A cement slab, referred to as the Manette Graffiti Wall, is nestled among trees and foliage along Wheaton Way in Bremerton.

Everyone from youngsters to kids to adults are welcome to bring spray paint cans, paint brushes and other art supplies to decorate the wall. The art consists of remnants of Bremerton’s historic Maple Leaf Tavern, which was demolished in 2014. The two-story concert slab is approximately 140 feet wide with angles and protrusions that act as a canvas for street artists.

The benefits of Bremerton’s art wall are highlighted by what a neighbor told the property owner, said Marie Weichman, an Olympic College art professor. After the tavern was torn down, the neighbor said it became a derelict area where the homeless often camped and used drugs. Once the location was converted to an art wall, it became a colorful place where parents could bring their kids.

Since 2016, owners of the site have given the green light for graffiti artists to express themselves on the wall – often times with murals and designs and sometimes political visuals.

“The wall is a sanctioned place, meaning the owner has given authority for the public to do what they want,” Weichman said. “It gives anyone who wants to do something fun with their friends the opportunity to slap some paint on and have a good time. It actually draws artists from all over Washington, Oregon and California.”

The professor believes the wall reduces unwanted graffiti around the city. “Think about it this way. Kids with their skateboards on a quiet neighborhood street being loud, going up and down people’s driveways or sidewalks; it’s disruptive. Put in a skate park, and they all go to the skate park. This wall does the same thing.”

Someone who also thinks the wall helps reduce graffiti is the city of Bremerton employee responsible for cleaning up unauthorized spray paint markings on public property. “I like the art wall,” said Chance Berthiaume, manager of the city’s Public Works and Utilities. “It gives people an outlet.”

The art haven is well cared for. “There’s the community of graffiti artists who have taken that wall under their wing. They go around and if people go and paint on the wall inappropriately, they’ll quickly cover it up. They want to keep it a positive space, contributing to the neighborhood,” Weichman said.

Since it is a wall open to the public, it is always changing. “The one rule about free walls is you might put your heart into a painting and the very next day someone else has come along and painted it. That is OK. That’s the rule of acceptability,” the art professor said.

Graffiti a crime

Graffiti is a crime in other areas of Kitsap that aren’t sanctioned, said Ione S. George, chief of staff at Kitsap’s prosecutor’s office. There are different levels of the crime, depending on the amount of damage caused. Malicious mischief in the third degree is the most utilized level, a gross misdemeanor that carries up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $5,000.

“Graffiti has become a kind of a popular art in a way,” said Caleb Ferling, co-owner of Cleanstart, a maintenance company based in Fife that does graffiti removal. “Their motivation is recognition, having people see their graffiti. There could be some other things involved like gang tagging or messaging. But, I think a lot of it now is a form of art and people trying to get better at their craft.”

Ferling said most graffiti is done by those in their teens or early 20s.

In Kitsap, Bremerton seems to get hit with graffiti more than other cities. “We probably get calls about graffiti four to five times a month in the warmer months and two to three times during winter months,” said Chance Berthiaume, utility manager for Bremerton’s public works and utilities. His staff removes graffiti on city property.

When a complaint about graffiti is made, the city takes prompt action. “We do respond the same day typically,” Berthiaume said. “If we didn’t handle it, it would show this is an accepted area where you can bring your spray can and mark things up.”

Bremerton responders who deal with cleanup have graffiti-removal kits that can handle minor markings. In such cases, a foam spray is applied that contains a paint-removal component. “Where a bigger attack has occurred, a crew will come out. Typically, they will pressure-wash concrete walls and siding. If pressure washing isn’t an option, then it’s just painted over,” he said.

Bremerton has several graffiti hot spots. “We do have neighborhoods where it’s more of a repeat occurrence. Park amenities, like bathrooms, do get tagged on occasion. Downtown parking garages are also frequent targets,” he said.