Dondi next to Duchamp? Im sure my friend Dondi (RIP) would have never even imagined it. While at Borders book store my eye caught Dondi’s book and it struck me that there in front of me was a big part of my childhood and my creative inspiration in book form. It saddened me in a way that life is unfair and unjust yet it lifted me knowing that someone also saw the brilliance of his life and took to celebrate it in a book for us to share. Why does a great artist have to die to be an even greater artist? Lets question who dictates that. Dondi White has a legacy that has profoundly changed many lives, including mine, his work just like Duchamp creates schools of artists so it is fitting to me that they are hugged up together in and amongst many of the greats.
Also on the shelves were many books about graff and street art. Mascots and Mugs had face display among them, so big up to Chino and Todd. All this publishing of art and culture adds to the complex dialogue going on, it also relates back to my postings in so being that emotions get mixed about the integrity of so much of it. Thankfully
Posted on December 16, 2007 at 12:21 AM | Previous Entry | Next Entry | Entry List | Email Entry |
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Mascots and Mugs digs deeper than most and covers alot of historical moments and also has interviews with the people who played a role. Not to discount anyones efforts on the shelf, there is plenty of room as one can see, but there are alot of hard bound books that serve as nothing more than scrap books of painted walls. Also as one publisher points out, they are by and large terribly designed to the point where the works are not coherent. I agree, I have hated most graff publications for the weak remedial layouts that fail to highlight the quality and details of a well painted production.
What is positive in all this is that we have an opportunity to uncover and discover our own heritage which has always been marginalized. This is empowerment and democracy at its finest.
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There are 3 total comments about this entry. The most recent comment was posted 6 months, 3 weeks ago...
i see alot of people whos been part on working on graff mags are getting into making books now,i do belive we should document
the graff history before its gone,buffed or painted over....
It’ll be tragic if this unique sub-culture of ours isn’t properly and gracefully documented so the world can see the talent and genius we cultivate. Our polite way of letting people know, respect our shit, motherfuckers!
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Dondi is my favorite writer and like you, he has had and still does have a HUGE influence on me...i need to get Mascots and Mugs!!!