"Skatepression" Event Re-Cap

Maintain Los Angeles opened it’s latest exhibit this weekend, Skatepression, feature intricate works of art by using a skateboard as a canvas. Artistic styles varied from graffiti, graphic design, fine art, charactuer to photography. With a great crowd on hand for the opening, the music was moving feets and blackbooks were exchanging hands. Keep up with upcoming events at Maintain via their website to see some of the work from this opening.

Photo and article credit: LOSOJOS DE MUERTE

NEW MAINTAIN FALL SHIRT DESIGNS

This shirt says it all!  

Keep it true with this Killafornia State T-shirt filled in with fat caps

Keep your mouth shut and Maintain your secrets

Don't be a snitch!

This Shirt is for all of my NORTH EAST L.A. Family... who know whats up with the NELA LIFE.

Shirts Drop on the 14th of  September online @ www.maintainshop.com or at our brick and mortar location in L.A. located at 2643 N. Figueroa L.A.,  CA. 90065

BITING IS BITING

The idea of been original has always been a coveted one in the graffiti art culture or for that matter in any creative scene/culture. But who is to say what is original, and who was the first one to do it? and it what realm did they do it first in? I am of the opinion that all of us gain inspiration from something and the idea of being original has really lost its meaning to me. Especially when I see painting trends come and go withing the graffiti culture. Back in the days letter styles and fonts where copied from such artists as Frank Frazetta and Vaughn Bode and while they did not paint trains, they definitely influence the culture. In the early 80's Graffiti in Los Angele's and around the world was influence byt the New York subway styles from the Book Subway Art and although certain styles came out of Los Angele's, for example the East Los Angeles gang influence block graff pieces created by crews indeginous to Los Angeles. It was different than the New york graffiti it was not much different then where it came from witch where the calligraphy style writings of Los Angeles Latino street gangs and they themselves took that from Old English calligraphy. My point here is that Originality is sometimes or in most cases not original because when you trace the source you will find that in most cases the true artist existed and created that style decades or centuries ago. The images shown in this blog define and illustrate the current trend that is going on with piecers in the graffiti scene. And I have been hearing people say "oh so and so is the original".. "this dude bit that dude" and I have been saying no they bit 70's and 80's Disco and Arcade cover illustrator's. BITING IS BITING!. Some call it influence and in the end its all good... just don't let it go to your head and make your self believe that you really are that genius behind all of it.