Graffiti News

Art is in the eye of the beholder. It may also have to do with where one beholds it.In any case, a newly opened graffiti supply store on Georgia Street in downtown Vallejo is eliciting mixed reactions about the nature of art.

“We’re way behind in recognizing and valuing the artistic talents of our young people,” said Harold Beaulieu of Vallejo. “We’re finally making a distinction between graffiti and illegal art, and I’m glad to see these people in Vallejo.”

No one associated with the Graff House Supply Company on the

500 block of Georgia Street could be reached for comment Thursday, but a look inside showed display cases offering various spray paint-related supplies.

Bottles of ink, felt-tip pens, caps and tips, spray paint cans of various colors and vinyl gloves are among the items that appear to be for sale inside. A phone number is written in graffiti style on the establishment’s glass door.

Beaulieu said graffiti is bad, but illegal art is only bad when it defaces other people’s property.

“It is the future,” said Beaulieu, owner of Georgia Street’s The Art Department. “It must be decriminalized. Art evolves. It defines who we are, and what’s important to us.”

On the other hand, longtime Vallejo business and building owner Buck Kamphausen said he’s appalled that there’s a graffiti supply store in Vallejo.

“That’s unbelievable,” said Kamphausen, owner of the USA World Classics Event Center downtown. “I can’t believe anyone would open a store like that. It just shows there’s no respect for people’s property. We have to paint over that stuff all the time.”An anonymous police source echoed the sentiment.

“I can’t believe this store went in,” he said. “It just shows the path Vallejo is taking. They accept this store, but kick Wal-Mart out.”

One of the owners of the newly opened 531 Gallery, right next door to Graff House Supply, said they’d have preferred the store not be adjacent to the gallery, which opened last month. It is an unfortunate coincidence, said manager Shawn Whisenant, that 531′s first exhibit focuses on graffiti-style art.

“We’re a fine and contemporary art gallery, and our first artist — San Francisco’s Akayo — depicts a city environment,” Whisenant said. “We were concerned when they opened next door that people might confuse them with us, and, in fact, people have. But we’re not them.”

Whisenant said the gallery is bringing “the best national and international artists to Vallejo,” as well as featuring local talent. Its next show will be a photographic exhibit featuring a wide range of subject matter from landscapes to fashion to skateboarders, he said.

“It’s kind of a funny coincidence that they opened and our first show is graffiti art,” Whisenant said. “I’d have really rather not have them next door to us, but I’m happy to see people trying to open nearly any type of business here.”

Whisenant said it would be best if an acceptable place could be found to display and regulate urban art. And Kamphausen said he recognizes there are degrees of graffiti ranging from gang tagging to work that shows real artistic talent. He just doesn’t want to have to keep cleaning either type off his property, he said.

“If we have to be the first city in America with a graffiti store, well, that’s just unbelievable,” he said.