The Telegram - News - Canada - World - Society

Article

Print
Send to a friend
Comment (0)

NY's graffiti artists of the 1970s and '80s, now in their 40s and 50s, still have urge to tag

Published on July 29, 2012; Published on July 29, 2012

Topics :: NEW YORK , Manhattan

NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York's graffiti artists of the 1970s and '80s are having a hard time putting down their spray-paint cans.

Andrew Witten was better known about 30 years ago by the street name Zephyr. He was a master at spray-painting extravagant graffiti pieces on freight and subway trains, called train-bombing. He and a generation of urban latchkey kids sprayed their initials all over Manhattan and landed in the city's street art scene.

Now, Witten is 51 and a single father. He spends his days painting and selling his art to galleries and buyers. But he's still tempted by the dangers of graffiti and spray-painting his initials on other people's property, called tagging.

He says painting graffiti is a liberating experience.

©

Rate
Top of the page

Submit a comment

Submit a comment Your name* Email* (we keep all emails private) Write your comment here*

Agreement

We ask that users remain courteous. You may not post insulting, discriminatory or inappropriate content, which may be removed at our discretion. We are not responsible for user content and opinions. Use of this site as well as content submission & ownership are governed by our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.

Member organizations should be non-profit in nature, and promote legal activities. Any organization found promoting illegal activities or commercial products or services will be deleted from the site.

I agree with these conditions.