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| Cosmatesque pavement, San Francesco,Vetralla |
Ever
since men began to scribble, design and write
there have been graffiti. We see them in Pompeii as well as on trains and public buildings
around the world. In some cases and places
graffiti have risen to the level
of “street art”.
Art or vandalism, I doubt any one enjoys riding in a train or subway where the
windows have been completely sprayed over.
In Viterbo
the walls of Santa Rosa high school,
frequented mainly by
girls, had been the target
for teenage boys who continuously
covered the walls with phrases, hearts and other graffiti, hoping to impress the girls.
A strategy invented by an
intelligent city council member has
slowed down the graffiti problem... and almost wiped it out.
The girls were asked to invent poetic phrases to discourage
their "suitors" from scribbling and
spraying on the walls. It seems to have
worked, yet unfortunately the
historic convent facing the school
building remains disfigured.
San
Francesco is a jewel of a church dating from the 12th century with
the largest Franciscan fresco cycle outside of Assisi adorning its interior walls,
Cosmatesque pavements and a crypt dating
back to 8th century.
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| the interior of the church is completely frescoed , life of St. Frances, after F. Villamena |
Set in
its walls and around the front portal
are marble columns and decorative bits
recycled from the nearby Roman site of Forum Cassii.
Here are a few photos taken while waiting for a wedding (Chiara and Luigi) to begin at
San Francesco.
The magical atmosphere created by the soft light, the ancient frescoes and Cosmatesque marble floors is almost palpable.
The magical atmosphere created by the soft light, the ancient frescoes and Cosmatesque marble floors is almost palpable.
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| Sant'Orsola and maidens, fresco attributed to Il Vecchietta, 15th century |
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| family and guests await the bride |
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| Singer Susanna and Don Luigi waiting for the wedding to begin |
An bi-lingual poster is being readied and will
soon be mounted on the exterior wall of the church. It will give
an explanation of the church’s
history and art to visitors and passersby.
If the graffiti has not been removed by then I propose to
hide it with this placard.
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| 13th century funerary monument of Briobris by Paolo Romano |
Hopefully
through, education, emulation and by ostracizing these modern day
barbarians who use graffiti to express themselves, the plague can be
defeated.
Do you know of other techniques used to combat graffiti, perhaps in your town? We are eager for your insight and comments.
Do you know of other techniques used to combat graffiti, perhaps in your town? We are eager for your insight and comments.
