European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Story and photos by John Millar Wurzburg Bureau there were times when Mirco Betz might have been arrested for practising his form of Art. Some of the older generation  in horror when they see his paintings. Some have threatened to Call the police  see him at work. \ that s because Betz uses a Spray paint can instead of a Brush and the City of Wurzburg Germany As his canvass. Betz said he started painting Graffiti in 1983 during what he called the Quot break dance Boom inspired by the movie subway Art the 2sryear-Oid Wurzburg native says his first paintings were done at Home in his father s garage. He started out Quot Only to write words like rap and music words with no meaning by themselves Quot he says. Quot later Wurzburg artist s Street paintings gain acceptance we wanted to go  As a dedicated Quot sprayer Quot Betz would eventually get a Chance to make a Legal Neon coloured statement. He recently completed a Mammoth mural on a Concrete retaining Wall that had the Blessing of we re Burgmayer Jurgen Weber. But that came after years of Graffiti style. Trial and error with paintings that he if caught might or might not have been arrested for creating. / the shaggy haired Betz Wil l not come right out and admit that he has defaced City property with his paintings. Rather he says Only that illegal Graffiti is a lonely nighttime. Job with Little Reward save personal satisfaction that an artist s creation is being displayed. / still the works of Betz and his friends can be found in places such As on pylons hidden beneath Highway Bridges. One such out of sight creation painted by Betz and two friends can be found under the massive Bridge that carries Highway b-19 across the main River into Wurzburg the work covers four sets of pylons one of which Betz dedicated to the late Jim Morrison of the Rock n Roll band the doors. I Betz and his cohorts consider themselves serious artists trying to express themselves though he realizes Many a consider his Graffiti the work of common vandals. Quot i working everyday on myself Quot Betz says. And even while constantly practising and experimenting with his Art he says there s always someone better. It s a terrible thing a you make a picture and say that s perfect then you make another and say hey now that s perfect Quot you have to learn every Day every week every year sometimes you make a picture and you re proud of / yourself and go to another City and they re better. That s Why Many do it illegally to show other sprayers what you can do. If you can make Money spraying Graffiti that s the Best thing Quot. \. Betz was making Money before he picked up a Spray can however he spent three years As a technical craftsman Quot you know architecture straight lines Quot he said drawing a straight line in the air with his Index Finger. Betz also workes with handicapped children and later became a disc jockey fora Wurzburg nightclub called the Airport. A a a a a. 4 stripes Magazine Dee Ember 20, 1990