HANDSELECTA | Flip the Script

Lost | Graffiti in the City of Angels

2008-05-08T02:19:00.011-04:00

Shameless plug alert!

I just put out a new issue of my 'zine Lost. This time it is a fully formed book (224 pages/silkscreened artboard covers/the whole nine) that compiles material from 10 years of documenting L.A. graffiti and more. It also features previously unpublished material, offering a glimpse into writing culture on the left coast. (You might even catch a few cholo tags here and there...)

Included in the book are early L.A. style masters like Tempt STN, Besk UCA and the MAK crew. It also features contemporary innovators whose work has re-defined L.A. styles such as Ayer (Rest in Peace), Haeler OTR/7th Letter, and Atlas CBS. Designed by yours truly. Rad dude all around (and fellow Handselecta'er) Ian Lynam wrote the foreword.

Above are some spreads from the book. You can find out more (and nab one while you can) at the book's website lost.seekingheaven.com.

Art Space Tokyo

2008-05-03T03:52:00.002-04:00

Just got a lengthy essay on Tokyo graffiti, writing's deconstruction of traditional syntactical structures, and handstyles published in this great new book.
Art Space Tokyo is the definitive guide to Contemporary Art in Tokyo. If you are an art lover and plan on visiting Tokyo, it is a must have. If you dig great book design, it is just as worth it. A beautiful collection of considered graphic design, a ton of different printing processes, great papers, quality binding, and beautifully screened/stamped cover cloth.

Lost Ten Years exhibit in Los Angeles

2008-05-02T16:22:00.003-04:00

If you are in the L.A. area this weekend, specifically May 3, check out the exhibition and book release I put together to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of my 'zine Lost | Graffiti in the City of Angels.

Here's the 411:

Eyeone | SH + Meltdown present
Lost Ten Years | Book release + exhibition
Opening: Saturday, May 3, 2008 | 7 -10 pm

Meltdown
7522 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
meltcomics.com

Featuring work by Adikt, Asylm, Atlas, Cab, Codak, Eyeone, Friend, Geoff Oki, Iker, Jorger, Kara Marks, Kozem, Luna, Modem, Neo, Panic, Patrick Martinez, Precise, Rick Rodriguez, Sherm, Swank, Tommy Ruets, Unit, Vyal, Worth, and Yem.

Audio by Kool DJ Sheak One, House Guru, Adikt, and Gloze 54.

More on the exhibit here.

Cowboy hats of the railroad

2008-04-30T15:33:00.001-04:00

Cowboy hats of the railroad, originally uploaded by thunderdome.

For the Freight heads in the audience.

Graffiti Research Lab film-MoMA 05/04/08

2008-04-24T13:23:00.006-04:00

Graffiti Research Lab: The Complete First Season will be premiering in NYC on Sunday, May 4 at 8 PM at MoMa. Too bad for me since I'm on the other coast, but if you're in NY or anywhere near, this is definitely worth checking out. GRL make graffiti robots, LED throwies, laser tagging equipment, mobile letter-spray-painting vans, and a slew of other dope hi-tech public-space appropriating gizmos.

PopRally presents:
Graffiti Research Lab: The Complete First Season
Sunday, May 4, 2008
8:00–11:00 P.m.
MoMA • 11 West 53 Street • New York, NY 10019-5497
Titus 1 theater

Peep the trailer (via BoingBoing TV)

Link to MoMa page.
Link to GRL page (where they have posted a torrent of the unofficial DVD just in case.)

Its been a long time....

2008-04-17T09:49:00.003-04:00

I shouldnt have left you, without a strong style step to.

Parallel Strokes

2008-03-03T01:02:00.012-05:00

My new book, Parallel Strokes, is available now via the book website. It isn't officially being released for a week, but I figured Handselecta readers should have a chance before other folks.

About Parallel Strokes:

Parallel Strokes is a collection of interviews with twenty-plus contemporary typeface designers, graffiti writers, and lettering artists around the world. The book is introduced with a comprehensive essay charting the history of graffiti, its relation to type design, and how the two practices relate in the wider context of lettering.
Interviews within include conversations with pan-European type design collecitve Underware, Japanese type designer Akira Kobayashi, American graffiti writer and fine artist Barry McGee/Twist, German graffiti writers Daim and Seak, American lettering artist, graphic designer and design eductor Ed Fella, among others. Parallel Strokes is an enquiry into the history, context, and development of lettering today, both culturally approved and illicit.

Full list of interviewees:

Akira Kobayashi
Underware
Ed Fella
Delta
Jerry Inscoe/Joker
Jens Gehlhaar
Daim
Seak
Jonas Williamsson
Handselecta
Tauba Auerbach
Lady Pink
She One
Eklips AWR/MSK
Eskae
Renos
Mike Giant
Chaz Bojorquez
Barry McGee/Twist

The result of a six years of research in the combined arts of lettering, graffiti, and typeface design, Parallel Strokes is a collection of interviews some of the best letterform creators in the world today.

Chaz Bojorquez talks about the origins of barrio graffiti in Los Angeles and the evolution of the craft. Fellow Angeleno, vernacular graphic designer Ed Fella, speaks about his history in lettering and how he earned the title “The King of Zing” in Detroit design and illustration circles. Famed Japanese type designer Akira Kobayashi discusses Roman and Japanese letterforms while showcasing a lifetime of type design work. European graffiti writers Daim, Seak, and Delta share their thoughts on dimensional graffiti lettering while American graffiti writer Mike Giant talks about vernacular lettering, typeface design, and the evolution of graffiti handstyles.

Parallel Strokes is richly illustrated throughout, featuring copious previously unpublished work by the interviewed artists, as well as supplementary illustrations and photographs detailing contemporary and historical trends in graffiti and type design.

The first 100 orders come with a two color 17" x 20" Parallel Strokes poster printed using recycled paper and soy inks at Portland, Oregon's Pinball Publishing.

Parallel Strokes is 244 pages thick and available for $25 with free shipping worldwide.

B-I-N-G-O!

2008-02-25T05:52:00.004-05:00

While I was in the U.S. vacationing over the holidays, I partook in a lively night of bingo at Sunset Bingo in lovely Beaverton, Oregon with my lovely girlfriend and her family. While sitting out the more costly rounds of the game, the cheap bastard that I am, I crafted up a lively modular vernacular typeface for Néojaponisme readers out of the materials available.

Pecha Kucha Night: A Celebration

2008-02-07T03:43:00.001-05:00

The Pecha Kucha Night: A Celebration book is finally available online. Pecha Kucha Night is a series of global events where 20 presenters take the stage to present 20 slides, about which they will speak for 20 seconds each.

This book is a "best of", with presentations by Japanese super-architect Toyo Ito, Marcus Fairs, PKN founders Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of the insanely awesome and talented Klein Dytham architecture, Tokyo dance group Strange Kinoko, graphic designers Namaiki, type designer Odod Ezer, and British designer Sebastian Conran.

The book was edited by Uleshka, founder of PingMag, and designed by, um, Ian Lynam Design. It weighs in at 176 pages, softcover, and has a nice UV gloss screenprinted cover. The text is a mixture of English and Japanese.

At ¥2000 ($18.75) each, including global priority shipping from Japan, it's a steal.

Juxtapoz

2008-01-16T13:58:00.000-05:00

Check out the new February issue of Juxtapoz for an article on the 'Selecta. Thanks to Espo for lending his voice and insight to the article.

White New York

2008-01-15T17:02:00.001-05:00

The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal

2007-12-11T20:23:00.000-05:00

I found an interesting article over at WebUrbanist (via Digg.) It reviews a video by Matt McCormick that explores buffing-as-art titled "The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal." The article has an excerpt from the documentary and a few other videos, as well as images that capture this "subconscious" artform.

Excerpt from article: "Most would argue that graffiti removal is at best the elimination of vandalism or at worst the destruction of art, right? One award-winning film argues something quite different: that graffiti removal is the ultimate next step in the progression of modern art."

Buff mark alphabet by Hopemeng.

link to article.
link to Flickr group.
link to another article over on Ward-o-matic.

NYC- Made in India

2007-11-27T19:53:00.000-05:00

In case you ever wondered.....

KADSTER, Philly King

2007-11-19T10:49:00.000-05:00

Tall Print

Wicked

Gangster Style

KRINK NYC

2007-11-06T15:59:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T10:42:00.000-04:00

Can Control

2007-10-27T23:12:00.000-04:00

These dudes know how to use their fat caps.

Blackbook sesh with Paula Scherr

2007-10-23T12:51:00.000-04:00

Mene + Purple Montana

2007-10-18T11:49:00.001-04:00

Hand Held Heart

2007-10-17T13:38:00.000-04:00

Awesome link to the work of über-talented Brian Roetting a.k.a. Hand Held Heart/H3. Brian is a super-talented deisgner/typographer based in LA.

78 ways to say "NO"

2007-10-14T02:32:00.000-04:00

I came across this site that posts photographs of the word "no" applied in different ways to diverse surfaces. Here are 5. To see the other 73, give www.noanonymous.com a look.

SHOE

2007-10-02T12:24:00.000-04:00

CALLIGRAFFITI
http://www.calligraffiti.nl/

I'm a little late on this one, but Shoe and Haze have a show in Amsterdam right now. Really inspiring work.

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Futura and José Parlá

2007-09-26T12:32:00.000-04:00

Dope Interview over at Being Hunted with José Parlá and Futura, when they had their recent exhibit in London.

Clip Art of the year award

2007-09-25T12:04:00.000-04:00

My nomination for clip art of the year award, easily goes to the Pirate Skull. Homey is putting in mad work lately. The Pirate Skull cuts across all boundaries. Hitting the Cool-Guy sect, Punk-rockers, the main-stream, jocks and kiddies alike. He has mad mass appeal. Period. Thats why my nomination for Clip-Art-Of-The-Year award is clearly for PIRATE SKULL.

Teutonic Thunder!

2007-09-21T00:24:00.000-04:00

I just posted an extensive interview with L.A.-based German type designer/designer/creative director Jens Gehlhaar over on Neojaponisme. It features a huge retrospective gallery of Jens' type designs.