A request from

several local teens for a city-sanctioned place to create "extreme

art" better known as graffiti has gotten support from Peachtree City

Mayor Steve Brown.

Brown believes

the three youths who met with him over a month ago are serious about their

art and just want a place to create it without getting in trouble.

"They

said, 'We just want to do the right thing,'" Brown said. "...

They take it very seriously as an art form. They're real neat kids."

The teens at

first wanted a fixed public structure to create the graffiti on, but Brown

came up with an alternate proposal. The city could use wooden posts and

plywood to give the young artists a large "easel" for a canvas

they can use for their creations, Brown said.

Brown compared

the concept to the city's original idea to have a half-pipe skateboard

ramp so local skateboarders could have a legal place to ride instead of

causing problems in shopping centers where they weren't wanted.

"We're

looking for fun and productive activities," Brown said.

The area could

be located behind the police station for security purposes and there would

be some regulations, including a ban on any profanities, Brown said.

Brown also

promised the young artists that if their work passes muster on certain

themes, he would endeavour to get the artwork displayed in an appropriate

place.

"If they

do one on Easter, I'll get a church to display it," Brown said. "Or

if they do one on 9-11 (the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11), maybe we could

put it up at a fire station."

In return,

the youths promised to recruit as many others as they can to participate

in an effort to help cut down on graffiti throughout the city, Brown said.

Brown said

the materials to create the oversized easel would be inexpensive and the

location behind the police station could be monitored with the police

department's remote camera system.

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