Graffiti Graveyard

Photos and Text by John D D'Auria

Graffiti Graveyard in some respects is a graveyard, but not the kind that the average person is used to. There are no headstones or plots, but there is a hidden gallery of Murals, Tags and Roll pieces done by graffiti artists that find this secluded place to be a peaceful place for their creativity to show their talents without being harassed or arrested for defacing the city's property.
Sooner or later some of  their art will die, not literally but it will fade or be covered up by a newcomer to the gallery that wants to leave his mark on the cement walls that lay beneath the freeway,  a rival artist that wants to tag over it just to deface it or someone that wants to update a piece to bring some freshness to the walls.

Graffiti artist creating a new piece of art work.

 
Sources say that Graffiti Graveyard basically was founded back in the mid 1980's because of a lot of vandalism going on in the city of Duluth, MN. A lot of artists were being arrested for defacing public buildings, skywalks, trains, and pretty much any smooth surface they could find that they thought someone would be able to appreciate their work on. The only problem was, the city officials and some of the taxpayers of the city of Duluth didn't appreciate the art, they felt it looked trashy and chased away the tourists, which took money away from the city. So in some people's opinion an unwritten compromise was established between the city of Duluth and the local artists that they would verbally be given this spot under the freeway that could not be seen from the citie's population unless they went searching for this hidden gallery. Apparently both sides have kept their word in this verbal agreement to some degree because there has been  less graffiti thrown up all over the city of Duluth in the last 30 years and a lot of residents and tourists seem to enjoy going to the gallery and experiencing the hidden talent that rests under thousands of vehicles that pass over it daily.

UMD Alworth Planetarium

(Photo and text by H. Brian Rauvola)

What would environmental portraiture be without a challenge? I knew that this type of situation was going to be a bit difficult, but I knew just about what needed to be done to get a nice, solid, portrait that presented what the planetarium had to offer. This image ended up a composite of 3 images, one for the sky, one for the subject, and one for the wall posters under black light.

 

 

Our gracious subject is UMD senior and Planetarium Technician Steve Hendrickson. He is from Duluth and is majoring in History and German Studies. Thanks go to all of the guys and gal at the Planetarium for letting us invade for a couple of hours!

An Exciting Ride!

(Photos and text by Nancy Lindberg)

It was a beautiful Sunday on the Ariel Lift Bridge with a camera in hand.  Two ships went under the structure:  The Barker left the port and the Oberstar came in.  The view of the Duluth Superior harbor from the high angle of the bridge is an unusual sight for most people, but one bridge operators see while on duty.  Included here are photos of the Barker leaving, the Oberstar coming into the port, the Minnesota slip,  Canal Park, and one of the operators of the lift bridge, Dale. There are two 125 horse powered motors that raise and lower the span which allow ships and boats to enter the Duluth/Superior harbor through the Duluth entrance. Thank you Dale for giving us the opportunity to visit the bridge house and learn about the workings of Duluth's famous landmark.

The Barker leaving the Port of Duluth in the canal.

The Oberstar Entering the Duluth Harbor

Dale, one of the operators of the Ariel Bridge. outside his office door.

The Minnesota Slip with Duluth Hillside in the Background

Canal Park From the Raised Span of the Ariel Bridge and Eastern Duluth in the Background

Ride on the Lift Bridge

(Photos and text by H. Brian Rauvola)

It isn't every day that you get the opportunity to watch the lakers come in from above them. Thanks to Nancy Lindberg, we got to do just that. Here are my favorites:

We were fortunate enough to get the Barker leaving, and soon after the Oberstar arriving. The bottom 2 images are 180 degree panoramic stitched composites.