Pointing out the Elephant in the Room with Al Diaz

Today’s guest on the show is Al Diaz. In this episode we talk about SAMO, razor tag, first jobs, the art world, early graffiti culture, internal motivation, Hugh Masakela, old New York and kicking heroin.

Subscribe, Rate and leave on Comment on Apple Podcasts here: New York Said

About

Al Diaz is best known for his collaboration with Jean Michel Basquiat on SAMO©, graffiti that appeared in lower Manhattan from 1977 to 1979. SAMO© initially became known because of its wit and sarcastic humor; but became a globally recognized graffito after Basquiat’s rise to fame.

A prolific and influential first-generation NYC subway graffiti artist, who later became a text-oriented street artist, Al Diaz’s career spans 5 decades. He currently works with WET PAINT signs used throughout the New York City subway system. After cutting out individual letters to create clever, surreal and sometimes poignant anagrams, he hangs the finished works in subways stations throughout New York City. His WET PAINT work was  featured in the 21st Precinct Street Art Event ( July,2014) , a solo show at “Outlaw Arts”  (March, 2015) and  will appear in the upcoming book, “Street Messages” by Nicholas Ganz.

• Website https://al-diaz.com/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/albert_diaz1/
• SAMO Instagram https://www.instagram.com/samocopyrightdotdotdot/?hl=en
• Latest Show: May 12th , 2018 Show at HACO NYC 31 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11249

Show Notes

1. Brooklyn, NY
2. Hugh Masakela
3. Hugh Masekela-Grazing In The Grass – YouTube
4. Herbie Hancock Head Hunters Album
5. SAMO for a bloated multitude. – Al Diaz Quote
6. SAMO for those of us who merely tolerate civilization – Al Diaz Quote
7. Planned obsolescence definition
8. “Stuffed for the kill” – Al Diaz Quote
9. “Stay the F out of Jail” –  Al Diaz Quote
10. Inside the Abandoned Spofford Juvenile Jail in the Bronx, Poised for Redevelopment by NYCEDC
11. Razor Tag
12. Rikers Island
13. The cost of cigarettes
14. Krink Markers
15. Tamra Davis Filmmaker
16. Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
17. Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
18. You want change or you want to accomplish something, the motivation must be internal.
19. What do you miss about old New York?
20. How long does it take to be a real New Yorker?
21. “I got 58 years” -Al Diaz
22. Constrained Writing
23. SAMO because someone has to point out the elephant in the room.-Al Diaz
24. Bomb-One
25. Wet Paint
26. Just do art.
27. Graffiti Culture and Street Art Culture two different things.
28. Christopher Hart Chambers
29. Linus Coraggio
30. Snake 1
31. Flint Gennari Interview
32. Jester 1
33. Tracey 168
34. Lee Quinones
35. Taki183 New York Said Episode 40
36. Washington Heights, NY
37. Going All City
38. Bowery Wall
39. Tags
40. Throw Ups
41. Murals
42. Getting ragged
43. Bansky Mural on Bowery Wall
44. Banksy
45. 5Pointz
46. The Words in Graffiti
47. SAMO was never a religion
48. The Goldman Properties
49. Live and embrace life to the fullest, you only get to go around once.

—

We would love to hear your thoughts on the episode. Leave a comment on the Apple Podcast app and don’t forget to rate the show.

This episode is sponsored by Gorilla Coffee.