Uh, Mr. Policeman, Its Clear You've Got the Wrong Man

Recently, a photo of a graffiti tagger tagging a cop car started making national news.  It was big news because a teen named Luis Rodriguez reportedly outed himself by liking an action photo of himself on Facebook.

The story is this--After the Huntington Beach Riots, the Huntington Beach Police Department posted some photos of the alleged culprits on their own Facebook page.  Then, a friend of Luis Rodriguez tagged him and liked the photo.  Luis Rodriguez was subsequently arrested by the HBPD.

The mainstream media is reporting the story as an example of how foolish supposed criminals can be with social media.  True.

However, the thing is, it is obvious that the police arrested the wrong dude.  The guy tagging the cars is clearly a different guy that is shown in the other photos.  The guy tagging the cars is wearing a red hat with a white emblem over the back side of the cap--the pictures of Luis Rodriguez show him wearing a different red hat with no white emblem.  Furthermore, the dude tagging the cars has a clear 5 o'clock shadow where his facial hair stretches down from his sideburns.  The clean shaven Luis Rodriguez does not have any hair stubble growth on his face.  Perhaps Luis got into other mischief during the Huntington Beach Riots, but if the police are saying that they caught the dude who tagged the cop cars, well, then you've definitely caught the wrong dude.

On a different but related note, even though M&F has reportedly warned the street art community about the dangers and perils of loose behavior on social media, it hasn't seemed to discourage most folks from being completely open about 'vandalism'.  But this story should serve as a stark reminder.  Listen, M&F isn't telling you to do anything illegal, but, if you're going to be doing something that might be, be smart.  Don't incriminate yourself over social media.  And remember this street artists--Facebook is not a 'safe zone'!  The Huntington Beach Police Department has a page for God's sake!

Stay up, and stay smart!

(Check out the pics below to see how it is clear that Luiz Rodriguez is not the cop car tagger!)

If You See These Teeth - Call 877-ASK-LAPD

Ouch.

A sticker taking direct aim at police brutality.  Apparently someone got their teeth knocked out by the Po-Po.

Anyone seen these teeth?

Trayvon Martin Protestors - They Can't Stop ALL the People ALL the Time!

It is said that in other countries, the government fears the people.  But America is unique because the people fear the government.  Perhaps things are starting to change . . .

The US is in an uproar over the juror's decision to free confessed killer George Zimmerman for his murder of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager who Zimmerman picked an altercation with, and then killed with a gun.  There is no question as to whether Zimmerman killed Martin, however Florida's gun friendly 'Stand Your Ground' laws permitted Zimmerman to be acquitted.

It is unfortunate whenever a tragedy like this happens, and it seems like an even greater insult to that tragedy when justice is not reached in the courtroom.

However, there may be a silver lining to this verdict.  The silver lining is that people are angry.  If Zimmerman had been found guilty, he would have gone to jail and people would have forgotten about Martin's case.  But because Zimmerman was found innocent, Trayvon Martin has become a martyr.  The people are angry, and in a show of this discontent, protestors took to the streets all across America.

Perhaps the most brazen of those protests took place here in LA, where 200 Tryvon Martin supporters marched out onto the freeway, effectively shutting it down.  As they tend to do, the police showed up in riot gear, intimidated the citizens they were sworn to protect, before finally opening fire on the crowd (which included senior citizens, women and children--as seen in the photos below) with rubber bullets.

M&F thought this was so empowering because it shows how a small group of peaceful protestors--only 200 people, can effectively shut down one of the city's most major veins of transportation.  And this is a great example of how a small group of people will be the ones who change America.  Sure, the police can shut down this protest, and another, and possibly a few more.  But what if there were more?  If 200 angry citizens can shut down the 10 freeway, imagine what would happen if all 4 million residents of Los Angeles stood up to take a stand for what is right.

The fact remains, the police can't stop ALL the people ALL the time.  Every single system in America, every institution from the government to the very police department itself, all of these are dependent on the people.  When we say no, they've got to go!

Its time to stand of for the values that made America great, and hopefully the Trayvon Martin case will lead as an example to end America's ever-growing police state.

Airplane Graffiti Bombing!

The LA Times is reporting that the FBI and LAPD are bummed that some graffiti went up on a 2.3 million dollar Lear Jet.

The damage took place at the Van Nuys Airport, and apparently the authorities are particularly butt hurt because this took place at a supposedly secure, lock-down area.

Its funny though.  This artist didn't steal anything.  They didn't break anything.  The only damage they did was leave their name in paint to prove that they were there to commit this crime.  You can see why authorities get so riled up at graffiti writers.  Something like this is nothing more than a big slap in your face saying 'You didn't do your job'.  Ouch.

As for the piece, the LAPD is spitting propaganda that this is 'gang-related or initiated'.  Hate to ruin that story line, but its old, played out, and flat out wrong.  This is not gang-related, this is ego-related and its a safe bet that whoever painted this will be buying a few extra copies of the LA Times to commemorate the hype.

Its a huge bomb too, and it looks like some sort of ladder must have been used.  But the outline suggests that this is someone who is just getting started developing their own style.  If this is the early stuff, keep an eye out for this graffhead to make waves!

Finally, good luck to the authorities catching 'Flame' since this seems to be a tribute piece with the RIP. It seems that Flame is dead while the homies paint to carry his name on.

Stay up, Flame!  Sky high, like an airplane in the sky!

A Note to the LAPD

Street art happens in all types and forms.  Sometimes, it is as simple as a note of social justice aimed at a enforcer of the peace who is violating the code of conduct.  Like here, a citizen with a sense of social justice writes a note to this LAPD Officer calling them out a healthy police person for parking in a handicapped parking zone.

After all, if the police don't follow the most basic laws themselves, how can they expect to enforce any laws?

Police Street Art

Police play a role in the street art world, but it is usually as the bad-guy enforcer--not as the subject material for the art.

But here is a painted police man hovering in an alleyway behind Santa Monica Blvd. in East Hollywood.

Snyder - LAPD! - Fight or Flight

Snyder gets up so much in prime spots, and his pieces ride for so long that most people don't realize that most of the time Snyder's pieces are not commissioned but put up in an unsanctioned manner.

Snyder came face to face with a primal realization of that last week when LAPD police responded to a traffic accident right next to Snyder's illicit phone booth installation on Melrose.  A lesser artist might have been frightened off the streets, but Snyder, cool as a cucumber, held his ground and finished the piece.

Snyder calls these street art installations 'Omnipresent Art', and check out Snyder's description of his motivations--and the police excitement, down below.


The goal of these drip sculptures in to emphasize the artistic qualities of the overlooked, forgotten and mundane objects of each day. I exaggerate shape, form and space through texture and color, ultimately highlighting the notion that art is in everything and all around us at all times.

About 45 minutes into the 3.5 hours installation a minor car accident occurred on Melrose just where I was set up. The cars parked immediately behind me followed by the arrival of multiple investigative police police officers. My fight or flight response immediately kicked in. I chose fight and stood my ground while cops conversed amongst themselves. I continued working. At that point I became one with the background and finished the piece uninterrupted.

Dig it. Stay up~

Christopher Dorner is a Hero to Some . . .

Some people believe that Christopher Dorner is a hero for standing up to his perceived abuses at the LAPD.  And his Rambo-like methods of enacting his revenge will no doubt be glorified into a movie some day soon.

Here are some street art pasters supporting him saying to 'Remember St. Dorner'.  On one hand, it does seem strange to call any murderer a saint, but back in the day, sainthood was awarded to victors who murdered and won battles.

M&F feels that the Dorner situation raised some legitimate issues, but unfortunately the larger issues got blurred with the way he handled himself by killing people.  The mainstream media tried to portray Dorner as a liar for saying that a police captain had participated in the Rodney King beatings, and then promoted to captain.  The media claims Dorner lied because that particular captain did not technically participate in the beatings himself as Dorner claimed, but that captain was at the scene that night.

Regardless of how one feels about Dorner, it should raise some major red flags that someone who watched a citizen get brutally beaten by the police department and did nothing to stop it or report it, and then this guy gets promoted!?!  It should cause every citizen of Los Angeles to question what the hell is going on when the bullies are running the city's protection system?

And it appears that that the LAPD murdered Dorner by burning him out of the cabin he was holed up in.  This case does seem to blur who is the good guy, and who the bad guys are.

Laugh Harder

Laugh harder at this graffiti humor.

This graffiti bomb from LAPH has been re-named the Los Angeles Police Homos.

Saber Speaks Out

Its never gratifying to say 'I told you so'.  But M&F forecast this situation way back last year when we wrote a feature article on Daniel Lahoda from LA Freewalls and now LA LA Gallery.  The article was entitled 'This is Daniel Lahoda'.  At the time, we wrote that we wondered why artists would continue to work with Lahoda after claims of misdeeds had followed him throughout his career.  Well, now it seems that the artists have come to a realization that it is bad business to associate with Daniel Lahoda, and Saber just wrote a detailed essay trying to distance himself from Lahoda.

We realize sometimes some people will not always like what this blog has to write, but M&F is out to celebrate the streets and not screw anyone.  A lot of people who have never met the purveyors of this blog are convinced that the people who run M&F must be complete assholes, and even some people who know us might still agree.  But it is not such an insult for getting called an asshole for standing up for something that you believe is right, and trying to protect and defend a certain community, which is what M&F has always tried to do.  If the right person calls you a bad thing it can become a compliment.  M&F is okay for being called assholes for doing what we think is right.  M&F has always tried to stand up for the community and we are proud of our record.  There is no shame in our game.  But there are different kinds of assholes, and the types of assholes who scam members of the community, who snitch on the community, those who try to manipulate art for false financial gain, or artists who are abusing the streets for whatever reason--these are the worst kind of assholes.

There has been a stark difference between the way M&F and LA Freewalls are run and treat the street art community.  LA Freewalls has brought some great at to the walls of the city, and we do love the art.  However, anyone who has dealt with Daniel or LA Freewalls knows how aggressive Daniel is in marketing his involvement.  Daniel makes it feel like the sponsorship is more important than the art.  Sure, M&F isn't lining up walls but we neither do we have a vested interest to force M&F into the focal point for the discussion of Los Angeles street art.  M&F's goal is to give back to the community, and showcase LA's in the best way possible.  M&F doesn't even tag photos to keep the focus on the art, and maintain the community nature of street art.  We feel that it is more important to get the content out there than it is to try to take credit for what is happening.

M&F will also mention that at one point during the past year we got contacted by a street artist who said that they were getting screwed by Lahoda, claiming Daniel had taken money that was owed to the artist but never paid to them.  The artist said that the police were getting involved.  This artist asked us to make a post about it, but we declined until the investigation by the police was complete.  M&F never heard back from this artist, so we are not sure how the case turned out.  But whispers of investigations seem to follow Daniel, and the ExpressoBeans user who posted Saber's essay suggested in a follow up comment that the police are currently involved with Lahoda.  

On the other hand, as far as M&F, we have been doing this tirelessly for years and our goal has never been to climb over anyone's back to get to the top.  Our goal is to further the street art movement by serving as the voice and the conscience of the LA's streets.  

Yes, LA Freewalls has brought some awesome art to LA.  But as far as having a lasting impact and reaching more people, M&F's web traffic and world wide reach absolutely blows LA Freewalls away.   At the time of this post, based on Alexa's Traffic Rankings M&F is ranked in the top five street art blogs in the world.  LA Freewalls is not even in the top 300.  So as far as influence, it is clear that even if M&F is not lining up walls, we let the artists handle the street art for themselves.  M&F is not providing walls, M&F is the site that speaks for the walls of Los Angeles.


Check out Saber's full thoughts on Daniel Lahoda below:

Written by SABER

I want to apologize to the online art print community for not taking their earlier warning on this piece of shit. I stopped all business with Lahoda after my "Pepper's World" print was black listed on the forums for working with him. After I believed he stopped dealing prints and or art I was generally ok with taking the walls as long as there was no business transactions. When LALA gallery opened I buffed my "Pepper's World" mural to make it clear I wanted nothing to do with this clown or his gallery. Unfortunately, it was too little too late as other artists assumed he must be clean again and started to use him as a resource for walls and business. Now, through his half ass gallery LALA he is now selling unauthorized Retna's, English, Shepard, Phish, Saber, Parla, Becca, Futura, Banksy, Dface, Robert Indiana's, etc... and is starting to produce new editions, most recent was Insa and some sort of Robert Indiana's. Please do not buy my older prints or ANYTHING from this crook.

This is why it is not good to work with Lahoda:

Any artist that works with Lahoda/Jetsetgraffiti/LALAgallery/Freewalls also gets called out or black listed on these major Streetart/Print/Graffiti forums. These particular forums drive the print art sales as well as the secondary markets. I personally had a print blacklisted temporarily on all these sites for working with Lahoda "Pepper World" in 2010. I did not sell any of the edition from the release. The people on the forums said they love my work, but they will stop the momentum of the online sales because of my association with JetSetGraffiti/Lahoda. Any artist that works with Lahoda also gets red flagged by the LAPD art fraud detective. This detective has been relentless in poking his nose in our business due to our loose association with Lahoda, and any artist or organization that works with him gets investigated for perpetuating his art fraud. 

After the stress of my final print and being contacted by numerous collectors of his ill will I decided never to do business with him again. It was my mistake to allow us to take his walls and billboards as now he has gained reputation off the artists back as well as gained the confidence of major institutions like MOCA and major billboard companies. I told him numerously to stop selling me and my friends work on his site and through twitter/instagram. He has no care for the value or market price of the work and has caused complications with galleries and collectors. He has also stolen two large sculptures from Dface that he holds in his "secret warehouse" as well as Banksy's, and Shepard Fairy's, etc.... 
From what I understand Daniel Lahoda has been banned from Banksy forum, Obey, Expressobeans, Melrose and Fairfax, Vandal Log, art.net etc ,etc,...for fraud, being an instigator/agitator, and selling unauthorized artwork. Lahoda has sold work to collectors and never sent the product to them, many many times. I have been contacted by collectors that purchased my work who had never received the artwork. 

Lahoda can be very charismatic and can come across as someone who wants to help the "Street Art" community. Do not be fooled by his words as the facts prove otherwise. He is only in this for his personal gain. We are the artists and we are the content providers, not the other way around. Its time to cut people like him off.
I am sure we will be seeing some defending responses from Lahoda fans, I would suggest making note of those user names as he has been known to be a busy troll on these forums.

These sites have a tremendous impact on online sales as well as the artists reputation and have the power to affect your pocket book.

Feel free to dig around and judge for yourself on his long standing reputation with the art community. These links are from just from a quick search. Those who speak highly of him haven't done the research or haven't dealt with the impending problems that are immanent.


More and more information on Lahoda's crooked ways continue to flood these forums on a constant basis for years. Many of the positive pro Lahoda comments were him using different user names. Regardless, if any allegations are true, just working with his brand creates negative discussion soiling any momentum of art/print sales as well as creates a dark cloud over the artist. 

Litigious Lahoda writes letter to Obey forum:
http://forum.thegiant.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14192

Discussion on shady activity with Jose Parla prints:
http://forum.expressobeans.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=101903&p=1715208&hilit=jose+parla#p1715208

Expresso Beans, Look who's back in the art business:
http://forum.expressobeans.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=67262&hilit=lahoda%20

http://forum.expressobeans.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=49649&hilit=lahoda%20

Shady Shepard print discussion:
http://forum.expressobeans.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=32325&hilit=lahoda&start=180%20

Discussion on stolen Shepard Fairey test prints:
http://omgposters.com/2009/02/20/new-large-format-obey-art-prints/

Art cop makes public statement on Banksy forum:
http://banksyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=jetsetgraffiti&page=1&thread=59635%20

"Lahoda stole my money what do I do?" Banksy Forum
http://banksyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=jetsetgraffiti&action=display&thread=54253

Compiled thread of complaints and activity on Banksy Forum:
http://banksyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=jetsetgraffiti

http://forum.thegiant.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14192%20

Lahoda gets D- on Better Business Bureau:
http://www.la.bbb.org/business-reviews/Art-Gallery-Consultants/Lahoda-Fine-Arts-in-Los-Angeles-CA-100075573

Responses on Banksy forum about Lahoda LAPD art fraud allegation:
http://banksyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=jetsetgraffiti&thread=60001&page=1

Blog on Lahoda and links to his activity:
http://melroseandfairfax.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-is-daniel-lahoda_23.html

http://blog.vandalog.com/2010/10/jetset-graffiti-investigation/

Art Cop post on BMW parts site:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?p=12184043

Unauthorized sale of Retna pieces. New Image Gallery response:
http://banksyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=artforsale&thread=100778&page=1#1010170

Here is Judge Judy bitch slapping him:
http://youtu.be/JXjuVlmpa3A


Love Saber.......

***Originally published on the Expresso Beans Forums***

Community Watch Area - Police Not Welcome

Interesting sticker saying 'Community Watch Area - Police Not Welcome'.

The fine print says 'Trust, respect and communication are essential to healthy community; protect your friends and neighbors from Uniformed Gang Members and other suspicious characters.'  And there is a link to Crimethinc.com/police.

Oh snap.  Looks like the tables just turned on the PoPo.

M&F has reach, and this sticker was spotted all the way out in Mutha Fuckin' Pearblossom.

LAPD Street Art

This mural featuring some of LA's hot spots is located right on the wall of the Police Station in Eagle Rock.

Dig this.  Wish every police station had a mural like this, and then maybe the LAPD would be more supportive of street art.

On another topic, is it strage that a Police Station is advertising an ATM out front?

Click the link for more pics of the mural

Tastes Like a Misdemeanor

Look at this Fresh Buff, Copper!

Drawing a Line in the Chalk

The LAPD heightens aggression towards chalk artists and fires rubber bullets into the crowd!

No doubt about it, the police are the bad guys!

Who Shot Biggie?

I Work For You

Mr. Brainwash - "This is for your website!"

MBW got arrested leading up to 'Art Show 2011'!

Watch Out for 5.0 at 'Art Show 2011'

Top 10 Street Art Stories of 2011