. And within a short time I grew to love this subway and street art that seemed to be everywhere in those days. This was back in hip-hop's early days -- before the so-called "four elements" had been drummed into impressionable minds by "hip-hop academics" -- I.E: people who came to the music/culture after the fact and from outside, but who nonetheless wrote the books (literally) on this culture that they learned of secondhand. Back then, as now, many talked shit about graffiti -- especially civic leaders who saw it as a "blight" upon a once proud city. Anyway, I really didn't care then and don't care now what anyone says about graffiti -- pro or con. I just know that in my heart I have always loved it and been attracted to it for whatever reason. In fact, the very first radio story I did for KALX radio in Berkeley back in 1984 when I officially started at the radio station in its public affairs department was on New York City graffiti. I brought a tape deck back with me on a visit to the Big Apple and tracked down a graf artist named Chico who had pieces all over the Lower East Side (LES)-- Alphabet City primarily. Graffiti in New York City and New York City itself, especially the LES, sure have changed a hell of a lot in the years since.
But I digress. What that first real introduction into the mind of a graffiti artist did for me was it just got me hooked on the street art. And ever since I have been addicted to taking pics and/or video graffiti wherever I go-- from the train tracks in East Oakland or the back streets of Madrid. Recently some of the best pics of graffiti I've taken have been in Queens NY, the beach in Bolinas, CA (of all places!), and the walls outside Amoeba Music, San Francisco -- of which I have included several here. I will post more later. Please comment (below) on how you feel, if you hate graffiti or love it. Or if you have a pic of some cool graffiti you would like to link others to, type in the URL. Note these pics were taken this year and last.
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Amoeba Music Sf (5), Graffiti (39), Art (75)Recent Posts From Billyjam
Comments
another interesting thing about Amoeba Music is that not all the writers are local to SF. Several out of towners have painted there as well... Its great that the store fosters this type of art when in most cases its frowned upon. When is the Hollywood store signing up? 8)
Hey, I've been a B-Boy for far too long and I love the Hip Hop culture. I've also been a d.j. for over 20 years so I know graffiti is a big part of the hip hop culture. I recently bought my first home in Farfield and have a garage full of records(wax), turntables,and all that. I want to find someone to tag a mural on one of my garage walls, a good size mural. Do you have anyone I can speak with about this, I'd appreciate it. Thanks (elgindthomas@yahoo.com)
What a total fraud. None of this art belongs to Larry Smulian.
It was done by Osha Neumann or Local S.F. or L.A Graffiti artists.
If you want to see Larry's lame art check out the front of the People's Park bathroom.(But do it quick because we are painting over it this summer.) If I was there that day he never would of been allowed to touch that wall.Smulian is by far the mosy hated ass#@$% in the Eastbay. A fraud, A liar, A thief who has screwed dozens of people that have been kind enough to help him out with a place to stay and there friendship.
Larry Smulian is a serial killer of the good works and loving care of the Bay Area Activist Community.
Doing tremendous damage to groups such as Food Not Bombs, Disabled People Outside Project, Peoples Park and many good hearted individuals.
His Karma will someday ruin Amoeba too.
yeah on the art! i wish they'd clean up them big heads in the back (next to the last picture ...) it's all messed up with cheap tags and dirt, and that has been my fave piece forever! love your stuff billy!