Graffiti in u'r Body

Friday, September 25, 2009

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Doors


Ever since Graffiti went from the trains to the streets, doors have become a popular surface for writers in the city. For the most part doors offer a smooth surface conducive to markers and paint and are areas of high traffic offering the writer guaranteed visibility. Many doors attract tags from passing writers and end up swathed in marker, shoe polish, paint, and inks. Back alleys or street fronts, in Montreal you'll always find some bombed out doors. Here are some local doors that I have found over the last few years.


Painting with Rome Won and Bam in Evanston, IL

OG Rome Won of Chicago took Bam and I out to Evanston, IL (aka, tha sticks) to get down after the Chicago battle.

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Ninjas by Bam.

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Letters by Rome Won.

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I got there late after a meeting. This is all I had time to do.

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OG Rome Won.

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I'm making Mike Bam famous. Gonna get to his head, blogging about him twice in one week.

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Weyland Southon happy after his first time painting.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Piecing with DC5 in Chicago

I got to paint with Exhaust, Beond, Like and Jash a couple days before the battle in Chicago back in July. Talk about aloha spirit. My paints hadn't arrived so they let me use theirs for free. Painted the 3 tako (octopus) in about 4 hours.

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The pink and blue piece is by Exhaust. He's a beast! He freestyles this stuff starting from the middle of the piece, working outwards.

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Blue-orange piece by Beond.

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Purple piece by Like.

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Yellow piece by Jash DC5.

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Very cool guys, real down to earth.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Mike Bam of Hawaii

Mike "Bam" Tyau has been one of my best friends since we were 18 (long time, don't ask). He was one of my best bombing partners because if either of us got the vibe, we would tell each other and get out of there, no questions asked. We would scope out a place, and sit in the bushes like ninjas for 45 minutes before we would hit a spot, just to be safe. Needless to say I never got caught with Mike.

When we were young, Mike was an inspiration to me to get better at my art. He could smoke me at painting, drawing, and airbrushing without even trying. He had that natural talent. I didn't have that, but his talent pushed me to work harder on my skills to catch up to his level. For that alone, I will always be indebted to him.

We still talk almost every day, and he's become a vital team member of our Estria Invitational Graffiti Battles. Mike is the embodiment of loyalty. He is the kind of guy whom everyone takes an instant liking to. He loves his wife, family and dog dearly, and is an inspiration to me as a person.

For the last three years, Mike has rediscovered his passion for art, and man is he back with a vengeance!

You can see Mike's work inside and out at 1:AM SF Gallery now until October 10, 2009.

Visit his website miketyau.com

1:AM SF Gallery
1000 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94127
www.1amsf.com
www.twitter.com/1AM_SF
(415) 861-5089

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Characters by Bam, lettering by me, during a live demo painting in Hawaii's battle, 2009

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Spray Can Ninjas in Chicago, with Rome Won and I, 2009

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Wave and Koi at Sand By The Ton party in Oakland 2009

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'Koi Girl' by Bam and I, Oakland 2008

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This was Mike's first character in San Francisco, gaining him instant recognition as a talent to be reckoned with. 1986

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'Technostyle' by Bam, Man 45 and I. This is before we had phantom caps. 1987

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Close up of Mike's chrome exploding robot. 1987

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'World Peace' by Bam, Slick and I, at the Spray Can Art book celebration. Photo by Jim Prigoff 1988

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Close up of Mike's section. Check out that skinny cap action! 1988

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'Renaissance Men' by Bam and I. On the last day we got chased and never finished the background. This was for the battle between our crew, Together With Style, and TMF. This was arguably the most amazing battle between production crews in San Francisco. 1988

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'Spray Can Man' by Bam 1988-89

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'Fireman' by Bam 1989-90

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'Geisha Girl' by Bam, probably his most famous piece in California. 1990?

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Graffiti Series 2009: Don't Sweat the Technique 9/11-10/10

Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle Presents:
Don't Sweat the Technique

The Graffiti Series 2009 Events:
Ode to the Spraycan Art Show Sept 11 - Oct 9
The Can Film Festival Oct 8
Pecha Kucha Night Oakland Oct 9
3rd Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle National Finals Oct 10

The full in info is at estriabattle.com

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3rd Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle National Finals at Life Is Living
Sat, Oct 10, 11AM-5PM

deFremery Park
1651 Adeline Street, Oakland, CA 94607
FREE Family Event

24 of America's most talented Graffiti Artists in a live painting battle.

Contestants (confirmed to date):

1. Bounce TYS, 2008 & 2007 defending champion
2. Doves FC, 1st place Harlem
3. Vogue, 3rd place Harlem
4. Ckaweeks, 1st place Honolulu
5. Prime, 2nd place Honolulu
6. Ozwego, 3rd place Honolulu
7. Jash, 1st place Chicago
8. Dime, Visual Element
9. Katch
10. Refa TNS
11. Vyal One
12. Twick ICP
13. Drama DE
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Don't Sweat the Technique: Ode to the Spraycan Art Show
Sept 11 - Oct 9

Opening reception Sept 11, 7PM

1:AM SF Gallery
1000 Howard St., San Francisco, CA
1AM gallery

Featuring over 25 artists of the Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle

California: Neon, Bounce, Chez, Vogue, Eon 75, Germz, Vyal, Refa, 357, Ceyba
Chicago: Rome, Tsel, Chucho, Melon, Debl, Like
Hawai'i: Katch, Estria, Eukarezt, Ckaweeks, Prime, Bam
New York: Wane One, Doves, Cern, Queen Andrea, Cekis
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Don't Sweat the Technique: The Can Film Festival
Thurs, Oct 8
6:30PM open, shows start at 7PM

1:AM SF Gallery
1000 Howard St., San Francisco, CA
FREE event

Style Wars, Bomb It
Q&A moderated by: Jeff Chang
Panelists: Kevin Epps, Suzie Lundy, Erin Yoshioka, Estria Miyashiro
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Pecha Kucha Night Oakland
Don't Sweat the Technique: Graffiti for Social Change

Fri, Oct 9, 7PM

Eastside Cultural Center
2277 International Blvd., Oakland, CA
www.eastsideartsalliance.com
$5 at the door

Host: Weyland Southon & Maisha Quint

Presenters:
Jim Prigoff, author of Spray Can Art and Graffiti New York, (release date 10/1)
Brett Cook Dizney
Marc Bamuthi Joseph/Bethanie Hines
Steve Grody, author of Graffiti LA
Spie TDK
Erin Yoshioka, Trust Your Struggle
Nancy Hernandez
Estria Miyashiro
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Additional Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle Activities at Life Is Living:
  • Book Signing by James Prigoff & Steve Grody
  • Visual Element Blackbook Battles
  • Stencil T-shirt Workshop by Nancy Hernandez
  • Graffiti Canvas Display

  • This will be the 1st public release and signing of 'Graffiti New York' on the west coast!
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    Friday, September 18, 2009

    FREESH MENS & WOMEN'S WEAR FASHION SHOW ... GPO NIGHTCLUB. BODY ART BY SUDSY ... MX MAGAZINE COVERAGE.





    Queen Andrea of NYC

    Andrea von Bujdoss AKA "Queen Andrea" is a native New Yorker who was raised in the vibrant Soho neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.

    Andrea's passion for urban art and graphic design surfaced at an early age. In the early 1990s, she began to learn graffiti history and developed important friendships and mentoring relationships with some of the most notable New York City old school graffiti artists, like Reas, Ket and Wane One.

    Queen Andrea competed in the our New York battle this past May. She also designed our flyer for the Oakland finals.

    Visit her website superfreshdesign.com

    Check out Queen Andrea's artwork in our EIGB-MTN art show at 1:AM SF Gallery.

    Show runs until October 9.

    1:AM SF Gallery
    1000 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94127
    www.1amsf.com
    www.twitter.com/1AM_SF
    (415) 861-5089

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    As a young adult, Andrea attended Parsons School of Design where she earned her BFA in Graphic Design and graduated with academic honors. She then began a successful Graphic Design career, working for well-known brands who appreciate both the urban creative flavor of her work and her versatile and passionate knowledge of typography, branding and visual communication.

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    Andrea has curated and exhibited in numerous exhibitions in NYC.
    As a die-hard New Yorker with a good sense of humor and an appreciation for the art of life, Andrea strives to create art and design that is culturally memorable and powerfully communicative.

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    These days, she is one of the most traditionally skilled female graffiti artists in the country, possessing an explosively creative style inspired by the excitement of the urban landscape. Her custom lettering portfolio has grown beyond graffiti and is a comprehensive collection of letter studies and design explorations. She has been featured in art shows, toy shows, magazines, books, fashion lines and brand collaborations.

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    Graffiti in u'r Body