Graffiti Tag as Abstract Art:
I spend a lot of time roaming the streets of Miami, taking pictures of interesting walls, sidewalks, and streets. I'm particularly drawn to graffiti. I love an old cinder block wall, encrusted by years of neglect with dirt, scratches and ill-applied mortar, then enhanced further by graffiti.

Graffiti writers design a personal signature, or tag, which they repeatedly scrawl on the sides of buildings, trains, and every surface they want to mark. Elaborate tags of the most talented graffiti artists are intricate works of art, carefully designed and crafted. I believe graffiti tags, if well done, are beautiful, pure abstractions.

I saw the tag above scribbled with a marker on a broken window. It was only a few inches wide, but the lyrical quality captured my imagination. I have no idea what it says or who wrote it, but I envisioned it in four-foot high neon colors on a dark blue/purple wall. I shared my idea with a gallery owner, who thought it was a terrible idea. I'm so glad I did not listen to him, because I LOVE this painting.