Graffiti breaks barriers at Diamond Knot Brewpub while helping Mary’s Place
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Bhavani Kotha of Mary’s Place, Baby G Carswell of The Dogtown Collection, John Carswell of Apex, Seattle graffiti artist Charms and Diamond Knot Sales Manager Todd Owsley (far right) stand beside the art in progress.Though most may see a man with cases of spray paint cans and think he’s up to no good, Charms is raising money for Mary’s Place to help homeless mothers and families.The tools of Charm’s trade are $120 in spray paint, about $5 in coffee and one of the most chill attitudes in the Pacific Northwest.Charms said that graffiti had been around in some form since humans have lived in caves; it’s how a community communicates joy, anger, sadness and humor. It’s instant feedback from the public.As Charms noted with cave drawings, graffiti has also been found in ancient Egypt and Rome, which was usually unappreciated public feedback to authorities and crude jokes.The medium is the most significant difference between what Charms is doing at the Diamond Knot Brew Pub in Mountlake Terrace and an everyday vandal. He is spraying on canvas rather than illegally spraying on a wall.Preserving graffiti art and bringing it into serious consideration are two of the Dogtown Collection’s goals.
During the event, Charms — who won the honor in a regional competition — created an original canvas using only aerosol paint, which was being auctioned online. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Mary’s Place in Seattle, which helps women and families move out of homelessness into more stable situations.
