ATLANTA — You may have noticed signs popping up across metro Atlanta sporting a bold message. Supporters of the project call it poetry.
SLIDESHOW: Poetic Signs Spark Controversy
However critics say the signs, which add a bit of social commentary to traditional signs like as "We buy ugly houses" or "Build personal wealth," are ugly, illegal and want them taken down. One of the signs reads "Build personal wealth in the comfort of your home. Read to your children."
"I call it roadside haiku," said John Morse, the artist behind the signs.
"We call signs like this, ‘litter on a stick,'" said Peggy Denby of Keep Atlanta Beautiful.
Art Or Litter? Take Poetic Sign Survey Do you believe the artist is creating more litter by posting the poetic signs? Without a doubt ... the signs create more litter No, the signs are creative and I applaud the artist
Denby said the sign maker has been notified to take the signs down or potentially face big fines.
"They sent us an e-mail notifying us that the signs were illegal and we need to remove them and the artist could be fined," said Anne Dennington of Flux Projects, the artist group sponsoring the signs.
But the signs are still up.
Denby said the fines range from $50 to $1,000 per sign.
Morse said the fight over the signs only adds to the poetry.
"Art just doesn't belong only in the museums and only in the galleries. It's proper to have it all around us," said Morse.
Flux Projects said it has contacted the city and is waiting to hear back about next steps.
As for Morse, he'd rather someone steal the signs -- the ultimate compliment he says -- rather than the city take them down.