I love that you shared both Will and Isabelle's perspectives on graffiti! They both practice a similar art form, but even Isabelle mentioned the difference between what she does (street art) and what Will did (graffiti).
Also - I met with my Cafe Anne match, Adam, over the weekend, and I have to say the match was a good one! Adam suggested we walk around Evergreens Cemetery to see some famous graves and one of the highest points in the neighborhood, which felt like a very Cafe Anne move. We got along great and will definitely be hanging out again! Also - Adam and Eden, feels like it was meant to be?
Nothing quite so biblical unfortunately (or fortunately??) We did visit Bill "Bojangles" Robinson's grave, which provided us with some much needed shade under a little tree. And we waved to the imposing Brooklyn Tower of Sauron from atop the cemetery's big hill!
I love that we get the art student and newbie perspective AND the experienced street artist perspective with the added twist of looking back on it with some years behind you. What a cool juxtaposition of experiences.
I've always been fascinated by train graffiti. It's like a traveling art show when you're stopped at the gates. I've seen art that has made me laugh, made me mad, and made me feel like I'm a part of something much bigger. It honestly adds a lot to many experiences, whether legal or not.
I think my reaction to graffiti is very similar to yours, Justin. I think I'd enjoy it more overall if I liked the aesthetic better. I'm a bit of a minimalist and graffiti tends toward the opposite.
I must admit, I read the subject line quickly and thought is said "Middle-Ages Vandal." And got excited about being able to pretend to be someone from the barbarian tribe that sacked ancient Rome and then took over Roman territory in North Africa. Sorry to say that I found learning to do graffiti less interesting than this. Oh well.
Well, first someone would have to launch such a venture. And I suspect the addressable market for people wanting to pretend they are a Vanda barbarian might not be that high.
Maybe I'm just a dirty old man but the first letter, the "I", in Will's notebook sketch of his “Incredible Negro” tag looks like an.......well, just look at it again.
“Our first lesson: an introduction to the aerosol can.” Right…because how would any NY’er know this??? Anne! You always make me chuckle at something! 🫶🏻
Here in Port Adelaide (Australia), we've had a few events with international spray can artists though I doubt there's many empty walls left as there's now 80 murals by local, national and internationally renowned street artists (Wonderwalls). Some are great, others don't appeal to me at all but it's great to have them anyway. One year I was out late with a couple of friends at a local bar listening to live music and we wandered back to the car via two of the murals. The artists were working after midnight; it was one of those unforgettable hot summer nights that I love! (It's a very cold, blustery day as I write this though...definitely my least favorite time of the year!!). Out in country Australia, there's a lot of silo art (huge murals on the sides of wheat silos).
Café Anne brings back all sorts of memories...many years ago I organized a number of small community art projects getting local kids to assist a spray can artist in a local park. This was back in the day when we still had a local newspaper so it was easy to get pictures on the front cover, including a great picture of one of my kids and a neighbor's kid with the artist.
Your tag is amazing! That would be a cool header for your newsletter. Maybe just for special occasions. I can’t believe Seattle left early. Wild Style the name of a great 1982 documentary https://youtu.be/H3n5zaUoecI?si=gW7r1Zgsk4GMxi52
I must admit, I read the subject line quickly and thought is said "Middle-Ages Vandal." And got excited about being able to pretend to be someone from the barbarian tribe that sacked ancient Rome and then took over Roman territory in North Africa. Sorry to say that I found learning to do graffiti less interesting than this. Oh well.
I loved this description of your graffiti experience (and your Tag)! True, it’s not for everyone, but it’s cool that we live in a world where you can get a taste of something different. I took a similar graffiti class in Paris, and was surprised at how hard it is! Did you know that in Paris you can be fined up to 100,000 euros if you’re caught doing graffiti in public? I just do sticker art now; it’s faster, and less fumes ;-)
There's TONS! They have magnificent street art tours there especially in the neighborhood of Montmartre. The artists just have to be really fast and stealthy to pull it off!
Fun fact: Lays had a Beef Wellington potato chip a few years ago. I think we tried them in China or Thailand where all crazy potato chip flavours go to die.
Ha, I wasn't sure if that Motobecane Mixte was one of the first Ninja Bullets or a Hamilton Beach appliance. Aha, a bike! Did you ever read The Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne? You don't have to be a Talking Heads fan either, I certainly wasn't/isn't outside of Psycho Killer. I'd suggest Lays new Bacon Grilled Cheese potato chips as a side? Or Korean-style Fried Chicken seems good and New Yorkie. https://www.allrecipes.com/lays-do-us-a-flavor-2025-chips-11711240
I love that you shared both Will and Isabelle's perspectives on graffiti! They both practice a similar art form, but even Isabelle mentioned the difference between what she does (street art) and what Will did (graffiti).
Also - I met with my Cafe Anne match, Adam, over the weekend, and I have to say the match was a good one! Adam suggested we walk around Evergreens Cemetery to see some famous graves and one of the highest points in the neighborhood, which felt like a very Cafe Anne move. We got along great and will definitely be hanging out again! Also - Adam and Eden, feels like it was meant to be?
Wow what a great meetup Eden! So happy to hear this! Did you spot any serpents or a tree of life in the cemetery?
Nothing quite so biblical unfortunately (or fortunately??) We did visit Bill "Bojangles" Robinson's grave, which provided us with some much needed shade under a little tree. And we waved to the imposing Brooklyn Tower of Sauron from atop the cemetery's big hill!
Cemeteries are the best!
Eden, thank you.
I love that we get the art student and newbie perspective AND the experienced street artist perspective with the added twist of looking back on it with some years behind you. What a cool juxtaposition of experiences.
I've always been fascinated by train graffiti. It's like a traveling art show when you're stopped at the gates. I've seen art that has made me laugh, made me mad, and made me feel like I'm a part of something much bigger. It honestly adds a lot to many experiences, whether legal or not.
I think my reaction to graffiti is very similar to yours, Justin. I think I'd enjoy it more overall if I liked the aesthetic better. I'm a bit of a minimalist and graffiti tends toward the opposite.
I strive for minimalism, but honestly, if you looked at any of my spaces, you'd see that I'm most likely a maximalist.
I must admit, I read the subject line quickly and thought is said "Middle-Ages Vandal." And got excited about being able to pretend to be someone from the barbarian tribe that sacked ancient Rome and then took over Roman territory in North Africa. Sorry to say that I found learning to do graffiti less interesting than this. Oh well.
But a great idea for a future issue, Jason!
Well, first someone would have to launch such a venture. And I suspect the addressable market for people wanting to pretend they are a Vanda barbarian might not be that high.
Maybe I'm just a dirty old man but the first letter, the "I", in Will's notebook sketch of his “Incredible Negro” tag looks like an.......well, just look at it again.
I saw it too
That is MORE than intentional. Remember, he was 12 years old. Or as he put it when I interviewed him, "Young, dumb and full of cum".
“Our first lesson: an introduction to the aerosol can.” Right…because how would any NY’er know this??? Anne! You always make me chuckle at something! 🫶🏻
Yay happy to hear that Jenn. Thank you!
LOVE your art! And Will’s a good-looking dude at any age. (Ah, the innocence of youth.)
Yes I agree Beth, Will is totally a cutie in both pics!
Sooooo interesting!!!! I don't like touristy stuff but I would totally do this! And so not cool that French couple sprayed over your name!!!!!
I'd start an international incident over this, Alexis, but we already have enough of those.
Hahahaha! But this world needs a humorous distraction!!!!!!
Wasted opportunity Anne, the French would have surrender in a New York Minute
LOL
Did you ever get arrested?" I asked. "Not for graffiti!" said Will.
That put's me in mind of Final Jeopardy: Answer: “Not for graffiti.” Question: “What is, did you ever get arrested?”
Anne, your terrific graffiti is Robert Crumbian; in the manner of the Big Brother and the Holding Company album cover, Cheap Thrills. https://drive.google.com/file/d/10NbcwHsAQT7QUO5YWR3-rihFjNgme-IS/view?usp=drivesdk
(which I tried to steal from the downtown Woolworths basement back in the Summer of ‘68. You weren't even a twinkle in your parents’ eye back then!)
People attracted to the Berkshires are “crunchy” while pretending to be part of the proletariat.
JRB! Nice to see you here!
You nailed it on the Berkshires. The real proles are still going to Coney Island.
Here in Port Adelaide (Australia), we've had a few events with international spray can artists though I doubt there's many empty walls left as there's now 80 murals by local, national and internationally renowned street artists (Wonderwalls). Some are great, others don't appeal to me at all but it's great to have them anyway. One year I was out late with a couple of friends at a local bar listening to live music and we wandered back to the car via two of the murals. The artists were working after midnight; it was one of those unforgettable hot summer nights that I love! (It's a very cold, blustery day as I write this though...definitely my least favorite time of the year!!). Out in country Australia, there's a lot of silo art (huge murals on the sides of wheat silos).
Café Anne brings back all sorts of memories...many years ago I organized a number of small community art projects getting local kids to assist a spray can artist in a local park. This was back in the day when we still had a local newspaper so it was easy to get pictures on the front cover, including a great picture of one of my kids and a neighbor's kid with the artist.
What great memories, Ruth!, thank you! And its funny how surprised I often feel that things I consider NYC things are often really global things.
Yes, I haven't thought about those murals etc. for a very long time. My son, the one in the photo is now 36!
Excellent captioning, Anne! Maybe you could caption graffiti art out in the wild.
Haha I love this idea INKY!
Love the summer-in-NYC ideas! Must visit in August and try them.
LOL I would be so happy if an out-of-towner tried any of these, Lisa!
Your tag is amazing! That would be a cool header for your newsletter. Maybe just for special occasions. I can’t believe Seattle left early. Wild Style the name of a great 1982 documentary https://youtu.be/H3n5zaUoecI?si=gW7r1Zgsk4GMxi52
I was thinking the same thing about using it for a header, Rob!
And that doc looks very cool. Thanks for the link!
I must admit, I read the subject line quickly and thought is said "Middle-Ages Vandal." And got excited about being able to pretend to be someone from the barbarian tribe that sacked ancient Rome and then took over Roman territory in North Africa. Sorry to say that I found learning to do graffiti less interesting than this. Oh well.
I loved this description of your graffiti experience (and your Tag)! True, it’s not for everyone, but it’s cool that we live in a world where you can get a taste of something different. I took a similar graffiti class in Paris, and was surprised at how hard it is! Did you know that in Paris you can be fined up to 100,000 euros if you’re caught doing graffiti in public? I just do sticker art now; it’s faster, and less fumes ;-)
I never imagined, writing about a Parisian taking a graffiti class in NYC, that you could also be an American taking a graffiti class in Paris, Laura.
And 100k Euros! I haven't been to Paris in a looong time but I imagine there is not much graffiti?
There's TONS! They have magnificent street art tours there especially in the neighborhood of Montmartre. The artists just have to be really fast and stealthy to pull it off!
Love this one!!! Your graffiti rocks!!!!
Thank you Paolo! I never thought I'd be getting complimented on my graffiti skills but here we are! What a city!
Do you really have a 1992 Camry?
Fun fact: Lays had a Beef Wellington potato chip a few years ago. I think we tried them in China or Thailand where all crazy potato chip flavours go to die.
Jules I do not have a 1992 Camry but I do have a 1972 Motobecane Mixte! Of which I am inordinately proud.
That is WILD about the Beef Wellington potato chips!
Ha, I wasn't sure if that Motobecane Mixte was one of the first Ninja Bullets or a Hamilton Beach appliance. Aha, a bike! Did you ever read The Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne? You don't have to be a Talking Heads fan either, I certainly wasn't/isn't outside of Psycho Killer. I'd suggest Lays new Bacon Grilled Cheese potato chips as a side? Or Korean-style Fried Chicken seems good and New Yorkie. https://www.allrecipes.com/lays-do-us-a-flavor-2025-chips-11711240