Art is a medium of expression and many people use it to convey themselves. Some have gone too far and use street walls as their canvas. Though vandalism and graffiti are illegal in many cities around the world, several studies consider it beneficial for the community.
Photographer and journalist Patrick Verel released his new book, Graffiti Murals which aims to exhibit the good effects of graffiti art to the society. Verel, in his book, also featured studies that support his claim.
Although several places in America legalized street art such as graffiti, some still do not see its contribution to the public. Two years ago, the owner of the building were 5Pointz, a graffiti spot in Queens, New York stood, ordered to remove all the public art created on the building's wall. Gordon Douglas a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago, speaking about the incidence said, "A huge amount of social science throws [graffiti] into a camp of being a sign of crime and disorder. The truth is, at this point, some graffiti and street art are arguably contributing to gentrification and contributing to increases in the appeal of certain neighborhoods."
