this week arrested a suspect in connection with the graffiti incidents.

But prior to the arrest, someone extended an olive branch to the unknown watermelonist. The branch was planted by Sperduto, the owner of Stephen Sperduto Inc. Fine Art and Custom Framing in Larchmont.

Through a local paper, he offered the watermelonist a legitimate place to work, a chance to make some money and — most importantly — an opportunity to stop breaking the law by defacing public property. Sperduto made this offer not just for the publicity or his own financial opportunity, but because he also saw value in the work of the vandal.

Since the offer, the two sides have talked over the telephone a couple times and more details have come to light. For instance: Sperduto said he goes by the name "Melon"; his work is influenced by a woman; he uses an accomplice to help carry a ladder and art supplies; and he claims to have made similar "tags" in the boroughs of New York City and San Francisco.

Of course, there will be legal consequences to settle before Melon can go legit. It's been debated whether Melon is truly a menace to society or just a confused artist. Sperduto has taken the optimistic route and chosen the later, and there's nothing wrong with that.