starvingCELEBRITY|haute grits.

the world is their canvas

STILL OBSESSED WITH NEW YORK GRAFFITI ART, AND OFTEN CLAIMING IT TO BE THE SCARS AND TRIBAL WOUNDS OF THE CITY, I WANTED TO GET A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT ON THE SUBJECT. USING SPRAY CANS AS THEIR PENS, AND THE STREETS AS THEIR CANVAS, MANY G.ARTISTS HAVE MOVED TO OTHER MEDIUMS PUTTING THEIR AMAZING DESIGNS ON T-SHIRTS, SHOES, HOODIES, AND EVEN CREATING COLLECTIBLES ON CANVAS. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HISTORY MAN?!

APPARENTLY THIS UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT STARTED BACK IN THE 30'S ON THE WEST COAST, MAKING ITS WAY TO PHILLY IN THE 60'S WITH THE LIKES OF "CORNBREAD" AND "COOL EARL" WHO MANAGED TO TATTOO THEIR NAMES ALL OVER THE FLESH OF DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA. FINALLY THE PHENOMENON MADE IT'S WAY TO UPTOWN MANHATTAN IN THE 70'S, AND LIKE WILD FIRE A NEW ART FORM WAS BORN. POVERTY HIT, AND WITH MORE CRIME THAN THE POLICE COULD HANDLE, BOMBING, TAGGING, AND WHOLE CAR LAYOUTS TOOK THE CITY BY STORM.

BY THE LATE 80'S THE STATE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK, AND CLEAN THE CITY UP. THEY FELT AS THOUGH PEOPLE ARE A PRODUCT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT, AND IF THE CITY WAS WELL MANICURED, SANS THE ART OF THE URBAN YOUTH, THEN THIS WOULD HELP CUT BACK ON THE CRIME AND DRUGS. NOT SURE IF IT WAS BY CHANCE OR COINCIDENCE BUT APPARENTLY THE CRIME DID LAX, BUT THE CREATIVITY WAS STIFLED IN THE PROCESS. LOCKED UP FOR SEEING THE WORLD IN AN ABSTRACT WAY, THESE STREET POETS HAD A HARDER TIME GETTING THEIR MESSAGE OUT. SO NOW YOU HAVE ARTISTS LIKE THOSE WHO MAKE UP 2ESAE INCLUDING MIKE BACA WHO HAVE COME OUT WITH CLOTHING LINES LIKE UR.