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Underbelly Graffiti Art Project Is The New Police Station

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 03:57:08 +0000

Very interesting follow up article from the NYT about the Underbelly Art Project. I posted a follow up article highlighting the damage that was done to the artwork after it was publicized in the first article. Now it sounds like the cops are setting up a shop by the graffiti art and arresting folks who wanna check out the amazing street art for themselves. The article is below.

Police Arrest 20 Who Tried to Sneak Into Unused Subway Station Filled With Art

By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM

Published: November 11, 2010

The New York City police have arrested 20 people for trying to enter an abandoned subway station housing the formerly secret guerrilla exhibition of underground street art that was revealed to the public this month.

The clandestine gallery has attracted urban explorers eager to catch a glimpse of dozens of provocative, large-scale installations created by more than 100 street artists who sneaked into the station over the course of a year.

Several of these spelunkers, however, have encountered something else: a team of police officers, some in plainclothes, assigned by the city to monitor the site. Most of those arrested were charged with trespassing and a few were caught carrying spray cans and other graffiti paraphernalia, the authorities said.

While the police are taking a hard line on keeping people away — “This is not an art gallery; this is completely illegal,” one officer said — the paintings in what the artists called the Underbelly Project are likely to live on. Subway officials said they had no plans to paint over the artwork, even if they sincerely hoped nobody ever got to see it again.

“We have no intention of disturbing the works,” said Deirdre Parker, a spokeswoman for New York City Transit.

Ms. Parker noted that the fiscally challenged transit agency would not want to devote resources to restoring a space almost entirely unseen by the riding public. “It’s in complete darkness and not really at all visible to anyone,” she said.

The organizers of the project, who did not return a request for comment on Wednesday, have refused to disclose its location. So have transit officials. But first-person accounts, photographs and speculation around the Internet focus squarely on an abandoned station built in the 1930s atop the existing Broadway stop on the G line, near South Fourth Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The exhibition was the subject of an article in The New York Times on Nov. 1, but without specifying the location.

A comparison of current and historical photographs makes a convincing case for the Williamsburg station, and a spokesman for the police acknowledged that the site is in Brooklyn. But subway officials would not divulge the exact spot. “There are some bloggers who can pinpoint these places because they eat and sleep transit lore,” Ms. Parker said, “but officially, no, we’re not confirming anything.”

So far, efforts by the authorities to secure the space appear to have been only partly successful. Evidence of recent visits to the site has been published on the Internet, including photographs that suggest some of the artwork has been defaced by graffiti.

One blogger from Brooklyn, who said he explored the site in the early hours a week ago, posted photographs on his Web site that appeared to show vandalized works. “It does seem to only have been tagged by one person, and it’s actually kind of sad since some of the works are so amazing,” the blogger wrote in an e-mail. (He requested anonymity to avoid drawing attention from the authorities.)

The blogger said part of a chain-link fence put up by the police had already been peeled open. “If you are industrious enough, you can still get up there,” he wrote.

The South Fourth Street station was intended as a primary transfer point for subway lines that would have stretched from Lower Manhattan into Brooklyn and Queens, part of an ambitious expansion of the subway system planned by the city in 1929. The Great Depression forced officials to abandon the proposal, but not before bits and pieces of the proposed network had been built.

Transit officials reiterated this week that getting to the site could be dangerous.

“We really don’t want to encourage anyone to go near these places,” Ms. Parker said. She said the Police Department and transit officials were “working closely together to come up with short- and long-term solutions to the security problem.”

Detectives have been looking into the project’s origins, a Police Department spokesman said, but the police often find it difficult to link individuals to cases of illegal street art.

This project is amazing in the quality of art that is hidden underground. You know that the cops won’t camp out down there … and it’s just a matter of time before the graffiti art in the “underbelly” meets the general public. Unfortunately, I believe when this happens we’ll see more damage done to the amazing graffiti art. The question I have is … when and where is the next copycat graffiti art exhibit?

Underground Graffiti Art Is Alive

Underbelly Graffiti Art Project Is The New Police Station is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

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The Underbelly Project – Getting Trashed

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:20:01 +0000

Underbelly Graffiti Art Project – being destroyed

It happened on Halloween day …. the New York Times brought “to light” the Underbelly Project in an article that received quite a bit of attention. If you’re not familiar with the Underbelly Project, you can read the NYT article by clicking HERE or go to their website at www.theunderbellyproject.com/.

Essentially, there is a bit of a treasure trove of graffiti art made by well known and well respected graffiti artists in an abandoned subway station in New York City.

The intention of this project is to keep it a secret and build up a repository of great graffiti art. Well … the part about keeping it a secret is gone now.

I’m afraid that this great repository of street art will now become a repository of graffiti art that has been trashed by those who don’t appreciate the art. As I understand it, even since the NYT article ran, the art has started to become destroyed.

I guess this is an opportunity for some kids to get their tags on some legitimate art pieces in what is the closest thing to a Graffiti Art museum (or Street Art Museum) that there is in the US … certainly in NYC. If not tags, the kids have thrown up paint … not art … just splashing paint on the art. It’s really a damn shame. Pathetic.

Below are some before/after pictures.

Unfortunately, there’s more destruction of this art going on today. But, once this type of thing makes the NYT, I guess you have to expect this type of response. It’s a shame.

Underbelly Project – Graffiti Art – Getting Destroyed

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Faith and graffiti: Artist moves from prison to the classroom

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:17:56 +0000

Here’s a great f’n story. This is what I’ve been talking about for a damn long time. Here’s a fantastic person that realizes the value of art and teaching art to kids. What’s even better, is that he understands art and crime and recognizes that they are not the same thing.

Heres’ a quote from the story:

The first challenge in understanding graffiti as a form of expression is separating the art from the dilapidated structures on which they often appear. The second is to separate the hip-hop culture in which the art form is embraced from the thug lifestyle with which it is commonly associated.

Kaszuk believes graffiti can be a legitimate art form while retaining its street character.

Graffiti is art. Graffiti is not vandalism. Vandalism is illegal. Graffiti is not illegal. Of course, if you paint illegally, it becomes illegal … but graffiti is not illegal.

Too many people associate graffiti with vandalism and go further and associate graffiti with illegal drugs and criminal activities. When they do this, they try to squash graffiti as an art style which is just stoooopid.

This guy is a freakin’ champ in my book.

Faith and graffiti: Artist moves from prison to the classroom is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

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Graffiti Art In The WHITE HOUSE!! Seriously.

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:00:18 +0000

Well well well … Will you look at what and where Graffiti Art is going now. The White House!! It’s in the f’n White House.

I’m almost stunned. UK Prime Minister David Cameron apparently did an Art Swap (ART … not vandalism) with President Obama and gave him some Art from Graffiti Artist Eine!!

The piece from Eine (who I highlighted as one of the six best UK based G-Artists Other Than Banksy) was called “Twenty First Century City and is pretty typical of his style.

Obama gave Cameron a piece from Ed Ruscha called “Colum With Speed Lines” apparently because it had red white and blue in it (colors in the US and UK flags).

Sorry Obama (and Ed Ruscha), but Cameron and the UK Posse win this art swap.

I have a new respect of David Cameron now … or at least his wife, Samantha, who digs Eine’s works and apparently recommended his work.

Seriously. Give some props to Samantha. Politicians aren’t the smartest folks in the world … but for once, one of them made a good decision.

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If You’re Near Chicago – Check it this G-Art Show

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:22:41 +0000

Buy Graffiti

I got a heads up from Flash of the ABC Crew

out of Chicago about a show on April 16th. Short lead time, but if you’re anywhere near Chicago, this would be a great Graffiti Art show to check out and buy graffiti from these artists!!! These types of events tend to be some of the best places to buy graffiti and meet the artists. Ask them about their work, get to know them and of course, support them and buy graffiti from them.

—————————————–

Buy graffiti

Even Odds is a collaboration show of Graffiti artists in the Chi-Town area who are still involved in the community they love. These artists have been involved in bringing their unique form of art to the masses. They’ll be showcasing affordable pieces by each artist. Each artist will have on display pieces of their artwork showing the traditional methods that they used in the streets.

Chumbly: A southside artist who loves to collaborate with youths. Runs walls on 25 and St Louis and 23 and Avers were artist come to test theirs skills on metal fences.

Flash: Raised in Logan Square. Has displayed work in LA and Chicago. Involved in Cooperative Image Group. Massive photography collection on Chicago graffiti.

KLTA: One of the first artist to go all city with his unique swirls and dashes.

Loveone: An uptown artist who has completed a mural along the redline with kids and his wife Lea.
Rome: Has displayed work in L.A. and New York. Has also been a judge for the Estria graffiti battles,

Statik: One of the most complete artist to bring what he paints on the wall to canvass.

Teel: Done shows In New York, Florida, Paris and France. Is considered also one of the bigest influence on graff as we know it today cause of the things he has taught his crew and the things they done with the knowledge he has given them

Uneek: UneeK DesigN is the culmination of a Writer serving life as a Carpenter, blending art with woodworking to create furniture, home accents and various works of art. Uneek works closely with local artists on design and fabrication of custom frames with each artists individuality in mind

Step 1: An original Chicago artist who started doing graffiti in 1992. His versatile work is wrapped around human rights and social justice issues.

http://www.artisticbombingcrew.com/
http://www.chicagograffiti.com/forums/
http://theblog.momentumarttech.com/
http://www.romewon.com/
http://www.statikone.net/
http://hugostyle.com/

Check it out if you can … this will be a great opportunity to buy graffiti.

If You’re Near Chicago – Check it this G-Art Show is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

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Video Interview with Kaws

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:26:09 +0000

Nice interview with Kaws.

Video Interview with Kaws is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

Labrona – Canadian Graff Artist Highlight

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:11:49 +0000

I wanted to highlight an artist out of Canada that paints trains and walls but also puts it down on canvas. His paintings tend towards exaggerated portraitures and his style is quite distinct. This guy is prolific and deserves big props.

Young taggers could learn something from him … specifically, if you wanna be known, you can do something other than simple “name writing”. Everyone knows when Labrona put out new paintings without writing his name.

Sample of his work on walls, trains, and canvas below.

Labrona – Canadian Graff Artist Highlight is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

Graffiti Artist Arrested At His Own Art Exhibit

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:53:52 +0000

From LAWeekly

C’mon … Montana Paints paid him $1k to be there. My guess is that Montana Paints really paid $1k against his bail. Check out his work below:

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Graffiti artist Jason Williams, also known as Revok, was arrested at an exhibition of his work at a Mid-City gallery and graffiti-art store Sunday, authorities announced.

The 32-year-old, described as a prolific tagger whose moniker has been spotted throughout the region, was nabbed at the 33third shop at 5111 West Pico Blvd. by the Special Problems Team the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Police Department’s graffiti team.

“A probation search of his residence was conducted and several hundred paint cans, spray tips, a fire extinguisher and other implements were found,” states a sheriff’s department release. “In addition to the above, he had a replica LAPD badge, a stolen ‘detour’ sign and digital photos of his graffiti work on his phone.”

Williams was arrested on suspicion of possessing vandalism tools, possessing a counterfeit badge and receiving stolen property. Authorities say he was on probation at the time of the arrest.

Deputies stated that Williams was the star of the Montana Paints-sponsored art show (a flier for the event actually shows Revok as one of many artists) and that he was paid $1,000 to attend. They say he makes money from t-shirt sales and prints and that he was featured in a segment on KABC7 news in recent months.

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Video of Graff / Tattoo artist Norm

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:16:46 +0000

Nice video / interview with Graffiti Artist and now tattoo artist Norm.

Norm MSK-AWR

Video of Graff / Tattoo artist Norm is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

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See D*Face work in NYC

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:19:04 +0000

No Longer Empty (NLE) is a comprised of arts advocates, curators and artists who orchestrate public art exhibitions in vacated storefronts and properties in New York City. The non-profit organization was conceived as an artistic response to our present economic condition and to revitalize empty spaces and areas around the venues by bringing thoughtful, high-caliber art installations with accompanying programs to the public

See D*Face work in NYC is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog