This month has been slightly colder and wet, but still there have been some talented writers out and about. Props to the makeover at Oljemuseet, and the big “pyramid” wall at Kvaleberg. We also received some comments on the site, asking when the new gallery update was coming: Perhaps, if more of you sent us pictures, we could have sufficient pictures for a new update more quickly. Thanks to those who do already contribute with pictures.

A graffiti seminar was held this past weekend at Impuls’06, a Christian youth conference in Stavanger held in IMI-kirken. Almost 3000 young people attended this year; of those a couple were privileged to attend the graffiti seminar.
– It’s important to show the world that church is not about who you are, as much as what you believe. Christianity deserves to be presented as broad and including, that’s why we are having a graffiti seminar. And doesn’t everyone love graffiti, exclaims Sveinung ironically, responsible for the seminar.
Many think of Christianity and churches as being strict, with many rules of what you can’t do. Why then, would a church allow a graffiti seminar? In response, Sveinung asks why the church wouldn’t support young people being creative and colorful.
– Spray paint is not illegal itself. Many use computers for making viruses etc., does that mean you should ban all computers and computer related work. It’s the same way for graffiti, would it be open minded and caring of the church not to allow it?
The seminar, mainly about painting, also included discussing the past, present, and future of graffiti, as well as the dilemma of being a graffiti writer and a Christian. A Christian, trying to be an example for others, conflicts with the lack of legal spots for graffiti. Illegal graffiti, vandalism, and plenty more are conflicts that arise when combining Jesus and graffiti.
– But there is no condemnation. These are personal conflicts concerning belief and faith, though concerning the public; there are more material and social conflicts. We should do our best to do right, but we fail all the time, one way or another. In Christ there is forgiveness, which will fix you for eternity, but not the present in society. It’s difficult, and at the same time it’s easy, Sveinung admits.

The local authority, Stavanger kommune, voted in December against a zero-tolerance to graffiti model, like the models used in several larger cities in Scandinavia. (Especially Oslo’s zero-tolerance model Stopp-tagging.) The new project/model was suggested in response to keeping Stavanger clean and the growing problem of tagging vandalism in the city. Sources in Oslo kommune, who are responsible for the model there, expressed that their model had been a success. However at the same time other politicians in Oslo voiced concern about their own model. The reason being that the same model in both Copenhagen and Stockholm had been characterized as failures. Could this hint that the zero-tolerance model in Oslo also might be a failure? Some say graffiti as art and decoration has been reduced greatly, but tagging as vandalism has increased. That certain Oslo politicians voiced the need for legal walls in Norway’s capital Oslo, illustrates that some have realized that censorship and zero-tolerance may not have been the solution to all their problems. Many have welcomed a more liberal approach, with legal walls in Bergen. What will be interesting is what direction Stavanger will take, as local graffiti artists have now been saved from the unsuccessful zero-tolerance model.

after having to manually update the index file a couple times, the acquisition of a dynamic website solution took place. now the possibility to comment on (news) posts should work after registration. don’t hesitate to leave a comment: we appreciate all feedback, questions and suggestions.

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