A promotional sign posted in the window an Aaron Brothers store advertises the controversial "Artrageous" campaign. (KTLA-TV) |
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KTLA) -- Art retailer Aaron Brothers has cancelled a back-to-school campaign that drew criticism for encouraging graffiti among school-aged children.
In a letter to Councilman Dennis P. Zine, the president of Aaron Brothers confirmed the cancellation of their "Urban Arts Events" related to the campaign, dubbed "Artrageous," including in-store demonstrations and the distribution of free "graffiti starter kits" that included markers and paper.
"I am very pleased with this outcome and commend Aaron Brothers for listening to the concerns raised about the "Artrageous" program," Zine wrote in an official statement released Tuesday, adding that the retailer pledged to move forward with the donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of LA to support a new generation of artists as planned.
The campaign garnered some negative attention from city council members, who called the move outrageous by promoting an act of vandalism as art.
Zine sought a seek and desist order to legally prevent the store from holding the exhibit on September 10 if they give out the kits.
"What they're doing is promoting tagging, graffiti and trying to call it art," Zine told KTLA. "It's not art when your putting a mark on people's property and public property."
Zine says residents have expressed concern over the event, fearing a spike in tagging and other vandalism.
Aaron Brothers released a statement August 20 on the controversy which stated that the program was "designed to celebrate and encourage artistic expression of artists" adding that the company does not "support or encourage vandalism of public or private property in any form."
The City of Los Angeles spends $7 million each year eliminating and preventing graffiti, and anyone who turns in taggers gets a $1,000 reward.
In a letter to Councilman Dennis P. Zine, the president of Aaron Brothers confirmed the cancellation of their "Urban Arts Events" related to the campaign, dubbed "Artrageous," including in-store demonstrations and the distribution of free "graffiti starter kits" that included markers and paper.
"I am very pleased with this outcome and commend Aaron Brothers for listening to the concerns raised about the "Artrageous" program," Zine wrote in an official statement released Tuesday, adding that the retailer pledged to move forward with the donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of LA to support a new generation of artists as planned.
The campaign garnered some negative attention from city council members, who called the move outrageous by promoting an act of vandalism as art.
Zine sought a seek and desist order to legally prevent the store from holding the exhibit on September 10 if they give out the kits.
"What they're doing is promoting tagging, graffiti and trying to call it art," Zine told KTLA. "It's not art when your putting a mark on people's property and public property."
Zine says residents have expressed concern over the event, fearing a spike in tagging and other vandalism.
Aaron Brothers released a statement August 20 on the controversy which stated that the program was "designed to celebrate and encourage artistic expression of artists" adding that the company does not "support or encourage vandalism of public or private property in any form."
The City of Los Angeles spends $7 million each year eliminating and preventing graffiti, and anyone who turns in taggers gets a $1,000 reward.
