At149st New York City Graffiti

KAVES designs label for 2011 Beaujolais Nouveau

2011-12-30T08:06:00.000-08:00

The marketing director of the firm where I work gave me the most thoughtful holiday gift. She knows about my passion for graffiti and street art and gave me a bottle of

2011 Beaujolais Nouveau. The label just happens to have been designed by Brooklyn's own "Mr. KAVES". And so the bottle sits in my fridge. The New York Daily News recently ran an article on KAVES and the design.

-- Eric Deal

STYLE WARS REVISITED

2011-11-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Henry Chalfant, the producer of the film Style Wars just shared some information with me regarding the film and its restoration effort.

Pitchfork features an interview with Mr. Chalfant, Linda Habib the film's line producer and two of the artists featured in the film-- Carlos" MARE 139" Rodriguez, and John "CRASH" Matos.

Read story at Pitchfork.

Support the Style Wars fund raising drive at Kickstarter.

COPS PAINTING GRAFFITI?

2011-10-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Looks like law enforcement in the UK is getting into the street art game.

Saw this on the BBC web site and had to share it.

-- Eric Deal

Gloucestershire Police have stencilled the number of arrests the force has made on streets around Gloucester.

The street stencils, applied at 30 city sites, are to highlight the force's "harder approach" to lawbreakers as part of Operation Scorpion.

Since its launch in September, the countywide operation "aimed at tackling any low-level issues" has led to 102 arrests in Gloucestershire.

Supt Rob Priddy said the stencils were a way to "draw attention to our work".

NEW BOOK: GRAFFITI 365

2011-10-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

I received an advance copy of this book a few months back, but decided to wait till it was available for purchase to blog on it.

This book is unique in that it is perhaps the first book to cover both street art and graffiti effectively. It is written by Jay Edlin aka TERROR 161/JSON, an veteran of New York's subway graffiti movement. He's a cat with a reputation of being difficult to please, so the selection of artists in the book is real cream of the crop -- no scrubs or mid-level players here.

365 covers the artists with succinct and at times witty profiles. The book is a crash course in both street art and graffiti.

In an era where literally thousands of images of graffiti and street art are available in books and on the Internet Graffiti 365 has some rare gems..Don't sleep…Grab it!

www.abramsbooks.com

-- Eric Deal

From the Publisher

About the book

Graffiti 365 delivers the first real insider’s view into the contemporary graffiti and street-art scenes, as well as their antecedents. A fun, wide-ranging survey of the international graffiti movement, this book uses more than 600 rare, previously unpublished, or legendary images to introduce and describe important artists—from Blade to Banksy—and styles—from bubble to wild. Along the way, Graffiti 365 covers different eras, cities, legendary walls and crews, police and public responses to graffiti, and more.

The author of Graffiti 365, J.SON, has been an artist and historian of the graffiti movement for decades—he started writing graffiti in 1973 and retired in 1984. Unparalleled in its breadth and depth of coverage, Graffiti 365 is a wide-angle snapshot of an entire movement.

About the author

Jay “J.SON” Edlin has written for The Source, Blaze, and Mass Appeal. He recently was interviewed for Jon Naar’s Birth of Graffiti.

Andrew “Zephyr” Witten is the author of Dondi White: Style Master General and has written for Vibe, The Source, and Juxtapoz.

Support KickStart MARE 139 Exhibit

2011-10-19T06:57:00.001-07:00

ARRACK MODERN ART

Presents

Carlos MARE139 Rodriguez

STRUCTURAL INTERVENTIONS

Help Kickstart this amazing exhibition by donating your support and receiving art in return. I can’t do this with out the help of our creative community and our supporters so help spread the Kickstarter url-http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/johnwendelbo/mare139-graffiti-sculpture-the-carrack or donate to the cause.

The more support we receive the more expansive the effort will become to advance the exhibition in the gallery and public space. This will be a groundbreaking effort for my sculptural graffiti works and I hope you all can be a part of it. My collaboration with John Wendelbo will push into new boundaries and we want you all to own a part of it by becoming advocates for the show.

What are we doing?

a LIVE 28 foot long, 8 foot tall graffiti and stencil mural outside the Carrack on Parrish Street Saturday Nov 19th: you, your kids, somebody gets to bring home a part of the wall, and it’s all during Durham ART WALK.

What’s the deal?

The wall mural has been subdivided into a bunch of panels of different sizes, some 1’x1’ and up to 4’x8’. We are pre-selling only blank panels ahead of time to pay for the show (we have a seriously wild installation for you that week end indoors at the Carrack): you can purchase a panel, you have no idea what will be on it besides the excellent Art of any and all MARE139 / WENDELBO collaborations. What you do know is that it’s going to be awesome, raw, genuine and authentic. Of course panel sales stop before the beginning of the performance, wouldn’t be fair otherwise! We also DO NEED to pre-sell $1000 within the next two weeks to make sure all goes smoothly.

Hi Arts NYC pledges to match $2,500 towards the show if we meet that goal!

To get more info, view a video of a 3D sculpture we will be using as the basis for one of our lay-ups, or to buy a panel now and visit our kickstarter page here! (simply follow the ‘back this project’ button once you’re there).

See you on Saturday November 19th downtown Durham at 111 west Parrish Street!

NEW JERSEY GRAFFITI

2011-10-16T05:48:00.000-07:00

I'd recently been on New Jersey Transit and it looks like there is some effort to get some graffiti moving on it. I saw remnants of pieces buffed off the train exteriors. It felt like almost ever other train had a car with a buffed painting. I even saw some incomplete pieces… as if the writers got raided or the train pulled out of the yard before they could finish. The system also has plenty of track side pieces. It's not New York 1976, but, hey, it made my day more interesting!

Eric DEAL CIA

THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN GRAFFITI

2011-10-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Like I said, I haven't been blogging much...Back July I attended a book launch party for The History of American Graffiti, Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon's latest book. It was held at The Hole, Kathy Grayson's new gallery located on the Bowery in lower Manhattan. The big draw at the event was the presence of a group of New York's pioneering graffiti artists who are featured in the book. TAKI 183, SJK 171, SNAKE1 MIKE 171, LAZAR, ROCKY 184 and others signed books. The event drew more folks from art world circles than graffiti writers, but many were in attendance, like PAID 3, REVOLT, ZEPHYR, TERROR 161, WANE ONE, IVORY TM7, T-KID 170, DOC TC5 and giants such as LSD OM and FDT 56.

About the book

The scope of the book is quite vast, in fact if feels a bit like an encyclopedia. It covers modern graffiti from its beginnings in Philadelphia and New York but also touches on earlier movements like freight train monikers and Cholo graffiti. What really makes this book stand out is that it sheds light on many cities that have been generally overlooked like Kansas City, Cleveland, New Orleans and others. My personal favorite part of the book is the photo of a tag by JULIO 204, one of New York's earliest writers.. To the best of my knowledge it is the first and only book to publish such a photo.

The History of American Graffiti --The big picture!

Eric DEAL CIA

From the Publisher

The History of American Graffiti By Roger Gastman; Caleb Neelon, Harper Design, Hardcover

JAMES TOP HIP HOP USA SNEAKER BATTLE

2011-10-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

JAMES TOP is constantly putting together unique events. For the past year he has been working with HIP HOP USA on series of graffiti art battles set on a pretty unique canvas— sneakers. In July I dropped by one of the battles.

Organized by Terry Nelson for Hip Hop USA, and curated by JAMES TOP, the exhibitions include photographs of the artists' original paintings on subways and hand painted recreations of the paintings on Hip Hop USA's white canvas sneakers.

Artists represented in the exhibition include: STAY HIGH 149, JAMES TOP, JESTER, SPAR TFP, KING 2, KING BEE, SLAVE, TON, AZ ONE, LAVA I & II, PASER aka Popmaster Fabel, SHADOW TR, ALE ONE and many others.

I vibed on some cool music and art chilled with JAMES and my man REE MTA, but the a real highlight of the evening was meeting KING 2 for the first time. KING was one of my childhood heros. During the mid 70s he ran with guys like TRACY 168 and PEL. He banged out a lot of great pieces on the IRT 4 line. He was one of the best of the era, so I expected a bit of arrogance, but the cat was totally humble. What a day!

STREET ARTIST JR IN NEW YORK

2011-10-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

I have been busy with personal stuff, so I did not blog much over the summer, but now that my time is freeing up a bit I figured I'd share a few things.

Over the summer the French street artist visited New York City. JR is best known for pasting large scale portraits in public spaces. JR is the 2011 recipient of a TED Prize. www.tedprize.org The New York Times ran a great article on him last year.

Here are photos from his 2011 visit to New York City.

KING KASE RIP from ERIC DEAL

2011-08-15T10:41:00.001-07:00

My head is spinning with this news so I really don't know what to say, but I feel the need t share a few spontaneous thoughts.

KASE 2 was by far one of the most amazing people I have ever met. In a childhood accident he lost an arm and a leg. Despite that fact he became one of the most accomplished, respected and feared individuals in the artistically competitive and physically demanding world of graffiti.

Back in the days graffiti writers gathered at the 149th Street writers' bench to socialize. KASE was the type of guy who could pack the bench or clear it. As one of the movement's most innovative and influential style masters, young writers would flock to him in admiration, but he was also a very intimidating figure, known for his fighting ability and street hardened ways. As they say on the street "He had cats shook." so writers might also scatter upon his arrival.

My fondest memories of his work are the outstanding whole cars he produced with his partner BUTCH 2 on the 2 and 5 lines back in the mid 1970s. They really set the bar high for how style and concept cars should be done. Those joints truly got me lifted!!

During the course of writing Graffiti New York I interviewed one of New York's best-known graffiti cops, Detective Kevin Hickey and he shared memories about writers who made a memorable impression on him.

Hickey recalled receiving a call from another cop who shared a story about chasing a one armed youth who left him in the dust in a foot chase. Hickey laughed at him and said” I’m sorry to hear you couldn't keep up with this kid, but I'm also sorry to tell you that not only did he have just one arm, he also had just one leg." For me that summed it all up---KASE was extraordinary.

Much like Muhammad Ali, KASE was a boastful and charismatic showman and much like Muhammad Ali, he had unquestionable ability to back up every word. He ranks among greats such as PHASE, RIFF, NOC, BILLY, PART, CHAIN and DONDI.

He was the King of what? THE KING of STYLE!!!

I extend my condolences to his family, The TFP Family and his extended family of artists across the globe who morn his loss.

ERIC DEAL

KING KASE RIP from SHIRT KING PHADE

2011-08-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday SHIRT KING PHADE reached out to me with the news that his friend and mentor the legendary KASE 2 TFP had passed on.

PHADE shared his thoughts and this photo.

"As one of Kase 2's first born when it comes to what the kids call today 'Swag' I respectfully send out my condolences out to the Jeffrey Brown family. Me and Kase met in 1978, We quickly became friends and he began to mentor me as his protege. We fought side by side in the street, Kase respected me not as an underling but almost as an equal. he helped shape and groom my aerosol art career in its early stages. He always had perception as to what was next.He is truly 'King of Style'. Kase gave me an outline in 1978 of my name 'Phade'. He was impressed that I was able to scale his art professionally, and proportionately so we became piecing partners. Wether it was one of his moniker names or our names, we painted hard. Kase took me to clubs like Celebrity club, Harlem World, Renaissance ballroom, Audubon Ballroom. He enabled me to meet the heroes of the day such as Busy Bee and Kool dJ AJ. The Moore House Crew we called ourselves. That was Kase's family he always mentioned Dee,Glenn, Crusader Rob, Al boogie,Tray-Bag, Gill Seville etc. We became his extended family. He taught me how to stand up as a man and protect my artistic ability by any means. So many words can describe Jeff pka Kase 2 The Fantastic Partners. When Butch came home he embraced me also. They together embraced my team Lil Seen, Doze, Daze, Lady Pink, Harold, LC, EC3, CUE, he showed us all how to be and conduct ourselves as 'Kings" . There were collaborations that only pictures can bring bck the memories of those nights at Gunhill rd lay-up and bussin' 6 whole cars. Kase/Butch, Phade/Agent, kel139/Cos, Mare/shy 147,piecing with Skeme/Dez, Lil Karado/SO, Jap 115, Moet, Gnome etc. Kase was unselfish, willing to teach and always opened his heart and doors for others. I have been so blessed to meet and be a pivotal part of this mans life that meant so much to others. 33 Years of knowing a true King of Style I can brag about that, but missing Kase is gonna be hard. I wear my crown proudly and do daily watch the throne, that was Kases life....letting you know who the true Kings of Style are and whose crowns are on tight.

Thanks to a mentor, brother, historian, fighter, artist supreme, To the King Of Style thanks for the memories and the Love of the life game we are in Hip Hop."

Edwin Sacasa aka King Phade the one and only

Photo: Kase2, Butch 2, EC3, Cue 1979 TFP) Copyright/Edwin Sacasa (Phade 1998 Ultimate Hip Hop Experience collection)

2011-07-15T13:53:00.001-07:00

Mr. Kaves: “New York, New York: Big City of Dreams”

Hionas Gallery
89 Franklin Street, 212-274-9003
Tribeca / Downtown
July 15 - August 13, 2011
Opening: Thursday, July 14, 6 - 8 PM

All You See is….Sex in the City!

2011-07-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

I can't recall how I stumbled onto this photo, but the instant I saw it I fell in love with— not so much for the style, but for what it signifies. I do not know who did the car or when it was done (has to be post 2001 because of the American flag on the car). I also have not ruled out the possibility that it is a Photoshop hoax, but it speaks volumes as to the influence of the 1983 documentary film Style Wars, as well as cultural importance of painting on subway cars. (Directed by Tony Silver and Produced by Henry Chalfant, Style Wars is widely recognized as a catalyst and a blue print for graffiti art movements across the world. )

This painting on a New York City subway car is reference to dialogue in the film Style Wars, where the artist SKEME describes a painting he did on the subway. "All you see is.. Crime in the City" . The painting here "All you see is... Sex in the City" is a tribute to SKEME's work with a clever tie in the HBO television series Sex in the City.

This painting could have easily been done on a wall and those in the know would have still got the joke, but the artist chose a Subway Car—a real prize, especially in an era where the subways are relatively graffiti free.

Hey, hoax or not I love the concept!

The 5th Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle Partners With The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

2011-07-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

The 5th Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle Partners With The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

Crime in the Museums

2011-04-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

The fact that Deitch's Art in the Streets exhibition was criticized from this angle was predictable. Though I am in complete disagreement with Ms. MacDonald's position, I am posting a link to the City Journal article. However, I am compelled to preface it with the fact—for those unfamiliar with her— that she is the author of many intellectual gems such as" The Myth of Racial Profiling.

Crime in the Museums

America’s first major graffiti show celebrates urban sabotage.

By Heather MacDonald

Graffiti Tour

2011-04-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a private graffiti and street art tour of New York City. My guest was Raphaela Platow, Director and Chief Curator of the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. I tried to pack as much as I could into a few hours of cold weather.

We started off in the East Village, taking in SERF, ADEK, Shepard Fairy, Kenny Sharf, and FAUST and an abundance of others.

We also dropped by the Dorian Grey Gallery on East 9th street to see Angel Ortiz aka LA2's exhibition. We almost did not get in,. We caught Owner, Christopher Pusey on his way out, but he was kind enough to postpone what was doing and allow us to view the work.

The paintings tied in closely to the visual language Ortiz developed along side Keith Haring during an extensive period of collaboration between the two in the early 1980s.

The gallery, a new hot spot East Village also recently featured an extensive collection of drawings by John CRASH Matos.

Next we hit the streets of Brooklyn and peeped works by WANE ONE, EWOK, KEO , TATU XMEN, OS GEMEOS and others.

The highlight of the tour was a visit to LEE Quinones' studio where he was in the midst of painting work that will feature prominently in Jeffrey Deitch's "Art in the Streets" exhibition at MOCA in Los Angeles.

It was a real privilege to be among the first to set eyes on the work. IT'S OFF THE METER KID!! but sorry I cannot post photos until LEE gives the green light, which perhaps will be after it is unveiled at MOCA later this month.

Finally we stepped off to Queens and checked in at the 5 Pointz. For those that don't know it factory building situated on a full square city block that is covered entirely with graffiti art. It is billed as the largest outdoor exhibition of graffiti art in the world.

Unfortunately 5 Pointz's existence is under threat. It was recently announced that there plans underway to develop the location into hi-rise luxury housing.

5 Pointz artistic director Jonathan MERES Cohen is currently engaging support to save the location.

Peace!

Graffiti vs. Street Art 2

2011-04-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

It great to see this wall alive with art again. Back in the 1982 Keith Haring painted it. This was followed in 1983 with a collaborative work by Haring, DAZE (Chris Ellis), NOC 167 (Melvin Samuals), LA2 (Angel Ortiz ), Kenny Scharf , the late A ONE (Anthony Clark).

For decades the wall remained relatively inactive except for the occasional throw up (which I loved) or advertisement . Then in 2008, Deitch Projects , the Haring Foundation and Tony Goldman of Goldman Properties facilitated a reproduction of Haring's 1982 mural in celebration of what would have been Haring's 50th birthday.

Since then, thanks to Jeffrey Deitch and Tony Goldman the wall has seen a series of murals related to Graffiti and street art. It has featured works by Brazil's OS GEMEOS (Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo), San Francisco's TWIST (Barry MCGee), Shepard Fairey, a memorial to SACE (Dash Snow) and most recently a work by Kenny Scharf.

Most of the works survived without incident, but the Fairey and Scharf suffered repeated attacks. They got plastered with throw ups.

Perhaps it is personal or perhaps it is the graffiti vs. street art beef. Graffiti and street art has not exactly co-existed in peace. A lot of street artists are oblivious to the street code and often disrespect graffiti. On the other hand a lot of writers see street artists as pushovers and just don't respect street art one bit.

Maybe I was being naive and too idealistic in thinking that given Fairey and Scharf's longevity in public space and track record of collaborating with writers that they would be given a higher measure of respect than the typical street artist.

Either way hats off to Scharf for battling back.

PS I'd Love to see LEE Quinones bust one out with FUTURA on this wall when MOCA LA "Art in the Streets" comes to the Brooklyn Museum next year… anybody listening? LOL

Peace!

Eric Deal

Graffiti vs. Street Art 1

Graffiti vs. Street Art: TEAM ROBBO vs. BANKSY

EWOK ONE WEBSITE RELAUNCH

2010-11-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

EWOK Blazin' out of Brooklyn with a fresh shine on his web site.
Dope content as always.
www.mr-ewokone.com

Cincinnati street art and graffiti

2010-08-31T18:26:00.001-07:00

I was recently invited to participate on a panel on street art and graffiti at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati.

The panel was held in conjunction with the Shepard Fairey Supply and Demand exhibition. The discussion was moderated by CAC director Raphaela Platow. My fellow panelists were Pedro Alonzo, curator of the Supply and Demand exhibit; Christian Strike, founder of the Country Club Gallery in Oakley and Iconoclast Productions.

The Supply and Demand exhibition was amazing. Fairey also did a series of murals throughout the city as an extension of the exhibition. During my down time I wandered the downtown area and grabbed a few shots of local graffiti and the Fairey murals.

Street Art and Graffiti Panel Discussion

2010-08-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

The last day to see Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand is Sunday, August 22. To celebrate the final weeks of the exhibition, the CAC is offering two new programs:

Monday, August 16 at 6pm
Contemporary Arts Center Cincinnati

Street Art Panel Discussion
Join us on Monday, August 16 as Raphaela Platow, the CAC’s Alice & Harris Weston Director and Chief Curator, moderates an engaging panel discussion on street art. Experts on both street art and graffiti will discuss the role of these art forms in today’s society. The panel discussion will be followed by a question and answer period and is open to the public. Admission is free courtesy of Macy’s Free Mondays.

Panelists:
Pedro Alonzo – Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand curator
Christian Strike – founder, Country Club and Iconclast Productions
Eric Felisbret – graffiti historian; co-founder, at149st.com; author, Graffiti New York

FaireyTrek SCVNGR
Obey the hunt! The CAC has launched an interactive game on the SCVNGR platform to help people explore Cincinnati through the Shepard Fairey murals around town. Smart phone users can find the game at the iPhone App Store or Android Market. Played on a mobile phone, players complete challenges related to the murals in order to earn points, rewards and a unique FaireyTrek badge. Separate Media Alert to follow.

For More Information: Visit http://contemporaryartscenter.org/ or contact us at 513.345.8400

Press Inquiries: LeAnne Anklan lanklan@contemporaryartscenter.org 513.345.8421

LEE Quinones turns 50

2010-08-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a small gathering of friends to celebrate the 50th birthday of the world's oldest teenager, no not Dick Clark.. LEE Quinones.

ERIC HAZE hosted a "Roast of LEE". On hand were friends, artists and actors including Charlie Ahearn, Raquel Cepeda, COCO 144, Martha Cooper, Jane Dickson, FREEDOM, Luis Guzman, Sacha Jenkins, KET, Rosie Perez, Annabella Sciorra, STASH, TERROR 161, Tamara Warren and many others.

Two nine-year-olds rack and bomb

2010-07-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

This story recently ran in the Great Lakes Advocate. It brought to mind a young FUZZ ONE.

Nine-year-old’s graffiti rampage
14 Jul, 2010 09:39 AM
TWO nine-year-old children have been cautioned by police after vandalising the Boronia Park playing fields.

The children stole cans of spray paint from a Breese Parade business between 12.15pm and 1.15pm last Wednesday before making their way to Boronia Park where they graffitied the club house and other property.

It took graffiti buster Ted Bickford 15 hours to remove the damage. The attack on Boronia Park is the most recent Mr Bickford has dealt with over the last fortnight. Others have occurred on the Pioneer Monument in Macintosh St, a church and several public toilet blocks. Mr Bickford urges people to report graffiti as soon as they see it.

Represent London (graffiti)

2010-07-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Great London web site.
www.representlondon.com/index.php/blog/

Graffiti vs. Street Art: TEAM ROBBO vs. BANKSY

2010-07-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Yes I'm still blogging on London. LOL

Recently a conflict erupted between BANKSY and ROBBO--a widely respected writer form London's old school. The conflict arose after BANKSY dissed a ROBBO piece on a wall along the Regent’s Canal in London. The piece had remained untouched since 1985.The fact that it remained untouched was a testament to the fact that writers in London have a deeply held respect for prior generations. Last Christmas ROBBO came out of a long retirement to retaliate. A loosely knit team of ROBBO supporters was formed under the name TEAM ROBBO. The supporters have participated in an artistic conflict with BANKSY in which art works are defaced in a game of witty one-upmanship. The story became international news and the conflict came to represent the larger conflict between street art and graffiti art.

@149st recently interviewed ROBBO, CHOCI and other TEAM ROBBO members.
Visit site: www.at149st.com/robbovbanksy.html

London Hand Styles

2010-07-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

London Hand Styles is yet another great book on the London scene. This is a book focuses on the most important, yet overlooked form of graffiti--the "tag". It is an incredible collection of tags from a broad scope of writers in London. It also features commentary from the artists that offer an intimate look at the hearts of "real" writers. Here is one of my faves from ROBBO. "We was in yards five nights a week. We didn't bother with the weekends, that was for part time school boys who hotted things up"

From the publisher: London Hand Styles is a full colour 160 page book with over 800 images documenting some of London's finest tags from the 80's through to the present day.

Also featured in the book are words, quotes and legendary tales from London's most notorious and prolific writers including SUB, SHAM, DIET, DRAX, MEROK, DZIA, ZOMBY, REGRET, 2 KOLD, PANIK, 10 FOOT plus many more.

With the clean up operation now well under way, sadly you can no longer see the work of London's most infamous writers... ...this book allows you never to forget.

www.londonhandstyles.com

London Burners

2010-07-12T06:31:00.000-07:00

Just peeped a great new book by Jete Swami called London Burners published by Prestel. It is an amazing collection of paintings and artists in action on the London Underground. A must have.

From the publisher: A young photographer explores the artistry and adventure that goes into the incredible graffiti of London's overground and underground trains.
Some of the most outrageous graffiti art in the world barrels through the city of London in a blur of color. These moving canvases and the people who create the dubs or burners are the subject of an electrifying collection of images by photographer Jete Swami. As a teenager, he hung out in sidings and soon learned to paint trains, all the while taking photos and filming his friends-which he continues to do today. In revealing interviews with the photographer, these artists speak out about the joys and dangers of bombing and burning their tags, throw-ups and pieces on to London transport. In addition to vibrant reproductions of the works themselves are shots of the artists as they work under cover of night or scramble to avoid arrest. A unique collection of London's most dazzling high-speed train art, London Burners captures the intensity of this most urban of artistic expressions.
Check out the Youtube promo.

London Train Bombing

2010-07-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

I just read this in the Harrow Observer. Seems like artists across the pond can not resist painting steel either.

THREE young men from Pinner have been jailed for up to nine months, and a 17-year-old for eight months, after admitting to their part in a graffiti campaign targeting London Underground trains.The sentences were handed out amid emotional scenes at Southwark Crown Court on Friday (9) as the defendants' families looked on.
Read full story.

2010-06-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

RAMMELLZEE RIP
2001 Interview with RAMMELLZEE

TRUCK ART A Decade of Graffiti

2010-06-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

TRUCK ART A Decade of Graffiti
Tod Lange & Paul Cavalieri
Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Soft Cover 160 pages 290 full color photos

I have eagerly awaited this book for some time. It was well worth the wait. For about ten years TL ONE has been hosting an exclusive invitation-only painting spot near New York City. The canvases at this location are tractor trailers, mobile homes and other vehicles destined for scrap. Some of New York City's most well known writers have painted there. In addition to work by TL ONE and CAVS the book features paintings by about 50 writers including BLADE, GHOST, HENCE, MAZE, MONE, NOAH TFP, PART ONE, POET, POES, REAS, SEIN 5, SPAR ONE, TEAM GO CLUB, WANE, WOLF, ZEPHYR and others. A great collection of burners and blockbusters spanning a decade.

Grab it!

Meet the Original Stay High 149? I ain't buying it.

2010-06-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back this video by Steven Hager of High Times Magazine came onto my radar.

It is an interview with Luis Berrios. Most of you in New York's urban art community are probably aware of the fact that Berrios is claiming that he wrote STAY HIGH 149 before Wayne Roberts did.

Initially it piqued my interest, but only for its trivial if not amusing nature. But, after giving the deal a bit more thought, It really got under my skin.

From my perspective there are several big holes in Berrios' story. First up, when Berrios came on the the scene in the late '80s early '90s he told several writers who were active at the time that he was STAY HIGH 149, but he neglected to tell them that he was NOT the STAY HIGH that became famous on the subway, in New York Magazine and in Norman Mailer's Faith of Graffiti. The fact that he waited until the 2000s when Roberts came back on the scene to make the distinction is suspicious.

Second thing is when Roberts came back he would occasionally append his tag with "Since 1969'". I found it odd that Berrios did not begin to claim to have started writing in 1966 until after the Roberts "Since 1969'" tags began to appear.

The few supporters that Berrios has--few of which are writers, by the way--state that Berrios has nothing to gain because he admits Roberts made the name famous. On the contrary, Berrios has plenty to gain. STAY HIGH 149 is one of the most, if not the most celebrated and influential tags in New York's history. There is plenty of glory to be had in saying you played even a minor hand in creating it. In the graffiti world an individual has to devote significant time and effort to earn a place in history, even as a footnote.

STAY HIGH is a common nick name in the hood. There are dozens of them. Just like all the CHINOs, SHORTY WOPs, LIL MANs and BLACK BOYs, there are plenty of STAY HIGHs. Perhaps Berrios did write STAY HIGH. I won't contest that, but there is only one STAY HIGH 149 and that's Wayne Roberts... Voice of the Ghetto!
http://www.stayhigh149.com/content/bio/stayhigh 149-bio.html

FREE 5 Site Relaunch

2010-06-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

FREE 5 has relaunched his web site. Lots of great art!
http://free5.net/FREE5/FREE5.html

Doze Green "Taino" print release

2010-06-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

Yo! Peace will be releasing a new hand-pulled serigraph by Doze Green,
featuring his classic character style on June 11 2010.

"Taino" is a signed and numbered edition of 100. White ink on Arches
Black paper (250gsm). 11 x 30 inches (28 x 76 cm).

Onsale at yodepot.com at 1pm (PST) on Friday, June 11.

http://yopeace.org/doze_green_taino_print

Style Wars Restoration Project

2010-06-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

The classic film Style Wars is by far one of the most exceptional documentations of our culture. An important restoration project is under way-- MARE 139 dropped some knowledge.

MARE 139: The Style Wars project is an integral part of urban art culture as well as a document of American art history as it chronicled a pivotal period of the art vs transit movement and the art vs itself epoch. The capturing of all these dynamic elements, which had been in play for years before, is a testament to the sociopolitical environment in which many young people who where disenfranchised found empowerment via this art called 'graffiti'. The film was a mirror for us who were active writers and served as window to the rest of the world of the conditions that forced us to use creativity and 'vandalism' as a self certifying means of expression. I use the term 'vandalism' lightly as one can see from the film the movement was a counterinsurgency to the economic and political 'vandalism' imposed on us by city governance.

This absence of resources gave birth to the Hip Hop movement and street art movement, it was an issue of scarcity and personal necessity that one can see from the vantage of the writers in the film. Keep in mind this is a time capsule in which Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant captured as much of what was in front of them as possible, the culture and art was widespread throughout the boroughs and it was a diverse group that was a part of it, the film manages to be honest for its time and place and though not meant to be an end all be all film about the culture it has many of its seminal players of the time and also captures a glimpse of what the future was to hold for the movement.

It is vital to understand the influence of such a film for the sake of history, culture history and cultural rights. We have in the past 20 years seen the culture bend and expand into new spaces and interpretations which is a double edge sword because so much of it has no reflective connection to the generations that proceeded it, this disconnect is apparent in today's youth so much so that it has created a great divide among young artist and the cultures pioneers. Also included is this dilemma is market of art which has no interest in the history of this art in particular, granted the world has moved beyond the subways and the art of the time to some degree but the implications of a movement like this and a film that captures it is vital because its global influence and affect on art and culture has transcended any period of art before it in artistic participation.

Saving the archival footage and including additional materials will safely preserve an important archive of NYC history as well as the individual legacies of those involved. It is important for people who are involved in the culture or interested to help preserve this film since there is no archive equivalent to it nor is there one as compelling. It is a part of a bigger puzzle being pieced together by our community to tell our story and to honor those before us and that is where cultural legacy and rights come into play because by and large these issues are contained by larger institutions that buy out and shelf these archives to later apply all kinds of restrictions to access and fair use. This is our history our story and we have a right and duty to preserve and share it accordingly. Those who want to get involved should visit the website and donate money or time to the effort. We are scratching the surface but I feel that as we continue to engage in self determination and through the cooperation of the public and the creative community we can see this project restored and preserved for future generations.

Go to www.stylewars.com for more info.

Graffiti vs. Street Art

2010-06-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

It seems that it is becoming increasingly difficult for graffiti and street art to coexist peacefully. Feels like a bit of a culture clash is erupting.

Sad thing to see this amazing mural by Fairey get banged up. ADEK and a few others did throw ups on it, not once but several times.

First and foremost I'm a fan of graffiti and I'm rarely excited by street art, so I'm a bit biased in the war. But Fairey is talented and put in real work on the street well before his commercial success. He has also collaborated with many writers including NYC LASE and COPE 2. I also dig ADEK, He is a classic street bomber with a sweet throw-up and memorable handstyle. He's had the Lower East Side locked for at least three years now.

I can only speculate on what ADEK's motivation is. Could be retaliation for work Fairey dissed. Could be a territorial statement. Who knows? It could also be part of the growing tension between (graffiti) writers and street artists.

Writers have been taking public space for decades and established a set of rules and terms of respect for each other's work in the race for space. A lot of street artists apparently don't know the rules or don't care to abide by them. They regularly apply wheat paste and stencil work over well-established graffiti artists.

By the same token most writers have complete disregard for street art. They will paint over it without hesitation. Many writers see street artists as art school chumps and don't expect them to toss knuckles when their work is dissed.

The war will be interesting to watch.
Eric Deal

Animal New York has a shot of the earlier attack.
http://animalnewyork.com/2010/05/shepard-faireys-may-day-mural-bombed/

Mirage art exhibition and KDM67 apparel launch

2010-05-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

Mirage art exhibition and KDM67 apparel launch. Featuring original art, drawings and sketches by the late Mirage KDM.
Thursday - June 3rd 2010
7:00pm - 11:00pm
At: Genuine Motorworks
195 N14th Street,
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211

The Writing on the Wall (Eric Deal Interview)

2010-05-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

The Writing on the Wall (Eric Deal Interview)
by Emily Johnson
http://vimeo.com/11669430

Icelandic Designer Creates Costlier Vandalism Tool

2010-05-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

Animal New York dug this up a while ago.
Icelandic Designer Creates Costlier Vandalism Tool
It brings vandalism to a whole new level.

Banksy Drawings in New York City Hit by Taggers Overnight - WSJ.com

2010-05-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Banksy Drawings in New York City Hit by Taggers Overnight
Eric F. quoted in the Wall Street Journal today.

NYC Arts Cypher Presents MURAL Documentary Premiering at the SI Film Festival 2010

2010-05-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

The NycArtsCypher is an official 501c3 Non-profit organization. The mission is to promote positive values through arts and entertainment programs, projects, and events. The MURAL documentary is based on the creation of the NycArtsCypher's graffiti arts program of the same name.

Follow the NETWORK-PERFORM-EXCEL formula as various teens (ages 13 to 19) from the north and south shore of Staten Island get to explore the art form controversially known as Graffiti. Veteran graffiti artists from all over NYC, and local community figures state their case on the art vs vandalism issue.

The NycArtsCypher establishes its multimedia networking facility as an outlet that provides a safe environment for young artists to practice their art responsibly. These participants are shown Blackbook, aerosol, and brush techniques, learn history, and street rules. Then they get to do their own thing.

Watch as the kids "Get Bizzy" and prove that graffiti art can be positive.

Artists: Gano Grills, Meres, Trace, Tats Cru, Lask, Echo, Prez, Trace, Die, Geoff Rawling, Stem, Exit, Jenna Morello,

Community figures: Senator Andrew J. Lanza, Assemblyman Mike Cusick, Assembly Woman Janele Hyer Spencer, Dennis Mckeon (Where to Turn)

Produced by: Charlie Balducci, Matthew Adams, Earl Moseley Jr., GIT Beats, Sensei Walingh

Sponsored by: Shamrock paints, COAHSI, Independent aerials, Tatoot Bags, United Auto Collision

MURAL Trailer

SprayMasters directed by Manny Kirchheimer

2010-05-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

SprayMasters is an breathtaking film!! In addition to revealing interviews with some of the movement's most well-known artists director Manny Kirchheimer delivers wonderful cinematography featuring rare and exclusive footage of many historic subway paintings. Highlights include double subway car murals DIRTY SLUG's "SL" "UG" LEE Quinones' Heaven Is Life-Earth is Hell, and work by masters like PADRE, SLAVE and others. This is a classic!

From Cinema Guild
In SprayMasters four ex-graffiti artists reflect on their early years as renegades who snuck into rail yards and decorated New York City subway cars with stolen paint while eluding arrest. Now in their forties and embraced by the establishment, Lee Quinones, Lady Pink, and Futura 2000 are prominent artists with an international following, while Zephyr is a widely published journalist who writes about graffiti and popular culture.

They talk about the extreme risks they took as teenagers, the joys of seeing their work on subway cars, the diverse styles of graffiti, its global reach, and its place in modern life, where it has been co-opted by advertising and fashion. Directed by Manny Kirchheimer (Tall), SprayMasters s a follow-up to his underground classic Stations of the Elevated (1980), one of the first films to feature New York’s infamous subway graffiti.

Although the exuberant painted trains are gone, they live again in Spraymasters in rare, never-before-seen footage, set to an electrifying original musical soundtrack that evokes the heyday of graffiti.

Directed by Manny Kirchheiner
2008, 85 minutes

Full information may be found at www.cinemaguild.com

* World Premiere, Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2008
* Official Selection, Rotterdam International Hip-Hop Film Festival, 2008
* Official Selection, Gothenberg International Film Festival, 2009
* Official Selection, Max Ophulus Preis Film Festival, Germany, 2009

"A must-see" – The New York Sun

2010-05-02T17:09:00.001-07:00

MAY DAY: Shepard Fairey @ Deitch Projects The final exhibition before the galley's closing and Mr. Deitch's departure to serve as the Director of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

A spectacular exhibition of Fairey's work drew a crowd with lines extending around the block.

Shepard Fairey, Jeffrey Deitch, Fab 5 Freddy
Shepard Fairey, Salman Rushdie, Jeffrey Deitch

New york City Graffiti

2010-04-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

New york City Graffiti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VnK1s7iIoA&feature=related
http://www.at149st.com

2010-03-03T18:50:00.001-08:00

SATURDAY MARCH 6TH
7:00 - 10:00 PM
100B Forsyth Street
New York City
D or Btrain to Grand Street

100B Presents
THE LOWER
EAST SIDE
An Exhibition curated by SPAR ONE

FEATURING LES ORIGINATORS
Come own a piece of the LES and get
your black books signed by the orignal
LOWER EAST SIDE writers SPAR,
SNIPER, BOMB1, ARCHER and
ERO+LA2 successful artists from the
early 80's.
A never before exhibited BASQUIAT piece from ERO's private collection will
be exhibited!

2010-01-27T18:46:00.001-08:00

One Night Stand
Historic Graffiti Show featuring living legends
Live Graf Body Painting
Fashion Show
DJ Vinyl Richie
DJ Uncle Tone
Performances by members of HIP HOP HOWL!
Hosted by Miz Metro & Circa *95

350 Bowery btwn 3rd & 4th St
6 train to Bleeker or Astor
F to 2nd ave

GALLERY 151 will be moving on location to it’s sponsors
new Building 311 VILLAGE GREEN on east 11th st (www.311e11.com)
THE ELEMENTAL SERIES will be opening February 25th 2010

All City Black Book Show celebrating Graffiti New York

2009-11-09T20:09:00.001-08:00

All City Black Book Show celebrating Graffiti New York

2009-11-09T20:06:00.001-08:00

2009-11-09T20:00:00.000-08:00

All City Black Book Show celebrating Graffiti New York

2009-11-09T19:03:00.001-08:00

All City Black Book Show celebrating Graffiti New York

2009-11-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Here are a few shots of the All City Black Book Show celebrating Graffiti New York.

Special thanks and major props to ON 2 and LASK ONE for putting together such a hot event!
Shouts to Charlie Balduchi and NYC Arts Cypher and the many heads that attended and supported. BRAZE, STRIDER, GANO GRILLS, RIN, MENIC, MARS, PREZ, SOLAR (RIP) BENO (RIP) TF5, TVS, VO5, VGL, LAVA I & II, FDT 56, WICKED GARY, LIL ROCK I & II, STAY HIGH 149, RIFF 170, CHAIN 3, TEAN 5. KADE 198, NIKE, FED DEUCE, TEEN, STAN TS5, MERK, JAMESTOP, RAB, BOM 5, CRANE TMT, CAC, KID. KAVES LOB, STEM YNN, SNOOZE, DOC TC5, BREAK TPA, NIC ONE, BURNER ONES, CLONE, BH ONE, SHARE 137, FUME, Shiren van Cooten representing the Toronto Graffiti book, Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper, Fresh Style Rockers, and The Bandulos hip hop band rocked the house with B Boy Classics and deep funk. Thanks to Clove Lake Books.

2009-10-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Drop by Da Bakery SEN 2 and BEOND's new graff shop.
It s a great spot located a few steps away form the 174th Street train station.
They carry quality spray paint, caps, books, fashionable urban clothing lines and more...

Currently exhibiting work by SHIRT KING PHADE.

Da Bakery NYC 1700
Southern Blvd Bronx, NY 10460
2 or 5 train to 174th Street

2009-10-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

LASK ONE, ON 2 and At149st.com present: THE ALL CITY BLACK BOOK SHOW

2009-10-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

This promises to be hot!
Oakland California: October 10, 2009
3rd Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle National Finals
(James Prigoff will be signing copies of @149st's new book Graffiti New York at this event.)
www.estriabattle.com

2009-09-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

Scrap Yard
Will be carrying our new book Graffiti New York!

This shop sells a variety of graffiti-related materials. Books, magazines, DVDs, original artwork, tee shirts. It also sells spray paint, ink and markers, which are availble for purchase by individuals over 21 years of age.

300 W Broadway
(between Canal Street and Grand Street)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 343-2557

By Subway
Canal-Church Sts (A, C, E)
Canal-Varick Sts (1)
Canal Street (J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, 6)

2009-09-07T13:11:00.001-07:00

We are in the process of changing the look of our web site.

2009-09-04T12:03:00.001-07:00

EROTICA 67 reppin' FLY ID

2009-09-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

KING BEE is watchin'.

2009-09-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

Style master TKID 17oth

2009-09-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

CLAW maintaining street cred in the Boogie Down. I didn't feel like climbing the fence she did, hence the diagonal streak on the lower left of the photo.

2009-09-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

HIMS in the Bronx

2009-09-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

Caught some flicks during a bike ride in the Bronx. EWOK 5MH rocks some silvers.

2009-08-26T17:40:00.001-07:00

The last two years have been a bit crazy for us. In fact, pretty chaotic We went through over thirty years worth of photos when selecting photos for Graffiti New York.