Days go by and it still trips me out when I realize I’m not looking at a photo.

This is his only print of this design measuring 30″ x 40″
and it’s exactly to scale of his original artwork, of course entirely executed
exclusively in spraypaint…

One of the many dope pieces by one of the many dope artists
featured in our current show, PRINT!

Holla!

"Infinite Tapestry" by Mars1

1AM is proud to present PRINT, our annual show featuring limited edition prints from some of our favorite artists, just in time for the holidays. Bring some art to your life this year or give a great gift to someone special, because PRINT is about bold, quality, affordable fine art from the best artists in the game. The killer line-up includes:

JURNE – ZOLTRON – 123KLAN - EVAN YARBROUGH – VOGUE – MARK BODE – HYDRO74 – MARS1

POESIA – ROBERT BOWEN – RIME – GOD MACHINE – AND MUCH MORE!

Join us on Friday, December 9th from 6:30 – 9:30pm for the opening reception of the PRINT show. The opening will be a 21+ event.

‘Tis the season to be giving so make sure you pass by and pick up your gifts at 1AM gallery. With so many awesome art at phenomenal holiday deals, there is something for everyone at PRINT!

Sketching Letters

A team of 5 from Microsoft came to the gallery on the evening of October 26, stoked to learn about graffiti art. Curious and inquisitive, they asked some wonderful questions during the history of graffiti session. Following the history lesson, they then got to see some murals firsthand, and attempted to decipher some funky fresh wild style lettering.

After learning about graffiti art, it was time for them to try their hand at sketching letters and spraying. The Microsoft crew had a playful attitude and they executed their pieces with finesse and fun.

Thanks for having a workshop with us Microsoft! You were a fantastic group and you made our jobs so easy and enjoyable, ^_^. Come back anytime! Click here for more photos from the Microsoft workshop!

Interested in hosting a dope graffiti workshop for your team? Contact Class Director Gina at: gina@1amsf.com.

SAP Labs stenciling tees

Graffiti action in the morning to start your day! Last Monday, October 17, 1AM had the pleasure of hosting a graffiti workshop for an awesome team of 12 from SAP Labs led by none other than SAP Lab-er Tim R. Their team arrived bright and early, fueled with bagels and coffee and ready to begin a day of graffiti festivities.

Eager to learn, their morning began with a history of graffiti lesson, followed by a mural walk tour around SoMa. After learning about graff art, it was time to gets some hands-on experience,.

With masks on and spray cans in hand, the SAP Labs team stenciled some dope looking tees and blasted out a funky fresh mural. Vibrant colors. Dots. Tags alongside the piece. What more could you ask for in a mural?

Thank you for being fantastic SAP Labs! Come back and get your paint on with us any time! To check out more pics of their workshop, click here!

Interested in hosting a dope graffiti workshop for your team? Contact Class Director Gina at: gina@1amsf.com.

SAP Labs team in front of their masterpiece

But before they could start spraying, they took a history lesson or two from local graff legend Nate1. After that, the whole Splunk team scoped out the local murals around SoMa and then the spray paint fun began!

There was stenciling tees, there was spray practice, and of course, the painting of the mural. With spray cans in hand, the Splunk team painted a piece that was definitely “greater than”, ^_^.

A big thanks to Christina N. and Jeff I. from Splunk for coordinating the workshop with 1AM and thank you Splunk team for being such an awesome team to work with! Click here to check out more pics of their workshop.

Interested in hosting a dope graffiti workshop for your team? Contact Class Director Gina at: gina@1amsf.com.

Splunk mural!

Facebook drip!

With one man down and another member swamped in meetings, the 5 remaining Facebook crew members continued forward on their quest to learn about graffiti art. Led by General Amber S., they made it to the corner of 6th and Howard to partake in a bit of aerosol action at 1AM gallery

History of Graffiti, Mural Walk Tour, Stenciling Tees, to Mural Production: the Facebook team met every activity with spunk, vigor and might! They were complete graffiti naturals, taking to the spray can like pros and blasting a dope mural on the wall. 

Thanks for being such a cool and fun group to work with Facebook. Welcome to the wonderful world of graffiti, and come back to the gallery any time! Click here to check out more of their workshop’s pics!

The Facebook team in front of their piece!

Interested in hosting a dope graffiti workshop for your team? Contact Class Director Gina at: gina@1amsf.com.

Estria and his team have been traveling from NY to Honolulu to LA finding graffiti artists who reign supreme. Now, they’re bringing Estria Graffiti Battle home to Oakland for the finals where the champions from all over the country meet at last to see who truly can be named king or queen. The finals is this Saturday, October 8th from 11 – 6pm. Before the big throwdown, there are more awesome events to add to your social calendar.

EVENTS:

The Estria Foundation Art Show at SMSHBX Opening Night
DATE: Friday, 10/7/11
LOCATION: Smshbx 18th and Telegraph, Oakland
TIME: 6-8pm
COST: Free

Pecha Kucha “Women Creating Public Art”
DATE: Friday, 10/7/11
LOCATION: Oaksterdam University, 1600 Broadway Oakland
TIME: 8-10pm
COST: $10
21+ only

5th Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle (in partnership with Life is Living Festival)
DATE: Saturday, 10/8/11
LOCATION: DeFremery Park, 1651 Adeline St. Oakland
TIME: 11-6pm
COST: Free

What a great week in graffiti! Still jones-ing for more? Don’t forget that “Fast Forward“, a group exhibition that captures the progressive evolution of spray can art, is still on view at 1AM through October 30th.

See ya there!

"Suiko Okii" by Suiko

Mike Bam: I was very attracted to your style in the Rakgaki book back in 2006 even though I could not read it. Can you explain what your style is?

Suiko: I don’t paint American or Roman letters.  My graffiti style consists of painting Japanese Kanji characters.  However, similar to how American graffiti lettering is based off the Roman alphabet, the styling that I paint is based off of the Kanji alphabet. You will not understand or be able to read my style if you don’t know Japanese Kanji and for many that know Kanji, they still may not be able to read my Kanji style depiction.

M: I noticed that over the past 2 years, I see hints of characters or animals mixed in with your Kanji lettering. Is this what you’re mixing?

S: Yes, I like certain animals and you are correct in seeing the mix of animals with my Kanji lettering.  I usually paint creatures from the Japanese culture (like sea life or a bird). I like painting animals, but I don’t paint animals or characters in the same style that you do with that perfect airbrushed rendering.  I mix it up by incorporating my lettering style with the image of an animal.

M: What does your name mean?

S: The literal translation of Suiko in Japanese to English is not my name.  My name is actually made up of 2 words – “Sui” meaning ‘drunk’ & “Ko” meaning crazy.  However, “crazy drunk” is not the meaning of my name. It goes deeper than just breaking down 2 syllables or 2 words, where there are actually several meanings to “Sui” and several meanings to “Ko.”  (Mike Bam’s editorial note: This definition actually took a long time to explain from Suiko, but the best English definition was that Suiko’s name is based off of a way of life where deranged people or graffiti writers simply do what they do just to do it)

Suiko gettin' down!

M: We just watched Planet B-Boy together & had a great, engaging discussion about the difference on spraycan/street artists that paint full time (and don’t go to an office job) everyday. Can you explain how you became a full time artist?

S: I was about to finish at my university and I had the opportunity to go to Germany to do an exchange in the last semester of schooling. At this time, I was not a graffiti artist. When I got to Germany in 1999, I was introduced to graffiti art. I loved it so much, I picked it up and started painting everyday instead of going to classes. Instead of studying, I collected my monthly allowances and chose to paint everyday. I had such a blast!  Since then, I have not stopped. It was in Germany that I decided that I needed to paint spray can art everyday instead of going to a graphic design office job. I agree with the Bboys from Japan that once you follow your passion and do it everyday, you will have found your identity.

M: As a fine artist of spray can art or graffiti, there must be some commercial gigs or jobs that you do. How do you determine the paying jobs that you do with graffiti art?

S: I choose clients that want my style of art. If they don’t want my style, then I don’t take on the job. For example, I am currently doing a job for a Jeep/Dodge Ram dealership in Hiroshima. I proposed to Jeep/Dodge that I could do their mascot of the Dodge Ram in my “Suiko Style” and they accepted that. This is a perfect marriage of painting something I want to in my style and completing a commercial job using graffiti art.

M: Thank you for answering my questions!

S: You’re welcome!  Please visit Hiroshima anytime and lets paint!

Suiko makin' his mark in SF

Check out Suiko’s work in “Fast Forward”, now up at 1AM gallery through October 29th.  If you want to learn more about him, visit www.suiko1.com.