Grafitti

Question: Why graffiti?

Perhaps I'm over-simplifying.

Prisoners since the dawn of time have drawn or written on the walls of their cells. Castaways have made frivolous, beautiful things even before they were sure they would survive. The unemployed have for centuries resorted to playing music on street corners. People lost in a crowded society spray paint train cars and the undersides of bridges. Every flat surface, whether a wall, a sidewalk, a beach, or a soul, becomes a canvas for the down-and-out. Why?

Dad and I have been contemplating this. Pretty much ever since he said, "Creativity makes me feel human." I have a theory.

When we have nothing left, we default to our essence. God was alone when He created life, the universe and everything. Out of [everything-He-is] + [nothing] He created... something. And then He passed the gene on to us. Since He is Ultimate Reality, and since out inherent, genetic impulse to create come from Him, we feel real, valid, when we follow in His creative footsteps. We always carry us with us: regardless of having to procure the tools of our trade-- pens, paper, paint, instruments, thread-- the artwork is in us. It's self-contained. We alone can do what He has gifted us to do, even if that gift works best in tandem with others'. Only we have our eyes. Our experiences.

Everyone instinctively understands this. Which is why there will always be coins in the hat and websites like Elfwood and communities like Etsy, and groups like Rosie and the Posers. And why it will always destroy us like nothing else when people tear down our art. I don't mean constructive criticism, which we all need if we are shooting for excellence. I mean the voices that say "creativity is not a necessity," "you could never be an artist!" and "that's stupid."

Not sure that I have a specific point here. Just a statement. And an injunction to look out for graffiti.