Unless you’re particularly rebellious and have an affinity for graffiti and graffiti art, most average Bellinghamsters don’t pay too much attention to the ever-evolving canvas of downtown’s alleys and buildings. Until your business gets tagged on, a majority of people tune out graffiti like white noise. So when a town begins buzzing about a specific graffiti artist–that’s major.
Across town, tags I’ve deemed “Titty-Face” have exploded onto the scene. Showing up within the last few months, you can’t walk more than 10 feet without spotting another quickly done throw-up of a cartoon face with breasts for eyes. Even beyond the downtown area, Titty-Faces have taken over. Once you’ve spotted one, you won’t stop seeing the unique tag character. And while my mother was entirely unimpressed with its design (she generally feels breasts belong in blouses, not on faces on city streets), I LOVE TITTY-FACE.
First of all, boobs belong everywhere, Mother. Don’t titty-shame.
Secondly, the whole point of graffiti is to be controversial. Taggers take public space and illegally spread their message without permission. And the Titty-Face Tagger defines controversy in every aspect of their design and placement. Most notably, the Titty-Face tags often appear with a quote next to it stating “divided we fall” or “wake up, America.” The Titty-Face Tagger seems to have a major commentary on the growing division within our country. And they express that opinion by making sure the message gets seen.
Not only are the Titty-Face tags numerous, the Titty-Face Tagger makes a point of hitting up hard-to-reach areas. You can find Titty-Faces – not just on dumpsters or the backs of street signs – but on billboards and buildings several stories up. Some folks have even seen the Titty-Face Tagger’s work in Seattle. They clamber and climb to make their messages as visible as possible – and it’s a glorious sight to behold.
Many community members seem radically unimpressed with the recent onslaught of “beboobed” faces. And I get it. Property damage costs money, either taxpayer’s or local businesses. Many feel this form of expression disrespects the city and the people living and working here.
But I disagree.
For starters, property damage from graffiti generally only costs money because folks insist on repainting. Besides, most taggers, including The Titty-Face Tagger, never tag over legitimate art, only on blank spaces. Stroll through bird alley (behind Hohl Feed and Seed Co. on Railroad Ave.), and you’ll notice the in-progress mural by a local artist. While surrounding walls are covered in illegal tags (including several Titty-Faces), no one has tagged over the mural since the artist began painting it over a year ago. In fact, the city can spend so much money buffing tags, that it quickly becomes cheaper to commission a mural rather than continuously pay to repaint.
Taggers, by and large, are artists, expressing themselves on the blank spaces of our communities. They, like you or me, appreciate beauty and have a desire to express their opinions. Good art should be controversial, and graffiti art creates some of the largest controversies of all. Sure, civil disobedience isn’t always great. And what business owner wants to come to work in the morning to find a cock and balls painted across their sign? But why do we continue to throw people (often young people of color) in jail to rot for hurting no one?
The Titty-Face Tagger brings a scathing, yet humorous, critique on the division in our country to the already blank spaces of our town. And I, personally, support it.
To the artist:
Don’t stop spreading glorious breasted faces across our community.
To local law enforcement:
No, I don’t know the Titty-Face Tagger’s identity. And I wouldn’t tell you if I did.
