--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I love graffiti because it enables kids…" description: "\"I love graffiti because it enables kids from every social extraction to do something that brings them closer to art, when they normally wouldn't be sti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/barry-mcgee-23113_art_i-love-graffiti-because-it-enables-kids_65848.jpg" --- # I love graffiti because it enables kids from every social… ![“I love graffiti because it enables kids from every social extraction to do something that brings them closer to art, when they normally wouldn't be stimulated to be visually creative. Graffiti helps to develop an awareness of immediate expressive and uncontrolled freedom.” quote by Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/barry-mcgee-23113_art_i-love-graffiti-because-it-enables-kids_65848.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/barry-mcgee-23113_art_i-love-graffiti-because-it-enables-kids_65848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/barry-mcgee-23113_art_i-love-graffiti-because-it-enables-kids_65848.jpg) > “I love graffiti because it enables kids from every social extraction to do something that brings them closer to art, when they normally wouldn't be stimulated to be visually creative. Graffiti helps to develop an awareness of immediate expressive and uncontrolled freedom.” [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Graffiti offers an accessible artistic outlet that engages youth across socioeconomic backgrounds, fostering spontaneous visual expression and a sense of creative agency. **In simple terms:** Street art democratizes creative expression. Key Takeaway Graffiti can unlock latent artistic potential. Themes accessibility creative empowerment urban culture youth development spontaneity Mood inspired hopeful defiant Type observational sociocultural When to use this quote - after‑school programs - community murals - school art curricula - rehabilitation projects - public space revitalization Key Concepts visual literacy social inclusion freedom of expression community identity Practical Applications - art education initiatives - social inclusion interventions Questions to Reflect On - How can public art programs bridge cultural gaps? - What role does unstructured creativity play in personal growth? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Graffiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graffiti/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Stimulated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stimulated/) [Uncontrolled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncontrolled/) ## Related quotes > [Obviously my own work comes from a conceptual art tradition, but I love the graffiti artists, and I feel spiritually closer to them than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-montgomery/obviously-my-own-work-comes-from-a-conceptual-art-tradition-but-i/) [Robert Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-montgomery/) > [I see myself at a certain age as not being able to play the kind of parts that would keep me stimulated, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-shue/i-see-myself-at-a-certain-age-as-not-being-able-to-play-the-kind-of/) [Elisabeth Shue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-shue/) > [I tweet 15 times a day to keep my brain stimulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-tweet-15-times-a-day-to-keep-my-brain-stimulated/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [First, kids should be involved in the production of their own food. They have to get their hands in the dirt, they have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/first-kids-should-be-involved-in-the-production-of-their-own-food/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [Modeling is a great beginning, but it's also a kind of trap if you have any ambition or a mind that needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-adams/modeling-is-a-great-beginning-but-it-s-also-a-kind-of-trap-if-you/) [Maud Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-adams/) > [I believe people are afraid to be still because we're used to being stimulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/i-believe-people-are-afraid-to-be-still-because-we-re-used-to-being/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [I go where I'm stimulated. If I'm stimulated, I show up. As Mick Jagger sings: It's my life and I'll do what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/i-go-where-i-m-stimulated-if-i-m-stimulated-i-show-up-as-mick-jagger/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) > [The creative part of your brain needs to be stimulated. Sometimes you get blocked in the thing you do, because there's so much pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/the-creative-part-of-your-brain-needs-to-be-stimulated-sometimes-you/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [While at Chicago my interest in the new field of particle physics was stimulated by a course given by Gell- Mann, who was developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cronin/while-at-chicago-my-interest-in-the-new-field-of-particle-physics-was/) [James Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cronin/) > [Without moral progress, stimulated by faith in God, immorality in all its forms will proliferate and strangle goodness and human decency. Mankind will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/without-moral-progress-stimulated-by-faith-in-god-immorality-in-all/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Be stimulated by rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gill/be-stimulated-by-rejection/) [Bob Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gill/) > [I want to keep on the move, keep stimulated and challenged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-want-to-keep-on-the-move-keep-stimulated-and-challenged/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [For me, to be perfectly honest, the part of my brain that was stimulated by directing was much more exciting than a typical day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-collins/for-me-to-be-perfectly-honest-the-part-of-my-brain-that-was/) [Misha Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-collins/) > [I'm constantly being visually stimulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/i-m-constantly-being-visually-stimulated/) [Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/) > [If you are stimulated by what you do, you never get tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-are-stimulated-by-what-you-do-you-never-get-tired/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More by Barry McGee > [If I could get the respect of 14-year-olds, I'm happy. They're the toughest audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/if-i-could-get-the-respect-of-14-year-olds-i-m-happy-they-re-the/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I like the idea that you can paint something outdoors, and anyone can see it. It's open to anyone, and people have to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-like-the-idea-that-you-can-paint-something-outdoors-and-anyone-can/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [Some of my favorite pieces are from thrift shops. When I find something I really love, I live, work and sleep in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/some-of-my-favorite-pieces-are-from-thrift-shops-when-i-find/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [That's immediately how I gauge how healthy a city is-by the amount of tags. It's just in direct competition with advertising. It's still one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/that-s-immediately-how-i-gauge-how-healthy-a-city-is-by-the-amount-of/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [Street artists need to get back to actually doing things on the streets instead of in the galleries where they all seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/street-artists-need-to-get-back-to-actually-doing-things-on-the/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [The parts of graffiti I like are really antagonizing still - it's not something that a museum would really embrace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/the-parts-of-graffiti-i-like-are-really-antagonizing-still-it-s-not/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I just try to get away with as much as I can. I don't think that's very radical in the art world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-just-try-to-get-away-with-as-much-as-i-can-i-don-t-think-that-s/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I want to do just, like, regular art. Whatever is made today on canvas goes up against all of art history. Its the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-want-to-do-just-like-regular-art-whatever-is-made-today-on-canvas/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I read in a weird way. It comes in waves, and then I start, like, five different books at once. It takes me six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-read-in-a-weird-way-it-comes-in-waves-and-then-i-start-like-five/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [As soon as I start reading, drawing comes to me more easily. I find I work in my sketchbooks more. But if I'm working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/as-soon-as-i-start-reading-drawing-comes-to-me-more-easily-i-find-i/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I have tons of art books. I have them all over the place. They are in my car, in my bag, and in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-have-tons-of-art-books-i-have-them-all-over-the-place-they-are-in/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [Most inspiration still comes from bicycling around San Francisco. This city never fails to inspire me. It is one of the most vibrant cities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/most-inspiration-still-comes-from-bicycling-around-san-francisco-this/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I see a really good tag on a building, a man passed out in the middle of the street, a couple hugging, a cop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-see-a-really-good-tag-on-a-building-a-man-passed-out-in-the-middle/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [For me, graffiti means making marks on surfaces using just about anything, be it markers, spray, paint, chalk, lipstick, varnish, ink. Or it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/for-me-graffiti-means-making-marks-on-surfaces-using-just-about/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I'm really into California art from the '60s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-m-really-into-california-art-from-the-60s/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) [Explore all 26 Barry McGee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I love graffiti because it enables kids from every social extraction to do something that brings them closer to art, when they normally wouldn't be stimulated to be visually creative. 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