GRAFFITI VANDALS

As a kid I remember admiring initials carved into birch trees. RW + AM. It only meant romance had been in the air. Now, I see it differently. Even though the trees would eventually rot into the ground, most of those deeply carved letters will remain for a lifetime. As far as I know, there were no laws against carving initials into trees back then.

The consequences of those letter carvings have naturally evolved into the current expression of young lovers and personally pronounced artists…namely, graffiti. As photographers we are exposed to graffiti far beyond freeway walls and the sides of train cars. It is seemingly everywhere.

In Capitol Reef National Park, there is a canyon where rock art is called the Pioneer Register (shown above). Featured on these walls are a few ancient petroglyphs and many more late nineteenth and early twentieth century writings of Mormon pioneers. The descendants of those who created the ancient etchings look upon them as sacred. So should we! They are part of our history. Recently added scratchings by unthinking visitors and idiots are unnecessary records because we now have much better ways of communicating our own history. They are also in locations that are dedicated for preservation.

An article posted by the city of Houston states that the main there are four primary motivating factors for graffiti vandalism: fame, rebellion, self-expression and power. And publishing photos of graffiti is the ultimate mark of fame for graffiti vandals. With that in mind, I will keep the photos to a minimum and I will stick with the words graffiti vandalism rather than graffiti art. In all most all instances, it is illegal.

Since there are certainly other ways to rebel, express oneself, achieve fame (or infamy) and demonstrate power, one has to question whether there are any other motivating factors that have led to the proliferating use of the paint brush, spray can ore scratching implement. I believe there is also an adrenaline rush that comes with doing something that is known to be illegal with little downside on being caught.

One of the biggest deterrents to graffiti vandalism is its immediate removal. Graffiti removal may reduce the vandal’s sense of fame, self-expression and power, but it does not reduce the rebellion or adrenalin rush. Graffiti is costing government agencies tens of thousands of dollars in manpower and materials. Agencies are looking for ways to cover these costs. One such way, adopted by the National Park Service is to increase fines and potential jail time. Over the past 10 years the potential fine for graffiti vandalism has risen from $500 to $5000 and possible prison time is now three to six months. It is primarily through broadcasting convictions rather than posting pictures of the graffiti that these fines and sentences will be effective.

The Houston article cited above does not discuss the root causes of graffiti vandalism. The lack of childhood education that focuses on environmental preservation, a reduction in the number of intact family units with parental leadership, a general increase in the acceptance (even encouragement) of rebellion, and reduced impact of groups such as the Boy Scouts of America and Y Indian Guides all have an effect.

Groups such as The Nature Conservancy, The Sierra Club and Leave No Trace may help those who are most receptive to preserving our natural treasures, but do little to address the root needs to rebel, seek fame or express power. My opinions have been particularly influenced on many trips across the Navajo nation, where the pervasive graffiti on defunct trading posts and gas stations attests to the hopelessness of many young persons on the reservation. Unless the need to preserve and reestablish family units is addressed and a sense of hope can be reestablished, we are left to punitive measures to address the perpetrators' behavior.

Photographers and tourists are now playing an active role in controlling graffiti in our wilderness areas. Unfortunately, most graffiti vandals are not caught, which means there is nothing done to help deter future crimes. For example, recently published clear photos of these two young men who were carving into the sandstone in the on the rim of the Grand Canyon have not yet led to an arrest.

In another case, photos did lead to the conviction and restitution payment by Grand Canyon etching vandals. Jail time is unlikely (it costs taxpayers money), except for repeated offenders. After searching through many of these cases online, I have seen that the perpetrators are not necessarily the scruffy sort of persons you might expect as vandals. That’s a good thing, since confrontations might be less intimidating than they could be on the streets of the inner city. But confrontations beyond stating the potential fine and jail time are to be discouraged. Even a father overseeing a child scratching in sandstone might take more offense than you would expect.

If you are a photographer, have a plan for how you would handle a vandalism situation. Are you going to quickly change to a telephoto lens? Would you be comfortable in confronting the vandals? Will you use safer wording like "You must not be aware that the rangers are clamping down on personal markings...I heard that someone was fined $1000 recently." What if the vandals come after you and want to take or destroy your camera? Yet, it is possible for photographers to be instrumental in changing laws and increasing fines. I have twice complained to authorities about ATV users who have been in restricted National Park and Bureau of Land Management areas. On BLM land in Utah, ATV users must now obtain training and a permit to operate in areas designated areas. Still more areas are now off limits locations. While I don’t like having to be a watchdog, I do value our natural areas and understand that agency resources are limited. And for myself, I wouldn't even carve my love's initials in a tree in my own yard anymore. It's always time to take only photos and leave only footprints.

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