Did graffiti artists attending world-renowned event go astray in St. Louis?

Organizers of Paint Louis, a festival where graffiti artists from around the world descend on St. Louis, say they don’t have the resources to help with much cleanup after some businesses complained that graffiti defaced their property over the Labor Day weekend. The three-day festival was supposed to enliven the two-mile stretch of the St. Louis flood wall south of the Gateway Arch, along the Mississippi River. But some artists apparently ventured to other canvasses — painting on strictly off-limits places. At least two businesses are crying foul, saying their buildings were spray-painted by graffiti artists.  StilL 630 Distillery on South Fourth Street in downtown St. Louis found graffiti on the business last Saturday morning. Big bubbly letters, the artists’ graffiti signature, marred artwork of liquor bottles displayed on a printed billboard that the distillery had mounted on its front. People are also reading… Artwork showing the labels of products from StilL 630 Distillery on South Fourth Street is defaced by graffiti, photographed on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. The damage happened the same weekend as Paint Louis, an annual event where graffiti artists converge on St. Louis to spray paint art on the Mississippi River flood wall. Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch...