Graffiti artist addresses council


By Vincent Ross
Collegian Staff Writer
A local graffiti artist and business owner moved forward with his idea for a legal local graffiti space at Friday's State College Borough Council work session, where he pitched the plan to the council.

Council members offered little opinion about the project, instead suggesting Simon Hawk, owner of JJ By Maxwell, 109 S. Pugh St., come back with a full presentation.

According to a report by the borough's Graffiti Interdepartmental Team, there were 22 graffiti tags reported to police through Feb. 17 this year. Four additional incidents were reported this weekend, council member Elizabeth Goreham said.

Hawk suggested that a legal space would provide an avenue for graffiti artists to display their artwork in a socially acceptable way, without defacing public or private property.

Hawk, who was recently charged by the State College Police Department with eight counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief for vandalizing private property with graffiti, said the arrest made him reconsider his actions.

"...I realized I could go underground and illegal or I could do things legally and positively," he said last week. "Getting arrested is a bad thing. I was like, 'I can make the best of it.' "

Charles Frye (senior-sculpture), a local artist, was at the meeting in support of Hawk.

He said many cities have the type of space Hawk proposed to the council. He added graffiti artists are well respected throughout the world and can make millions of dollars on their artwork.

Hawk said he would like to give his full presentation at a later date, since his time during the public forum was limited.

"I think coming back will be essential," Hawk said.

Hawk said the next step for him is to talk to people that have implemented the type of space he wants and to gather data for his presentation. He said he needed to research finances and gather community support.

"One thing I think will be very important is getting people to go to the meetings," he said, "I'd like to fill the room."

Council President Cathy Dauler was unsure local residents would be supportive.

"Although it sounds like a nice, fair thing to do, it sounds like an open invitation and that the community condones it," said.

The council has also been discussing a graffiti ordinance, but the two issues are separate, Borough Assistant Manager Tom Kurtz said.

The graffiti ordinance proposed at the Feb. 5 council meeting met some opposition. It calls for those affected by the graffiti to remove it from their property within 14 days of being reported to the borough or they could face a fine.