The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast

Beaver County’s first and only podcast supporting local artists, celebrating art, and building community through creativity.

Disruptive Art Series

Episode 17: Graffiti as Art

On episode 17 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with a local graffiti artist about the method, aesthetics, legality, cultural authenticity, and artistic merit of graffiti in Beaver County and beyond.

This episode of The Genesis Collective Creators Podcast was produced by The Social Voice Project for The Genesis Collective. Host: Kevin Farkas. Guest: Anonymous Graffiti Artist. Disruptive Art Series. Podcast producer, sound editor: Kevin Farkas. Executive Producer: The Genesis Collective. Sounds: Steel Veins, Louis Berger (“Legendary”), The Undeserving (“There’s Nothing Else”), Ethan Hawke (“Give yourself permission to be creative”). © ℗ The Genesis Collective. All rights reserved.

Graffiti & Street Art Examples in Beaver County, Pennsylvania

For a deeper dive into the history and socio-cultural dimensions of graffiti, check out Scratch: Beaver County Graffiti, a developing digital media project at the Beaver County History Podcast. 

Graffiti at Buttermilk Falls, Homewood, Pa. Source: Social Media
Graffiti at Buttermilk Falls, Homewood, Pa. Source: Social Media
Graffiti at Buttermilk Falls, Homewood, Pa. Source: Social Media
Graffiti at Buttermilk Falls, Homewood, Pa. Source: Social Media
Commercial street art on side of Brighton Music Center, New Brighton, Pa. Source: Social Media
Commercial street art on side of Brighton Music Center, New Brighton, Pa. Source: Social Media
graffiti placed on the rear of a Monaca business were posted to social media in August 2020. Source: N. Theil, The News Alerts of Beaver County Facebook page.
graffiti placed on the rear of a Monaca business were posted to social media in August 2020. Source: N. Theil, The News Alerts of Beaver County Facebook page.
Commissioned graffiti word art in renovated building in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. c. May 2023. Source: Neighborhood North Museum of Play Facebook page.
Commissioned graffiti word art in renovated building in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. c. May 2023. Source: Neighborhood North Museum of Play Facebook page.
Banksy-style street art post card sold by BeaverTown gift shop, Beaver, Pa.
Banksy-style street art post card sold by BeaverTown gift shop, Beaver, Pa.
Graffiti appearing on marketing image for Beavtown gift shop, Beaver Pa.
Graffiti appearing on marketing image for Beavtown gift shop, Beaver Pa.
Tagging at the old water treatment plant, Baden, Pennsylvania. c. 2016. Source: Ellwood City Leger
Tagging at the old water treatment plant, Baden, Pennsylvania. c. 2016. Source: Ellwood City Leger
"The Complaint of the Beaten Marquee." Source: David Grimm, photographer. c. May 2014.
"The Complaint of the Beaten Marquee." Source: David Grimm, photographer. c. May 2014.
"Graffiti with Scanner Residue." Source: Joe Indovina, photographer, c. 2015.
"Graffiti with Scanner Residue." Source: Joe Indovina, photographer, c. 2015.
Corporate appropriation of graffiti stylings used as marketing tool for Big Shot Bob’s Wings restaurants. Artwork used in online advertising by the BSBs franchise in Hopewell, Pennsylvania. Location of original artwork unknown.
Corporate appropriation of graffiti stylings used as marketing tool for Big Shot Bob’s Wings restaurants. Artwork used in online advertising by the BSBs franchise in Hopewell, Pennsylvania. Location of original artwork unknown.
Train graffiti by "The Wood" appearing in East Palestine, Ohio within weeks of the February 3, 2023 train derailment.
Train graffiti by "The Wood" appearing in East Palestine, Ohio within weeks of the February 3, 2023 train derailment.
Photo: Beaver Falls Community Facebook Page
Photo: Beaver Falls Community Facebook Page
Graffiti Bridge, also known as the Art Bridge, is an abandoned train trestle located near Harrison St. in Rochester Township. (Photos: Joel B., June 2017)
Graffiti Bridge, also known as the Art Bridge, is an abandoned train trestle located near Harrison St. in Rochester Township. (Photos: Joel B., June 2017)
Roadway Graffiti Abatement (aka "buffs"), Ambridge, Pa. Source: Tim Kiser, Photographer. c. June 2020.
Roadway Graffiti Abatement (aka "buffs"), Ambridge, Pa. Source: Tim Kiser, Photographer. c. June 2020.
As of November 2022, this lettering appears along Franklin Avenue in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. The artist is unknown, and the piece does not appear to be officially authorized.
As of November 2022, this lettering appears along Franklin Avenue in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. The artist is unknown, and the piece does not appear to be officially authorized.

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ABOUT THE PODCAST

The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast is Beaver County’s first and only podcast supporting local artists, celebrating art, and building community through creativity. The podcast presents local artist profiles, conversations about art, public art features, and news about art events and activities. The podcast produces episodes for a number of special projects: Artist Conversation Series, Disruptive Art Series, Connection Art to Funding Series, Black Creatives in Beaver County Series, and our Featured Artists & Events Series.  The Genesis Collective serves as the podcast’s executive producer. It is produced in partnership with The Social Voice Project. 

ABOUT THE HOST

Kevin Farkas hosts The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast. He is a founding creative advisor of The Genesis Collective, and also the founder and executive producer of The Social Voice Project. He has an academic background in art history and the philosophy of aesthetics, but his key interest is in critical analysis of art, creativity, language, and society. 

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