What is it Then?

What Is It? We're starting to think that it's not just the Wedgwood Safeway that's a bit odd. We've started coming to the conclusion that it may the whole dam neighborhood.

On a recent walk to our local PCC (which, for the record, is also odd in that it is ridiculously small for a liberal neighborhood with as much disposable income as this one seems to have) we spied the graffiti pictured here. We have to admit that it was actually kind of comforting to our eyes (late of Capitol Hill) to see some gorilla art on the perfectly manicured streets of Wedgwood.

Along the way to the store that midsummer's eve to get our overpriced packages of fake lunch meats and boxes of almond milk, we saw this same stencil and one other ("Vortex") on random fences, electric utility boxes, those weird green mailboxes that only the mailman can open and on the street itself. It left us thinking that maybe, just maybe there is some rebellion and vibrancy in this neighborhood after all. On the way home we even fantasized about how this might end up being a city-wide thing that got people talking for a bit and how, when it got big enough, we could regale people at parties with tales of the first sitings here in sleepy Wedgwood.

But alas, no. Weeks have gone by and there's been no more spray painting along this route or in any other in the neighborhood that we know of. Just these few statements about what it is not and claims to ownership by the mysterious Vortex. At this point, we have to conclude it's not even some lame gureilla marketing scheme. It was probably just some rich kid with access to his dad's store of spray cans.

Still, every time we go to the store or for a run, we're left wondering who you are Vortex and if it's not The Pot, what is it and can we have some? Please?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Charles Redell in Miscellaneous on September 7, 2007 9:14 AM

Comments [rss]

guest

I heard it's part of the city's anti-drug campaign targeting specific trouble spots known to have wealthy youth with limited outdoor entertainment options.

It's part of a whole new double-reverse psychology tactic that is being tested in a few of Seattle's prime trouble spots. Wedgwood a trouble spot you ask? You'd be surprised. I live on a bordering community.

So far, they are not sure whether these "approved graffitis" are more or less effective than installing skate parks, which you may have also seen a bunch of in the last year in outlying suburban areas.

We can probably expect similar paint campaigns to pop up in Ballard and West Seattle based on their crime records.

guest

I heard it's part of the city's anti-drug campaign targeting specific I heard it's part of the city's anti-drug campaign targeting specific trouble spots known to have wealthy youth with limited outdoor entertainment options.

It's part of a whole new double-reverse psychology tactic that is being tested in a few of Seattle's prime trouble spots. Wedgwood a trouble spot you ask? You'd be surprised. I live on a bordering community.

So far, they are not sure whether these "approved graffitis" are more or less effective than installing skate parks, which you may have also seen a bunch of in the last year in outlying suburban areas.

We can probably expect similar paint campaigns to pop up in Ballard and West Seattle based on their crime records.

guest

maybe the city did it

guest

official looking even, cool . . .

guest

Hey, I saw "ITS NOT THE POT" In the Central District too.

Off Jackson around 28th.

weird

I wondered what the hell it was . . .

odd

Katelyn

@4 That's what I assumed... Is it the rain? NO, IT'S THE SHROOMS! NO, IT'S THE CITY COUNCIL!

guest

UH OH - More

guest

Looks like someone had too many dilaudids and went off in the Wedg.

there are weird things all over the wood.

You just have to look hard

Damn little "rich kids"

mep!

stay tuned . . . .

guest

more to come

guest

My guess is its a spoof on the multiple sclerosis "is it the rain?", "Is it the trees?", "Is it the air?" awareness campaign thats been making rounds on Seattle billboards

guest

guerilla

sightings

guest

"gorilla art"?

guest

Yea, the last couple of days, I've noticed some sidewalk tagging in front of a burger joint around the Seattle Pacific University . Can't even make out what it is, but who knows? Maybe it's a conspiracy.