In the trailer above for Write of Passage, a month-long program comprised of panels, workshops, screenings, and exhibitions examining graffiti as an artform, the film manages to condense decades worth of street art history into a 1.5 minute clip. Though impressive for a less-than-five minute biography, the real draw is the mastermind behind its inspiration: seminal graffiti artist and art historian Sacha Jenkins.Way before Banksy was tagging up Brooklyn, the New York-born-and-bred Jenkins was making a name for himself in the graffiti community. During the Mad Max-era NYC of the 70's and 80's, Jenkins saw the potential for graffiti art to bring positivity to the ruined, bankrupted streets, and quickly became a pivotal member of the fledgling community. Turning this passion into a profession, Jenkins later went on to produce original programs for VH1 and MTV like The (white) Rapper Show, co-author Eminem's The Way I Am biography, work as an editorial director at Mass Appeal, publish his own books and magazines, and write stories for Vibe, Rolling Stone and SPIN, even using his town-crier-of-street-art status to become a journalism fellow at Columbia University.Starting this Saturday, Jenkins will be launching the first annual Write of Passage, an NYC event bringing together some of the boldest names in graffiti art.For more on panel info and full schedule, check here.In honor of this completely awesome festivity, check out five of Jenkins' favorite vintage graffiti trains (in toy model form) below, and be sure to watch the animated trailer above:Nicer courtesy of Mark Ali AwfeCope 2 courtesy of Mark Ali AwfeGhost courtesy of Mark Ali AwfeMr. Ewok One courtesy of Mark Ali AwfeStay High courtesy of Mark Ali AwfeWrite of Passage will also include programming from legendary graffiti art icons like Jonathan Levine, Cost, Daze, KR and Greg “SP” Lamarche, all taking part in an open discourse on public art, contemporary culture, and being a bad ass.Write of Passage
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