FREE REVOK!!!

FREE REVOK!!!  After hearing about Revok being sentenced to 180 days in jail and his bail set at $320,000, I couldn't believe that he was arrested for "vandalism."  Check out this statement from workhorsevisuals.com and realize the truth....

"ALL of the cases below are from the past 2 months. you can sedate and rape a patient, videotape boys in the restroom, molest children, put a bounty on your daughters boyfriend, carry a machete in public, commit a hate crime, rape a female, or leave your baby in a car that is 115 degrees, and none of those are as bad as graffiti in the eyes of the law. All of the above crimes that I mentioned have a bail amount that is a THIRD as much as Revok’s.  In case you are wondering how much that is compared to other cases happening at the same time in LA check out the info that I compiled below."

Check out the following:

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Bail set at $25,000
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San Gabriel Valley man arrested for allegedly molesting teenage boy he met online
Bail set at $25,000
Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/rowland-heights-man-arrested-in-for-allegedly-molesting-teen.html

——————————-
Bail set at $150,000
——————————-
Repeated molestation of a minor by husband/wife –
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/husband-and-wife-teachers-accused-of-repeatedly-molesting-male-student.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $100,00
——————————-
Man charged with assaulting partially paralyzed grandmother in front of her two granddaughters
Bail set at $100,00
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/man-charged-with-assaulting-partially-paralyzed-grandmother-in-front-of-her-two-granddaughters.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $100,000
——————————-
Baby left in 115-degree car returned to mother; father may face charges
Bail set at $100,000
(source:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/girl-left-in-115-degree-car-returned-to-mother-father-may-face-charges.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $50,000
——————————-
South Bay men accused of raping female student
Bail set at $50,000
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/south-bay-men-arrested-in-spring-break-rape-case.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $50,000
——————————-
Ex-L.A. County deputy charged with felony gun threat, break-in
Bail set at $50,000
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/ex-la-county-deputy-charged-with-felony-gun-threat-break-in.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $100,000
——————————-
Costa Mesa man to be charged with hate-crime attack on Latinos
Bail set at $100,000
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/costa-mesa-man-to-be-charged-with-hate-crime-attack-on-latinos.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $25,000
——————————-
Machete-wielding man, 19, is arrested near South Coast Plaza
Bail set at $25,000
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/19-year-old-arrested-for-allegedly-threatening-another-man-with-machete.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $250,000
——————————-
Man pleads not guilty to offering ‘dead or alive’ bounty on daughter’s boyfriend
Bail set at $250,000
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/man-pleads-not-guilty-to-offering-dead-or-alive-bounty-on-daughters-boyfriend.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $100,000
——————————-
OC hospital worker is charged with raping sedated patient
Bail set at $100,000
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/orange-county-hospital-worker-charged-with-rape-of-patient.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $45,000
——————————-
College of the Canyons student allegedly tries to videotape boy in restroom
Bail set at $45,000
(source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/college-of-the-canyons-student-allegedly-tries-to-videotape-boy-in-restroom.html)

——————————-
Bail set at $50,000
——————————-
Riverside Little League coach held after allegedly sending lewd texts to 15-year-old
Bail set at $50,000
source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/riverside-little-league-coach.html

——————————-
Bail set at $100,000
——————————-
Children’s book author arrested for alleged child molestation
Bail set at $100,000
Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/chidrens-book-author-arrested-for-alleged-child-molestation-in-san-clemente.html

——————————-
Bail set at $100,000
——————————-
Whittier teacher arrested on suspicion of lewd acts on a student
Bail set at: $100,000
Source:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/whittier-teacher-charged-with-lewd-acts-on-a-child.html

——————————-
Bail set at $ 300,000
——————————-
Ex-Compton teacher accused of molesting three girls
Bail set at: $300,000
Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/former-compton-teacher-accused-of-molesting-three-girls.html

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Some walls around town

I'm not too sure when these walls were actually produced but they are some nice productions I must say.  These walls are located in Downtown LA and within walking distance of each other and were sprayed by some of the best.  I'm not going to name all the artists that painted cause theres too many artists to list and I don't feel like going through all my pics (but I will say that MSK did a lot of painting around here).  So feel free to take the time to recognize all the artists if you want or just look at some colorful, highly skilled and well painted walls.  I guarantee the artists who sprayed these walls were given permission and possibly commissioned.

Bonus!

photo - unurth 

This wall painted by COPE2 is located near La Brea and I think this is the outside of Mr. Brainwash's studio

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RISK x SMASH 137 in LA

Here's a collaboration from two of the old school graffiti writers.  It's located in LA and heard it took two days or so to finish.  Not that that matters but it's some additional information either way.  I like that they were both a part of the MOCA exhibit and got together to do a piece together just cause.  Still bustin' pieces just to bust pieces.  Dope.

photo: riskrock.com

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Featured Artist: Vhils

I thought I'd start showing a little more art by artists that I like, find or just find interesting for one reason or another.  Just a heads up, the featured artist series will range from commissioned to illegal.  And will range from graffiti artists to artist such as Vhils.  It'll vary.  This isn't gonna turn into a blog posting all the new urban art cause I really dont feel like going through all that and I'll only show a few pieces.  I'd rather just show some art when I make time for this blog and art that I like, find interesting or for any other reason I feel like posting it.  And if you don't like it, well then you don't like it and if you do and see some art that connects to you for whatever reason then cool, glad I could help that connection for that moment.

Vhils.....

photos from - unurth & juxtapoz

Ya, that's "destroying" our man-made concrete jungle.

Vhils. A great urban artist.



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'Art in the Streets" IN-DEPTH review & a freshly sprayed piece

WARNING.  If you don't want/care to read about the 'Art in the Streets' in-depth review and just want to see pics, well scroll down now.  I say in-depth but it's my version of in-depth.  I probably forgot some bits and pieces of the night but the review is more than just about the exhibit, I do ramble so be warned.   Oh, and there's no pics of the exhibition.  Bummer.  So, if you want, take a few minutes to read and you'll know why theres no pics.  Just pics of a piece I freshly painted at the end.



I attended the 'Art in the Streets' member opening and I really didn't know what to expect.  A few days ago I saw a lot of the media pics of the art before hand (outdoor murals and the art being exhibited in the Geffen) because I wanted to see if the show should have been titiled, 'Watered-down Art in the Streets.'  After the incident with Blu's mural months prior, I wanted to see if that censorship was applied indoors as well.  And it was.  But of course it would, it's a MUSEUM, not the actual street.  People seem to forget that museums are a business and at the end of the day, it's about that all mighty dollar, not depicting the rawness of the history of graffiti and it's growth throughout it's lifespan in the urban environment.  I mean, California and the nation for that matter is still fucked right?  It sure seems that way to me right about now.  Money talks in this world.  And on that note, we'll just get back to the topic at hand...........art.  So museums want and need money, so of course censorship exists.  That was my rant to all those posts/reviews/articles being said about the FIRST major exhibition thats finally documenting graffiti to current urban art and how it's still not "keeping it real."  Give it time, one day a museum may replicate the rawness of the urban environment. (But is that what you would want to see, a replica of the world we live in? Or would you like to be entertained/captivated in some way? Hmm.  Oh, and would you also like to be given a feeling in one way or another.....cause in reality, that's what art supposed to "provide" right.....some type of feeling)  That was my little plug there, my bad.  It's just the aspect of me that reflects on the relationship between art and life.

But back the review.  Just walking up to the museum provided a new experience.  I don't know about you but I generally attend a museum as a daytime activity, so walking up to the MOCA surrounded by the darkened skys and hearing the old school hip hop sounds was new to me.  You know, that old school hip hop true DJ and MC combination.  Which also included the b-boys pumpin those power moves on the floor.  And 'Risk('s)' old school graffiti lettering style bus was parked outside. (I say lettering style cause, the fill-in and background spray use contemporary methods of spray painting).  But his classic letters mixed with today's spray painting possibilities is great.  A perfect example of how an old school (LA based artist I might add) has developed his style but still keeping true to art throughout his life.  So ya, his bus was dope.  Pieces on the sides and bombs on the front and rear.  The bus kind of seperated the spaces from lunch table chillin' area with alchohol readily available to museum entry (which took around 30 minutes to get in due to the long lines, I kinda lost track of time cause some of the hip hop classics were blasted by the DJ's, so I didn't even mind waiting in the line. Oh, which brings me to another topic I could go on about.  The crowd.  Like I said earlier, I didn't know what to expect with the attendace of an exhibtion about an artform that transitioned my childhood enjoyment of art to loving it.  But it is LA, it is a contemporary museum, it is graffiti, and so the crowd ranged WIDELY.  People excited to attend, some had no idea of any of the artists, some just talked shit, some really liked, some could care less but they were all exposed to a 'museum' created vibe of the history of graffiti from the murals around the city to all the nighttime festivities and art.  And for that attempt I applaud.  I see it at an attempt as being socially accepted as a legitimized artform.  Getting people to view the art in a setting where it is seen as "art" and not vandalism.  Cause it is art.  And it is vandalism.  It's both.  It's a very dynamic art that develops and grows as our urban environment develops and grows.  And it will continue to develop even further.

Of course I liked the art inside, all of it, no.  Of course not, we all have our own reasons why.  So with that being said, make time for a museum trip that you will truly enjoy if you like graffiti/street/urban art.  Local aritsts and international artists are exhibited.  The show doesn't have all the artists of course, some chose not to participate and lets be real, you can't have everyone in an exhibition.  Especially one where the nature of the art is here one day and gone the next.  So you'll see art, installations, cars, canvas, stickers, prints, all kinds of goodies.  I chose not to show pics for two reasons, 1. you can Google it and get hundreds of pics instantly and 2. Go see and experience the art for yourself.  I'm not trying to promote and make MOCA's bank account larger but go get a little history and see some good, bad, and great art.  It's a descently, good, first museum documentation of the history of graffiti art that I highly recommend to check out.



On to the freshly sprayed piece.

Title - Crown & out
Medium - Spray paint
Location - Downtown LA @ the Graff Lab

For those that know, they may get it right away but for those who don't know me the reason for the title is my father enjoys his Crown Press' and well sometimes they don't turn him into the dancing machine party animal but simply provide a nice little nap.  This is one of those assited naptime moments provided by the Crown Press.  I just wanted to combine those memories with my name.  That's it.  Plus I wanted to practice doing a portrait.  I would have liked to make a more detailed piece but the combination of the delayed start and need to finish it in one day (had to make it to the 'Art in the Streets' exhibition I described above), so the lettering had to remain simple.  I'll be posting more about this day and the artists that were painting that day as well, but I'll save that for a new post.  The pics...

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UPDATE: 'Art in the Streets'

Here's the last update I'll probably have in regards to the 'Art in the Streets' exhibition.  These are located on the MOCA grounds so if you attend the exhibition sometime you'll get the chance to see them in person.  I would have liked to see Blu's mural stay but I understand why it was buffed (don't really agree with the buffing but it was a little insensitive to the neighbors).  Plus it was replaced with an 'aight' piece.  But I do like the old school tribute to Blade and Os Gemos never disappoints.

 Os Gemos (one of my favorite artists)

 Tribute to Blade (in progress)

(complete)

This mural replaced Blu's mural....(in progress)

Artists involved with this mural - Lee, Futura 2000, One, Push, Sano, Risk, Loomit and Fab 5 Freddy

eh....I resepect the artists but the mural but I think it doesn't capture what street/urban/graffiti art represents

Risk bus piece

photos courtesy of Juxtapoz Magazine

Next post should be about the member's opening event for the exhibition....stay tuned for my review.

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HOW x NOSM x DABS MYLA......and Shepard

I always appreciate the work that gets done in preparation for a show because it gets everyone talking.   Knowing that many of the artists I have always liked are in town, well,  makes me wanna check out their pieces.  Here's a couple in progress pics of the massive collaboration with HOW, NOSM and DABS MYLA.  I always like seeing a collaboration of artists with different styles in a massive wall mural. 

Here's in progress pics from day 3 of their work on their collaborative mural.  This piece is on 3rd St. near the big JR piece.  This mural is part of the ongoing LA Freewalls Project thats put together by Jet Set Graffiti.  As for this lineup at the MOCA show, well it's becoming a who's who, and with the murals being put up around the city, I hope more artists start gettin' up too.  I hear there's suppose to be another piece courtesy of Aiko and others to join the streets of Downtown LA over the next couple of days.

Close up view of HOW and NOSM's side of the mural

Next up we have one of the most popular artists, Shepard Fairey.  Come on now, you all know he was gonna be in the mix out on the street.  I included Shepard cause of where and why he started making art. I'm not a huge fan but do appreciate his creativity and political pieces.

Shepard and crew at work on a new stencil in downtown LA 

The above piece is around the corner from the DABS MYLA, HOW and NOSM piece on Alameda.  Shepard's piece entitled, " Legislative Influence For Sale" is part of the ongoing and ever growing LA Freewalls project put together by Jet Set Graffiti (I'm glad they're supporting a variety of artists).  This piece aims to shed light on the fact that our current financial situation is not by any means entirely the fault of Obama but stems from the era of Reagan.  Shepard and his crew has two more murals supposedly going up around downtown over the next couple days.  One piece is planned to focus on the evil that was Reaganomics (Google it!).

One of several new 'gift wrapped' energy boxes on the streets of downtown

(eh...it's alright)

Well theres a little update as to what's going on around downtown LA.  There's probably more pieces/murals going up as I post this but we'll see what I find.  I heard that KATSU illegally hit up the side of the MOCA earlier this week with a 8 litre-applicator ink extinguisher (YouTube that one!).  Some say it's fake but you be the judge.  I have my doubts.  

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