The Adventures Of Darius And Downey: And Other True Tales Of Street Art As Told To Ed Zipco

Description

This unique, narrative-driven book gives an unparalleled insight into the tough, tight-knit, exciting world of street art as seen through the eyes of Darius and Downey, who have been working together since 2000. Through a series of blood-pumping adventures, it paints a vivid portrait of a creative but harsh environment of extremes: friendship and rivalry; respect and conflict; adversity and prosperity; and reveals the incredible risks that artists take, day in, day out, to win their place in the graffiti hall of fame.

Ed Zipco, acute and empathetic commentator on the ways of the street, relates Darius' and Downey's most memorable experiences. Along the way, we witness their artistic evolution from conventional graffiti tagging to ambitious street installations that are both wittily entertaining and strikingly subversive.

Author description

Leon Reid IV (aka Darius) grew up in Cincinatti before attending Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London.

 

Brad Downey was born in 1980. He studied at Pratt Institute and later at the Slade School of Art, London.

 

Ed Zipco is also a graduate of Pratt Institute as well as Columbia's School of Journalism/Law.

Table of contents

Foreword by Swoon; 1. Good Chemistry, Bad Experiment; 2. Evolving Costumes; 3. Omar/Swatch; 4. Experiments in Hell; 5. The Birth and Confirmation of Darius (and Downey); 6. The Hard Way; 7. Tetanus Blossom; 8. The Skillman Years; 9. Brooklyn in Die Haus; 10. Belisha Beacon - Brad; 11. CCTV; 12. Belisha Beacon - Downey; 13. Lucky Number 13; Afterword by Jennifer Thatcher.