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Check Out This Unearthed 1970s NYC Graffiti Documentary
By
Scott Heins
Published Mar 10, 2017
Modified Mar 10, 2017
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By
Scott Heins
Published Mar 10, 2017
Modified Mar 10, 2017
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Film footage of New York during the graffiti-covered 1970s never gets old (literally, because pretty much all of it lives on YouTube now, and YouTube will never die). And now, a rarely-seen independent film by actor, musician, and photographer Fenton Lawless has resurfaced, thanks to some diligent sleuthing by Mass Appeal.
Shot on grainy film stock all across the city, Lawless's 16-minute New York Graffiti Experience offers a look back at the work of some of the true originators of our local tagging scene. On empty walls, storefronts, and subway cars, works by Mico, Checker 170, Phase 2, Blade, Billy 167, and many more are clearly visible. Most importantly, the film features an interview with CLIFF 3YB, the early king of New York's entire graffiti scene. These are the early handstyles that inspired spray can artists all across the globe. Lawless explained his motivation for capturing the ethereal, illicit works in MA's interview:
In 1975 my girlfriend and were talking one night. We were very interested in graffiti, so I said “Why don’t we shoot some slides and put it to my music and will send it to the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts)? At the time they were giving grants. We went out with a 35mm Leica and then we scouted the city and we shot what we could, put it together with my music and we created a slideshow and an oral presentation. They jumped all over it, and we traveled from different cities putting on this graffiti art show.
So then I got the idea, why don’t I make a documentary about it, which I did. I went out and found my 17-year-old cameraman Andy Aaron, who now works for George Lucas. We basically retraced our steps from where we did the slideshow and put it all together. There are two versions of the film the educational version which is the one that’s on Vimeo and YouTube right now and I have more of a street version.
The full 16 minute film is posted below. When you're finished, take a look back at another '76 graffiti gem, Watching My Name Go By.
Tagged
1970s
Fenton Lawless
graffiti
street art
tagging
The New York Graffiti Experience 1976
Scott Heins
Scott Heins is a freelance photo and video journalist based in New York City, and a frequent contributor to Gothamist + WNYC. His work often centers around labor rights, housing, and policing. In 2018-2019 he traveled to four states while covering a wave of public school teachers strikes, with work featured in The New York Times, The Intercept, Getty Images, Splinter, and Bloomberg Photos. Scott is a dues-paying member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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