GRAFFITI LA

If you are a graffiti aficionado in L.A., then you probably already know about the two shows that I’m involved with. But just in case, here is the what’s-up.

The big Art of the Streets at MOCA is very ambitious, and of course controversial. I am glad to have a wall of photos there representing a gang of important L.A. writers and crews.

Next, I co-curated a show for the Pasadena Museum of California Art that features people that started with, and may or may not still be doing street graffiti, but who have been focusing on developing a an interesting body of work actually for a gallery setting.

Both shows complement each other very nicely, so if you have a chance to see them, don’t sleep on it!

I just got this from a friend of mine. If you’re interested, shoot me a notice/contact here or on Facebook.

“I support, and occasionally work at a Vegan restaurant in West Hollywood. They are struggling, like everyone else, and have asked for suggestions to decorate their walls. One wall, is a cement wall painted white, and I suggested a mural. Do you know of any artists that would be interested in doing painting a mural? I doubt there’s any money in this except maybe paint…. The crowds are very cool healthy vegetarian people, and a solid Jewish community. It’s on Pico by Crescent Heights, called Savyon. They’ve been written up with terrific reviews because the food is amazing. It’s Mediterranean but the chef is creative and it’s on the spicy side……good spicy. Let me know. . . worth asking.”

One of the pleasures of this odd thing I do is that sometime many years after I’ve shot someone’s work, I finally get to meet them. Last Saturday I finally met Green, and then Cisk. These two shots are from summer of ’91.

I’ve also connected with Pyro WCA on Facebook, and he kindly corrected the credit to this photo from my book. It was credited to KSN (probably because I saw the Relm shout out, although there is the big “WC” on the right that I slept on) but was actually done by Pyro and Rival. Also ’91.

Well, the big MOCA show is opening this weekend, and for whatever (inevitable) criticism the show is bringing, it will be interesting in many ways. I will have some photos there, and crews repped by productions or members include ICR, K2S, STN, CBS, MSK, AWR, TGO, UCA, LOD, UTI, AM7, WCA, KSN, STK, SMD, SH, LTS, KOG, COI, NASA, YR, K4P, SKA, DTK, MTA, DCV, PDB, TKO, AL, OTR, WAI, RTN and USC. You want to know who they are specifically? See the show… Spots: Arroyo Seco, Sanborn, Motor, Belmont (duh!), Venice Pavilion, Whitsett/Sherman Way, Commerce, 7th/Santa Fe, El Serreno, L.A. River, Art District, and one-time spots at various places around the city. See the show and enjoy. Haters can stay home and grumble.

I received a request to see KRENZ who became YEM, so see it in the gallery section. Also posted a few THCs from last year.

Hello,

My name is Brandon Wright. We work for a church in Riverside county that is doing a series of messages on culture and were interested in getting a hold of some of the artists that might be interested in painting up the inside of a church. I was wondering if you could think of any of the artists or crews who might like to be a part of it? Any information would be much appreciated.

Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Brandon Wright
(951) 852-5850

Five new archive posts from August ’91 in the Gallery section!

HexTGO on Melrose:

Interesting article in the New York Times on a graffiti history project going on.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/arts/design/27graffiti.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=design

I’m in Iowa for a bit, and my girl’s studio is right by the railroad tracks, so every time I hear the whistle blow, I check it out. While there is much of the usual garbage on there, so really nice stuff rolls by on occasion. I’ll be trying to get a few sample shots to post.

Anyone know who did the little pieces that were on the low wall in front of Crazy Gideon’s before the less talented guys that went over them a while back? Let me know if you do. The original bits were really nice, and the guys that went over them shouldn’t have, because, going back to basic rules of the game, “If you can’t burn it, don’t go over it!” So anyway, someone crossed them out really well a while back, and I assume if it wasn’t the original writers, then it was someone who appreciated them and want to remind the young ‘uns what’s up.

These are the original pieces (crude merge on the first).