MELROSEandFAIRFAX: the BEST Street Art Blog Ever -- Now, We Will Be Taking Some Time Off

When MELROSEandFAIRFAX started, our only goal was to shine some limelight on all the incredible art blanketing the streets of LA.  That was it. Just one modest goal.
Without a doubt, M&F has more than surpassed the initial landmark.

Over the years, M&F has built itself from a local neighborhood blog, into the lead street art blog for Los Angeles, and from there, M&F has maintained a 2-year stranglehold in online rankings as the #1 Street Art Blog in the USA, and, currently, ranked #2 in the entire world. Pretty damn impressive for a blog that is mainly focusing on illegal work from local talent in the neighborhood~

The resolve of this blog cannot be questioned. Hard work is what led to M&F's success. No one spent more time on the streets than this blog. And no single source (online, print or what-have-you) has put more effort trying to capture and document the actual action on the streets.

Just in terms of sheer numbers alone, here are some stats. M&F has been around for 4 years. Over that time, we have averaged 10+ posts per day, and not missed a single day of posting in over 3+ years straight. M&F has made 14,581 total posts and has thousands of visitors from all over the world visiting the site each and every day.

M&F believes it is the best street art blog ever not because of the stats, but because we stayed true to the streets. That's what street art is about, right? Street art. Not public art. Not gallery art. That stuff is boring. Street art is the stuff that doesn't need a permission slip. That's what makes it exciting. And for 4 years, M&F has constantly captured the action on the streets, broadcast it to the world, and in doing so, explained and detailed the nuances of the streets. There is no other site who has taken on this type of task, and no one who has remained so completely dedicated to the mission. M&F didn't get to the top of the street art world by grabbing the biggest names and trying to capitalize on that. No, we worked from the streets up, trying to gather nickels and pennies to make a buck. M&F didn't just post pictures. We told the story. M&F was the main source to find out the backstory of what street art is -- how every little tag has an origin, how every artist climbs from humble beginnings towards the top, how every little beef has a story, and how every little mark has a meaning.

Sometimes it was difficult. Especially how M&F represented the general street art community but M&F did not always feel supported by the community. We understand that this genre is composed of people who by their very definition are rule-breakers, ego-maniacs and outlaws. It takes big balls to get up in LA, and even bigger balls, and a thick skin, to remain in this community for any time--especially in the position of a public figure. M&F was proud to be tougher than the haters, and the nay-sayers never stopped M&F from doing or saying whatever was needed to be said or done. And all the hate never stopped M&F, not even for a single day. But it is sad, because its hard to hold any community together when the hate is stronger than the shared bond. This situation might be similar to the way that Banksy is reviled in some graffiti circles. In the graffiti and street art worlds, currently, disdain is kind of like a badge of success. M&F believes that the street art and graffiti community, as a whole, have some growing up to do. If there is going to be a productive community, its got to be supportive of each other. Battle the ideas that keep people down. Battle the authorities. Battle the buffman. But don't waste time and energy battling each other. The street art community will finally come into its own when people stop bickering within the community, and come together, as a whole, to fight the good fight. Remember people, its us against them--not us against us.

Our favorite pieces of street artist are not necessarily painted by the most skilled artists. M&F's favorite street pieces are the ones that pack a message. Street art is not just decoration. Street art is a public forum, and the best art is a catalyst for change. Street art should aim make the world better a better place, both through ideas, and imagery.

M&F encourages artists getting up to remember that the streets are the highest prize. Like Banksy says, art was brought inside at the will of the church and institutions. That was a blip and a mistake. Art is for the people and the streets are for the masses. To be explicitly clear, fuck the galleries and museums. There should be no greater pinnacle for any street artist other than getting up with an awesome new piece on the streets.

Street art is the biggest art movement the world has ever known, not because of online blogs, or Instagram, or Facebook. Street art is massive because you can travel to any corner of this globe and it is there. M&F has personally been to 46 states and a few continents ourselves, and seen it everywhere from the backwoods of Kentucky to the S. Dakota Badlands. In every city, in every small town, on every little abandoned shack and in every overgrown corner, folks are getting up. Its not about where you live. Its about the human need to express one's self in their environment. What graffiti has done is re-connect modern humans with our inherent, innate and primal need to mark territory. Tagging is the modern version of piss and cave writing. Street art is the biggest art movement the world has ever known because it gives a public voice to each and every person. Even as net neutrality is dying on the internet, the streets remain the one free place to speak your voice--at least until you get caught. And, once again, that's what makes street art so fuckin' exciting, right? These are not merely artists, these are outlaws risking life and liberty to share their message. And the street art movement will just keep growing. Wherever someone feels like they don't have a voice, the strong begin to speak up. Street art is just going to keep getting bigger and bigger. Indeed, a voice on the streets is the best weapon the people have. Stay up~

M&F has been telling this story for the past 4 years. And we have been so involved that this was not just a blog, this has been a lifestyle. Which is what makes it so necessary to take a break, and also so hard. The story on the streets is never-ending, which is makes it difficult to step away. Even now, we feel there are stories that need to be told and posts that ought to be made. But not by M&F, and not now.  This is not a closed door and M&F is not gone forever. The return door is still cracked open. M&F might be back and pick up where we left off. We plan still be writing, and still be invested in the street art scene--and we even plan to post again on MELROSEandFAIRFAX at some point. However, we are aware that with something like a blog, it doesn't pick up where it was left off. If we ever wanted to regain the status the blog now has, that it would take much hard work to build it back up.  Half of M&F's heart is still on the streets, but to try an live a balanced life, M&F will be taking some time off the blog so that we can focus on some of our other passions.

Thank you to all the artists who make the streets a better place. Thank you to all the photographers and contributors who made things happen. Thank you to all the fans who drove the success of M&F. Thank you to the beautiful City of Los Angeles -- it is the best place we have found in 46 states.

That's it. For now.~

Stay up!

There She Is & You Killed Me First -- Magic Amusement

These hand painted pieces from There She Is and You Killed Me First are some of the brightest shining stars along the streets of Los Angeles.

Its these little moments that are so special, when you are going down a street in LA, and all of a sudden you become confronted by a colorful hand painted work of art. Boom. That's what street art is all about. Its kind of like magic~

Here are two giant hand painted pieces from There She Is and You Killed Me First. Click through for a tremendous glimpse at these awesome pieces.  Go ahead, and take a trip to YKMF's street level amusement park.

Stay up!

NEVER Stop Dreaming

Plastic Jesus hit Melrose with this improvised stop sign saying 'Never Stop Dreaming'.

Then, the stop sign got completely tagged over by someone who didn't share the dream saying 'Fuck That'. In addition to an onslaught of supportive stickers.

Well, the dream never dies. Never stop dreaming, because the sign is back. Not sure if it was the buffman who buffed the tags and stickers off, but the sign is back and the dream is alive. Never stop dreaming!

Columbus vs. The Indians

Today's piece from Bandit is entitled 'Columbus vs. The Indians'.  Columbus brought the guns while the Indians brought the corn.

Pasted up on a dumpster in downtown LA.

Stay Rising

Wheat paste and graffiti mixed piece getting up behind Melrose saying 'Stay Rising'.

Looks like the writing was buffed but not the art?

Slap Shit, Burn Marijuana!

Crazy combo in Los Angeles.  Stickers getting up on all the signs and poles, like the action in all your mom's holes!

Slaps from YB, No Ideas, 4get, Kilz, Slap Shit Burn Marijuana, Tribal, Dufas, Hier, STFU, Bus, Xosk, SenX, Spray PID, Korsen, Killers, Word, Howe, Foer, Arson, Cyrcle, Jukes OES, Revok, Ahh'd Art and more.

Stay up!

Bandit and Kizh Nation

Bandit gets up on Day 3 of his month long series tributing Native Americans. This piece says 'Kizh Nation Shall Rise' and it features Toypurina, a female tribal war hero and the only native woman to lead a revolt against the Spanish.

Pasted up in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles.

Always dig strong female role models. Stay up!

Bombed Like Your Mom's Thong

Graffiti getting bombed like your mom's thong.  Its up her butt~

Hits getting smashed behind Fairfax from Movie, RI, Lukas, Slob, and many more.

Stay up!

Bleepbloop Brings the Buff

It is always fascinating how property owners, and the city authorities, do not want bright, colorful, artistic graffiti, but they don't seem to mind mis-matched buff scars.

Bleepbloop calls attention to this discrepancy with a new series where the artist went to unpainted walls, and painted the buff right onto the walls before signing around it.

Interesting stuff.

Burn One x Bankrupt Slut -- In Korea!

Fuck yeah.  Burn One is taking LA's street art to Asia and the world~

Two of LA's stalwart street artists, Burn One and Bankrupt Slut, just got their collab pasted on the other side of the globe--in Korea!  Posted up by Burn One.

Interesting to note how the graffiti tagging in Korea is still done in English.

Dig it.  Stay up!

Bandit - Warriors of the Art World

In celebration of Native American Month in November, Bandit aims to put up a new piece every day.

His first piece is called Warriors of the Art World, and it says 'We are not the rockstars of the art world. We are the warriors of the art world.

As for not being rockstars, M&F says speak for yourself! Lol. J/k. The line is something that this blog coined because we do believe that street artists are the rock stars of the art world. But we also agree that the best street artists are also warriors.

So stay up on the streets! Whether you are a rockstar or a warrior. Or, both~

Teach Peace -- Thrashbird Style!

Teacher and Thrashbird team up on an impressive billboard takeover. The piece features a modified billboard with Thor now saying 'Teach Peace -- Thrashbird Style!'.

As if bombing a billboard in Hollywood weren't impressive enough, there are two things that are particularly noteworthy about this particular takeover.  First, notice the life size model on the billboard, posed as if trying to snap a cell phone picture of Thor.  Nice work, and also crazy to see the how tiny the actual is when compared to a billboard.  The other thing is the screen on the cell phone. Even though it looks like it, its not a real cell phone, Teacher actually painted the screen image! Dang! Talk about attention to the smallest detail on a massive scale.

If you want to see this piece in person, you can catch it along the way to Bankrupt Slut's show tonight in Burbank because this piece is on Cahuenga Blvd.

Dig it. Stay up!

Wheat Paste Wars

Shie 47 is taking his big time sticker game even bigger. Amping things up with a brand new campaign themed 'Wheat Paste Wars'.

Shie 47 is joined by El Nino.  Together, they are not in war against other artists, but against police, hero's, and anyone against fighting the good fight as a street artist.

Keep fighting the good war and stay up!

BANKRUPT SLUT - Halloween (It's Time to Get Freaky!)

Oh hell yes!

BANKRUPT SLUT just released a brand new song.  Just in time for the holiday, its called Halloween (It's Time to Get Freaky!).

Take a listen to Halloween (It's Time To Get Freaky!) on Soundcloud.  Free download is also available.

This is one of the first time's M&F has published BANKRUPT SLUT's music, so while you're there, take a listen to Graffiti Saved My Life. And then check out Panty Dropper. Together, the songs will get everybody in the mood for Bankrupt Slut's concert tonight. Tonight (Sat. Oct. 26th), at the Park Bar in Burbank (2007 W. Burbank Blvd. 91506) BANKRUPT SLUT takes the stage at 8.

Like the song says, "every girl always wants to be a slut, and Halloween's when they all dress up!"  So c'mon! Put your best thong on and come check out BANKRUPT SLUT in concert, tonight!~

Plastic Jesus - Why Can't a Wall Just Be a Wall?

Plastic Jesus interacts with this building in Los Angeles.

The 'Advertise Here' stencil was already there.  Then Plastic Jesus came along with another stencil that seems to taunt the wall.  It asks, 'Why can't a wall just be a wall?'.

Indeed.  Why can't a wall just be a wall?  (With street art on it?)

Plastic Jesus Gets Rolled

Plastic Jesus just gets up down low with a giant roller in the middle of a Los Angeles neighborhood street.

This huge piece continues on PJ's ongoing theme 'Stop Making Stupid People Famous'.

Indeed.  Stop it Hollywood.  But don't stop the art!

Teacher - Love in Many Languages

Teacher gets up with a brand new giant mural in downtown Los Angeles.

It features Teacher's signature 'peace' spray can image, and next to it, the words 'All You Need Is the Right Kind of Love' written out in three different languages.

Dig it~

Plastic Jesus - Stop Making Stupid People Famous

Plastic Jesus continues with his ongoing theme of 'Stop Making Stupid People Famous'.

This round consists of stop sing interruptions.  Plastic Jesus was also careful where he placed these, and he says one may or may not have been placed right out front of Simon Crowell's home.

Just stop it.  And stay up!

Teacher and the 8er

Teacher had some fun with his custom made 8er spray paint video.  Yup, this is a fully functional custom device Teacher designed to spray many cans at once.

The 8er is actually Teacher's 9er, but with 8 cans loaded.

Check out Teach's short teaser video of the 8er in action.

LA Stencils

Its not Banksy, but it is a stencil.

Just like Banksy's pieces in New York, this stencil in LA would probably go unappreciated, until it were claimed as a Banksy.  Then people would go nuts.

(not so much to the followers of M&F but the public in general) C'mon folks.  The art is outside all the time.  Just open your eyes!

This stencil is getting dumped in Hollywood along with a tribal face from DFE(?).