Last summer, Tats Cru member NICER’s son died after some lowlifes randomly shot up a barbecue in the Bronx, killing the young man. In remembrance of Bleu Nazario, the graffiti crew recently posted a photo of a mysteriously painted whole car sitting pretty in the train yard at Broadway Junction in East New York. (Photo: Chris C. Shaffer)
Tats Cru voiced their support for the Voina cause by spray painting this mural on Leroy Street in Manhattan. It says: “Free Voina… and all political artists.” Like these?
Mayor Bloomberg celebrated his third inauguration last week with an all-city excursion that including a bit of Bronx bombing. After taking part in volunteer projects around the city, Bloomberg joined up with the mostly legal graffiti painting Tats Cru at The Point CDC to put his name up. Armed with a paint brush, the mayor signed off on their canvas, writing “Michael Bloomberg” in cursive letters while his compatriot opted for the slightly longer and bolder tag, “Bx Boro President Ruben Diaz.” Tats Cru photographed the “only in New York” occasion proving that the Mayor can appreciate a handstyle, even a wack one so long as it’s not illicit.
Photos by Tats Cru
A lot of religions were included in this modern stained glass mural painted by TATS CRU. Naturally, none are repped harder than the almighty dollar.
Photo by LoisInWonderland
Original “Stop Snitching” mural painted by Tats Cru. Photo: William Alatriste
Last month, the city buffed this “Stop Snitching” mural done by the commercial graffiti art collective, Tats Cru who had received permission from the building’s original owner when they painted it. The city didn’t like the message and issued the new owner a summons for not removing what they deemed “graffiti,” and demand it be cleaned or face fines. Sadly, the owner capitulated and gave the city a exterior canvas and an undeserved press opportunity.
Sensing they’ve been wronged and knowing there’s really no way to be compensated, other than media exposure, the group of former vandals turned legal wall painters, smartly, decided to go ahead and sue the city claiming their first amendment rights were somehow violated. It’s of course a losing argument, since the city got permission from the new owner. Now, had he refused to pay the fine, instead challenging the city on their right to classify what they consider graffiti,” these guys might have had a case and although we don’t think their rights were violated, the city was wrong in issuing the fine in the first place—as Giuliani so magnificently demonstrated during the whole dung Virgin Mary controversy, politicians make shitty art critics.
Photos: William Alatriste
Fresh off the fumes from their stint at Lord & Taylor, the mostly legal graffiti painting Tats Cru are creating some real controversy regarding one of their murals that featured a rat with a noose around its head with the words “Stop Snitching” (pictured above). Although they painted it with permission two years ago, the city decided it was an imminent threat to the community now, and demanded that it be removed immediately, issuing a summons to the new owner with two options: “allow for the murals removal or pay a fine.” Even scandal ridden City Council Speaker Christine Quinn got in on the action, claiming the city is prepared to bomb other walls too: “We want to send a message to people who put up murals like this,” said Ms. Quinn. “Any place you go with paint, we will follow you with paint.” Apparently the spray painted cartoon has had a mesmerizing effect on the surrounding community, and contributed to promoting a culture of not cooperating with police.
If you’re one of those people that was upset when legal-graffiti-painting Tats Cru did those atrocious Hummer ads, wait till you see what they did for Lord & Taylor. The self-professed ‘Mural Kings’ created a series of soft-as-baby-shit graffiti-styled backdrops for the upscale retailer’s 5th Avenue window displays. The colorful diorama populated with whited-out, product showcasing mannequins makes for an extremely awkward juxtaposition. And since when does the Lord & Taylor buying demo find graffiti—even this watered down, gallery style—appealing? Although we understand that artists need to make a living and these guys do so by parlaying their once illegal painting skills for above the law commercial uses, it’s gotten to the point that they’ll do just about anything for anyone, as long as the check clears. Click below for more of the graffiti-culture killing spectacle.
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