If you want to know about this shit, read up
I notice more and more people are becoming intrigued with the graffiti subculture. I’m not one to talk about it too much because I came from a time where everything was supposed to be kept a secret; talking about it would just attract cops, narcs, people who are only ‘in it for a minute’ and other lames. But I digress and times have changed since then. Here are some people in the world of LA graffiti that have stood the test of time that you should read about:
and while you’re at it, go buy this book; it’s visually stunning, easy to read and not as overwhelming as other books on the subject:
July 15th, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Its interesting you bringing that up. i was talking to a friend of mine not too long ago and he was saying how he hated barry mcgee aka twist because of how he glorifies the grafitti writer and culture through his art installations. how something that is supposed to be revered as resistance and an opponent to what is considered fine arts is now part of fine arts. made me think for a second because as much as i see where he is coming from, i also think that it should be recognized as legitimate and validated way of expression. i just dont know where the clear cut lines of “selling out” and “making a living” starts and ends when it comes to grafitti. but i guess everybody is going to critique and have an opinion about it.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:36 PM
^ yeah good point. i don’t know how to explain that either, it’s confusing really. barry mcgee pulled it off quite nicely though; i don’t see him any different.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:13 AM
that was my initial reaction too. i don’t see him any different and i still have respect for him. its almost like you have to have a case by case opinion about each artist. at the same time, i don’t wanna hate just because i am coming from a place of jealousy or from a place of ignorance.