Filed under: Back In The Days, Graffiti, Inspiration | Tags: Boston, Boston Legend, Breakdancing, Cash, Cash Lee Foreman, Cousin CASH, Coz, DJing, Graffiti, Hip-Hop, R.I.P.
Boston lost a legend last week. CASH/COZ, a big inspiration to me and my generation in Boston graffiti late 80’s/ early 90’s.
If you’re in Boston tonight…
CASH/ COZ in action. Dudley Station Boston, 1986 (*flick stolen from internet).
Filed under: Art, Back In The Days, Ramblings, Uncategorized | Tags: 1980's, 2012, 2013, Alone, Alone 1, Alone One, Alone1, AloneOne, Boston, Drawings, Elementary School, Free Drawing Paper, Graph Paper, Not Guilty, NYC, Penmanship, Punishments, The ways I punish myself, The Ways I Torture Myself, Writings
So a while back someone gave me a blank book filled with graph paper. Seemed like some interesting paper to draw on. Hopefully it would get me over the “hang up” I have with that paper.. it is what my 4th grade teacher, Ms. Casey, made us use for our “Punishments”.
Do something wrong, and have to write your punishment.. on graph paper. One letter, per square… over and over… until the page was done.
Mess up once?… Start over.
Hand cramping?.. Massage it for 30 seconds, then keep going.
Not learn the lesson?.. Do 5 sheets.
Still not learn?.. The whole class had to do em.
And after they were all done and got a quick check for accuracy?… Ripped in pieces and thrown away.
I usually got good grades in elementary school, except for… conduct, effort and… penmanship. So I OFTEN had this one…
“Write Neater”
This was another common one…
“I Will Not Talk”
Decades later I realized that some of these punishments had really stuck. And not always in a good way. So maybe the same techniques could be used to “unpunish” myself or or for things that I would consider more positive uses.
“Fuck That. Go Talk To Her.”
“A Skateboard Is Not A Battle Ax”
“Be Nice To Her”
Oh, and how can I forget? For next level shit we would have to write ONE WORD PER SQUARE…
“Sorry”
I spent a lot of time almost filling that book. But eventually decided to stop punishing myself…
“Not Guilty”
Filed under: Back In The Days, Photography, Skateboarding | Tags: 1989, Back In The Day, Boston, copers, Go Skateboarding Day, handplant, Hopps, Jahmal Williams, mini ramp, Nose guard, Photography, Photos, Rails, Rob Roskopp deck, Santa Cruz Skateboards, Skateboarding, Skating, Tail Guard
In honor of today being “Go Skateboarding Day”, an old pic of the homie Jahmal Williams with a handplant over the spine on my old ramp…
Jahmal Williams
Boston , 1989
Filed under: Back In The Days, Fashion, Inspiration, Skateboarding, Uncategorized | Tags: 1990s, 3D, 3D Innovations, Boston, Brian Anderson, Connecticut, Drugs Destroy Dreams, East Coast, History, Matt Landon, Sk8, Skate, Skateboarding, Skating
Thanks to Anthony Pappalardo and Jenkem for putting this out. Know your skateboarding history.
From JENKEMMAG…
3d innovations started by matt landon in 1990
Along with the rest of the skate-o-sphere, I was shocked to learn that Brian Anderson and Alex Olson quit Girl. It’s the equivalent of quitting pizza or sex–you’re crazy to give either up unless someone has a gun to your head. Rumors quickly surfaced that BA was starting a new brand out of the Skate Mental camp and anyone from Alex Olson to Dill and A.V.E. were going to skate for it. Eventually Anderson started leaking logos on Instagram for his new brand 3d skateboards.
While the name 3d might seem fairly innocuous to most, it really irked the inner skate nerd in me. What was the big deal about the name?
Well it was already used by a company started in Connecticut in 1990 by Matt Landon or Skimps if you know him well. Most people know Brian Anderson is from Connecticut–Groton to be specific–and he’s close in age to both myself and Landon, so he had to be aware of 3d Innovations right? Chrome Ball mentioned getting 3d’s DVD (which is still available here for only $5.00) and Quartersnacks posted a complimentary and detailed review of it in 2011 when it was released. Of course my surprise was nothing compared to how Landon felt when he heard about the new venture. Continue reading
Filed under: Art Show, Graffiti, Inspiration | Tags: Adam Adelson, Adelson Galleries, Art Shows, Boston, Caype, Graffiti, Keep Caype Free, News, OD, OD Crew, Press, Ten Artists, The Boston Globe, Tyson Andree
My homie CAYPE in an article from THE BOSTON GLOBE, May 31, 2013 (reprinted from here and here):
“GRAFFITI ARTIST FIGHTS HIS ADDICTION TO STREET ART”
by Aaron Dentel-Post GLOBE CORRESPONDENT MAY 31, 2013
Former graffiti artist Tyson Andree has fine arts works in a group exhibition in Adelson Galleries Boston through June 30.
Graffiti gained popularity as art on New York City subway trains in the 1970s. Andree says he’s been told that it was artists named Gene, short for Genius, and Sen2 who brought it to Boston around 1980. He says his history of the Boston graffiti scene comes from an artist named Click, one of the originators of Boston’s graffiti scene.
By 1983, Boston had a full-blown graffiti culture. The elevated Orange Line route that ran through Roxbury was a particular hot spot, with graffiti works lining roofs and high walls within view of passing trains.
More than two decades later, balanced on a girder over the iron-gray water of the Charles River, Andree, now 33, is going by the name Caype, and he must be one of the most prolific and longest active graffiti writers in Boston’s history. It’s also a chapter in his life he’s trying to move past.
He is the first graffiti artist to be represented by the Adelson Galleries Boston, which deals primarily in artwork by contemporary and modern masters like Jim Dine, Andrew Wyeth, Alex Katz, and others. Andree is included in a group show titled “Ten Artists,” which runs through June 30.
Some of his works on paper have also been included in Barry McGee’s exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art.
Filed under: Graffiti, Inspiration, Photography, Uncategorized | Tags: Atlanta, Bombing, Boston, Chicago, D-30, Detroit, Fill-ins, Graffiti, Houston, Los Angeles, MSK, NEKST, New York, New York City, NYC, Philadelphia, R.I.P., Rest In Peace, Saint Louis, San Francisco, St. Louis, Subways, Trains
The graffiiti world lost another one yesterday with the early passing of Houston CA NYC, nationwide crusher “NEKST”…
NEKST – Spring and Bowery (NYC)
“MSK” by NEKST, seen from the Williamsburg Bridge
“NEKST” Houston St. (NYC)*
“NEKST” Houston St. (NYC)**
“NEKST” (S.F.) **
“NEKST” (the Bronx, NYC) **
“NEKST” MBTA Red Line (Boston) **
* stolen pic from theKeeganGibbs.com
** stolen pic from ?
Filed under: Graffiti, Inspiration | Tags: Boston, Graffiti, Inspiration, Jamaica Plain, Old-School, X-MEN
OK, first off I have to say this is barely an original post, all the pics are stolen off the internet along with the Dash history lesson, but the influence that Boston X-MEN had on my graffiti beginnings can’t be stated enough. Early to mid eighties, Boston’s elevated MBTA orange line was the center of graffiti. Looking out the windows at the cityscapes and the beautiful rooftop murals and signatures made a huge impression on me. When the el was taken down in 1989 focus turned to the streets. And from Egleston Square to Forest Hills up to Roslindale Square… it was all X-MEN…
a classic “X-MEN” blockbuster by MK. Not sure where this one was. There was one of these on a fire escape facing Egleston Sq in 89-90. It was a landmark spot. A very official “Welcome to Egleston: this is X-MEN territory!”
“SCENE” wasn’t X-MEN, but the “DASH” under SCENE’s “S” was. And this photo really brings back memories. After the orange line moved from it’s elevated Washington Street location to it’s present trench location, Amory and Lamartine streets became the new Washington Street in a way. This building was on Lamartine between Paul Gore and Wyman Streets. I would pass this on the regular going to see my first girlfriend on Sheridan St, so of course this time was quite impressionable. When this building was removed in the early 90’s for some new condos (a sign of times to come), it really was a nail in the coffin for an amazing era in Boston graffiti and my youth.
“MK” and “RICH3” at the top of the bleachers at English High School, home to many a writer’s meatings. Probably 1990. Well visible from Washington Street and Williams Street when cutting over to Amory Street. Great Spot.
great hand styles by WISDOM (X-MEN TUF).
“ARCH” between Jackson Square and Roxbury Crossing, probably 1990.
“MKAY” (MK) at Jamaica Plain High School, before it changed to English High School in 1989. Another classic location.Here’s a quick history lesson taken from BostonGraffitiGhosts.com…
Filed under: Art Show | Tags: 2011, Alone, Alone One, Alone1, AloneOne, Andre Cheko, Art, Art Show, Art Shows, Boston, Cambridge, Coast, Graffiti, Helz, King Bee, KingBee, Mouse, OD, Tense, The Royal King Bee, The Royal KingBee, Tomb
“ROYAL FLUSH” Art Show
HOURGLASS Tattoo and Art Gallery
1680 Mass Ave (2nd floor)
Cambridge MA, 02138
OPENING:
August 20, 2011
8 – 12 pm
Art by:
ALONE
ANDRE CHEKO
COAST
HELZ
THE ROYAL KINGBEE
MOUSE
TENSE
TOMB
The show is up until late September.
Filed under: Art, Back In The Days, Books, Graffiti, Inspiration, Photography, Vintage Spraypaint | Tags: "History Of American Graffiti", 2011, 5AV, Albuquerque, Alert, Alone, Alone 1, Alone One, Alone1, AloneOne, American Graffiti, Atlanta, Baltimore, Bay Area, Blackbooks, Books, Boston, Caleb Neelon, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, East Chicago, Freight Train, Freight Trains, Future textbooks, Graffiti, Hawaii, History, History of Graffiti, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minnesota, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York City, NY, NYC, OD, Oregon, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Reviews, Roger Gastman, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Spraypaint, Tagbanging, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., Washington DC, Wisconsin
This book came out about a month ago. I meant to do a comprehensive review on it, but with about 400 PAGES a proper review would take months for me to write. And I don’t want to reveal too much of the book. Here’s a small preview…
First, the cover. Take off that paper one that it came with and reveal the (MUCH doper, in my opinion) vintage spraycans cover hiding under there.
Then get ready for a Graffiti History 101 on the history of over 25 cities. Just check out the Contents pages!..
Instead of starting with the expectected Cornbread and Taki 183 stories, it starts earlier with other forms of graffiti.
Of course any history book is bound to overemphasize certain people and events and omits others (REZENT! LOST!). However the Boston and New York sections are pretty accurate and no way as biased as it could have been. I’m not so knowledgeable on the other cities, but hopefully they are just as accurate.
In addition to the individual city chapters, there’s profiles on some very influential writers such as Cost, Revs, Twist, and others.
Then to top things off, they’ve even included info on spraypaint, blackbooks, tagbanging, freights, the list goes on..
I was very pleased to see the Boston chapter giving just credit to the X-men, Jayrock, Remote, and of course the much justified write up and photos of Alert (OD. KBN. 5AV) and Ryze (5AV KBN.) in the Boston chapter.
The OD crew gets their mention. I get a mention and some quote. And a photo (not one I would have chosen.. guess I should have submitted some of my own.) of an “AN” I did on the Porter MBTA tracks in 1993. Yup, the “Star Market wall”.
They also go on in the Denver section about Alert and Hel (OD KBN) relocating out there and hooking up with SWS.
Overall, this is a great book that will undoubtedly (like it or not) be used as THE first and foremost account of 20th century graffiti and will be studied for centuries to come. Grab a copy while you can still get an original first pressing.
*** Oh yeah, BIG THANKS to Caleb and Roger for hooking up me up with a copy of the book!!
Filed under: Photography | Tags: Boston, Brooklyn, Exploring, NYC, Photography, Rooftops, Urban Exploring
Weather it’s up the back fire escape at a stranger’s party or sneaking/breaking into buildings and up the stairs, I always seem to find my way up… to the rooftops.
Filed under: Back In The Days, Inspiration, Photography | Tags: 1980's, Back In The Day, Boston, Forest Hills, Jamaica Plain, MBTA, Old-School
Before Boston’s MBTA Orange Line went into the trench in 1987 it was (arguably) a beautiful elevated trainline. Forest Hills station would become my “ground zero”. Here are some pics from the late 70’s/ early 80’s, but looking very similar to the Forest Hills I knew going to school in 1986-1987…
West elevation Forest Hills station – looking East across site of former New Haven Railroad station.
View underneath Forest Hill station along the surface platform looking North.
View of upper level platform at Forest Hills station – looking North.
Interior view Forest Hills station showing the intermediate level stair platform which is suspended from the main structure.
View of concrete covered portion of elevated Mainline Structure (Section F-6) – looking Northeast along Washington Street at intersection of Arborway. Arborway overpass crosses overhead at left. In the background is the start of Section F-5. Arborway yard is at the center in the background.
View of elevated Mainline structure – looking North – along Washington Street at juncture of Section F-5 and Section F-6 (the concrete enclosed portion of structure). Remaining stub of the former incline that led down to the Arborway storage yards is at the right.
*All pics and descriptions taken from here.
Filed under: Skateboarding, Uncategorized | Tags: Boston, Popmaster Wood, Robbie Gangemi, Skateboarding, Vehicle Skateboards
It’s no secret that skateboards and the skateboard industry, like most industries, create a tremendous amount of waste in the process of production. Though there are several companies that espouse an environmental consciousness, few have made real strides in trying to marry their images with their actual production process. Enter, East Coast OG and former Zoo York pro Robbie Gangemi. Gangemi, a Boston and New York staple of the latter 1990s, started his own board brand, Vehicle in ’99. In 2010 Vehicle is looking to be the first board company out to manufacture boards almost entirely out of recycled materials. He can even use the excess wood normally scrapped by other companies in the process of cutting shapes out of veneer. And since Gangemi’s name has always been synonymous with pop and style, you know the board feel is gonna come correct. Contributing writer, Matt Higgins spoke to Gangemi at length for his piece about action sports companies trying to do things a little more environmentally-friendly.
Filed under: Graffiti | Tags: 1993, 1999, 2007, Alone, Alone One, Alone1, AloneOne, Boston, Brooklyn, Grafitti, New York, NYC
Joel’s Living Room
1999
MBTA Red-line trackside
1993
Brooklyn
2007
* All taken from ODcrew.com. Lot’s more new/old pics on there, check em out…
Filed under: Art Show | Tags: 2010, 309 Hancock Gallery, Alone, Alone One, Alone1, AloneOne, Art, Art Show, Boston, DJ Laz-E-Boy, Dorchester, J James Forsythe, Tyson Andree
“Painting Between The Bars”
Art Show
TYSON ANDREE
J JAMES FORSYTHE
ALONE ONE
309 Hancock Gallery
309 Hancock st
Dorchester, MA, 02125
opening reception:
Friday Nov. 5, 2010
7-10 pm
music by DJ Laz-E-Boy
artist reception across the street at the B Bar after
309 Hancock Blog
309 Hancock on Facebook
Filed under: Art Show | Tags: Alone, Alone One, Art Show, Boston, Fourth Wall Project
Aug 13th – Sept 4
Opening Reception: August 13th 6-9pm
Fourth Wall Project
132 Brookline Ave.
Boston MA 02215
ALONE ONE's blog - AloneOne.com 
