Stenciler 'Transmit Device' makes transition to galleries

Arriagada started putting up stencils on public walls and signs eight years ago. He soon went by the street moniker Transmit Device, a reference to the walkie-talkies and CB radios he often depicts in his work.

He grew up in Decatur and Atlanta and calls stencil art "eye candy." He compares making the cutouts he spray-paints over to "doing maze puzzles as a kid. You start at one point and try to get out. If you can take any visual and turn it into that, you can make a stencil."

Years ago, he says, graffiti artists often looked down on stencil artists for not having the skills to draw freehand with a spray can. Those tensions have eased.

"In the last few years, I've seen a lot more graffiti artists incorporate stencil into their work," he said. "It's one of those things that comes back around."

Arriagada says some business owners love his stuff, but he still calls the difference between stencil art and vandalism "a fine dance."

"It depends on the degree you take it to. I never try to deliberately destroy a business or city property."

He added, "Either way, it's vandalism, cut and dry."

Arriagada mostly creates stencil art for galleries these days. He had an exhibit a few months ago at Beep Beep Gallery, and he produces shows with other artists at various venues across the city. He also does commercial work and sign painting that uses his street stencil methods.

Still, he was out at 5 a.m. a couple of weeks ago to put up a stencil in Little Five Points.

"It's such a childish thing to be doing," Arriagada said. "But it's turned into something of a business."

His street tour wound through three of the most popular neighborhoods for stencil art: Little Five Points, East Atlanta and the Krog Street tunnel in Cabbagetown.