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Graffiti Bridge Gone Forever
Orlando doesn’t have many landmarks. Well, excluding Disney, Universal and that whole fiasco around I-Drive (which we at KillerPOP like to pretend do not exist) Orlando doesn’t have many landmarks. That’s why it’s such a tragedy when one is lost forever under a fresh coat of gray paint.
If you’ve ever been on the Blanchard bike trail you’ve probably seen it. We like to call it the Graffiti Bridge (but not “Graffiti Bridge” as in the sequel to Purple Rain, even though Purple Rain is the bomb). To put it simply, it was a bridge with graffiti on it. But to have seen it you would be overcome with the sheer scale of the thing, the resplendent crudeness of both the style employed and subject matter presented, as well as the overall absurdity of this unmistakable work of art. Bearing such memorable tags as “666”, “Fuck N The Butt”, “I <3 MYSPACE” and of course, “I Love tits”, it left an impression that would last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, that impression is now all that remains. Last time I mounted my trusty bicycle and pedaled down to my favorite local vista, I discovered, to my horror, that the entire wall had been painted over by the powers that be (presumably to cover up what they considered an eyesore!). I was so distraught that I didn’t even ride the rest of the way to that Mexican tienda on Goldenrod for an amazing taco with carnitas for only a dollar and a quarter (and maybe a Caballo Negro energy drink to wash it down with). No, quite frankly I didn’t want to live anymore.
With Orlando’s current policy of painting over graffiti to discourage its proliferation, it is hard to imagine what will happen to our already slim supply of beautiful artwork adorning our buildings and overpasses. “Where will the children paint?” I ask myself. Luckily, through the tragedy, spring the gromwells of hope. As I rode back to my apartment with a tear welling up in the corner of my eye, I happened to glance under the bridge where Colonial crosses the Little Econ. Looking back at me I saw a crudely spraypainted blue penis with a face. In the words of some guy from Jurassic park: Life will find a way.
copy by Jack Cusumano
photo by Bryce Dwyer
Graffiti Bridge Gone Forever
Orlando doesn’t have many landmarks. Well, excluding Disney, Universal and that whole fiasco around I-Drive (which we at KillerPOP like to pretend do not exist) Orlando doesn’t have many landmarks. That’s why it’s such a tragedy when one is lost forever under a fresh coat of gray paint.
If you’ve ever been on the Blanchard bike trail you’ve probably seen it. We like to call it the Graffiti Bridge (but not “Graffiti Bridge” as in the sequel to Purple Rain, even though Purple Rain is the bomb). To put it simply, it was a bridge with graffiti on it. But to have seen it you would be overcome with the sheer scale of the thing, the resplendent crudeness of both the style employed and subject matter presented, as well as the overall absurdity of this unmistakable work of art. Bearing such memorable tags as “666”, “Fuck N The Butt”, “I <3 MYSPACE” and of course, “I Love tits”, it left an impression that would last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, that impression is now all that remains. Last time I mounted my trusty bicycle and pedaled down to my favorite local vista, I discovered, to my horror, that the entire wall had been painted over by the powers that be (presumably to cover up what they considered an eyesore!). I was so distraught that I didn’t even ride the rest of the way to that Mexican tienda on Goldenrod for an amazing taco with carnitas for only a dollar and a quarter (and maybe a Caballo Negro energy drink to wash it down with). No, quite frankly I didn’t want to live anymore.
With Orlando’s current policy of painting over graffiti to discourage its proliferation, it is hard to imagine what will happen to our already slim supply of beautiful artwork adorning our buildings and overpasses. “Where will the children paint?” I ask myself. Luckily, through the tragedy, spring the gromwells of hope. As I rode back to my apartment with a tear welling up in the corner of my eye, I happened to glance under the bridge where Colonial crosses the Little Econ. Looking back at me I saw a crudely spraypainted blue penis with a face. In the words of some guy from Jurassic park: Life will find a way.
copy by Jack Cusumano
photo by Bryce Dwyer