Above vs HarshProgress Interview

Tell us about yourself, what and where do you write, and when did you start writing?

-Above1 LCA, from the greater Vancouver area (B.C.). Started messing around with tagging about '92..started writing Above1 in '96.

What is the graff community like where you are?

-There 's a fairly good scene here, but we've taken a big hit with the recent closing of Bruise Boards, a pillar of the graff community.(and paint supplier.)

Anyone you write with? Crews?

-I'm always down to paint with anyone, but more often than not usually go alone..a lot of times it's much less conspicuous.
-There are so many sick crews from the area..shouts out to ETC, POS, SDK, UAT, SB, CFW's, RTS.

Is there anyone or any specific memory that you remember influenced you as an early writer?

-My earliest memories are of the older neighborhood kids skating and riding bikes around, tagging "T.S.D." or Team Shit Disturbers" and thinking it was the coolest shit I'd ever seen. (R.I.P. Chris Whitmee TSD).
-A little later on, two writers, PROBE and AMOK were a huge inspiration to young writers in the area.

You have 8,859,228 upload views and 19,981 subscribers on your channel, ubuv. What do you think about the term "youtube star"?

-When I first started uploading to YouTube, there was no intention of getting subscribers, or even views, for that matter! It was, and always has been, purely for fun. Once kids started showing more and more interest, the videos started to get more elaborate than just tagging, or showing benching style vids. "YouTube Star" is definitely not a term I wanted to achieve, I just enjoy posting the videos.

You took a break from posting videos for a few months recently, were you still getting up? What was the hold up?!

-Filming while painting adds a whole lot more to have to think about..from the added equipment needed, to finding a spot to safely set up for a period of time, having to wear a mask at all times...it began to feel a bit like a chore. Just because I wasn't filming, I've never stopped getting up.

I've seen a video of you being hit with a stick by an old guy... would that be the weirdest experience you've ever had while painting?

-That was absolutely the weirdest one for sure, so glad it was caught on film!

If you could paint anywhere with any artist, alive or dead, who would it be?

-Tough question...too hard to pick one, I'm down to paint with pretty much anybody!

Any trouble with the law?

-Too many close calls to mention, but thankfully, no.(Knock on wood)!!


Peace, Above1 LCA ....04/2010

ABOVE still going

So it's not the most beautiful peice, but he's still alive at least. And yes, that means he was gone for a while, meaning no video updates to keep us clicking. Some pictures at the end let us know that ABOVE's been bombing, we just didn't know it.
For more (and better) graffiti, check his channel, ubuv.

Futura Show

Futura getting some attention in LA. Nice to see some other famous faces at the event telling how they've been inspired by Futura. His new abstract stuff is nice, especially his sketch-like portrait pictures, but what really gets me excited is the stories and peices from 30 or so years ago.

Thanks to Hooked Blog

KNOWNR

Knownr gets around the Bay Area. (Thanks funk&jazz for the photos)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phunk/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

KATSU

If you haven't seen KATSU's famous skull tag in NYC then you need to start walking with your eyes open. I've heard him say that it spells out his name but I sure don't see it. He's everywhere, from simple stickers to... well, this. This video, my vandal friends, is destruction at it's finest.

Secret Wars Euroleage

Secret Wars was held in Amsterdam this Sunday (March 27) and Dublin finished off 3-0. Above is a video of them in Paris, and the video below is from Copenhagen. Congrats all.

EL MAC's Persephone

EL MAC “Persephone” is a giant 30″ x 42″ screenprint, has an edition of 50, and will be sold on a graduated price scale. The first 20 copies are for sale now via preorder for $250, the next 20 will be $300, the last 10 will be $350. If you would like to inquire about purchasing, shoot Buddha Cat Press an email

Stolen from Known Gallery

UTAH Out of Jail

If you haven't already heard, the graffiti artist UTAH is out of jail after 6 months in New York and 6 in Boston. After claiming that jail is "just the biggest waste of time ever", UTAH explained that it hasn't changed her opinion about graffiti at all. Does this mean that we're back in action? I recently saw one of her throwies near Mt. Vernon, NY as I was taking the train and boy was it good looking.
Hmm.... is that her wearing a claw money shirt?

Check out some more random pictures of her graff here or her website utahoner.com.

Obey x Keith Haring

Obey's new artwork for a Keith Haring AIDS walk in Central Park on May 16.

...And She Said Wow

Damn... why can't i come up with a name like that? I found "...And She Said Wow" on Robots Will Kill (RWK). I've been a fan of RWK ever since i saw them do art for the walls at a show in a basement in SoHo. Here's another favorite.

KEEP SIX and CRAVE from SDK

It's hard to navigate the graffiti scene on youtube without coming across the StompDown Killas (SDK). This crew from Surrey, Canada has over 300 videos on youtube and is still very active, even with their clothing line, ephin apparel. Though i've always been skeptical of youtube stars, these guys seem to have it all right, and definitely keep it street.

"SDK IS : LABEL, DOUG, CAPITAL Q, SNAK, NACS, CRAVE, SURGEN, METH, LESEN, RAKSO, KILLA EF, FES, ZEUS, KEEP SIX, BIG MILES, VISION"

Indonesian Graffiti

I haven't been posting lately due to the storm in the North East turning my city into a deathtrap. No power, no heat, no work, no school, plus the sewage backing up all over. I'm be hoping to get back into the swing of things.

Plantrees

Really feeling the 3d.
Can you spot an Optimist tag?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phunk/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Czarnobyl Stencil

9 layer stencil from Stencil History
See more Czarnobyl on his flickr