Baylor Street Art Wall

Baylor Street Art Wall in Austin, Texas. This space may look like a random vandalized area, but it was actually donated by a local company for a certain period of time precisely so local artists could have an outlet for their art.

That said, there has been no safety-proofing of the space -- climbing up the wall presents all sorts of dangers, such as falling on random slabs of concrete, or being snagged by the huge wires protuding from the walls.

There isn't much of the prettiness and whimsy you would expect here from Austin.

There is, however, a considerate -- almost surprising, really, when you consider how the earthquake and its aftermath has largely faded from world consciousness -- tribute to the victims of the Tohoku Earthquake.

Someone has written, "Graffiti is a gateway crime."