.jpg)
www.keithbaugh.com photos by keith baugh
To me these are important images not just from the history of graffiti but from the history of art. -Keith Baugh
Keith Baugh captures this cultural phenomenon
Shooting his photos mostly from NYC tracks, high above the action, Keith Baugh made himself a fly on the wall in the early 1970's. Fortunately for us this English painter and photographer had chosen the same walls as some of the most notorious graffiti legends. Keith's photographs, from what is now recognized as the 'Golden Era' of graffiti writing, have just been published in a hard-back book 'Early New York Subway Graffiti 1973-1975.
In the introduction to the book, Sami Montague, editor in chief at Graphotism wrote:
"What Keith, a total outsider to the actual creation of graffiti on the New York subway system, did was amazing. He took photos of what very few other people bothered or cared to do. He recognized that what he was seeing on the sides of the trains was something exceptional and new and as a result of this unusual sensitivity he took the time to capture for posterity the very ephemeral art that we now know as train writing."
Carpet-bomb turns into a magic carpet ride
He had intended to photograph roadside ephemera including advertising signs and billboards alongside classic American cars as a source material for a series of paintings in the summers of 1973 and 1975. On the subway ride from JFK to Manhattan, his plan suddenly changed. He was overwhelmed by the spray paint covered windows and the marker covered walls of the carpet-bombed subway car. The undeniable artistic expression on those cars immediately inspired him to capture it on film. Living in rural Gloucestershire, England now, he was dismayed to learn of the rarity of photos chronicling that social phenomenon and immediately began working with his publisher Buffalo Arts and Weapons of Choice Gallery.
Over 150 graffiti pioneers photographed
The photos include tags and masterpieces by over 150 of pioneers New York writers including STAFF 161, CLIFF 159, RIFF 170 ( / WORM 161/ CASH / CRUNCH), PRIEST 167, AJ 161 ( ALL JIVE 161 ), PHASE 2, TRACY 168, LAVA 1& 2 ( STRAIGHT MAN ), JIVE 3, DOC COOL, LIL HAWK 149, STAY HIGH 149, SUPER STRUT-TASS, KOOL KEVIN, STEP 1, PJ 109, SKI 168, DIZZY 1, SPENCER 1, LEFTY 139, KING 2, SILVER TIPS, COMET 1, HONDO 1, MICO, SWEET CRUZ, KILLER 1, STIM 1, MR AL 1, NOVA 1, ROD 1, COMET 161, KIT 161, COST 170, DEATH ( ROX ), CRACHEE 11, BLADE 1, VAMM, PEACE 108, JOHN 150, ROACH, DON 101, BILLY 167, NOVA 1, LIL JUDGE, CHICO, RUBEN, JESTER ( DYE 167 ), IN ( KILL 3) and BEN 167. Are some the early bombers of the golden era. Others include TON 5, ALE 1, TAV 1, KT 3, POT 1, MONO TF-5, OZ 109, SO-FIVE, CAST, SPIKE 202, BOC ( PADRE 2 ), SLIP 3, OH 222 ( AIM-SSB ), GAME 5, HYSEN and DEFIE. Early New York Subway Graffiti 1973 -1975. Photographs from Harlem, South Bronx, Times Square and Coney Island.
Books can be ordered from Keith Baugh.com
Comments
interesting
I visited NYC in 1971. I don't remember the graffiti in the subways though. I just remember how bumpy the rides were.
I remember traveling through New York during the Graffiti Era. Most of the graffiti I saw didn't look half that good, or all that elaborate--just scrawled gangland territorial markers. That's why Rudy Giuliani scrubbed all the subway cars clean.
That said, maybe the city could explicitly commission graffiti. It would look a lot better, and more like art, than some of the stuff that passes for "art" in trendy galleries these days.
Pretty cool.
I see graffiti on train cars at work everyday. Yes, some of it does have style and flair and some is just spray-painted scribble, but it's all destructive and illegal. It shouldn't be promoted in any way.
Angela, i agree that the vandalism needs to be removed from the art of graffiti, but only by awareness and discussion (not necessarily promotion) can we move towards that...
Graffiti writing breaks the hegemonic hold of corporate/governmental style over the urban environment and the situations of daily life. As a form of aesthetic sabotage, it interrupts the pleasant, efficient uniformity of "planned" urban space and predictable urban living. For the writers, graffiti disrupts the lived experience of mass culture, the passivity of mediated consumption." - Jeff Ferrell, Crimes of Style
Terry, Hugh & montreal,
AGREED ;))) and it's still bumpy lol
Melissa, I like your columns about graffiti. I think they appeal to my "inner anarchist". :)
To me, truly artistic graffiti is not the same as gang tag scrawling. We can tell the difference between someone quickly tagging a building, and someone who put a little thought into what they were painting. And I think everyone can admit that they've seen a piece of graffiti that was truly a witticism, and made them smile, even if it was just on the inside.
I grew up in South Texas, and there was a graffiti scrawl on the overpass for Interstate 35 outside of Pearsall, that said "Go Go Devil Bunnies". It was there for years, and probably still is. I laughed every time I passed it. What did it mean? I have no idea.
Anyways, I love your articles.
Seattle Budget Entertainment Examiner
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!