Since the overpasses through town were completed on that east line (Burlington), Olathe has become a ‘holding’ area for trains, usually south bound. Some are sitting there for an hour or more before they move on and occasionally they are a couple stacked up from the area of I435 all the way to old 56 hyw on the south side of town.
They did some neat stuff in the Los Angeles area, April, a few years back. There were some amazing murals, done legally. The point was to give those kids some direction, etc., and to cut back on graffiti. I think it did help the kids involved in the program. But it didn’t cut back on graffiti.
We love to sit and watch the trains in Emporia. It doesn’t bother us a bit to be slowed down with a train coming through. We have been wondering if that type of art has a special meaning or message.??? The trains that do not have the graffiti are rather blah.
Onnalee, from what I remember and have read, some of it is kids making art. But most of it used to be gang related. I don’t know anymore. It sure looks better, more artistic than it used to.
I remember being on the city bus in Long Beach, California and seeing graffiti scrawled on the sides of buildings now and again with threatening messages. That always made me nervous because of the riots.
ALso, there are graffiti artists who are serious about what they do. On my old computer I had a link to this very cool site of graffiti art. I wonder where I got that link. Cheryl, do you have that link? I cannot remember who gave it to me.
I think all railroads should just let the kids do their art on the all the cars. Could be some very inexpensive advertisement and like Onnalee said, it would sure make waiting on a train more interesting. It is cool to see where all that car has been in the US, Canada and Mexico.
By 
Since the overpasses through town were completed on that east line (Burlington), Olathe has become a ‘holding’ area for trains, usually south bound. Some are sitting there for an hour or more before they move on and occasionally they are a couple stacked up from the area of I435 all the way to old 56 hyw on the south side of town.
I love this kind of art. And that is what it is too. Too bad more communities don’t invite kids to do this on a designated area.
They did some neat stuff in the Los Angeles area, April, a few years back. There were some amazing murals, done legally. The point was to give those kids some direction, etc., and to cut back on graffiti. I think it did help the kids involved in the program. But it didn’t cut back on graffiti.
I have no idea what they’re doing now.
We love to sit and watch the trains in Emporia. It doesn’t bother us a bit to be slowed down with a train coming through. We have been wondering if that type of art has a special meaning or message.??? The trains that do not have the graffiti are rather blah.
Onnalee, from what I remember and have read, some of it is kids making art. But most of it used to be gang related. I don’t know anymore. It sure looks better, more artistic than it used to.
I remember being on the city bus in Long Beach, California and seeing graffiti scrawled on the sides of buildings now and again with threatening messages. That always made me nervous because of the riots.
ALso, there are graffiti artists who are serious about what they do. On my old computer I had a link to this very cool site of graffiti art. I wonder where I got that link. Cheryl, do you have that link? I cannot remember who gave it to me.
Janet
I couldn’t find the link I wanted, but did put two links to graffiti art on the regional arts section of FOP discussions. One is about train graffiti.
Oh, here’s what it is:
Here are a couple of links to some really neat graffiti art:
http://www.graffiti.org/
Here’s one about graffiti on trains:
http://graffiti-art-on-trains.blogspot.com/
Janet
I think all railroads should just let the kids do their art on the all the cars. Could be some very inexpensive advertisement and like Onnalee said, it would sure make waiting on a train more interesting. It is cool to see where all that car has been in the US, Canada and Mexico.
I think so too April. We’d live in such a colorful world if there was more art like this around, rr cars, but other things too.
I’m a believer in art cars as well, but I’m married to a man who isn’t!
I gotta go, but this is an interesting topic, Public Art. Also temporary art installations.