Sunday, November 1, 2015

Risk's new gallery in Los Angeles - Grand opening coverage by Dan Plasma

No Risk, No Reward

by Dan Plasma

LA graffiti legend Kelly Graval, a.k.a. Risk, opened his new BuckShot Gallery in Santa Monica, California, at 3129 Pico Blvd. The opening group show, Noche de Calaveras, was an eclectic show of painted skulls by Seen, Kenny Scharf, Saber, Slick, Everlast from House of Pain, Estevan Oriol, and other contemporary masters.

The opening night was awash with wealthy investors and collectors with designer bags blending with scrappy graffiti artists with blunts, black books and neck tattoos. The work wasn't displayed in an impressive fashion, but the works by Risk, Seen, Sel and others were so well thought out that they didn't need fancy presentation. A backyard area housed hundreds of hungry art fans in what would turn out to be one of the greatest parties of the year.

Plasma, Feli, Risk

Themes of the skulls ranged from pop art to metaphysics and beyond. For being an art gallery in Santa Monica, it was quite a lively show. By 3 am, the collectors had Seen and Risk tag their wives' and girlfriends' Gucci and Luis Vuitton purses with spraypaint tags. The whiskey and wine were flowing and the party at Risk's new gallery opening literally raged until dawn. Every type of high-end libation was sitting on the bar, but by 4 am everyone was just thirsting for water.

Plasma gets his girlfriend's Luis tagged

Security and bartenders retired for the evening, and the beanbags in the backyard graffiti wall section of the gallery served as a tent area where people passed out for the night. What began as hundreds of hoodrats, hipsters and wealthy collectors, the most bizarre mix ever, filtered down into dozens, a tribe of sorts...

There were no longer cultural or socioeconomic distinctions, those who had partied too hard at Risk's opening and passed out on the massive beanbags in the back were one tribe, one clan, one people, some were in business suits, some in shorts and t-shirts, seemingly unbathed for days....it felt surreal, apocalyptic, like we were... the last dozen real humans left... and being that we were in fact in Santa Monica, this well may have been the case.



Risk popped his head out back every 20 minutes to make sure everyone was warm and had water and blankies. With his Jesus hair and beard it was like he appeared to us in the night... and indeed, blessed with his Jesus hair and beard he performed miracles that night a plenty. Lo, How is it that what seemed like one bottle of Gentleman Jack satisfied 300 party goers? Perhaps I just didn't see them replace the bottle but I continue to believe.

How is it that we would all follow this wise man on this night and many of us who brought blackbooks and the women who brought designer handbags got them tagged and blessed? It was all a bizarre teleportation to a summer in high school where money didn't matter nearly as much and time stood still....


Feli (visual artist) and Feli (recording artist)

But in truth what was most surreal and the greatest miracle was the work itself and Risk's new presence on the brick-and-mortar gallery scene.

Every month millions in art is sold in Los Angeles. But how many of those artists come from the heart and did it out of love, when they were teenagers like Risk, Sel, Seen and everyone else in the show???

It shows in the work, these works came from the heart, they were a work of uncontrived expression, with the same timeless energy that comes from their
Krylon roots.

If you didn't know better you might think that graffiti and street art are the redheaded stepchild of the contemporary art world. In fact, Risk, Seen and others are being hailed as founders of the only unique contemporary movement in visual art to originate in this country. And it shows. Despite Shepard Fairey's Gallery and events like the art crawl and open studios, the contemporary gallery scene in Los Angeles seems contrived, and commercial, since it is.

Backyard afterparty

Most people these days would rather discover an amazing piece of street art than go to a gallery or museum to have their mind blown. Both the energy of the works, and the show itself, at BuckShot capture that spontaneous genuine street energy. The show and space and event itself was a work of art, proving that Risk has nothing to prove and that in art and life, he's blind to the status quo and thoroughly dedicated as an artist and a man to his genuine identity.

Sel.WCA

 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗
Buckshot Gallery

3129 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405 USA

Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-7pm
Phone: (+1) 310-310-8471

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Miami area artists paint huge mural in Baton Rouge, Louisiana


Eduardo Mendieta and two other recognized South Florida urban artists recently completed a spray paint mural in Downtown Baton Rouge. The mural covers the entire 6,000-square-foot front wall of an urban science, technology, and arts high school called the Mentorship Academy. The mural is titled "On the Shoulders of Giants" and illustrates the importance of science and art education to inspire students.
The artists, Mendieta, Jay Bellichi, and Paul Hughes, do great spray paint work in the Miami area and came to Baton Rouge to work with the Walls Project  a nonprofit group that organizes murals in public spaces to beautify Baton Rouge. This mural is the largest street-style mural in the area and contributes to the ever growing public art scene in the city.

The mural was sponsored by Solutions Through Science, a partnership of vinyl and chlorine producers in Louisiana, to support science education and students. "On the Shoulders of Giants" is a remarkable mural that celebrates urban art and culture.

Eddie Mendieta: He has worked in West Palm Beach, FL for 20 years and has been interested in graffiti and fine arts since an early age in Union City, NJ. Eddie works mostly in urban art and has completed murals nationwide. Eddie has completed murals for XLVI Superbowl Indianapolis project as a featured artist, murals for Art Basel Week in Miami.

Jay Bellichi:  A Boston native who moved to Miami in 2000, Jay focuses on abstract art on canvases, walls, and fine art pieces. Jay tagged under the name “Remote” He founded “GRAFF TOYZ,” a company that produces graffiti inspired décor pieces and art objects and co-founded ALT SPACE, an artist-operated gallery in Coconut Grove

Paul Hughes: Lives in Boca Raton, FL. His primary focus is painting walls in South Florida and he has also been featured in Art Basel Week in Miami.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Ireland, Derry: July 25-26, 2015 - Release The Pressure - Graffiti and Mural Arts Festival


July 25 - July 26

Ebrington Square, Derry, Ireland

UV Arts host a weekend celebration of Graffiti, Street Art and Mural Arts in a citywide festival, enjoying this unique and visually stimulating art form live and for free.

"Release The Pressure" festival will see 60 graffiti, street artists, and contemporary mural artists take to the streets of Derry in what can only be described as an explosion of colour. Witness an international lineup of artists working together to create art in the streets.

The hub of excitement will be at Ebrington Square and mute meadows with more sites across the city, so follow the sweet smell of spray paint to our various locations across the city. For more information contact our team on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates, or contact info@uv-arts.co

Tickets are available here.





Please pass this along in your networks. July 25 is coming.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Worldwide: Call for stickers, posters, prints - DEADLINE AUG 30 2015 - Sticker Phiends

"Sticker Phiends"
Invades Hollywood

(September 11th,2015) - Street/Gallery artist "Mad One" will team up with Stone Malone Gallery to host the annual "Sticker Phiends", a showcase of local and international adhesive, street and graff artists for yet another round. The show will feature adhesive art and other interactive activities, plenty of sticker giveaways, limited edition prints, merch and other mixed medium works produced by showcasing artists.

There have been several Graffiti/Urban art themed shows throughout the valley and country over the past decade. This is one of a kind for sure; its name explains itself “Sticker Phiends” an array of street/gallery artists throughout the world have come together year after year to make this a must see show.

Mad One, a Portland based street/gallery artist, had the opportunity to lock down local and international artists both established and up and coming. “In the past shows we have had artists ranging from Arizona, New York to Brazil, Spain and beyond". Sticker Phiends is about the adhesive art movement and bringing awareness of stickers and how they have gone from the streets to a modern medium of art being displayed in today’s galleries.

Please send in posters/stickers for our installation piece (no larger than 24x36in.

We would also like to request items to be donated so they could be given out over the course of the opening night like Tee-shirts, sticker packs etc.. If you would like to contribute anything specifically for the merch/sales area please indicate in package and marked accordingly, please communicate in advance (e-mail preferred)

If you have any questions regarding submissions/sponsoring the event or shipping please contact

Madizmprojects@gmail.com

Send Stickers/Posters to:

Mad Ink Designz
PO Box 82658
Portland OR 97282 USA


ATTN: “Sticker Phiends”

Feel free to spread the word....

DEADLINE IS AUGUST 30th 2015!!!!

MAD ONE
Artist-Curator-Creative Director
@onemad1 on InstaGram
www.Flickr.com/photos/madone

Extremely limited edition graffiti T-shirts by CAN2, SWET, SNAKE, SANE2 et FEZAT

GRAFFITI COLLECTION


Funtastik is a French brand of clothing for children from 3 to 10 years, which is part of an eco-friendly approach.














Motto: Organic green ... ... but mostly funny !!


The visual, printed on 100% organic t-shirts are there to give a smile to adults than children.


Concerned about the well-being of funtasti'kids, the brand chose the 100% organic cotton textile by choosing a provider that engages in a genuine commitment to sustainable development and that throughout the supply chain. Affiliated with the FairwearFoundation his supplier holds certifications with the highest standards as GOTS and Oeko-Tex to guarantee the biology of cotton, the absence of toxic substances and the social responsibility of garment manufacturers. Moreover textile impressions are certified Oeko-Tex to guarantee the exemption of harmful substances.


Funtastik also cares for the welfare of children in the world and chose to donate part of its profits to an NGO, Humanium who fight against the violation of children's rights.


Faced with the monsters of the textile industry, their approach is part of a qualitative production, advocating creativity and authenticity, rather than a quantitative production.


Following the launch of its first collection, and in order to bring even more originality, the brand will launch every year a collection "capsule" in collaboration with artists from different backgrounds.


For this first edition, Funtastik is surrounded by renowned graffiti artists: CAN2 (Germany), SWET (Denmark), SNAKE (France), SANE2 (France) and FEZAT (Canada) are associated with the brand in order to offer visuals for our children. 

CAN2

"Born in 1970 in Mainz (Germany), Cantwo is a graffiti artist of the first hour and internationally renowned graffiti on the scene. At seven years Cantwo feels the need to embellish his books and school desks, it customizes with his own illustrations. He made his first experiments bomb in 1983 in his hometown of Mainz, before following an intensive drawing (on paper) with markers and ink. Then, his attraction to urban areas , great characters and walls, becomes too high. Since 1986, Cantwo left graffiti in many cities around the world (New York, Paris, Copenhagen, Barcelona, ​​Rome, etc.). Since the 1990s, Cantwo is a trendsetter in the German and European graffiti scene. His style has influenced many artists and is still on the front of the stage.


SNAKE


Snake is a self-taught artist since the early years 90.C'est in 1989 he began to surf the various urban disciplines of Hip-Hop culture, dance and graffiti in which he found a true artistic and human root. Soon he devoted himself exclusively to drawing in 1990 in which he has always been at ease since his high school enfance.Les tables were his first victims. Multidisciplinary and touch everything he practiced all disciplines and forms of Graffiti, the more technical at the vandal .... The desire to meet and discoveries specific to graffiti, allowed him to travel around the world: Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Polynesia, Croatia, United States, Morocco, Tunisia, Portugal, United Kingdom, etc.It was in 1996 that justice caught up with him, following several severe fines, he will bail three months of farms to vandalism on train. Today Snake working various projects under various forms, with large institutional collaborations. It keeps intact a real willingness to work the architecture of the letter. Demonstrate that it is not just a random shape, but a stylistic modern artistic approach that is expressed and defined in the effectiveness of its form and its purity.


Adept large surfaces Snake has developed a true professional sense for large-scale projects. His philosophy:

"My vision is that the transformation of the city through art which will allow to change the relationship to others and the environment urbain.La real transfiguration of the city of the future will not pass through the construction of large towers, but by the different look that will carry people on their space means vital.Cela highlight places that exist but that people no longer perceive in their quotidien.Le goal is to root in this territory different themes from which it able to write a story. Snake eats today's urban history, to re-inject it into the public space in order to change the points of view because our territory is not used as an object, but also as sujet.La culture, urban planning, architecture must provide the means for artists to reclaim the space being urbain.L'objectif course to speak of it to pass, awaken, rejuvenate and modernize our places of common life through the creation."

Constantly challenged with a thirst to learn, it is also in the privacy of the workshop Snake satisfies his creative work on the spine of Graffiti, letter or message can thus merge into a more approach contemporary.


SANE2


Born in 1976 and since childhood, SANE2 spends hours drawing at the end of my table as autistic. He meets graffiti by chance in 1992 by flicking a fanzine (black and white photocopied paper Magazine) At this time it is in college and is completely fascinated by this new mode of expression. The HipHop Culture arrived in France as a real "coup charges" far from the current clichés, it is a positive breath for any part of the youth.


So here party, swollen by this forbidden thirst, vandalizing the streets of his city in good savage who respects himself, for a few years. I later discovered the book "Spraycan Art" becomes and remains today for him THE historic benchmark in graffiti with some other works.


All these colors, these dynamic letters, this way of rethinking the alphabet and the world around him ui offers him countless new opportunities! He decided to devote all my energy in 1997 and invested more and more time in this passion, which at the time of wire, becomes a way of life. In 2000, after creating a specialized database graffiti on the internet comes time to professionalization and he created with two colleagues AERO association. Implementation of workshops and other decorations to individuals, businesses and communities will make them take another turn and enrich our meetings!


After a trip to DRESDEN, Germany in 2002, I joined the Bandits Crew who became his second family!


After more than 20 years of graffiti, in the interests of openness to others and the different creative techniques, it broadened its scope by making a few stencils with Artiste Ouvrier. He also participated in several exhibitions and contemporary art sales in 2009 and then throws me in the tattoo through the living room Phunky Buddah.


Independent since he worked as "guest" in CAEN and around different salons tattoos, participates in some conventions and attempts to develop a personal project in his graffiti career.


FEZAT


Born in Montreal in 1986, Fezat is interested in visual art and devotes most of his free time drawing. He developed a style over the years always changing, inspired by his interests in superhero comics, street art and graffiti.


SWET


Last in this collection but not least !!


SWET was born in 1971 in Denmark. He experienced his first graffiti in 1985.Since the 80s, SWET has an undeniable presence on the international scene graffiti, influencing new generations with lettering like "wild style".Famous for its animated letters and heads of colorful works, exhibiting in galleries, SWET continues to impress in a scene that is constantly changing.


You can discover the visual below this new collection:


If we speak to you this brand is that this collection "capsule" is EDITIONLIMITEE, (50 copies per shirt)!


Pre-order on www.funtastik.fr until June 23 at midnight at this special rate: € 19.90 instead of € 24.90.

 Delivery scheduled for mid July.

There will not be enough for everyone !!!!


French:

Funtastik est une marque française de vêtements pour enfants de 3 à 10 ans, qui s'inscrit dans une démarche  éco-responsable.

Sa devise : bio...écolo... mais surtout rigolo !!

Les visuels, imprimés sur des T-shirts 100% bio sont là pour donner le sourire, autant aux adultes qu'au enfants.

Soucieuse du bien-être des funtasti’kids, la marque fait le choix du coton 100% biologique en choisissant un fournisseur textile qui s’engage dans une authentique démarche de développement durable et ce tout au long de la chaîne d’approvisionnement. Affilié à la FairwearFoundation, son fournisseur détient les certifications aux standards les plus élevés comme GOTS et Oeko-Tex, afin de garantir l’aspect biologique du coton, l’absence de substances toxiques et la responsabilité sociétale des confectionneurs. De plus les impressions textiles sont certifiées Oeko-Tex afin de garantir l’exemption de substances nocives.

Funtastik se soucie aussi du bien-être des enfants dans le monde et a choisi de faire don d’une partie de ses bénéfices à une ONG, Humanium, qui lutte contre la violation des droits des enfants.

Face aux monstres de l'industrie textile, leur démarche s'inscrit dans une production qualitative, en prônant la créativité et l'authenticité, plutôt qu'une production quantitative.

Après le lancement de sa première collection, et dans le but d'apporter encore plus d'originalité, la marque lancera chaque année une collection « capsule » en collaboration avec des artistes de différents milieux.

Pour cette première édition, Funtastik s'entoure d'artistes graffeurs de renom : CAN2 (Allemagne), SWET (Danemark), SNAKE (France), SANE2 (France) et FEZAT (Canada) s'associent à la marque afin de proposer des visuels pour nos enfants.

CAN2

"Né en 1970 à Mayence ( Allemagne), CANTWO est un graffeur de la première heure et internationalement renommé sur la scène graffiti. Dès sept ans, CANTWO ressent le besoin d’embellir ses livres et ses bancs d’école, qu’il customise avec ses propres illustrations. Il fait ses premières expériences à la bombe en 1983 dans sa ville natale, Mayence, avant de suivre une formation intensive de dessin (sur papier), avec marqueurs et encre de chine. Puis, son attirance pour les espaces urbains, les grands caractères et les murs, devient trop forte. Depuis 1986, CANTWO laisse des graffitis dans de nombreuses villes à travers le monde (New-York, Paris, Copenhague, Barcelone, Rome, etc.). Depuis les années 1990, CANTWO est un avant-gardiste de la scène graffiti allemande et européenne. Son style a influencé de nombreux artistes et il est encore aujourd’hui sur le devant de la scène.

SNAKE

Snake est un artiste autodidacte depuis le début des années 90.
C'est en 1989 qu'il commença à surfer sur diverses disciplines urbaines de la culture Hip-Hop, danse et graffiti dans lequel il a trouvé une véritable racine artistique et humaine.
Très vite il se consacra exclusivement en 1990 au dessin dans lequel il a toujours été a l'aise depuis son enfance.Les tables du lycée furent ses premières victimes.
Pluridisciplinaire et touche à tout il pratiqua toutes les disciplines et formes du Graffiti, du plus technique au plus vandal….
Le désir de rencontres et de découvertes spécifiques au graffiti, lui a permis de voyager à travers le monde:Espagne, Italie, Suisse, Belgique, Allemagne, Hollande, Pologne, Tchécoslovaquie, Polynésie, Croatie, Etats unis, Maroc, Tunisie, Portugal, Royaume Uni, etc.

C'est en 1996 que la justice le rattrapa, suite à plusieurs amendes sévères, il écopera de 3 mois fermes pour acte de vandalisme sur train.
Aujourd'hui Snake travaille divers projets sous-diverses formes, avec de grandes collaborations institutionnelles.
Il garde intacte une vraie volonté de travailler l'architecture de la lettre. Démontrer que celle-ci n'est pas juste une forme aléatoire, mais bien une approche artistique moderne stylistique qui s'exprime et se définit  dans l'efficacité de sa forme et de sa pureté.

Adepte des grandes surfaces Snake a su développer un vrai sens professionnel pour les projets de grandes envergures.
Sa philosophie:

"Ma vision est que la transformation de la ville passe par l’artistique ce qui va permettre de changer le rapport aux autres et a l’environnement urbain.
La véritable transfiguration de la ville du futur ne passera pas par la construction de grandes tours, mais par le regard différent que porteront les gens sur leur espace vital.
Cela signifie mettre en valeur des endroits qui existent, mais que les gens ne perçoivent plus dans leur quotidien.
Le but est d’extirper à ce territoire différentes thématiques à partir desquelles il est possible d’écrire une histoire.
 Snake aujourd'hui se nourrit de son histoire urbaine, pour la réinjecter dans l’espace public afin de changer les points de vue puisque notre territoire n’est plus utilisé en tant qu’objet, mais aussi en tant que sujet.
La culture, l’urbanisme, l’architecture doivent offrir les moyens aux artistes de se réapproprier l’espace urbain.
L’objectif étant bien sûr de faire parler de celui-ci pour transmettre, éveiller, rajeunir et moderniser nos lieux de vies communs par la création."

Sans cesse en remise en question avec une soif d'apprendre, c'est aussi dans l'intimité de l'atelier que Snake assouvit sa créativité travaillant sur la colonne vertébrale du Graffiti, la lettre ou le message peuvent ainsi fusionner dans une approche plus contemporaine.

SANE2

Né en 1976 et depuis tout petit, SANE2 passe des heures à dessiner au bout de ma table comme un autiste. Il rencontre le graffiti par pur hasard en 1992 en feuilletant un fanzine (Magazine papier noir et blanc photocopié) A cette époque il est au collège et est complètement fasciné par ce nouveau mode d’expression. La culture HipHop arrive en France comme un véritable “coup de frais” loin des clichés actuels, elle est un souffle positif pour toute une partie de la jeunesse.

Le voilà donc parti, gonflé par cette soif d’interdits, à vandaliser les rues de sa ville en bon sauvageon qui se respecte, pendant quelques années. Je découvre par la suite le livre “SPRAYCAN ART” qui devient et reste encore aujourd’hui pour lui LA référence historique en matière de graffiti avec quelques autres ouvrages.

Toutes ces couleurs, ces dynamiques de lettres, cette façon de repenser l’alphabet et le monde ui l’entoure lui offre d’innombrables nouvelles perspectives! Il décide d’y consacrer toute mon énergie en 1997 et investi de plus en plus de temps dans cette passion, qui, au fil de temps, devient un véritable mode de vie. En 2000, après avoir créé une base de données spécialisée graffiti sur internet, arrive le temps de la professionnalisation et il crée avec 2 collègues l’association AERO. Mise en place d’ateliers et autres décorations pour particuliers, entreprises et collectivités vont leur faire prendre un autre virage et enrichir nos rencontres!

Après un voyage à DRESDEN en Allemagne en 2002, j’intègre le BANDITS Crew qui devient sa seconde famille!

Après plus de 20 ans de graffiti, dans un souci d’ouverture aux autres et aux différentes techniques de création, il élargi son champ d’action en réalisant quelques pochoirs avec Artiste Ouvrier. Il participe également à quelques expositions et autres ventes d’art contemporain puis me lance en 2009 dans le tatouage par le biais du salon Phunky Buddah.

Il exerce depuis en indépendant comme “guest” à CAEN et ailleurs dans différents salons de tatouages, participe à quelques conventions et tente de développer un travail personnel lié à son parcours graffiti.

FEZAT

Né à Montréal en 1986, Fezat s'intéresse a l'art visuel et consacre la plupart de son temps libre à dessiner. Il développe avec les années un style toujours en évolution, inspiré de ses intérêts pour les bandes dessinés de super héros, l'art urbain et le graffiti.

SWET

Dernier arrivé sur cette collection mais pas des moindres!!

SWET est né en 1971 au Danemark.  Il a sa première expérience de graffiti en 1985.

Depuis les années 80, SWET a une présence indéniable sur la scène internationale du graffiti, influençant les nouvelles générations avec ses lettrages type "wild style".

Célèbre pour ses lettres animés et ses chefs d'oeuvres colorés, exposant dans de nombreuses galeries, SWET continue d'impressionner dans une scène qui est constamment en changement.

Vous pouvez découvrir les visuels ci dessous de cette collection inédite:

Si nous vous parlons de cette marque c'est que cette collection « capsule » est en EDITIONLIMITEE, (50 exemplaires par T-shirt) !

Passez votre pré-commande sur www.funtastik.fr jusqu'au 23  juin minuit et cela à tarif préférentiel: 

19,90€ ou lieu de 24,90€ sur la période de pré-commande.


Livraison prévue mi juillet.

Il n'y en aura pas pour tout le monde!!!!

PS: ils ne seront pas soldés après car on ne solde pas les artistes!

----------------
The sizes are 3 / 4Y 5 / 6Y 7 / 8Y 9/ 12 11Y / 14Y

www.funtastik.fr
FB: https://www.facebook.com/funtastikclothes
twitter: https://twitter.com/funtastik_fr
INSTAGRAM https://instagram.com/funtastik_fr/

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

New Book: DF - Decaying Future

DF crew has a new book!

Decaying Future

Only a few of these books were made, so jump on it.

Graffiti writers stand at the forefront of reinventing public spaces. From the early days of subway graffiti to modern-era legal crossover graffiti, writers have sought out every possible surface on which to practice the craft. The gradual decline of the American infrastructure has provided a bevy of ‘new’ canvases for these aerosol expressionists to prove their cultural resiliency.
 
Decaying Future chronicles the past, present, and potential of one of graffiti’s most irrepressible talent groups and captures the artistic renaissance rising from the ashes of American industry.

Work by: East, Emit, Cycle, Jive, Vogey, Ouija, Jick, Nace, Gaze, Ewok... and more.

• Full color
• Paperback
• 9x7
• 174 pages









Friday, January 2, 2015

2015: What's up

Update May 6, 2015:

Lots of amazing things are going on. We've moved the website (all 13000 pages(!)) to a new host, so that's all good now, thanks to Fabricatorz and Gandi.net.

We are in the process of tidying up just a bit so we can send the archived website to Germany and Poland for safekeeping and academic research access. And it's not just Art Crimes we're preserving, but also many of the websites from the 1990s that we hosted back in the day when there were no hosts, and later when it was just to ridiculously expensive to buy web space. These many websites are great examples of early web history, which is not surprising since graffiti writers were among the very first people serving up photos online.

Just to name one amazing trio of efforts: Digital Jungle, N-Igma, and Location 12, from London UK. Hugs to you @iamdek. From 1995-2002 he published more than 7500 images of graffiti from London and the United Kingdom.

Anyway, there are scores of them, so too many to list right now, but maybe we can make a list of the best ones later on the new website, so you can check them all out. Give credit where credit's due.

Next up is figuring out how to publish more photos faster, so that should be interesting. We hope to start showing new stuff soon and redesign and improve as we go along. That's a good idea all around, I think.

Thanks for your patience.

Love from Susan and the Fabricatorz

More as it develops.

=================previously===============
Jan 2 2015
Happy 2015! 

I hope everyone is warm and safe and spreading love and peace on Earth somewhere.

Why no updates on Art Crimes lately? 

The website is being lovingly rebuilt with modern code, thanks to Fabricatorz! This may take some time, so thanks for your patience. They are working on it now.

Please send thank-you pictures and notes for the Fabricatorz. They are an open-source programming team who have volunteered to help with this giant website effort. If you send stuff to me, I'll make sure they get them. I want them to know how much we appreciate their help.

Why rebuild?

The website needs some future-proofing, and it also was getting difficult to maintain because it lacked a content-management system. The design has some limitations, as you know, because of its incredible age -- 20 years! Thanks to all the contributors who made that happen!.

What will the new website be like?

Well, it will continue to have the photos it had before, but it will be able to do more and be more flexible. It should be possible to show even more photos and graffiti art of many kinds, and to do it faster and better.

We'll have a better, more community-focused website where more people can be involved.

If you would like to help:

We'd  like to talk with nonprofits and/or funding organizations who might like to work together.

Social media support. We may need to set up an Indiegogo and/or a Patreon or something similar later this year [or 2016]. If so, we'll announce it on this blog (or our next blog) and on Twitter @artcrimes1. When you see that call for action, please pass it along in your networks if you can. Posting links from Art Crimes in general is always appreciated.

Please continue to send photos. We're very excited about the photos we will publish in the future, and we're about to organize all the unpublished ones people have already sent so we can post the best of those. (If you want to send more than 20MB of images, consider using something like wetransfer.com to send ZIP or RAR archives (archives are so much easier than individual images). we don't have a dropbox currently, but Google Drive could work.)

Curate or contribute content. It's not a job, it's participatory culture ... collaborative art history! Please get in touch if you think you might like to participate in creating or curating content for graffiti.org in the future. If you're already blogging or photoblogging somewhere, I hope there will be new ways we can connect too.

Thank you! More news as progress happens.

Much love,

Susan
🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃