Trains

"subway graffiti"

Moving Murals: Henry Chalfant & Martha Cooper’s All-City Graffiti Archive, a mosaic of 850 wall images of subway graffiti photographed by Chalfant — along with a series of Martha Cooper’s artist portraits — continues through this Thursday, December 18 at 4pm.  A homage to the boundless creativity of the graffiti artists whose talents and passions paved the way to the global street art movement, Moving Murals is the first exhibit to grace the City Lore Gallery at 56 East 1st Street.

Another close-up from Henry Chalfant collage, featuring the legendary Iz the Wiz

Henry-Chalfant-subway-graffiti-City_Lore

Martha Cooper’s portraits

"Martha Cooper Photography"

Including such contemporaries as Lady Aiko (top left)

Martha-cooper-photography-city-lore-nyc

And next Saturday, December 20, 12pm – 6pm, you will have the opportunity to take home one of Henry Chalfant’s graffiti train prints as City Lore will be offering Chalfant’s train photographs from the Moving Murals exhibit with each membership purchased. Membership begins at $35. Hot cider and a variety of gifts by local NYC artists will also be available for sale at the City Lore Store

City-Lore

Moving-Murals-City-Lore

Final photo courtesy of City Lore; photos of Henry Chalfant’s installation by Lois Stavsky; of Martha Cooper’s by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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The ingenious InstaFame Phantom Art, conceived and curated by Nic 707, continues to bring old school writers — along with newer ones from NYC and beyond — back to the trains.  Here are a few images captured on recent rides:

Paulie Nassar and the legendary TAKI 183  — with background by Nic 707

Nassart-and-taki183-subway-graffiti-

Anjl

Anji-graffiti-1-train

Nic 707

Nic-707

Praxis

Praxis-stencil-art-on-subway-1-line_edited-1

Shiro 

Shiro

Nic 707 and TAKI 183

Nic707-taki183-graffiti-MTA-subway-train-NYC

TAKI 183 with background by Nic 707

Taki183

Photo credits: 1 & 7, City-as-School intern Tyler Flores; 2 – 6, Lois Stavsky; 8, Nic 707

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Nic707

The brainchild of veteran graffiti writer Nic707,  InstaFame Phantom Art continues to bring graffiti back to NYC trains — with artists from across the globe now contributing to this ingenious project. Here are a few images of artworks captured on the 1 and 6 lines:

The legendary Kingbee

KingBee

British graffiti pioneer Pulse

Pulse

Bronx native Yes One

Yes-one-graffiti-subway-NYC

Bogota-based stencil artist Praxis

Praxis

Style-master Meres — of 5Pointz fame

Meres

Old School writer Tony164

Tony164

And new from Nic707

Nic707-2014-graffiti

Photos by Lois Stavsky 

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Sen-One-graffiti-Time-Out-New-York

Born and raised on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, George “SEN One” Morillo first got up in his neighborhood in 1980. Soon afterwards, he began painting subway trains on Manhattan’s No. 1 line and became a member of IBM (Incredible Bombing Masters), one of NYC’s most celebrated graffiti crews. When asked to design an original cover for Time Out New York, SEN One painted a tribute to that era.

In his studio with painting on canvas

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And here’s a sampling of some more of SEN One’s tributes to that era:

graffiti-on-train-George-SEN-1-Morillo

To Kill A Red Bird, 2012, a recreation of a piece done on a NYC wall back in 1985  

Sen-One-NYC-subway-train-on-canvas

My First Love, 2012, based on the first train SEN One ever did with “POKE” and Joey aka “TEL” in 1982

George-sen-One-Morilla-NYC-subway-graffiti

If you are interested in viewing and purchasing some of SEN One’s artwork, he is conducting an Open House at his art studio through the end of this month. For further information, you can contact the artist at ArawakMedia@gmail.com.

Images courtesy of Time Out New York and the artist

A native of Barranquilla, Colombia, MICO is an undisputed pioneer of subway art. One of the first writers to get his name up in the early 70’s, MICO also used the trains that rolled through NYC to deliver powerful socio-political messages.

"Subway Outlaws"

When and where did you first get up?

It was back in 1970 inside Erasmus High School in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. I used a pen at the time and thought it was so cool!

What inspired you back then?

Our main inspiration was the idea of writin’ our names everywhere and becoming known or famous. Also, I had no other creative outlets for self-expression. My high school didn’t offer me any art classes, and that frustrated me. I also, began meeting other writers like Undertaker Ash, WG, King of Kools, Dino Nod, Half, DECO, and along with my new found Colombian friends, we decided to start competing with those other writers that were already hittin’ the neighborhood walls.

Mico

"Mico subway graffiti"

Any early memories that stand out?

My first MICO hit on a street wall with spray paint. I remember finding a can of silver paint in my building’s basement. And I used it to hit the base of a store window at the corner of Beverly Road and Flatbush Avenue.

What about your name? How did you come up with MICO?

Back in Colombia, there was a kid in my class who looked like a monkey. In Colombia, it is quite customary to be called a nickname, so we called him MICO, which means monkey in Colombia.  That guy actually did look like a monkey. Obviously, he didn’t like the idea of being called a monkey. My best friend and I decided to write MICO all over the school walls with white chalk — to drive this guy crazy. Once in NYC, and in need of a name to hit, I thought that if I wrote MICO all over NYC, and that guy from Colombia ever visited and saw “MICO” on NYC walls, he would probably get a heart of attack.

Mico

When did you begin hitting the trains? And why?

Early 1972. Remember — my friends at Erasmus Hall H.S. and I wanted to be famous. Once we started hittin’ the streets, my main writin’ partner MANI said, “If we hit our names in big letters with spray paint on the subways, our names will get around even more, and we will be even more famous.” The rest is history. Now the friendly competition we had engaged in with the other writers in East Flatbush became an all-city friendly competition with writers from the Bronx, Manhattan and the rest of Brooklyn. This friendly competition, however, began at the same time that a guerilla war against the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority started — with life and death consequences.

You became known for your social and political messages – like “Hang Nixon,” and “Free Puerto Rico.” Can you tell us something about that?

From a young age, I always had a strong sense of social awareness and was sensitive to injustice the world over. I was always a newspaper reader. Once I started hittin’ the trains, I realized that I could use them as a vehicle to communicate socio-political stuff throughout NYC. And I did!

"Mico in Bogota"

Were you ever arrested?

Yes. Back in the winter of 1972, Slim 1, a young Chinese writer, and I were bombing a newly-found RR underground train yard at City Hall. Apparently, they already had a video surveillance camera down there, and they sent down a uniformed cop to chase us out.  We ran into the tunnel and made our way to Canal Street. But when we got there, Detective Steve Schwartz, the notorious detective of the MTA’s anti-graffiti force, was waiting for us.

Any other arrests come to mind?

In ’75 – after I’d stopped getting up on trains — I got arrested, along with another UGA member, for painting clandestine murals throughout NYC for a rally that was to take place outside the UN on November 1, 1975 in support of five Puerto Rican nationalists.  The following morning, William Kunstler, the most famous radical lawyer at the time, showed up in the courtroom and had a private conference with the judge at the bench. We were immediately set free.

Mico

What is the riskiest thing you ever did back then?

Probably having to climb down from the elevated tracks of the 4 train to the street in the cold winter while the cops were chasing me and others.

Were you involved with any crews?

In 1970, I co-founded with MANI, SALVAJES, the first all-Latino writin’ group in Brooklyn. It consisted of three Colombians and one writer from Spain. I also became the first writer from Brooklyn voted into UGA.

Mico

How did your family feel about what you were doing?

My mother did not approve at all. I was made homeless by a decision she made when I was 16. That is one of the reasons I spent so much time on the trains.

How do you feel about the movement of graffiti into galleries?

It’s bittersweet as it takes it out of its original vandalism context and brings it into the world of commerce. And instead of your work being in a public space for everyone to enjoy or hate, it now belongs to some collector who hides the work in his or her collection.

Mico

Have you exhibited your work in galleries?

Yes. My painting “MICOflag” was the first painting sold in the Razor Gallery in 1973. In fact, it was the first time in history that a spray paint masterpiece on canvas was purchased in an art gallery setting. I’ve also shown in other galleries and in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. In 2006 I was one of five US artists invited to participate in the 9th Havana Art Biennial.

In retrospect, have you any thoughts regarding the original school of writers?

We were the ones who sailed through unchartered waters. We risked our lives to the 600 volts of juice on the third rail. Part of our experience was to discover the various layups and train yards for the next generation of writers. It was interesting that every single one of us in the Original School — who took what were doing seriously — always had a sense of originality. We tried to outdo ourselves with the next masterpiece, and we also had a sense of respect and tolerance for the work done by other writers.

"Lava, Clyde, Bama and Mico"

What about the evolution of graffiti? What do you think about what’s happening these days?

I’m impressed!  Its technicality amazes me.

What about your art? How has it evolved through the years?

It’s evolved from letters to figures to abstract social realism, a style I began to develop in the mid 80’s.

"Puzzle Signature Collection"

Do you work with a sketch-in-hand or do you just let it flow?

It all comes from my head. I never use in-hand-sketches. I do sketch on paper…but usually it becomes a work of art in itself

What inspires you these days?

Societal issues that arise in everyday life. Justice and injustice.

Are there any specific cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?

Indigenous and urban.

Mico

What do you see as the role of the artist in society?

His or her role is to express and convey ideas that need to be out there.  The artist is a recorder of historical events who gives these events an artistic twist.

What are some of your other interests?

My main focus these days is on my family, social and political realities and preserving nature.

If you were getting messages onto trains these days, what would your message be?

Why is there ALWAYS money for war, but not for education?

Why does the 1% continue to make life miserable for the other 99% — even if it means criminal behavior — AND get away with it?

What’s ahead?

More art.

Interview by Lois Stavsky with Richard Alicea; first image © Keith Baugh; all photos by MICO or Reserved Rights; photos 3 & 4 in Bogota, Colombia; all others in NYC

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"Nic 707"

If you happen to be riding the NYC subways anywhere between the Brooklyn Bridge and Pelham Bay Parkway, you could be in for a treat – an impromptu art exhibit curated by veteran graffiti writer Nic 707Michael Cuomo, a multi-media artist based in Yonkers, accompanied Nic 707 on a recent ride to share some of his new paintings. Here’s a sampling from the InstaFame Phantom Art Project:

These women who exited the train on the Upper East Side were delighted by Nic 707’s InstaFame Phantom Art Project!

Nic 707

Michael Cuomo, Wizard’s Well

"Michael Cuomo"

Michael Cuomo, Amazon Jungle

"Michael Cuomo"

Nic 707,  Kilroy Goes Wild

"Nic 707"

Michael Cuomo, Astro-nuts

"Michael Cuomo"

Nic 707, Apocalypse Aftermath

"Nic 707"

Nic 707, The Whole World in His Hands

"Nic 707"

 Michael Cuomo, Bubblegum Ecstasy

"Michael Cuomo"

Photo of Kilroy Goes Wild by Eddie DiBono; all others by Lois Stavsky

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Currently featured in Style Wars 2, Devi has painted and DJ’d throughout the globe. I met up with him here in NYC.

Devi

When and where did you first get up?

I grew up in Palestinian refugee camps, as that’s where my mom’s human rights work took us.  And so my first tag was on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Then when I was 16, we returned to London. And that’s when I got heavy into trains. The best were “Messy Mondays.” We stole paints, drank beer and hit the trains.

Devi in Tel Aviv graffiti shop

Devi

How does your mom feel about what you are doing?

At first she hated it. She worried about me, and she hates illegal activities. But she saw that there was no stopping me and that I was finding a way to survive doing it.  So she’s come to accept it.

What percentage of your time is devoted to graffiti these days?

I’m always following it.  And I do graffiti workshops with kids in war-torn zones.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Ramalla, Nablus, Jenin, Jericho and Gaza.

What was that like? I’m curious about Gaza.

I loved working with the kids, but the place broke my heart. There’s no money in Gaza. The city runs off generators, and it’s run by a bunch of gangsters with grenades waging a “holy war.”  I escaped weekends by going off to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. But for those who live there – there is no escape.

Devi-graffiti-workshop-Jenin-Palestine

Have you any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

There is definitely a divide. Graffiti is a lifestyle and culture. It attracts many angry people, along with those that just want to have fun. It’s important for a writer to stay up and stay recognized — representing his crew and hood and keeping the writing element of hip-hop alive on the streets. I can’t pretend to know what goes on in a street artist’s heads. But I know it’s a different mentality.

How do you feel about the movement of graffiti into galleries?

We all dream of making money some day from doing what we love. But if you’re doing it for exposure or more fame, you’re a toy.

Devi-graffiti-with-Banksy-street-art-Palestine

Have you shown your work in galleries?

I recently had an exhibit in Tampa, Florida of photos of my graffiti on trains.

What is the main source of your income?

I d-jay and I sell paintings.

Style-Wars-2

What brought you to the U.S.?

I’m featured in the independent film, Style Wars 2and I came in for a private screening that Henry Chalfant had organized in Hollywood.  And — while here in the U.S. — I wanted to explore NYC, possibly play some DJ sets and go to the upcoming NYC premiere of Style Wars 2

What’s ahead?

To continue to inspire the next generation to spread positive and creative energy.  It’s more than just vandalism.

Interview by Lois Stavsky.  Photos courtesy of the artist. The graffiti shop pictured is Capzoola in Tel Aviv.

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