Not all graffiti is pure vandalism...sometimes the people putting up graffiti actually do have a broader and more community-minded intention. And aren't just trying to "get up" at any cost.
This is where "street art" come into the picture, and where the definition of graffiti takes on shades of grey.
Take for instance, the street artist Elmaks.
Elmaks puts up "Swap Boxes" that dot around downtown Ottawa.
The idea behind his Swap Box project is to install art pieces in public spaces. These art peces are intended to add colour and character to the streets of Ottawa, to bring a smile to the faces of passers-by, and encourage citizens and pedestrians to interact with each other and share treasures and gifts.
Also, these Swap Boxes have an added bonus of attempting to engage neighbourhoods and communities in beautifying and caring about their public spaces. In fact, a few residents have taken on putting up their own Swap Boxes to encourage a form of community dialog.
From Elmaks own mouth:
"If I smash the windows of a bus shelter or tag up someone's storefront sign, that's vandalism to me," he said.
I work on boarded-up storefronts, on lamp poles and on construction sites, and my art probably has as much impact as a pasted-up poster. Plus, I'm actually not only visually improving the area but also creating a new way for people to interact with it."
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2008/08/16/6468836-sun.html
