The Artful Jurist

The New York Times recently published an interesting story about a Brooklyn event that brought together two typically feuding groups: the artists who paint graffiti and the law enforcement officers who arrest them.

These people participated in a panel discussion (I can only imagine it was a lively one) debating the pros and cons of public graffiti. The catalyst for the event was the publication of a book by a former New York police officer who, apparently, used to specialize in busting graffiti artists. The officer was one of those on the panel.

I have to admit that, while I can admire the talent of some graffiti artists, I sometimes wonder about people who plaster their art where they know it's absolutely illegal. (Are there really any graffiti artists who don't know it's against the law to paint on the walls of public property or someone else's private property?)

But then so much about art is deliberately meant to draw a reaction. Does getting a cop to arrest you count?