From the Martinez Gallery it was an 18 stop bus ride down into Harlem to check out the Graffiti Hall of Fame located in Jackie Robinson elementary school. Thank-you so much to Google Maps and the wonderful transit workers of NYC for making it so easy to navigate around this enormous city. Also, a big ups to the NYC locals for being so kind an help-full too! This city is great, and full of energy, compassion, and kindness. When I arrived at my location I found the three main walls of this Hall of Fame were fenced in to the playground of the school, and access has now been denied to visitors. I did my best to capture all I could in a series of photo collages. This first one was the only wall on the exterior of the complex and was full of old school blockbuster badness, with bright colours, playful fills, and name dropping of pioneers such as: Crash, Nicer, BG 183, KRS 1, Daze, Hownosm, Dmote, Bio, Bleu (RIP), Grandmaster, CAZ...
I hung out here for quite some time, shot flicks, ate lunch, and felt honoured to be in the presence of such inspiring work with a rich history. These were some of the first graffiti artists working the streets of NYC in a very subversive manner, the irony of this commissioned work speaks volumes to the relevance of this art movement.
These energetic, spirited, and dynamic 'wild style' pseudo name renderings really flaunt what is possible when you get together a group of talented artists who are happy to collaborate with one another. This kind of flow and compelling charisma was not evident in the Martinez Gallery, but when it comes together like this, it all just fits. Work of this nature was the inspiring motivation for myself to take up the art practice in my own way, as soon as I saw graffiti I knew it was something I wanted to part of.
The movement has come along way since the mid-late 1970's, and it continues to grow and evolve. In the canon of modern art graffiti/street is the most interminable art movement thus far. It's subversive nature adds dynamic to style, art practice, and process. The need to work quickly in order to avoid detection and possible incarceration is part of the energy inherit to the work and via this element allows the artist (speaking from a personal standpoint) to let-go. This ability to let-go and allow the work to flow through you comes from a very dedicated and prolific art practice. It is difficult to find a place of making that is more situated in the present moment of making, in the 'here' and 'nowness' of art production, than in subversive graffiti/street art. This is where my love and respect for this work is anchored. Up next, Taglialatella Gallery back in the Chelsea district and a whole bunch of 'firsts in real time' for me. Be well all!
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