John Breiner Explores Graffiti and Community in “Vanishing Playgrounds”

Local artist John Breiner gave a talk to Marist College students on Friday, Nov. 1, titled “Vanishing Playgrounds,” which focused on the thriving graffiti scene that once existed in Poughkeepsie, New York. Hosted by English professor Moira Fitzgibbons, the talk coincided with her First Year Seminar course, “Comics Across the Street.”  During the talk, Breiner, a Hudson Valley native, gave a first-hand account of the graffiti subculture in Poughkeepsie that was active from the late ‘90s to the early 2000s. He explained that “writers,” the term used to describe graffiti artists like himself and others, utilized spaces like abandoned factories and tunnels to create their art.  Bringing together people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, Breiner stated that the scene unified people through an art form that allowed them to express themselves. He also emphasized that writing allowed him to find a sense of individuality. “I was doing it because it gave me an identity,” said Breiner. Briener explained that one of the hotspots for writers was the abandoned Western Printing factory. This former printing facility, which was demolished in 1998 and was located on Route 9, produced paperbacks, calendars, comics and a plethora of other printed items. Remnants of...