The Worst Sell-Outs

The term 'sell-out' is often bandied around when a underground group achieves commercial success. Its not just the new-found popularity that makes a sell-out, its earned when the group goes against its principles, whatever they may be.

Taking money for putting up corporate posters is one thing. But an artist taking money to instigate a corporate assault on other artists is cannibalistic, and the worst kind of selling out.

The ruin of the 'Beware Giant Robots' piece at the intersection of Sunset and La Brea is especially tragic. This piece had seemed to be one of the rare pieces that was embraced and accepted by the general public. It had ridden on the building for months on months without being buffed. It was a classic piece of Los Angeles street art. And now it has been ruined by other street artists getting corporate money. So wrong.

It is clear that Krooked wanted the poster campaign to be combative. By slapping the Sasha Grey Krooked advertisements over all types of artwork in town--even classic and handpainted pieces, Dethkills exhibited a dire lack of respect for other artists, and viewed as a whole, the Dethkills/Krooked campaign is an assault on street art.

Once again, it is cannibalistic and the worst kind of sell-out.






Artists tried to claim back the spot, but it has been cheapened, and infected, with crabs like Sterling Beauman.

Apparently the Sasha Grey campaign knocked off some other artists as well.

Nomade on La Brea.

Also interesting to note how a different vigilante decided to rip the offending parts of Sasha Grey down.

Wars Not Make One Great

Drama on the streets.

Dethkills pastes and Sasha Grey Hot Fingers Posters went up around town the same time and are clumped together.

I thought that the Dethkills crew posted the Sasha Grey posters, but I have been told by someone wise to the scene that this is not the case. What is clear, is that when both the Dethkills pastes and Sasha Grey pieces went up, they went out of their way to go over Free Humanity, Alec, and Leba.

Last night the trio of artists came back to claim some pieces. Free Humanity, Alec, and Leba each answered in their own voice.

(an unrelated street vigilante went around town covering up the juicy parts of Sasha Gray--and apparently some dethkills posters, with spray paint before I got the shot. You can tell by the fuzzy lines that it is someone unfamiliar with painting--and the sweet irony is that I bet this type of activist is anti-graffiti--until a can is needed.)













Perhaps the last word is from Free Humanity--is it a peace offering? Right on top of a pile of old posters--Yoda saying "Wars Not Make One Great".

I can't argue with Yoda. And I don't know if the words of Yoda are a offering of a truce or if the battle will continue. Wars may not make one great, but the do make great art~