The infamous Bad Apple character by unknown artist, who also probably did the piece to the left of the apple. Photos 1-2: Oct 2013, 3: Jan 2015, 4: Aug 2016, 5: Scanned print, circa 2012, detail of the Sufr from 2003, which was around the corner.

Some ancient spray pigment markings. There once was a simple black Kwiz outline on this concrete slab at a tunnel of a small creek. It is barely visible in the Oct 2013 photo and not at all in 2023. The spray-can character, which I have attributed to Kwiz as well, showed up well in the summer photograph, circa 2003. As far as I can tell, it was non-existent when I revisited it 2017. Although, I think it’s worth another look to make sure. I’ve also included the iconic beanie character from the same era, not far away, and quite possibly done with the same can of Krylon gloss black.

Mini production in Richmond from 2017 (now buffed). Writer’s from the region took part. Thank you to Anx, Pask, Wruk, Etch, and Velcro.

This iconic “Bad Trip” falling bomb character, circa 1994, was most likely done by the same artist as the famous “Seal of Approval” character. It has been buffed (painted over) but it has outlast the buff and is still visible today. The scan from a Pal Item newspaper article from Oct 4, 1994 clearly shows the Bad Trip, along with some not so clear images of early Richmond graff. There are some early pieces and one with a punk rock character. Underneath the piece is written, “Clean get away”, with 317, which was the area code at the time, and a date of ’94. I do recognize the “Basic” tags above, and I recall seeing these in the Piano factory or somewhere nearby. The headline of the article declares that graffiti is costing the city 100’s of dollars, seems like a major problem. The newspaper photo credit goes to local photojournalist legend, Steve Koger. The article was accessed from newspapers.com.

Quite possibly the most extreme “Before and After” of the series. Anx on a pillar under the now demolished 9th Street bridge. First photo is from 2010 or so, scanned print, and the second is a digital photo from Sept. 2013.

Night shot of a “sUFr” piece, avoiding the car info, from 2003 in central Indiana, with Berry Pink Painter’s Touch in the fill. Scan from the original negatives. And then seen in 2007 in Bloomington, IN, not holding up too well. Scan from the original print.

I started this website in 2020 as a way to archive and preserve Graffiti Writing in my small middle-American city. The photos I take are a way to document an ephemeral art-form, along with historic architecture and infrastructure, as it is erased, changed, replaced, or demolished. It’s a small scene here and the things I post about may be niche. I continue to update this blog for the younger Writers in the area and those interested in this unique part of local history, and the broader history of suburban and rural Style Writing on the late 20th and early 21st Century. If you enjoy checking out this blog, please send me a message and let me know what you think. Also, I am always looking for old photos of graffiti from the area. Contact me if you have any you’d like to share with me. Thanks – Joey Idle

Here are few photos from the snow and extreme cold, and some shots of downtown alleyways on a dismal gray morning. I’ve been checking out these same alleys since I was a kid. These were some of the first places I noticed graffiti. There were quite a few marker tags and some with spray paint in the late 90s.

More aged photos of the Dark & Justus Production under the G Street Bridge and the ever-present “Seal of Approval”, after the patch-job. 1-5: Feb 2017, 6-12: Nov 2019, 13: Apr 2020, 14-17: Jan 2026, and lastly a digital picture of me posing in front of the wall wearing my shirt on my head for some reason, photographed by a friend in April 2006 almost 20 years ago.

More past photos of the historic railroad bridge that is now in the process of being replaced. The Depot District mural, now gone, was painted in 2009, by artist Carly Mattingly Dee. Photos are from 2017 – 2023.