12ozProphet

Thanks to Pure for putting me up on this video. He’s part of Steve’s crew these days and was out there putting in work. Big up to Steve for another well thought out and beautiful art project.

Ghost, one of my old writing partners and one of the graffiti world’s most recognizable throw up kings has just released a limited edition book with the clothing company Stussy along with some new shirts. The book showcases some of his bombing activity as well as the illustration style that he is now known for. Cop one online at: Stussy.com.
Here’s stuff I yanked from their site.

STUSSY: What were your earliest memories of graffiti?
GHOST: Just by riding the train, when I would go to Yankee games was when I first started to take notice. Didn’t know what it was or how they did it. I asked my mom and she replied with “don’t bother me with that bullshit.”

Since I grew up on the 7 line the first names that stood out were: Caine-1 Roger, Chino174, Vinny, Dean, Pro-1, Son-1, Fuzz-1 Quik, Killer56 Demo, Joey, Vade, Ex-1, Savage aka KB. Then when I moved back to the Bronx around 79/80, I saw: Blade, Comet, MG’s boys like Mark198, Fritos, Boots119, Russ, Kit17, Mitch77, Dr. Pepper, Ban2, Noc67, Part, Chain3, Skeme and Dez. The trains were bombed inside and out, stations were killed. It was a pretty dope time in the city.

STUSSY: How did you come out with Ghost?
GHOST: I was in a comic book shop looking at a rack and saw a “ghost rider” comic, thought it sounded cool. I went through numerous names trying to come up with something and finally just took that and it stuck.

STUSSY: Can you talk about the photo in the book with the upside down “Ghost” piece? Is there a story behind that?
GHOST: Not really, I just wanted to bug out and have a few laughs.

STUSSY: What is the story behind your favorite picture in the book?
GHOST: There’s a story behind every photo I guess, except the legal walls. There’s no story or fun to that. I would have to say when I did the 2nd story tower on the tracks on 103.

I told Bruz and Bri-1 what I wanted to do. Bruz then took me to Roosevelt hospital (to get my head examined you might think) where they had a 16ft. ladder lying around. So we took that shit and hopped on the train (which was crazy- everyone on the train was staring at us). We got off and I started to paint. I had bucket paint and since I’m not really a bucket paint kinda writer, I threw that shit away and did it with spray. Bruz and Bri-1 were doing a piece on the smaller house and I’m doing this piece on the ladder, trying to pay attention to the train so I wouldn’t get spotted. These kids were on the station running around copping tags and I knew that would be trouble if they got spotted because they would bring the heat on us. So I ran up to see who it was and it was my cousin and some of his friends. I believe Cro-1 and I forget who else was there. They bugged out to see me there, asking me what I was doing. Then I explained that I was doing a top 2 bottom and that you guys were gonna make it hot so you have to leave… Anyway, they left and I finished up my piece.

The next day I heard that when these kids left, they got raided at another station and I forgot who it was that got caught. They said that while thye were in the precinct that a call had come over the radio that there were three men walking the tracks with a huge ladder. At that point, we had finished up and took the ladder with us and went to the next station. We threw the ladder on someone’s roof and split the scene. The next day we rolled up to catch flics when the workers came out the tower to talk with me. They were cool. They were trying to figure out how I got up so high. I think I told them I was smoking angel dust and that’s how I had gotten up so high and laughed. You could see them in the photo hanging out. Yeah, we had a lot of fun back then, the shit we used to get away with.

STUSSY: What’s next for you? Projects? Shows?
GHOST: I have a few things in the works.

This Friday kicks off NYC’s first film festival dedicated to the graffiti writing experience. I will be hosting the opening night along with Lava 1&2 so if you can come up please do. We will be screening the classic film, Stations of the Elevated. It will be special to watch it on a large screen. More info below. Address is at the bottom of the schedule.

Kings of the City at the Maysles Cinema
May 1st - May 27th

(New York City, April 22nd, 2009) - Throughout the month of May, The Maysles Cinema presents “Kings of the City,” a selection of rare and classic documentaries that examine the emergence of graffiti as an art form and culture in New York City, and its influence on European culture and back again.  The series will include a month long Graffiti Art gallery (all sales go to the Graffiti Art education non-profit, “The Walls Belong to Us.”)

In addition to the sixteen films that will be screened throughout “Kings of the City,” many NYC graffiti pioneers, such as KET ONE, Carlos “Mare 139” Rodriguez, and the legendary Tats Cru will be on hand to present screenings and contextualize the rise of graffiti culture from a subversive act to an international movement.  On Friday, May 1st, Manfred Kircheimer, director of the cult classic Stations of the Elevated (1980),will be on hand to discuss his impressionistic study in motion of the graffiti tattooing of New York City subway trains in his legendary film that is set to the music of the jazz great, Charlie Mingus.

- The Maysles Cinema: The Best Spot for Film Geeks
“For a $7 suggested donation per screening, you can catch rarely seen documentaries, often followed by discussions and/or appearances by the filmmakers.  What it lacks in stadium seating and surround sound, it makes up in sheer character and inventive programming.”
    - New York Magazine (2009 Best of New York)

Please direct all press, requests for reservations, and series passes to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Kings of the City:  Graffiti Film Series Schedule

Friday, May 1st
7pm
KET ONE Presents:
The Master Class with Straight Man aka Lava One and Two
Dream City
Dir. Steve Siegel, 1986, 7 min.
Excerpts from Steve Siegel’s Dream City with loads of trains from the good old days.

Stations of the Elevated:
Dir. Manfred Kirchheimer, 1980, 45 min.
Director Manfred Kirchheimer presents his cult classic art film with music by Charles Mingus.
Manfred Kirchheimer will be present for Q&A immediately following the screening.

James Top: Presentation on the People’s Wall in Harlem

Opening Cocktail Reception following Q&A.

Saturday, May 2nd
3:00 pm
Stylewars
Dir. Tony Silver, 1984, 70 min.

All City
Dir. Henry Chalfant, 1985, 16 min.

From Here to Canarsie
Dir. Henry Chalfant, 1987, 21 min.
Henry Chalfant has been one the most energetic documentarians of New York graffiti over the years. Henry will be available for book signings and will also present a slideshow with unpublished photos from the 80s. Graffiti artist Skeme’s unforgettable mom, Barbara Andalcio, from the film Stylewars and former Transit Police officer Conrad Lesnewski of Hickey & Ski fame will also be available for the q&a.

Henry Chalfant has been one the most energetic documentarians of New York graffiti over the years. Henry will be available for book signings and will also present a slideshow with unpublished photos from the 80s. Graffiti artist Skeme’s unforgettable mom, Barbara Andalcio, from the film Stylewars and former Transit Police officer Conrad Lesnewski of Hickey & Ski fame will also be available for the q&a.

7:00pm
Tats Cru Presents:
Kings of Broadway
Dir. Chris “Freedom” Pape, 1998, 22 min.
In the 80s while some NYC writers went the gallery route other writers were kinging the legendary Broadway lines. This film tells the story of the latter and features the writers Ali, Bama, Crash, Ket, Part, Stan 153, Terror 161 and Zephyr.

Bombin’
Dir. Dick Fontaine, 1987, 58 min.
Join Brim from Tats Cru as he crosses the Atlantic to get up. This rarely seen film also includes Bio from Tats Crew as well as the musician Goldie from the UK. Tats Cru, also known as “the Mural Kings,” is a Bronx based crew of prominent writers that made the transition from trains to commissioned walls.

Wednesday, May 6th
7:00pm
Presented by Carlos “Mare 139” Rodriguez
Graffiti Post Graffiti
Dir. Paul Tschinkel, 1984, 26 min.
This lesser known film deals with the initial interest from the established art scene in graffiti. The film features art dealers Sidney Janis and Tony Shafrazi and artists like Crash, Lady Pink, Fab 5 Freddie, Jean-Michel Basquiat among others.

Inside Outside
Dir. Andreas Johnson and Nis Boye Rasmussen, 2005, 57 min.
Inside Outside presents some key figures from the current graffiti inspired street art scene including Zevs from Paris, Swoon, KR and Earsnot from NYC, Ron English from Jersey City, Adam & Itso from Sweden and Denmark, and and Os Gemeos and Pigmeus from Sao Paulo.

They Come At Night
Dir. Volker Sattel and Mario Sentrup, 2008, 30 min.
In a sleepy German town some of the most renowned street artists are secretly brought together by a corporate sponsor to create illegal public installations. Featured in this film are Mare 139, Os Gemeos and Nina, JR, Blu, Zevs, Brom, Dr. Innocent, Martha Cooper, Akim One, Mr. Horse, Nixfiti, Zasd, Kami, Sasu.

Wednesday, May 13th
7:00pm
Cope 2 Presents:
Cope 2 Documentary Preview
Dir. Carl Weston & Sascha Jenkins, 2009, 15 min.
See a preview of this work in progress on Bronx legend Cope 2 from the team behind the infamous “Video Graff” series.

Writers
Dir. Resistance Films, 2004, 90 min.
This film tells the story of the Parisian graffiti scene from 1983-2003. The film includes interviews with Henry Chalfant, Futura 2000, Seen UA, Mode 2, JonOne, Bando CTK among many other legendary French writers.

Wednesday, May 20th
7:00pm
Forbidden Rebels
1983, 29 min.
A documentary on the New York scene made in 1983 featuring Dez aka DJ Kay Slay, Sharp, Delta, Spin and G-Man. With bombed trains for days.

Kroonjuwelen
Dir. Stunnedfilm, 2006, 76 min.
The Dutch documentary Kroonjuwelen tells the story of one of the oldest and most important graffiti scenes in Europe. Some of the writers featured are Quik from New York and Delta, Shoe, Zap and High.

Wednesday, May 27th
7:00pm
Tunnel Vision
Dir. Reid van Renesse, 2003, 2 min.
This short film with footage shot in 1983 shows Zephyr, Min One and Revolt painting a wall. Reid van Renesse will be present for the q&a.

Spraymasters
Dir. Manfred Kirchheimer, 2008, 85 min.
Spraymasters follows up on some legendary writers from the 70s and 80s. The film includes Lady Pink, Lee, Futura 2000 and Zephyr and lots and lots of trains.
Manfred Kirchheimer will be present for post screening discussion.

http://www.mayslesinstitute.org

Maysles Cinema | 343 Lenox Ave/ Malcolm X Blvd. | New York | NY | 12345

FIFTY8 GALLERY
presents
B-Line B-Boy Drawings and Sculpture
by Carlos Mare139 Rodriguez
58 Coles St. Jersey City, NJ. Friday May 1, 2009 7-11pm
Jersey City, NJ. May 1, 2009- “The B-Boy is the physical Graffiti artist, he is the lyrical and
kinetic scratch, he is the break beat manifest, the most modern of all dancers.”
Fifty8 Gallery presents B-Line B-Boy Drawings and Sculpture the anticipated solo
exhibition of renown sculptor, painter, Carlos Mare139 Rodriguez. Inspired by his
childhood era connection to the B-Boy culture this unique series of works are a study in
capturing the dynamic movement of the ‘break’ dancer in what he calls ‘linear still
frames’. Mare139 provokes us to consider through his simplification of shapes and
gestures what gravity defying kinetics are involved in the dance form.
Fascinated as a youth with close association to well known B-Boy crews, he learned the
art from the insiders perspective and well understood the text and physical nature of
B-Boying by being present at countless ‘jams’ or ‘battles’. Correlating the dance to the
abstracted letter forms of graffiti was shared among his circle of influence, several whom
were also graffiti artists, among them Doze Green.
Internationally exhibited and collected his graffiti sculpture works are among the most
important and innovative of the post NYC subway graffiti movement. His most recent
showing is currently in the Grand Palis in Paris for the exhibition Tag au Graffiti.
Mare139 has also designed the 2005 and 2007 Red Bull Beat Battle Awards, The B-Boy
SPY Award for the Rock Steady Crew as well as the Annual BET Award (Black
Entertainment Television).
58 Gallery is easily accessible from NYC by Path. Enter the PATH train at 33rd, 23rd, 14th,
9th, Christopher St. or from World Trade Center in Manhattan and exit after two stops at
Grove Street in Jersey City. From there it is a short walk up Newark Ave. to Coles St.
where you make a right and find the gallery.
please contact: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 917.349.1693
http://www.fifty8.com
http://www.mare139.com
http://www.m139design.com
http://www.stylewars.com

Once again traditional media is late to recognize the magic that existed on New York City’s trains and the incredible movie, Style Wars. However, I give props to them for daring to review it now and giving it a great review especially when the politicians and talking heads on TV would have you believe that writing on walls will destroy the city.
Check out the online video review from today’s edition of the New York Times.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/04/20/movies/1194747016962/critics-picks-style-wars.html

After over 25 years as an active painter Jon One is finally becoming recognized for his incredible talent by the art buying public (yes they are slow and only follow trends). We on the other hand have been down with Jon and enjoying his work since he was painting the #1 train with Kyle back in the 80s. Peep the video…

Last night I caught the play, Angela’s mixtape down in Soho and highly recommend everyone going to check it out. The play written by and starring Eisa Davis explores her upbringing as the niece of the very famous Angela Davis. It is a musical and for anyone growing up in the 70s and the 80s you will find yourself digging the soundtrack and reliving some funny experiences. The play reflects on growing up as a part of a radical family and how she came into her own. it is dope! Big up to the Hip Hop Theatre Festival for bringing this gem to New York.
Angela’s Mixtape is playing from April 6 – May 2, 2009
Mondays through Saturdays ::  8 PM
Ohio Theatre :: 66 Wooster Street ::Soho

here’s a peek:

Angela’s Mixtape Intro from Rehana Mirza on Vimeo.

Here’s some footage found online featuring a variety of Bronx trains. 2, 5, and 1s. Some decent shots of Mack, Raz, Sent, Poem, Serve, Seen and other trains.

Graffiti on canvas is enjoying a boom in Paris. From auctions to exhibitions there seems to be a lot of interest in this art movement. Artists like SEEN and QUIK have even relocated there. This week an exhibition opened up at the Grand Palais that is very impressive. Here are some images and video footage of a news report. Big up to fellow bloggers Dash 167, Mare 139 and everyone else who participated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnXA3iAtGsU&feature=player_embedded

You guys must all be asleep at your computer terminals or something. A new show just launched at http://www.dirtypilot.com with rare and new works from TACK FBA, NOC 167, FUZZ ONE, PART ONE, T-KID 170, MIN RTW, RIFF 170, GHOST, and others and they have not all been snatched up!!!! Many of these I have released from my archives and you might not get a chance like this again. Where are the collectors at? Am I the only one out here? Get your money up!!!!