Part One- Titled "Playboy 76" Marker on light Card Stock. Size measures 11"x 14" 2010
DEFYING LOGIC
"Roaming around storage areas are often where I often spend my days, and where I have made many of my best personal discoveries. It was in the archives of the Museum of the City of New York that I first came across the treasure trove of black books that came to be featured in the recent exhibition and companion publication City as Canvas.
When Dirty Pilot asked me to look around their virtual “back pages” to look for a selection of overlooked gems, I gladly accepted. What is better than the thrill of the hunt? The results are a selection of work from the “back room” that are exceptional pieces by some of the masters of this art form – be it the iconic tag of TAKI 183, the psychedelic bubble stylings of PART ONE, or the comic book influenced spray can man and “Jack Kirby krackle” of DR. REVOLT,
Regardless of whether these treasures are created with pens, markers, paint, or spray paint, the common thread is lettering. It was the origin and will always be at the heart of this particular art form.
My treasure hunt is now yours to enjoy. Make a few discoveries of you own."
Sean Corcoran, Curator at Museum of the City of New York
More about the show at MCNY - http://www.mcny.org/content/city-canvas
PART ONE is a veteran of the golden years of New York City subway painting and considered a style master in the graffiti world specializing in his own brand of lettering which he started to develop in 1974. From 1974 – 1985 he was one of the most accomplished artists on the New York City subway trains, in 1985 he took a brief hiatus from painting only to return in 1990 as a leading figure in the re-emergence of wild style pieces in murals in Harlem. His art has been featured in the classic film Style Wars as well as the critically acclaimed book, Martha Cooper's Hip Hop Files, and most recently the books, Burning New York, and Graffiti Planet. PART is active today painting both on canvas and on walls around the world. He was most recently the featured artist at Kosmopolite, the international graffiti event, in Paris in 2006.