What separates art from merely spray painting graffiti? Is graffiti art?

The Hope Outdoor Gallery, also known as the Graffiti Park, continues to increase in popularity. My latest visit, several weeks ago, astounded me. The streets are choked. The parking, scarce. I’m sure the weekend visit had something to do with it. But there’s no denying that it has become yet another tourist attraction in Austin. Something that perhaps compliments our hipster bars, our creative reputation and “Think Weird” ethos.

I’ve noticed more people participating in its creative destruction. Tourists, families, friends, armed with spray cans leave their mark. Elaborate works of art and modest scrawls, transform rapidly with each applied layer.

The area remains untamed. There is garbage and broken glass. Steep and sometimes treacherous hills and drops — not to mention the random outcroppings of rebar. It’s authentic, non-homogenized and a great place for street photography. What was once a failed building foundation has become a foundation for continuously changing pubic art.

All photos shot with the Panasonic TZ50 travel zoom.