Graphiti Initiatives Realized.
Local Businesses Support The Arts

In some locations throughout New Haven, there are occasional signs of Urban Culture. The sides of buildings with murals indicate public art display that requires cooperation between both graphiti artists, whose work is commonly acknowledged as property defacement, and businesses, who usually oppose.

Not recently; The L&A Deli on the corner of Winthrop and Whalley recently allowed writer SIL to produce a mural for their iron gates.

The piece itself is only visible from 11pm to 8 am, when the deli opens. Sil, whose name is abbreviated to represent "silence," painted the mural between the hours of 3 and 5 am, and said, "Nobody asked me any questions."

The incidence of agreement between business and unconventional freelance artist is rare, but in this case it worked out well. Not many legal painting places exist in New Haven, since the closing of the Congress Avenue wall. One legal spot that exists is the Water Street walls, located near Union St. (the train station), at 157 Water Street, next to High School in the Community. It is privately owned.

The artist, whose real name is Kalun and grew up in Bethany and Hamden, CT, recently relocated to the West Coast. He is known also for making incredible beats, including remixes of Elliot Smith songs, as well as Norweigan folk tunes.

Sil's work is also featured currently on Water Street. Go there yourself to check it out! Ride a bike, but beware the possibility of fines and tickets (see article on bikes..)