This Month We Recap 2 Art Shows and AGNTS Journey to Both Los Angeles' Container Yards.
Saturday, November 14th, AGNTS piled in the clown car and headed off to GCS clothing in Santa Ana, California, where Smog City was sponsoring a joint art show featuring the homie ATOMIK and CAB.
As soon as we arrived the crowd was thick, snaking through the terrain and taking in all the different art that was offered to them. There were drawings, paintings, prints, sketches, slaps; you name it, ATOMIK and CAB laced it. We finally made our way through the herds and got to the table where the artists were signing black books, knocking out stickers and finishing up their one-of-a-kind collab prints.
As soon as we arrived the crowd was thick, snaking through the terrain and taking in all the different art that was offered to them. There were drawings, paintings, prints, sketches, slaps; you name it, ATOMIK and CAB laced it. We finally made our way through the herds and got to the table where the artists were signing black books, knocking out stickers and finishing up their one-of-a-kind collab prints.
Once we saw ATOMIK he introduced us all to his homie –the legend—CAB. Needless to say, being such a huge fan of graffiti and all his work, we felt honored and privileged to be meeting and shaking the hand of an O.G like CAB. I can still remember trips to Los Angeles with my fam and seeing his iconic bomb and tag. It was just amazing to be in his presence and share stories about life, painting, chase stories, graffiti and the game –past and present. To add, AGNTS fans should be hyped about this chance meeting because almost immediately we started talking an AGNTS-CAB collab for 2016; so be on the lookout for that. All around, CAB was a great dude and we can’t wait to get him back to the studio for more collab discussions and good times.
After acting like little school girls and being all gitty to have chilled with CAB, we walked around for a few hours and saw other icons like SLICK, 455ER and SLEEPS to name a few. We then picked up our ATOMIK/CAB collab piece and headed home, resting up for Sunday’s WAI crew’s “Still Posted” art show.
Sunday, November 15th, WAI crew celebrated their 23rd anniversary as a unit by hosting the “Still Posted” art show at a vacant building in downtown Los Angeles.
When you walked through the first set of doors there were posters and stickers everywhere and a huge USPS 228 slapped up with “Still Posted” tagged out. As you moseyed on through with regrets that you couldn’t take in more in that brief moment, you walk into the main show room and there was nothing but straight heat posted on these walls. Canvases, sketches, paintings, wood work; I mean, every medium you can think of was there. It was so dope to see all the different techniques artists are using now and the ways they present them. One of the illest moves were the huge paste-ups of people and quote bubbles, with comments or whatnot about the work from a seemingly uninformed or unschooled, yet curious, audience. Connected to this was a side room that was fully bombed, tagged, stickered and pasted up as a sick collage from all the artists involved.
When you walked through the first set of doors there were posters and stickers everywhere and a huge USPS 228 slapped up with “Still Posted” tagged out. As you moseyed on through with regrets that you couldn’t take in more in that brief moment, you walk into the main show room and there was nothing but straight heat posted on these walls. Canvases, sketches, paintings, wood work; I mean, every medium you can think of was there. It was so dope to see all the different techniques artists are using now and the ways they present them. One of the illest moves were the huge paste-ups of people and quote bubbles, with comments or whatnot about the work from a seemingly uninformed or unschooled, yet curious, audience. Connected to this was a side room that was fully bombed, tagged, stickered and pasted up as a sick collage from all the artists involved.
Stepping back into the main room there was this piece that, in our opinion, stole the show. It first captured your attention because it was beautifully designed to look like a huge gold framed painting hanging on a wall in a museum. The colors vibrant, the lines clean and crisp and the work itself just wonderful. What then becomes key to the piece are those paste-ups of people and comments that, in some ways, are “getting in the way” of things, as the artist suggests. One of the best lines of commentary to come off this painting that sums it all up for the audience is from the fictional character centered in the picture, when he says, “Nothing to say…but paint”. Overall, this piece is a game changer and worthy of recognition outside the graff world; a must see.
Accompanying this on the wall next to it was another piece that speaks volumes to what graff is and should be about. The wall was blasted by all different peaces, bombs and hand styles and over the top of those were blank white canvases of all sizes. At first glance it may just look like a mixed medium piece that is trying something different. But then your eyes are drawn to one particular canvas, with the words “GRAFF BELONGS ON WALLS!” spread across it. Once you see that your brain clicks and you have one of those “Ahha, I get it” moments. Really fresh moves on WAI’s part we must say.
After flicking pics and walking around for a few, and after getting our dope “Still Posted” care package fully equipped with a tee, stickers, graff mag, the giant 228 and buttons, ATOMIK shot us a text and asked if we would join him at Los Angeles' infamous Container Yards. Without question we were along for the ride.
Having never been to the Container Yards before, our camera was fully loaded and the safety off for this one. ATOMIK met as the gates, walked us in and it was over from there…
No time was wasted and we went straight to the third floor of Container Yard Two, where CAB was rocking a fresh character piece with his boy CINK of LOD whom we had met the day before at the collab art show in Santa Ana.
While CAB finished his work we walked around snapping flick after flick. Something that really hits you in a place like the Container Yard as you walk through is just how peaceful it is to open your mind and listen with your eyes and not your ears, as you soak in the beauty that has been birthed here by the legends of past, present and future.
CAB finished his piece and we got some solid pics of his blue-purple-green blends and the cartoony character. We headed back downstairs to flick floor two and then the first, where huge murals and works in progress were sprawled across the walls.
While CAB finished his work we walked around snapping flick after flick. Something that really hits you in a place like the Container Yard as you walk through is just how peaceful it is to open your mind and listen with your eyes and not your ears, as you soak in the beauty that has been birthed here by the legends of past, present and future.
CAB finished his piece and we got some solid pics of his blue-purple-green blends and the cartoony character. We headed back downstairs to flick floor two and then the first, where huge murals and works in progress were sprawled across the walls.
Outside, ATOMIK was still collabing strong with SART. The final piece had an insane color scheme that transformed the traditional orange character into a mean green machine surrounded by purples and golds, and accented with whites. It really made the whole thing come to life and pop. After snapping the homies collab and losing ourselves in and out of the building, it was time to posse up and head to Container Yard One, where ATOMIK planned to knock out a hundred oranges on the roof.
As soon as the gates opened…WOW! I mean, WOW! Your eyes have never seen so many wonderful works by so many recognizable names. Everywhere you looked you imagined flames flowing from the cans as artists staked their personal claim to the canvas of choice and left these modern masterpieces for us. We were awe struck for so long that light was escaping the day and some parts were more appreciated in person than in picture.
We were unable to accompany ATOMIK to the roof for his shot at lacing it with a hundred oranges but knowing ATOMIK a pic is in the works and we will be sure to update you once it does.
In all, what else is there to say other than AGNTS had an unforgettable weekend. Thank you again to the homie ATOMIK for all his work he’s done in the game and with AGNTS specifically. Thanks for introducing us to the legend CAB and the invite to the Container Yard. Thank you CAB again for the time spent and can’t wait to work with you in the future. WAI, thank you for the amazing pieces and beautiful stains on our brains that will never leave. And thank you to all involved with the Container Yard for having such a deep rooted history and love for art that you can provide us with a place like the Container Yard to treat ourselves to.
Story as told by: Stephen S.
Interpreted and Narrated by: Jeremy Wallace
Story as told by: Stephen S.
Interpreted and Narrated by: Jeremy Wallace
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