art by Brendan O’Connor
The best part: The only way you can get in trouble is if you’re naked or don’t get permission
Info/cost: Walls of Pho Hoa, 649 N. Primrose Drive; free; 407-895-6098; facebook.com/pho.hoa.186
Graffiti can be cool. It’s colorful, edgy and if you’re good at it you can make a lot of money. But why risk arrest and community service for tagging private property when all you need is permission? A “permission wall” is a place where artists can get permission to express themselves on public walls without the fear of incarceration. It also allows the artist more time to make their piece than if they were hanging upside down from a roof in the middle of the night. And Orlando’s got one! Hosted and facilitated by talented local artist Edward Seymour II, hopefuls simply drop a line to wallsofphohoa@yahoo.com to apply for the honor of participating and wait to see if they make the grade. The walls operate on the weekend only and anyone who paints without permission will be considered a trespasser, so be sure to reach out before grabbing those spray cans. All skill levels are welcome, but the best painters will get the space closer to the street; those who are still developing their skills will be delegated to the back of the lot. Some of the best area artists frequent these walls, so it’s the perfect place to absorb some tips of the trade and rub elbows with Orlando’s spray painteratti.
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2014.