Graffiti Grandparents: Elderly Street Artists Prove That Urban Street Art Isn't Just For The Young
Just because you're heading for your 70th birthday, doesn't mean you can't grab a spray can a graf up a wall. At least it doesn't in Lisbon, Portugal where an organisation known as LATA 65 run an urban art workshop for seniors, introducing them to the joys of spray painting on walls.
The workshop gives them the tools and finds them a space where they can practice, along with providing tutorials from established streets artists. Age is just a number, is the idea behind the initiative, which teaches them to tag with spray cans, use stencils and run away from the cops (only kidding on that last one).
As well as training them to become the new Banksy, the workshop also helps to address the inter-generational divide and bring some carefree fun into their lives—and it looks like it's working.
It's a highly unusual and interesting initiative and while Lata 65 is probably not the world's coolest graffiti gang it's pretty much guaranteed they'll stand out by playing a totally different kind of music than any other street art crew around while they graf (sorry, 'brighten') up a wall.
You can find out more about LATA 65 on Facebook and follow their activities on Instagram.
LATA 65 | OP LX - S. Domingos de Benfica _ day/dia 02 ? photo by | Rui Gaiola / LATA 65 #lata65 #lata_65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #elderly #seniors #saodomingosdebenfica #lisboa
LATA 65 | OP LX - S. Domingos de Benfica _ day/dia 02 - D. Libânia (84) that LOVED the experience ? photo by | Rui Gaiola / LATA 65 #lata65 #lata_65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #elderly #seniors #saodomingosdebenfica #lisboa
LATA 65 | OP LX - S. Domingos de Benfica _ day/dia 02 photo by | Rui Gaiola / LATA 65 #lata65 #lata_65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #elderly #seniors #saodomingosdebenfica #lisboa
LATA 65 | OP LX - Penha de França _ day/dia 02 photo by | Pedro Sadio / LATA 65 #lata65 #lata_65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #elderly #seniors #penhadefranca #lisboa
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ Walk & Talk | Public Art Festival of Azores - 2014.july pic by @ruipbsoares #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #walkandtalk #azores #streetart #streetartportugal #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 01 - 2015.january pic by @ruigaiola #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #walkandtalk #azores #streetart #streetartportugal #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 02 - 2015.january pic by @ruigaiola #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #oplx #lisboa #lisbon #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 02 - 2015.january pic by @ruigaiola #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #oplx #lisboa #lisbon #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 03 - Olivais 2015.may pic by Rafael Marchante / Reuters #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #oplx #lisboa #lisbon #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 03 - Olivais 2015.may pic by Rafael Marchante / Reuters #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #oplx #lisboa #lisbon #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 03 - Olivais 2015.may pic by Rafael Marchante / Reuters #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #oplx #lisboa #lisbon #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 03 - Olivais 2015.may pic by Rafael Marchante / Reuters #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #oplx #lisboa #lisbon #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 03 - Olivais 2015.may pic by Rafael Marchante / Reuters #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #oplx #lisboa #lisbon #urbanartportugal
LATA 65 | Urban Art Workshop for Seniors _ OPLX 2013/14 action 03 - Olivais 2015.may pic by Rafael Marchante / Reuters #lata65 #wool_urbanartfestival #workshop #urbanart #graffiti #graff #seniors #oldies #activeseniors #oplx #lisboa #lisbon #urbanartportugal