Simon Hawk, local graffiti artist and owner of JJ by Maxwell, 109 S. Pugh St., will be approaching the State College Borough Council Friday to introduce plans for a public graffiti space.

Hawk was charged with eight counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief for vandalizing private property with graffiti by the State College Police Department. He plans to work with Borough Council to amend a graffiti ordinance proposal, he said.

"I don't want to see people go down the road that I did. I think I lost some respect with some people," he said, adding that he hopes a public forum would allow the art form to gain respect within the community.

State College Police Sgt. Keith Robb said graffiti is allowed in the borough with a property owner's consent.

"If the people want to express themselves through painting and such that's pretty much constitutionally protected, as long as it's not considered obscene," Robb said.

Currently there is no graffiti ordinance that is in effect within the borough, Cynthia

Hanscom, borough secretary, said.

However, at a Feb. 5 Borough Council meeting, a graffiti removal ordinance was proposed that would require property owners to remove graffiti from their grounds within 14 calendar days; owners would be fined if they did not comply.

According to the proposed ordinance, graffiti is defined as anything that is affixed to public or private property and "was not authorized in advance by the owner or occupant of the property."

Currently, public artwork, such as murals, is permitted downtown, Hanscom said.

Hawk said the idea of a public area legalized for graffiti would help other artists express themselves without facing the consequences that he did.

The proposed public graffiti area might progress more quickly if it is business-sponsored, Hawk said, adding that he plans to visit local businesses to see if public graffiti is something they would be interested in.

"I feel like something that is very controversial, like this subject, will not come to fruition if we have to use public dollars to sponsor it," Hawk said.

He said he is planning on addressing the council at Friday's work session to see if they will receive his proposal.

"I would like to find out what their position on the issue is. I assume it's negative, but I hope there is room for compromise," he said.

Borough Council President Cathy Dauler has said she is opposed to the idea of a public space for graffiti.

"I certainly think it's a really terrible idea," she said. "Graffiti is defacing public or private property. It is a crime."