PBS - Writings on the Wall: Before graffiti became a global language

Graffiti Culture exhibit running at 'Red Bull Studios' in New York

From PBS:

Graffiti culture sprung up in New York City during a time when funding was cut for the arts in public education. It morphed into an artistic expression that cultivated a foundation for future graphic and fashion designers, fine artists and logo creators. And though the art form has been associated with crimes of vandalism -- it even took center stage during New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's plan to revamp the city during the 1990s -- for Jenkins, and many of the friends he grew up with, graffiti was a written language that created a community on the fringes of New York.

"Media called it graffiti, but we called it writing. We were just writing our names in the beginning," said Jenkins.

"Write of Passage," co-curated with culture magazine Mass Appeal, runs at the Red Bull Studios at 218 W. 18th St., New York through Nov. 23. The space is open to the public from 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Subway train, built by Ed Metalman Walker, on display at "Write of Passage."

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