Isn't that done by a local photographer, Aaron Huey,and Shepard Fairey turned them into posters?

FUCK POSTER GIANT!

Poster giant RAPES the Seattle Art scene as hard as they can everyday!
PG has a complete monopoly over all the wooden and metal poles in Seattle. They cover up and rip down any poster that aren't their clients. This company should have been shut down by the City years ago. They knew what they were doing when they covered up that art. The dude that puts up those giant posters has been working for PG for many years. They're so full of shit! The people of Seattle have the right to hang their own posters and they shouldn't have some big company walk on their faces… This has been going on for way too long.

Even if they hadn't just had somebody going around covering up artwork, the way that they use their posters as wallpaper is hideous to look at.

Thank you Jen, for spreading the word! This was such an unfortunate situation. Sadly, it is the iceberg top of a growing situation between the tactics of commerce--verses the people who live in large cities including the artists. Most cities realize that art, murals, etc. stop or deeply curtail graffiti and unwanted wallwork--this all falls apart when companies are actually paying to have their advertisements cover every available wall--filthy lucre has an incredible amount of power and will always fight creativity, expression, communication and all the best parts of living in a city like Seattle.

Boycott Poster Giant? I am, and I need your help, hit me up on facebook, or gmail.

I want to hear from Marcus on this, I once saw him hang a poster, and a PG employee happened to be in visual range (near their office), and the PG employee, in his words, "trying to do Marcus a favor", told him that he shouldn't put his posters there (11th and pine), because he would tear it down immediately. I tried to talk with the employee about how fucked that was, but his attitude was that they had priority over everyone else.

Poster Giant does indeed order its employees to tear down or cover every poster they are not paid to put up, either that, or several PG employees I've confronted over the years were all lying and telling the exact same lie: That the owner of PG clearly told them that it was their job to go over everyone that isn't paying them, or else they would be fired; the boss wanted only the giant's posters all over the city, and not anyone else's poster.

If just one person told me this story, I'd say, well, maybe they're just mad at their boss, but when every employee (all while employed by PG - and as I caught them ripping down/ deliberately covering posters of non-clients) I've confronted told me this same story, I just cannot fathom how different employees over the last seven years could have been lying, I mean, did they all get together and work on a story? I don't think so.

I suppose utility poles are fair game, as public property, but private buildings like the one papered over in Pioneer Square -- does PG get permission from the property owner first? If not, it's just rampant vandalism and the owner ought to sue for damages. And the police should cite them for vandalism.

From a Seattle Institution, Larry Reid:

"I don't have much to add to what's been said here about this particular incident. However, Poster Giant is continually insensitive to independent artists, musicians and community activists throughout the entire city. They routinely instruct their employees to cover all handbills with their own, even when posted on public utility poles. The small creative enterprises in Georgetown that can't afford the services of Poster Giant post their own handbills, only to have them unceremoniously torn down by Poster Giant tough guys, who then threaten me when I ask them to be sensitive to community interests. I've been posting notices of art exhibitions, music shows, and other cultural events since I entered the field in 1978 with Rosco Louie gallery in Pioneer Square. I was active in the long effort to overturn the poster ban in Seattle in the 90s. I don't know Barbara Mitchell. I'll accept that she cares for the local arts community. The company she represents, however, does not. They have repeatedly demonstrated all they care about is money."

- Larry Reid

@10

I want to get your story out there, you deserve to be heard and what the owner subjected you to as an employee is just plain wrong. Contact me, I'm organizing a boycott of PG and need some help, and some real stories from past employees. I can guarantee that I will keep your name confidential unless I receive your explicit permission.

Hit me up on facebook, or at scratchmasterjoe@gmail.com

"Beyond recuperation"? Huh? Did the posters actually damage the murals? Because the wording of every story about this just says they were covered, implying that they would be back to normal as soon as the posters were removed. Can we get some clarification on this?

yeah, what's his nickname? Dirty Doug? A real piece of shit, and only out to make a buck. I was in Seattle in the biz for several years and saw time and time again both in person and via friends his bullshit practices. I would be shocked if anyone comes out in support of that asshole that isn't currently working for him.

also: ask any venue manager/publicist in town, and it's either going to be "no comment" or more fodder.

Of course Barbara Mitchell works for Poster Giant.

Everybody who has a beef with PG, and that's obviously a very large number, should adopt a pole where they live or work, and then every day remove all the PG posters they install on it. Several times a day if necessary.

Sometimes you have to fight ugly with ugly.

So how's the investigation going?

Poster Giant is very aware of what they do, yet they do it anyway. Same goes for your contributor and their spokesperson Barbara Mitchell. A perfect match!

JG asks: What is your experience with posterGIANT?

I did occasional in-store jobs with PG for around two years. The outdoor gigs and guerrilla campaigns, which involved wallpapering the sides of buildings and other structures, was not appealing to me - I passed on those. Besides an odd Sounders banner-hang off a bridge with a handful of others, I did nothing else besides 11x17 posters (some larger) and handbills inside mostly local businesses. I was occasionally refused permission to put up a poster, and the only incident overall that might be described as an ugly or threatening reaction by staff, was at a Wallingford Starbucks. That's just one out of the dozens of these jobs I did, 100 posters per.

I liked my posterGIANT experience. After a while I got the routine (poster placement in 100 shops, taking photos of placements and keeping lists as verification to client) to 8-10 hours. I was courteous and chatty with most store owners/staff, and almost always felt welcomed. I could also be in and out in a minute or less. Through the course of postering everywhere in Seattle, I became more familiar with the city over just a few months than I had over the last two decades. Few other benefits, of course, other than the monotony that allowed for daydreaming, plotting a new creative venture, or just clearing my head. There were times when I absolutely loved the "job." I felt connected to the city in a way I never have, yet sort of invisible. Don't think I'd do it again, though, but who knows.

The pay was $150-$200 a job, depending on the location. A few people considered the owner, Doug Cox, a ball buster with right wing business ethics, but the couple times I met him, he seemed level headed and cool. The check was always there, on time, no games, and the coordinator guy was consistent, fair, and in my opinion (considering what he had to work with) did a great job, whatever the circumstances. As this is after all poster hanging, there was no shortage of flakes and scammers who passed through, and the coordinator guy was goalie for much bullshit that came his way. I hope he's doing well.

All this said, it's appalling to me that the wheat paste wallpapering thing covered someone's original work of art. Had it been my own work, I would be furious. Overall, I think this kind of "campaigning" is on the lower end of the crass consumerism scale, kind of dystopian-looking, and the chief reason of course I turned down this gig -- even though tempted by the fast, easy, multiple benjies.

The comments here have widened my perspective of not only PG itself, but the whole issue about postering and wallpapering buildings. I don't wish for anyone's small business to take a hit, but it appears the company has upset a lot of folks. Hopefully Doug, Barb, or whoever else might see this thread and try to consider other perspectives.

They will continue this practice until it hurts them. Until then, talking will not work.

Independant artists and musicians in this city follow an unwritten code of conduct, because we all share the poles and the shops, and we're all hopefully trying to enrich the community that is the Seattle music and art scene.

Amongst the unwritten rules:
-Don't cover a poster for a show or event that hasn't happened yet.
-Put them up in an orderly fashion. Make the space look better
-Don't hog a space

Poster giant's business model is based on directly violating these rules. Because they have no code of conducts or ethics with regards to the manner in which they poster, they can, and do, cover everything and everyone, every week. Because there is no city authority that regulates these things, and because any compromise in the manner in which they poster would equate to less money for them, they will not listen to anyone, and no one can stop them.

Poster Giant directly hurts the Seattle music scene, and all types of independent artists in this city. The best way to stop them is to contact their clients, (its easy to see who they are by just looking at the poles in Capitol hill on monday, and let them know how disappointed you are that they use such a service.

I have a few 5 gallon buckets of paste and solid black and yellow posters. Anyone interested in covering all of the PG poster sites?

** Lets Take Action **

I have a few buckets of glue and solid colored posters that I plan on putting up on all of PG's poster locations.

Anyone interested?

People need to stop bitching and realize PG and other advertising agencies make people Pro creative. by using conflict to get people off their ass' and creat the next cool looking poster.
As for the poles has anyone ever notice anybody but Poster Giant cleaning them and the surrounding areas? Atleast once a year Poster giant has a Pole clean up and i'm sure all are invited to help..
Any more questions on postering laws look them up at carbina.resendez@seattle.gov.
Final Ordinance 121038