Graffiti gets

city approval

Artists limited to one wall at Johnson Park

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Abdulaziz Al-Salim, 15, shakes a can of spray paint, then aims the canister at a wall, making a giant red letter.

In a matter of seconds, Al-Salim has crafted a small piece of art, which he proudly wants others to see.

Nearby, Tony Helget is busy creating his own rendition of graffiti art.

"The main point of the wall is that graffiti isn't about vandalism," Helget said. "It's about art."

Graffiti artists now have an area in town where they can express their creative talents. The New Ulm City Council approved a plan last week that turns the 15x80-foot retaining wall, northwest of the Johnson Ballpark, into a graffiti zone. The wall, which is down the hill from the ballpark, is not readily visible.

"You'll have to go out of your way to see it," Al-Salim said. "It's not going to disturb anyone."

Eric Rieger, 17, has been creating graffiti art for four years.

"I've been drawing since I was born," Rieger said. That love for art has led to his desire to make large murals.

Before paint ever goes on a wall, Rieger and his friends brainstorm ideas, planning out what a painting will become.

Helget, 16, said the creation of the graffiti wall will beautify an area of town that -- right now -- is an eyesore.

"There's scribbles and devil worship signs down there," Helget said. "It's just negative marks."

David Bechtold, New Ulm Park & Recreation director, favors the project.

"There's nothing wrong with it. I think it's interesting that the young kids want to do this," Bechtold said. "I'm planning to put it on the park board agenda for their input, to monitor and assist with the program."

Helget and Rieger recently painted a mural at a storm shelter at a trailer park in town. Thus far, their art has been left untouched by vandals.

Al-Salim, a member of the New Ulm Human Rights Commission, learned about graffiti from his friends. He believes the wall will be a positive place for area youth.

"I want to put an end to a stereotype," Al-Salim said. "I want kids to have a positive thing. It can bring the best out of people."

Jesse Miklas, 16, noted that the large wall will contain several murals; no one person would cover the complete wall. The opportunity to participate in the visual adventure is open to anyone, and is not limited to these four graffiti artists.

The teen-agers talked extensively about amazing spray-paint murals they have seen in Minneapolis or in graffiti magazines.

"Graffiti sometimes reflects a period of someone's life," Al-Salim explained. "You paint something differently when you're happy compared to when you're sad." And those moods show up in the artwork, he added.

The discussion of creating a graffiti-approved wall began with a letter Al-Salim wrote to the city council. seeking permission to paint the Johnson wall.

"Since we don't want to break the law, any help would be appreciated," Al-Salim wrote to councilors. "What we need is a field. Yes, a field, just like any other sport/activity, they need a field or special tool."

In the letter, Al-Salim acknowledges that persons painting at the wall would be painting 'at their own risk.' No one will protect the wall, stopping someone from covering up a recently-created mural.

"Drawing, sketching, and coloring are our current media, but no one can appreciate it like the awe of gazing at a wall, our grand canvas with something that took so much to create," Al-Salim wrote.

Al-Salim also said that the wall should not include any racist or sexist pictorials, a stance the council readily agreed to adopt.

Councilor Ron Fleischmann proposed turning the wall over to the public for art projects after reading Al-Salim's letter.

"This is a much better way to go about it," Fleischmann said. "This is commendable that this is the route they chose to go."

City Attorney Hugh Nierengarten said there would be no problems in allowing youth to paint the wall.

"If this was designated as a city canvas, that would work," Nierengarten told councilors.

City Manager Dick Salvati expressed some concerns, saying he doesn't want to see graffiti at other public parks or buildings.

"It would have to be very explicit that this is one location," Salvati said.

Tom MacAulay, assistant city manager, said he isn't worried about graffiti spreading in town.

"We've had isolated incidents of graffiti, but it hasn't been a real major issue," MacAulay said. "I suspect it will be well done, and they'll be proud of the work they'll do."

The limitation to the northwest wall is just fine for the artists.

"We just want people to know it's an art form, whether it's one wall or 10 walls," Rieger said. "One wall is good enough for us."