Michelangelo’s David Spray-Painting Graffiti On North Loop Wall?
Two distinctly different styles of art are coming together right now with the North Loop’s newest mural, on a back wall of Iron Store Lofts (200 Second Ave N).
On one side is a likeness of Michelangelo’s David holding a can of spray paint and looking over at the other side which will be filled with colorful graffiti.
Rendering of finished mural
“This is a conversation between figurative street art and graffiti art,” said Francesco Parisi, founder of the group that’s sponsoring the mural, “and it’s a way to show respect for each other.”
It’s being paid for, in large part, by a non-profit known as Neighbors For North Loop Livability which advocates for more public art in the neighborhood.
“We always think of graffiti as being vandalism, and I think it’s very important to recognize that that is a form of art,” said Parisi. “There are people that do tagging and those are vandals, and vandalism should not be tolerated. But graffiti art is different and it should be respected and appreciated for what it is which is a great form of art. And this is a message in that direction.”
Parisi’s son, Raffi, was a part-time graffiti artist. After his death in 2022, a number of friends made contributions to support artworks such as this one.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop volunteer
