Art Chantry is not afraid of you. Or flying saucers. Or anything. The foolhardy, free-wheeling designer – he’s called the Godfather of Grunge – pretty much defined the look of the Northwest at its big, breakout moment: When Nirvana rocked, plaid flannel was in fashion and The Rocket was the coolest magazine on the rack. Still making all the trouble he can, Art’s back living in Tacoma, where he was raised.
Some say graffiti is art. But what about the costly, unsightly mess it makes of the city? Street gangs are into tagging to mark their turf, while the "writers" want to be respected and to keep painting. The entire community has a stake in what happens next. The conclusion of our two-part Special Report.
