Turning Vandalism Into Artistry
Posted on 06. Dec, 2009 by Michael Cohen in Arts and Culture, Sandeep Junnarkar, Urban
“Rap is something you do, hip-hop is something you live.” KRS-One
A lifelong Staten Islander and hip-hop junkie, Charlie Balducci founded the NYC Arts Cypher, a government funded non-profit organization, five years ago. The Cypher incorporates all elements of hip-hop to provide potentially rebellious kids and interested adults with a forum, not just for recreational expression, but to explore possible career paths of their dreams.
The Cypher Center at 12 Broad St. holds various b-boy events for rappers, DJs and break-dancers, but its graffiti smothered interior completes the cultural hip-hop aura and makes it seem like the set for a 2009 version of Wild Style.
Charlie brought in a local graffiti legend, Gano Grillz – the vandal-turned-actor who redesigned the “W” for Wu-Tang Clan‘s logo in the early 90s – to give art lessons for the Cypher’s M.U.R.A.L. program.
Here’s Charlie talking about some of the work at the spot:
chris malo
07. Dec, 2009
Graffiti isn’t always the bad, evil thing the media portrays. Good stuff Cohen.
Charlie B
10. Dec, 2009
Hey Mike
Thanks for the props!!! More peeps need to know about us for 2010, big thangs poppin!
Its great to know that we make a difference, and its also great to know that there are real heads commin up that understand grass roots movements!!
keep up the great work!
Charlie B
judge
08. Sep, 2010
rip off
Mustang Cobra
08. Sep, 2010
The bad thing is that graffiti only really happens in the ‘run-down’ areas, which almost always carries a negative connotation with it.