PublicChronicle.com

Cabbagetown, Ga. (Oct. 24, 2014) – The Krog Street Tunnel became the center of controversy this week when local residents and graffiti artists painted over all the graffiti lining inside of the tunnel’s walls in protest of a city approved event which would close down the tunnel Saturday night. In the aftermath, however, as early as 5:00 a.m. the following morning, graffiti began to return to the tunnel.

The Krog Street Tunnel is a known tourist attraction located in a petite community near Downtown Atlanta called Cabbagetown. The tunnel has grown to be known around the world for its graffiti painted walls covering just about every section of the tunnel end to end.

Along with the aged, pitted and paint peeling walls of the tunnel, comes a “dungeon-like” appearance and feel which creates an ambiance like no other.

It was this ambiance that led Randall Fox of the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces to put on “The Krog Masquerade” event inside the tunnel. The event, to take place Saturday between 8 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. was given the green light by local officials resulting in the tunnel’s closure to the public for the duration of the event.

The public, however, will be permitted to enter for a price. The cost of admission ranges in price from $40 to 50 for general admission tickets, and $100 for VIP tickets.

An advertisement on one of the ticket vendors for the event reads:

Atlantans are invited to slip into a sultry underground experience like no other on Saturday, October 25th when Atlanta’s iconic Krog Street Tunnel transforms into an avant-garde European style masquerade ball. This event will “push the envelope” as guests are immersed in an unforgettable evening of cocktails, sounds by premiere Atlanta DJ Salah, and transformative vignettes behind a red velvet curtain. Brief tableaus of body art, burlesque and peep show performances will stimulate the imagination. Taboo will be the norm at this one-of-a-kind event. Masks, an open mind and an adventurous spirit are required for entry.

In response to the permitting of the event by local officials, and what is deemed to be an exploitation of the graffiti artists’ work which put the Krog Street Tunnel on the map, residents and graffiti artists got together Wednesday night and painted over the tunnel walls with various shades of light colored paint.

This act would later be called the “white-washing” or “buffing” of the Krog Street Tunnel.

The white-washing in no uncertain terms sparked controversy amongst residents and artists in the community.  The controversy has made local and national headlines.

Generally, the effect of the white-washing of the tunnel was geared toward sending a message to the financially driven Krog Masquerade event since the painting over of the graffiti removed the ambiance the event organizers were hoping to cash-in on as a way to entice ticket sales.

The backlash, however, has impacted both local residents and graffiti artists alike.

“I go through this tunnel every day to go to work and was devastated when I saw what they did to the tunnel,” said one of two women who earlier were spray painting various sections inside the tunnel at a feverish and visibly in an angry pace. “I feel like they have taken something away from me.”

Her friend, who had also participated in the community meetings regarding the approval and permitting process for the event, said she felt as if the city just went ahead and did what they wanted to do regardless of local residential concerns.

Another man, dressed with a tie, sports jacket and slacks, walked through the tunnel inspecting it like a doctor looking over a patient in need of immediate care.

Turns out, this man was a professional graffiti artist who was surveying the tunnel in the planning of its inevitable restoration. A project he says is attracting not only local but out of state graffiti artists from around the country?

Going by the tag name “LaLaRand”, has been a professional graffiti artists for more than ten years. Given his professional appearance, he didn’t fit the stereotypical image of a graffiti artist.

LaLaRand spoke in precise and well informed manner when describing briefly the history of the tunnel, “white-washing”, and the different styles of graffiti art.

More importantly, LaLaRand spoke about the process taking place inside the tunnel, pointing out the armature as well as professional works already on the walls less than 24 hours after the white-washing.

The evening had grown colder, dropping down into the lower 50’s.

Standing with his hands in his pockets, and while constantly looking down the tunnel observing carefully what was going on, LaLaRand stood at the south end of the tunnel. Pointing toward the southwest pedestrian entrance side of the tunnel he said, “You see, somebody has already painted over my logo.”

LaLaRand knew who the graffiti artist was who had painted over his logo and said it was a privileged to have been tagged by a leading graffiti artist from the area.

Graffiti artists apparently communicate with one another using their works as the parts of their unspoken language.

LaLaRand was not very concerned about how the graffiti had been painted over. Turns out graffiti artists are used to their work being either white-washed, or painted over by other artists. He was, however, tuned into what was going to happen to the tunnel’s walls after the event. “The real work will come in the week after the event is over,” he said.

Disappearing down the dimly lit tunnel, LaLaRand excused himself so he could speak with graffiti artists already at work on the walls.

Well after midnight, traffic travelling through the tunnel slows down considerably. This allows the natural sounds of graffiti artists at work to be heard. Cans being shaken, sprayed and occasionally dropped carried the cold damp air into the early morning hours.

A City of Atlanta police car had also passed through the tunnel at least twice without incident. Because the walls and support structures are owned by the CSX Corp., a Jacksonville, Fla., based freight railroad corporation, spraying graffiti inside the tunnel is allowed and not prohibited by law.

The white-washing of the Krog Street tunnel may have stepped on the toes of local residents and graffiti artists, however, the controversy has managed to forge them together toward a collaborative effort to restore the Krog Street Tunnel.