Rhino

From down an alley and over a fence around Broadway and 40th in KC.

KC tagz

These are from around the 40th and Broadway Area

TA Wall Pics July 2009

In reflecting upon the recent buffing of the upper TA Wall areas, I thought I'd post some recent pics of the wall from July and August. I've got plenty so I'll post some more of the lower main wall soon.

Turcot is Killed (Dead)

So it's official folks, Turcot yards have been closed by Transport Quebec. Most access points have been fenced off and private security roams about picking up anyone who trespasses. Since 2003 Transport Quebec (MTQ) has owned the yards, however, up until recently they have not done much with it.

On my way into work the other morning I noticed several crews setting up camp on the service road area just under the Decarie exit. The trailers they had looked like the kind used by graffiti clean up crews. I was passing through this afternoon and noticed that they had buffed all the supports and were working towards the train tunnel area.

Firstly, this seems like a waste of money namely because of the plans we've all been hearing about concerning the redevelopment of the yards in the next few years. Turcot has been a painting area for a little while, why buff it now? Especially if the plan is to redevelop the area? Secondly, buffing the area only makes it a prime target for writers who have the balls to go in and hit up some fresh canvass. I forsee more graff going up there in the near future, even if only some quick throwies.

And this is not the only area buffed out, the MTQ (I assume it is the MTQ, however, Westmount or the borough of Ville-Marie might also be invovled -I am yet to locate something on that) seems to be on a crusade to remove graffiti from the highway system. Under the Ville-Marie expressway from Lucien-Lallier to De Courcelle has been mostly buffed, including the Upper TA Wall area. Again...waste of money? Within 2 days there were already some tags and outlines thrown up. Give it a month and the area is going to be soaked in paint again, as it has been for the last 15 years... And in the typical fashion they buffed only the areas visible from the highway and from the new condo developments across the street, leaving areas that are not visible (lower TA wall and factory as well as some other areas) which begs one to ask what was the real motivation behind the buffing?

Above pics: Upper TA Wall Area

In any case, the idea of Turcot as an open free-range painting area is dead with the choke hold that the MTQ seems to have on the area. The rest of the Ville-Marie expressway still appears to be mostly open (I was walking it just the other day without issue except for a few new fences) and the TA Wall should be back to its former colorful and lustrous state of layered paint in no time. It will be interesting, however, to see just how far the MTQ is going to go with this new program.

Stay posted.

Bounce of the SF Bay Area

Bounce is one of the most amazing young painters out there right now. He has great old english, calligraphy, and cholo handstyles. He can do lettering, graphic design, and he can draw and paint characters like nobody's business.

Bounce is true to his namesake. He travels and paints the planet, and I never know if he's on the west coast or east coast. He's also painted Central America with and without his Trust Your Struggle crew. He doesn't say much, and picks his words carefully. He's a cool guy, and someone I enjoy painting with.

Visit his website devilsorangels.com and his crew website trustyourstruggle.com

Check out Bounces's artwork in our EIGB-MTN art show at 1:AM SF Gallery.

Opening reception Friday, 9/11, 7-10pm.
Show runs until October 9.

1:AM SF Gallery
1000 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94127
www.1amsf.com
www.twitter.com/1AM_SF
(415) 861-5089

Lawrence Roof-Top Paint

I was sitting in a coffee/pastry joint in Lawrence and while spacing off, I see paint on top of a building a few blocks over. I am afraid of heights, and the fuzz, so I had to take this from a distance.

Wane One COD of NYC

Wane One is one of those big name writers from NYC, that if you're a writer, you'd have to be living in a cave to not have heard of him. He's been painting steadily for over 25 years, is a guest judge at Write For Gold in Europe every year, and lectures in various cities. He feels, "Blessed. It's been a great journey. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time." The truth is he's a super cool cat, and instantly likable.

"When we were starting out, it was important to know who had your back. Now we're older and we know who has our back, and who's backs we got. The networking is so important now, so I try to support the movement. It's all about longevity, hooking up with folks and pushing the culture forward."

"Guys are always asking me what they gotta do to get down with COD. It's not so much what you gotta do, it's that it takes time to know the personality behind the art."

They say your friends are a measure of you as a person. This line up of crews Wane reps speaks volumes on his skills as a writer, and his friendships. COD, FC, FBA, TC5, AOK, 156, IBM

Visit his website waneknowshims.com and his clothing line writersbench.com
Educate yourself on the legendary styles of the TC5/FC/COD collective at tcfive.com

Check out Wane's artwork in our EIGB-MTN art show at 1:AM SF Gallery.

Opening reception Friday, 9/11, 7-10pm.
Show runs until October 9.

1:AM SF Gallery
1000 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94127
www.1amsf.com
www.twitter.com/1AM_SF
(415) 861-5089