The Graffiti Element

Exhibit: March 7-25, 2022

Opening Reception: Friday, March 11, 5:00-8:00pm, part of Arts Night Out Northampton

Sponsored in part by River Valley Co-op and Downtown Sounds Workers Co-op

Do not miss this incredible exhibit of artwork by local graffiti artists! Join us on Friday, March 11 from 5-8pm for an opening reception with refreshments, live music by DJ Krefting, and an opportunity to meet some of the artists! The Graffiti Element exhibit support two goals: to bring this work to people who would not normally see it and educate them on the art, and to help support the artists by creating an opportunity for them to sell their artwork. The name of the exhibit comes from Graffiti as one of the four elements of Hip Hop, along with MCing (or rapping), B-boying (break dancing), and DJing. Artwork in the exhibit was created by the following local artists: SELF, ESTILO, LESN101, VERY, WOKE, JUST, REPOE9, TASK, BEL, NEST, BOZZY BOZ, SHIE, ROC 7 ISM, and PRS.

The Graffiti Element started when organizer Giovanny Zuniga, owner of Spin That Records Springfield, began touring local "spots" with his friend JAS where Graffiti artist would "get up" at. Growing up in NYC in the 80s, Giovanny was lucky to witness the explosion of Graffiti and Hip Hop. Giovanny says, “I looking at all the great local pieces and saying it was a shame how they are all mostly hidden. I said to JAS, ‘I know there some famous people who came out of the Graffiti game like Keith Haring and Basquiat, when they starting doing works on canvas’ and JAS said, ‘Lots of the guys here also do works on canvas.’ So with his help I reached out to some of these artists and I was able to put together one-day Graffiti Element exhibit this past November.”