i guess spray paint on rocks is cool now

Its not as if they painted the rock it was already there. Its a rock with hearts on it perfect to advertise a valentines day climbing event. I highly doubt that because they used this to advertise a climbing event, that climbers all over will think graffiti is cool and start painting rocks everywhere. Come on seriously this is just another reason to bitch at someone for something.

I feel like this should fall under the "Is Climbing Art" thread.

It's sidewalk chalk, not spray paint!

But what are climbing forums for if not inventing controversies to argue over...

IF chalk it will still nto be gone right away.
IF not done by the poster makers, still in poor taste.

I'd rather not see us associated, in any way, with vandalism/graffiti.

Just because it is not a huge deal doesn't mean we shouldn't nudge someone to replace/not repeat this sort of design.

I was glad to read the above whereas the comp promoters were unaware of the poster design which someone produced and distributed, and I hope it goes away.

Since everyone on the forum finds it so necessary to spread their opinions on minute topics, allow me to respond to these ridiculous remarks. First off, this is a college climbing team with undergraduate and graduate executives who have more than enough things on their plates, but enjoy climbing so much they take time to create and run a collegiate level climbing team, organize a competition, and spread information about this competition so that said team can get more members and more money to get supplies for the team. Clearly, no climber would promote graffiti, so its offensive to accuse this group of climbers of encouraging it. It simply has a boulder and hearts as a background to promote a climbing competition the called Valentine's Crush Competition, it's not called the "Lets Graffiti Rocks Because We're Assholes" competition. An overwhelming number of climbers had seen this flyer before and NOT ONE was offended. Because you all are of the <1% of climbers who would see this and think it promotes graffiti, it would have been more than enough to email the climbing team and ask that the flyer be taken down. It was completely unnecessary and extremely harmful to the club to contact all their sponsors, school chancellors, their climbing gym, club sports manager, and to share your opinion and the flyer with other people online. If it offended you so much, why would you spread this flyer around?? Also, being a new team its been a struggle to get sponsors and to set up this competition, and because of your unnecessary complaining to anyone associated with the team, the team may loose sponsors, their gym, and the ability to hold any more competitions. For people who claim to be supporting other climbers, you certainly have done the opposite for this team. Think about your actions next time you feel the need to bitch about some accidentally offensive picture. I pity the next person to post something that bothers any of you.

STT17 wrote:Since everyone on the forum finds it so necessary to spread their opinions on minute topics, allow me to respond to these ridiculous remarks.

Do you really think this is a minute topic? I don't. I have seen many climbing areas closed because people find the need to spay paint and I have seen many beautiful areas completely trashed with this type of behavior.
I think that its important for climbers as a group to be good stewards of these areas that we hold with great importance. I think this should be even more important for an organization that is dedicated to climbing.

Nice work wankel7 and Allen Sanderson you guys don't mess around

So to anyone who thinks that graffiti is art, why don't you offer up your house or your car for people to scribble crap all over? Here in downtown Denver the place looks like hell, every light pole, newspaper box, wall & road sign has crap scribbled all over it. The only art I know of is in the museum down the street.

Tzilla Rapdrilla wrote:So to anyone who thinks that graffiti is art, why don't you offer up your house or your car for people to scribble crap all over? Here in downtown Denver the place looks like hell, every light pole, newspaper box, wall & road sign has crap scribbled all over it. The only art I know of is in the museum down the street.

+1

Tzilla Rapdrilla wrote:So to anyone who thinks that graffiti is art, why don't you offer up your house or your car for people to scribble crap all over? Here in downtown Denver the place looks like hell, every light pole, newspaper box, wall & road sign has crap scribbled all over it. The only art I know of is in the museum down the street.

I don't believe anyone said that seriously maybe I am wrong, I have a problem at my local crag with graffiti its disgusting bull shit. So don't take this the wrong way but it was a harmless poster that some random kid made for a small climbing event. Now that person is being crucified by a bunch of folks on an internet forum. Folks who felt the need to blow this out of proportion and contact the events sponsors etc. Possibly ruining the event so on and so forth. It may have been a poor photo choice but come on this is getting a little crazy...

So where is this particular rock located? In an Irvine city park?

It doesn't raise an eyebrow with most of it's intended audience ... because they see this around them all the time? The lack of response tells us something about the audience and the kind of rocks they spend their time at.

As someone not familiar with this particular rock or audience, it does strike me as being something of a logo. And isn't "Valentine's Crush" the name of a band?

Story of a mega classic FA (bro)-

semi-rad.com/2012/05/first-…

Taggings is lame, we all know it, but I have a more important question:

When did climbing go from an activity of the counterculture to an activity of the Fascist? I am sure that corporate America appreciates this little gesture nooblets, but this was not the reason we have been climbing for the last 20 years.

When was the last time you saw a climber use spray paint?

I know, but you don't', which is the fucking case in point.

Seriously.

STT17..... please tell your "CLIMBERS" on the "TEAM" that spray paint and stone don't mix....

I figure that you all are college folks and that you would be smart enuf to know that this is wrong.

By using that poster, you give approval, of that action.

Compared to everything else wrong with the world, yes I think graffiti, something that only makes the place less visually attractive, is low on my list of concerns. And out of that whole rant, you only pick up on the first line? You could be using your time to actually stop spray painting on rocks, but instead you crucified a college climbing team who clearly was not using the flyer to support graffiti, but rather it was a background that went with the name of the competition? Way to change the world matt c, keep up the good work =)

Guy Keesee, I figured you'd be smart "enough" to know how to spell correctly. We are climbers, and we are a team, I'm not sure what you're quotes are for, I'd appreciate if you wouldn't be so disrespectful. I wouldn't bash some project you've been working hard on because you made one slip up. It was a background on a flyer to support a competition, how in the world is that supporting spray painting on rocks? When you climb at a park that has spray painting, are you supporting graffiti? Seems like similar logic to me.

Just because you make the claim doesn't mean you're right. Check the ego at the door dude. They are insignificant in the grand scheme of the climbing world and far more damage has been done in this entire blow up over nothing than good. Again, people like you and others in this forum really ruin the image of climbers. Nothing progressive came of this and it's sad to see our community members treat each other with no respect.

hug it out fellas, it isn't like someone chopped down a tree or something

STT17 you seem to be in the know regarding this comp. Here let me share the note I sent to various people this morning regarding the poster.

To whom it may concern,

I recently came across this advert for a climbing competition that is being sponsored by UC Irvine, USA Climbing, Sender One, and Adidas. As someone who has been an active part of the climbing community for many years working to preserve access to crags I find the usage of a graffiti tagged crag to promote an indoor event to fly in the face of the efforts of thousands of volunteer climbers who work hard to clean up their local crags. Many of whom have removed graffiti such as what this poster / event promotes.

I would kindly suggest that this poster be immediately replaced with one that is appropriate and shows respect, integrity, commitment, and appreciations of the outdoor crags while promoting the fun of climbing. All of which are key UC Irvine values. I would also suggest that the organizers work with the Access Fund and educate indoor climbers about going from the gym to the crag:

accessfund.org/site/c.tmL5K…


Yes, a mistake was made, it happens. Whomever came up with the idea to use the image probably had no idea of the relationship between climbing and graffiti. James who is listed on the poster sent me a note saying they were correcting it and wanted to promote a positive ethic at the crags. Good enough. I wish the comp well. Hopefully, they will take my suggestion and promote the Gym to Crags.

As for sponsors, they need to know as well. Not to have them pull their support but for them to provide some guidelines as to what the climbing community wants from them. Most care, and want their support to be positive. Otherwise they lose business and athletes do loose support when their actions are quite egregious.

David Sahalie brings up the tree chopping incident. The community had a similar reaction on both sides. Yeah, in the big scheme of things there are far more important issues. But one has to start somewhere.

Listen STT17, you gotta unbunch those panties on this site, have a thick skin. i think it's sweet that you guys are holding a "crush" comp. Like i said earlier, nobody likes a rat. Some feel the need to shed a little light on your comp by letting the school know what's up with the paint and shit. Some people have nothing better to do than cause a little trouble. I personnlay would have told them to quench thier thirst on the sweat of my nads, but that's just how i roll. I think that poster is pretty and hope you guys can get new shiny climbing shit with the proceeds from your comp. Also, buy some magnums and black light.

STT17 it seems you guys made a mistake, it happens. You are not "crucified", i simply called you out on it because i think it is important for climbing organizations not to publicize graffiti. After seeing Allen Sanderson letter it seems that he was both respectful and restrained.

It is disconcerting to hear you minimize the effects of spray paint to justify you poster by saying:

STT17 wrote:Compared to everything else wrong with the world, yes I think graffiti, something that only makes the place less visually attractive, is low on my list of concerns.

I suggest you take some time to look up this stuff can and has effected access to numerous places around the country. Maybe you need to gym to crag section that Allen pointed out.

Thanks for pulling the poster. I hope your "crush" goes well.