Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Spring Time Fever

February 21st, Minneapolis Minnesota: 17 plus inches of snow lands over a course of a day and a half. Temps in the 50's to a massive amount of snow in a weeks worth is a big difference. You take a look outside and it's empty. No cars, no people walking, no animals, just a still picture. Looking at such disgust, it really makes it hard to go out and search a spot for some pieces, or even benching (watching trains go by and flicking pics of the graffiti on them). Here I am, sitting on my computer, being a couch potato when I could be out there, ahhh mannn, does it suck!

So before all this snow, I had a chance to search out a spot I haven't been to in a long time. It's been so long I had to get a little help on finding the wall (It's the first time I've been there since I started taking pics of graffiti back in 2007). It felt good, going to a different spot than I normally go to. That spot alone, I flicked around 120 pieces of graffiti. There wasn't any pieces older than 2006 I would assume, since majority of the walls have been buffed. But I still did get to see some awesome newer pieces. Here is a few I really enjoyed...

Aqua


Beps
Ergot
Junt
Opak
Rough

Silk
Shock

I also went back to another spot that I haven't been to for while. Noticed I missed some old school pieces Like Drat BTR, Waldo WINS, Slur BTR, Ibet WINS and some other I don't remember.. If you want to see my pictures, Look Here. When a little bit of the snow melts, and I have sometime, I'll be out flicking some more pics of places I haven't been to yet and places I haven't been to in at least over a year. I'm excited for that!

To add one last thing, I thought I might put up my favorite piece I found on my last trip...

Drat BTR


Until next time, AboveTheNorm




Monday, January 31, 2011

Struggles of Capturing Graffiti

You can find graffiti in a lot of difference places. Such as abandoned buildings (Mills, warehouses, houses, industries), bridges, tunnels (sewer tunnels, car tunnels, train tunnels), along train tracks, on trains, on trucks and out in public.

In a tunnel. Deuce7.


In an abandon mill. Mack & Stok 7MK

If your not a big fan of graffiti, you probably don't notice how much it is around you. They are in numerous movies and are used in many clothing lines, and if you live in a big city, there are murals all around the area.

Living in Minneapolis Minnesota, many graffiti spots have been buffed these last few years. Because of this, it is harder to find a place full of graffiti. Which means, there is more search in finding a spot. It is not just that though, but winters are harsh here. We have had 17 inches plus of snow at one time and we have had -30 wind shield factors. Most winters are not by any means this extreme, but you always got to be prepared for the worse right? Like the other day. I was walking through snow up to my knees. But unlike others, I'm pretty passionate about graffiti so snow won't stop me, and it sure doesn't stop many graffiti artist in the twin cities such as Beazm, Beps, Hbak, Junt, Opak. Big ups to them! (I might be missing some names but these are just a few artist I see all over the spots I check out as well as pictures I see on flickr.)

Beazm FMPM

Beps, Junt, Opak GP

Hbak

Graffiti isn't so much a hobby, but for artist that constantly get up, it is their passion. Just to add a few other things to this blog, here is a few pics that I have from old school writers of Minneapolis that have been the influence of many Minneapolis writers of this generation.

Bed ROTS 1999

Daesk 1999

Eros AKB TCI 1999


Intel AKB TCI

Nimz, Bleak, Hake WND 1998

Poe KYT & Spell HM 1999

Puzl KYT 1999

Gotta love graffiti!! And if you hate it, Fuck you! :)


For next time, AboveTheNorm.

Also, Check out my Flickr Page, and add me Right Here!

Peace.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Light Graffiti

When you can't do graffiti because you don't have spray paint? and sketching is boring, what do you do!? Something that seems to becoming more and more popular is light graffiti. Light graffiti is a new hobby of mine, that I figured out how to do late spring of 2010. How to do light graffiti is you take a camera and put it on a long shutter speed to keep the lens open for longer. Then you want to make sure you have a tripod on you. It will make it easier to run around and make your own creation. Lastly, you need some type of fluorescent light and there you go! The rest is your imagination. I've probably done over 500 different pictures of light graffiti since I've started. I'm not by any means a professional. I don't have the tools nor the knowledge to do amazing pictures like other people, but I do have fun.


After making so many of these, I felt like I needed to expand the idea inside the limitations of what I have and can do. After thinking for awhile, I came up with an idea. I want to have some sort of remembrance for everyday that I live, but how am I going to do that? By days. When I started this, I've been alive for 6871 days. It shows a different perspective of life. How young I am, but how long I have been alive for.

Week One:
Love The People Around U

Live your life, not anothers. I find much of the world tries to be someone who they are not. It could be a movie star, your grandpa, your friend, a basketball player, etc. There's nothing wrong with looking up to someone, but be yourself. Live your life, not anothers.

Press Repeat. My repetitive life. School, homework, work. I feel like sometimes I'm just stuck on repeat. Luckily I find time to get out and do stuff here and there.

Hard work pays off! I got a raise today(Jan 20th) and a promotion in my position. Making another 1.10 more! I know that might not seem like a lot to some, but regardless, I'm proud of myself. And proud to be doing/learning more!

Let go of chronic stress. I notice I haven't been acting exactly like myself towards others recently. I believe the reason is because I've been holding too many things in. Today is to for say "Forgive & Forget." Apologize to others as well as myself for the wrong things I've done in the past. I think that will take some weight off my shoulder. And maybe increase my mental health.

I Feel Wanted. I went back to opening Saturdays at work. Every Saturday these 4 old ladies come in and I know exactly what they want and we talk for a few. They told me they were glad I was back to opening Saturdays because I'm real sociable and they enjoy seeing me. Also others were glad I was back to being there in the mornings. Anyways, as corny as it seems, they made my day.

Stand Tall. Everyone has hard times in their life. Even though my road is pretty smooth (minus a few little speed bumps) that everyone has to keep their head up, and stand tall.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


This doesn't only just keep memories forever, but makes me want to accomplish something everyday. I also feel like I have to remind myself of things I struggle with, things that should be important to me that are not, this is my posted note. So if I feel like I'm not doing something, and I'm not fixing myself for the better, what am I going to write about?..

Follow me on Flickr

Also, follow me on Facebook. I might start a fan page for all my start stuff and ish. My Facebook

Signing Out, and yes, I am Above The Norm.