The perfect artwork is illegitimate artwork.
To many, graffiti will all the time be abhorrent, whereas to others, it’s a novel creative area of interest.
Whereas I don’t suppose it ought to find yourself on the Bidwell Mansion or somebody’s dwelling, I fuck with it heavy. Graffiti is free, punk and vibey.
After three years in Chico, I’ve come acquainted with quite a lot of the native tags, 5 of them have risen to the highest of my roster: PUKE, Kulo, RSTR, Smut and LIMBO.
- Puke
Puke is my favourite for a pair causes: Puke is the primary tag I observed, it’s in all places and it has variation.
I first noticed Puke once I moved to Chico in fall 2021. In black spray paint alongside an deserted store on West Second Avenue, the phrase “PUKE” plain resonated with me.
“PUKES” scrawled on a light-weight put up within the Safeway car parking zone on Nord. Picture taken Jan. 31 by Molly Myers.
Puke is in all places. Puke is on the aspect of buildings, scribbled on dumpsters, metropolis mailboxes and even carved into the screens inside Meriam Library’s elevators — which makes me surprise if Puke is a scholar.
Seeing Puke wherever I am going makes me really feel much less alone. It’s like my mysterious road artwork buddy has my again.
Puke has variation. Although I fell in love first with “PUKE” I respect the variations. I typically see the tag written as “PUKER” and “PUKES.”
Seeing these variations makes me really feel like I’ve discovered some uncommon, particular Easter egg within the streets of Chico.
- Kulo
Kulo takes second. Kulo is a good tag title, like Puke.
Kulo, which means “anus” or simply “ass,” grabs your consideration in 4 jarring, easy letters.
“Kulo” written on a yellow fireplace hydrant. Picture taken Feb. 2 by Molly Myers.
Kulo has stickers. Seeing Kulo on stickers provides me the identical “wow this can be a uncommon collectable merchandise” feeling, I get once I see a uncommon variation of “PUKE.”
Kulo has a sticker within the Rileys women’ rest room which provides my coronary heart a tug at the concept that Kulo might be a lady. Illustration! But, it’s potential Kulo gave a lady a sticker to place in there. Hey, a lady can dream.
- RSTR
My boy RSTR is iconic. “RSTR” is brief for “Rooster,” and the tag comes with a cute drawing of a male hen.
RSTR would doubtless be increased up if I had grow to be extra acquainted with the tag in my earlier Chico days. However since a buddy solely lately launched me to RSTR, the tag goes behind Puke and Kulo.
“RSTR” courtesy ilovehamburgers on Reddit.
RSTR is iconic as a result of the tag began a shitstorm on the Chico subreddit, which I extremely advocate for native goofs and gaffs.
There’s a break up on the subreddit in regard to RSTR. Many put up the tag in disgust and concern, even asking “Is that this a gang image?” Whereas others clown on these haters saying issues like, “Sure the cocks are a severe and harmful gang !! If I had been u I’d simply transfer, depart the whole lot and run.”
- Smut
Smutty! Smut is a cease signal king, or perhaps queen (maybe a gender impartial ruler? Majesty?). I typically see the tag underneath the phrase “STOP” on cease indicators. I respect the combination of the road signal, thus making the tag “STOP Smut.”
Smut is a enjoyable one for me as a result of I simply found what the phrase means in a media legislation class.
“Smut” written on a cease signal on the intersection of Hazel and W. Third streets. Picture taken Oct. 2, 2023 by Molly Myers.
Principally “smut,” is obscene or lascivious — one other unbelievable phrase — materials. It may be writing, speech or any form of media.
Alternately, smut might be a kind of fungus or particle of soot. I prefer to imagine it’s the obscene definition, however hey, every has its personal crass attraction.
Smut additionally makes use of a swirly, cute font. The distinction between the which means of the phrase and the candy font is playful and enjoyable. That is additionally a refreshing break from the harsh-lined graffiti we regularly see within the likes of PUKE, Kulo or RSTR.
It’s simply such a stable phrase … perhaps I’ll title my first child “Smut.”
- Limbo
LIMBO! LIMBO can be a more moderen one to me. I don’t see this tag typically, however once I do I actually see it, as a result of it’s normally fairly massive.
LIMBO retains it fairly easy, black letters, good and large.
The phrase “Limbo” is nice too. I prefer to suppose the artist goes for the purgatory-esque definition of the phrase, or perhaps they identical to the dance.
![](https://theorion.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_3634-600x450.jpeg)
The tag additionally provides me nostalgia for the online game “Limbo,” which was executed in black and white, so perhaps the artist was a fan. Hey, identical coloration palette.
If any of those tags are gang associated, these units obtained some good artwork. Personally, I don’t bang. It’s simply by no means been my factor.
You may be considering, “These youngsters celebrating vandalism are destroying this nation! Every day we stray farther from the sunshine of G-d.”
You may be proper. However once more, I don’t suppose small companies, historic websites or private houses ought to get tagged. However graffiti provides some spice to life.
Like be so for actual — a dumpster doesn’t look higher with out graffiti on it.
I dream of a world the place electrical energy bins grow to be neighborhood message boards, and metropolis mailboxes grow to be shops for scrawled frustrations, solely to be coated up with one other rant the following day.
Should you occur to be one in all these artists, please be at liberty to ship me an nameless e-mail! I’d love to select your mind.
But in addition, perhaps don’t … They are saying it’s best to by no means meet your heroes.
Molly Myers may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].