Editorial Voice

StreetWorks – Commercial Graffiti

Jose D. Duran This mural is brought to you by the Ford Motor Co. So as some of you pointed out last week, the mural I photographed on NE 14th Street was nothing more than a paid advertisement by the Ford Motor Co. I revisited the mural today and you...
By Jose D. DuranJuly 9, 2008
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Jose D. Duran

This mural is brought to you by the Ford Motor Co.

So as some of you pointed out last week, the mural I photographed on NE 14th Street was nothing more than a paid advertisement by the Ford Motor Co. I revisited the mural today and you were right. Can’t say I’m surprised. (Cue savvy PR talk). What better way to tap into the youth than communicating to them in a familiar way?

The “artwork” is trying hawk the new Ford Focus to a Hispanic audience, even pointing to the viewer to visit fordenespanol.com and instructing them to manejalo — the Focus that is.

This has piqued my interest in graffiti work used for advertisement. Does anyone know of any other examples around the city that do this?

– Jose D. Duran

Jose D. Duran is the former senior music editor of Miami New Times. His work has also appeared in publications likeVice, Billboard, and Spin. He’s earned numerous accolades including placing first for Weekly Newspaper Contest: Business Reporting from the Florida Press Association in 2020; placing third for the Writing: Light Feature from the Florida Press Club in 2019; and placing third in Weekly Newspaper Contest: Best Obituary from the Florida Press Association in 2015.

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