Graffiti Series

[technicolor]

Took a roll of some graffiti down town yesterday, here are my three favorites, if you guys would like to see some more from the series let me know. And of course, "critique" as you see fit. *edit, last shot isn't graffiti, but was in the same alley.

[u suck.com]

the first pic is very nice...

[PlantedTao]

Graffiti is: An element of the Hip Hop culture misinterpreted and misrepresented by the mainstream media, and most especially hated by people who don't understand the roots or meaning of the writing on the walls.

Contrary to popular belief, Graff is NOT any of the following: writing on houses of worship, people's houses in general, other writer's names, or tombstones. The aforementioned need not be identified with bus, train, subway and public wall burners. That's REAL graffiti, the visual aspect of Hip Hop accompanied by the physical (breakdance), verbal (emceeing), and rhythmic (turntablism).

Photo #1 is a great shoot and shows all four elements of the hiphop culture. It is nicely composed and has just enough of writing to grab my interest. It has a nice combo of arts -
the graff writers talent and yours by composing a cool shot.

Photo #2 is nothing more than a snap shot showing off the talent of the artists involved in that production. Credit should be given to the graff artist(s).

Photo #3 is a cool capture, but kinda boring without a little more depth to the picture.

Keep taking those pictures tho, this is a art form that the mainstream needs to see more of and appreciate what these cats can do.

[bobbythebandit]

I like the first one the best, on the second they have spent a great deal of time and the colours are amazing. Give us more if you can..I got a series in a remote seaside village in Ireland and will post them for comparison,
Bobby

[technicolor]

Plantedtao, what makes the second one only a "snapshot". I'm not disagreeing, i didn't like it as much either, but I couldnt figure out why. Also, what do you mean by 'more depth' in the third?
Here are three more from the roll. Question: are we allowed to put links to other sites? You guys asked for more, and I have them all uploaded on another art website, so just curious.

[PlantedTao]

I thought it looked like a snapshot because it does not look composed, kinda walking by and snapping the picture. I can tell that there is a lot more happening on that production (names) that I can't see and look more interesting to me then what was caught. The first pict looks better composed and is easier on my eye.
I guess when I look at the third I don't see much of interest. It could be more color, more depth or more texture (like the butterfly pic), it needs something.
Nice pics tho. I would love to see the full production of both pictures one and two.
Cheers.

[Outdoorsman]

Hmm. I wonder if someone missed the boat on the history of graffiti... This stuff came about as a result of people like hobos and bums and street people who would leave their names in places to let others know who was around and when. For these people, it was a way of keeping in touch with each other since phones and mail cost money. There were also street gangs and such (we're talking ganster era here) that would mark their territory in this way. Over time the bums got sleazier and the gangs got bloodier and the graffiti got more artistic. It is now a sign of status to some to have an attractive "tag" on something. This stuff is the bane of business owners, homeowners, and local governments as well. Everything has tags nowadays, not just buildings and rail cars. And there has, of course, emerged a small group of graffitists (is that a word?) who have taken it from a cheap form of vandalism to an actual art form, as is seen in the pics posted in this thread. These guys plan their work out and have such amazing talent that it's a shameful waste they aren't making lucrative careers out of it. When it comes to this kind of work, graffiti is no longer graffiti. There is a vast difference between a drugged-out ********er making an illegible mark on a public building (which our tax dollars pay to fix) and this sort of spray-can artistry.
I guess my point is that hip-hop culture merely discovered this, not invented it. IMO the only reason the rap/hip-hop culture has embraced it is because that culture tends to embrace those things that are usually identified with a criminal or immoral, hedonistic lifestyle...
And just for the record, I could stare at this sort of artwork for hours... I'm always quite imressed with artwork like this... compliments for excellent work should always be given where it is due. I like the Hollywood Squares one!

[technicolor]

I *think* the hollywood squares was actually done by a business owner. It's on a garage door right next to a shop, I think it might be part of the same building. Not sure if that qualifies as 'graffiti' perhaps its now 'street art'? i dunno. I just thought they looked really neat, so I took some shots. I wasn't really trying to promote are say much with the pictures. Merely showing some really cool art that is hidden in a backalley on a funky street in a very small town in the mountains. spreading the word i guess.

[bobbythebandit]

Thanks a lot Outdoorsman, you have expanded my knowledge on the history of this "Art" and thanks a lot to you to Technicolor for giving us this forum for discussion.

[PlantedTao]

Outdoorsman: I have to agree with your brief history, but graf is much more than where it began. It is about the culture that took it to new heights and MADE it a art form. Here is a brief history from the hip hop prospective: It wasn't till the late 1960s that writing's current identity started to form. The history of the underground art movement known by many names, most commonly termed graffiti begins in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the mid to late '60s and is rooted in bombing. The writers who are credited with the first conscious bombing effort are CORNBREAD and COOL EARL. They wrote their names all over the city gaining attention from the community and local press. It is unclear whether this concept made its way to New York City via deliberate efforts or if was a spontaneous occurrence.

PIONEERING 1971-74
Shortly after CORNBREAD, the Washington Heights section of Manhattan was giving birth to writers. In 1971 The New York Times published an article on one of these writers. TAKI 183 was the alias of a kid from Washington Heights. TAKI was the nick name for his given name Demetrius and 183 was the number of the street where he lived. He was employed as a foot messenger, so he was on the subway frequently and took advantage of it, doing motion tags. The appearance of this unusual name and numeral sparked public curiosity prompting the Times article. He was by no means the first writer or even the first king. He was however the first to be recognized outside the newly formed subculture.
It went on from there…if ya’ll are interested please checkout this website which will give you the real on graffiti http://www.stylewars.com/

Now, I don’t want to totally jack this thread (biggest apologies Technicolor) but I have a serious problem when people start misrepresenting my culture.
Outdoorsman said “IMO the only reason the rap/hip-hop culture has embraced it is because that culture tends to embrace those things that are usually identified with a criminal or immoral, hedonistic lifestyle...”
This is why I started my original post with how graf is misrepresented…hip hop is not about any of the above. This is what the media tells you and wants you to believe. Take a look at work by Public Enemy (Chuck D), KRS-One or Immortal Technique to name a few. Hip hop is has always been a diary of the streets, letting us know what is going on, not trying to promote it. The stories woven it the lyrics are trying to get the young to learn about the pitfalls of the streets so they don’t make the same mistake. What you see and here on the radio and TV does not represent HipHop. These are the same people that are telling us that Brittany Spears and Jessica Simpson are good artists.
Anyway, sorry about the rant, but I love my culture and will continue to promote the positive!
PEACE