Graffiti has always existed as a form of expression amongst the people. Humor is often able to connect communities, sometimes even without the use of written language; who doesn’t like to laugh? Together, these tools can be used to tell subtle stories or express commonalities between individuals.
Highly visible, largely weatherproof, standardized, and easily interpretable canvases, such as road signs often find themselves vandalized in comical or political ways.
The exact version of the sign pictured here stipulates that each entrance to this intersection has a stop sign posted. This is understood by the additional sign posted under the stop sign, which reads, “ALL WAY.”
An unknown vandalizer or graffiti artist wrote “ICE” underneath “STOP” on the octagonal sign, and either the same or a wholly different artist wrote the letter “R” over the “Y” in “ALL WAY.” These two messages written on the signs now read, “STOP ICE” and “STOP ALL WAR,” respectively. Leaving marks on these signs which are likely seen by hundreds or thousands of people a day, and which are specifically designed to stand out and catch driver’s attention is a very powerful way to spread an idea, especially when the sentiment of the idea is so strong, and its context so controversial.
