The Art of the Urban Gallery

Having returned freshly inspired by an amazing trip in recent history in which I alternately saw the most awesome non-tunnel place I have ever seen (at least this summer, and the competition has been demolished) and sat on a curb waiting for a AAA truck to come rescue me, I came to realize that graffiti, regardless of where you go, graffiti is very much part of the landscape. Even though you think you're exploring a completely fresh place, the chances are very high that you will see some form of human presence in the form of a highly evolved and sophisticated form of Word-Art and even Clip-Art.

If you are a "hater" and cannot stand to see public works intolerably befouled by any form of paint except that which covers the work of others (in a process otherwise known as buffing), I cordially invite you to vacate the premises. If you're not, or are even in doubt about the true nature of what lies behind graffiti, read on. In the world of graffiti art, there are people who are excellent and beyond excellent in the work that they do. However, just as with every area of artistic pursuit, there are people who are terrible, destructive, and befoul places they find with terrible and offensive trash. Unlike other areas of artistic pursuit, however, there does not seem to be a learning curve of any sort: the people who are good at what they do have always been and always will be good at it, and those who aren't will never be.

The main reason behind this is the fact that the artists who create the real masterpieces plan out their next works. Sometimes you find traces of such planning on scraps of paper carelessly left behind at the actual locations, other times you can find evidence of the planning process online. If you see enough of a certain artist's work (which you may if you keep your eyes open), you can even begin to recognize styles and methods. Strip away any bias you may have had against people defacing public property and you might find yourself appreciating that some of these artists are very good or even masterful. In any event, the hardest places to access are where these people like to go... so the chances are that the harder a place is to access, the better the quality of the work you will find.

Those who place little or no effort into the work they do are consign themselves to a different fate. I have no respect and even a little disgust for graffiti drones who plaster their so-called "tags" up in different places ranging from the mirror of public bathroom to the window of a local bus. This trash as I like to think stems from another class of people altogether: the stereotypical street thug who thinks little and works less. The more places this kind of rubbish they can plaster their territorial marking, the better, but in the long run such behavior merely serves the entire graffiti community a bad reputation for trashing things. However, this kind of art is usually the most visible and accessible... so it may be that finding good work and knowing about it is a snobbish activity. Perhaps, but snobs don't usually get dirty in pursuit of art.

Anyways, this is just my two cents on the topic of graffiti. Being an accolyte, or a relative accolyte, I am quite sure there is much more I have yet to discover or become aware of. In any case, you're bound to find graffiti wherever you explore... so meditate on that.

On that note, I'm signing off.

I promise a real story of swashbuckling adventure... soon.

Until next time!

Tunneling: the barebone basics

Every explorer has a basic equipment outfit; exploring tunnels and abandoned places is no exception. Although safety officials would have you believe that exploring tunnels is basically a sure fire way of killing yourself, tunnel exploring with a good bit of common sense can actually be a relatively safe, cheerful, and even exhilarating experience. Hence, the most important tool to bring with you is common sense and a good head upon your shoulders. If you don't think you fulfill those requirements, grow up then come back.

When exploring the unknown and more specifically tunnels, the inherent risks of exploration are all there: no one is watching your back, you don't know who you might meet, there are obstacles and hazards you cannot see or simply don't notice... these things are all dangers. Some of them might kill you, others will just give you a really bad shock. Keeping your head on your shoulders and your mind in the clear is the best decision in most of these situations. When you hear horrific stories of people dying while exploring new places, don't panic. Thousands of people die every year in traffic accidents but I would be willing to bet most people drive without the weight of that fear on their shoulders. With that disclaimer behind me, I think I can write safely without anyone getting too angry if they are dumb enough to simply recognize danger and avoid it.

I suppose you'd like a list of what I bring when delving into the underworld. Here it goes, the long and tedious equipment list:

• Knee height rain boots
• Two flashlights (one main, one backup) -headlamps worked fine until I lost mine
• Jacket
• Camera
• ID (important for the authorities)
• Friends (at least one)
• A means of protecting myself
• A hat
• Patience, common sense, and a watchful eye
• A way of getting around (bike, you name it... walking is good too)
• Gloves
• A tolerance for awful smells and squishy things under my feet...

What I would like to bring, but don't yet have:

• A camera tripod (because most of these spots take better photos with longer exposure times)

I guess I should explain some of the more unknown aspects of this list. Two flashlights? Common sense should provide for that: if one breaks or runs out of batteries, you aren't stuck in the dark... unless you have night vision. ID? For those times when you just get caught: you want proof that you are a real person, especially if you live in Arizona and look vaguely Hispanic. Protection? Sometimes you'll meet bad guys. Don't worry, it doesn't happen often. Actually, it has never happened to me. You can't go wrong here... I have met people who brought a gun with them. I draw the line at pepper spray and a box cutter. Patience? Sometimes, finding places can get pretty frustrating, especially if you live in the boonies. Don't despair! There are always good places to explore. Just keep an eye out and you will be rewarded. Gloves and a tolerance for awful smells and unknown substances? Sometimes you can't be too picky about where your feet and hands go...

On that note, I'm signing off.

Until next time!

Welcome to the Tunnel Blog

Hello, and welcome to The Tunnel Blog, a blog of exploration, adventure, danger and discovery. Why "The Tunnel Blog"? Tunnels represent the glories of exploration and adventure in a world that is increasingly overexposed to the cameras and eyes of unsatisfied onlookers. Exploring tunnels is a way in which we attempt to escape that dreary monotony into a world traveled by few and desired by many.

Exploration is the game we dreamed of all our childhoods and at last we have an opportunity to tell you of our exploits and misadventures. If you're wondering where I'm going with this, wonder no more: this is a chronicle of urban adventures with all the details save the location, because finding these spots and discovering them for yourself is an experience we will not take away from you.

Lastly, I will update this whenever we have a trip or when I discover something worth exploring. Urban exploration is the last frontier that requires only your eyes, feet, and a flashlight, and I intend to expose you to the wonders of this new world. I leave you with this:














Welcome to a new world.