SJK 171: Difference between revisions

SJK 171
UGA
SJK 171 UGA
	Portrait of Kesoglides standing by his SJK 171 tag, 1972
Born	Steve Kesoglides; c.1957; Washington Heights, New York City
Education	High School of Art and Design
Known for	Public art; Graffiti; Painting; Street art
Movement	Graffiti
Website	sjk171.com

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SJK 171, a.k.a. Steve the Greek (born c.1957) is a New York City graffiti artist who was active during the late 1960s and 1970s.^[2] A native of Washington Heights, he was a founding member of United Graffiti Artists, one of the first professional graffiti collectives.^[3]

History

SJK 171 attended the High School of Art and Design along with a number of other early graffiti artists,^[4] including Tracy 168 and Al Diaz, co-creator of SAMO, and began writing in 1968 under the name SJK 171. His work was the first triple outline, large colorful letters to appear on the 1 Line of the New York City Transit System.^{[citation needed]} Some sources have recognized him as a graffiti pioneer^[5]^[6] and also for originating the "squiggly lines" style of outlining graffiti.^[7]^{[better source needed]}

In early 1971, he began to use the "swiggly radiant energy lines" later popularized by Keith Haring.^[7] SJK 171 is also credited with pioneering the use of arrows in graffiti writing around this same time.^[7] In 1972, he was hired by the Joffrey Ballet to paint his designs, live, in the stage production of Twyla Tharp's ballet Deuce Coupe, along with other graffiti artists, including Stay High 149.^[8]

In 1973, SJK 171 was featured in a New York Magazine essay on graffiti art by Richard Goldstein.^[9]

Gallery and show appearances

1973: A collaborative mural bearing SJK 171's tag, along with those of PHASE 2 and a dozen other early graffiti artists, was the main attraction at a gallery show of graffiti art at Razor Gallery in SoHo.^[10] SJK 171 was also one of several graffiti writers featured in the backdrop design for the Joffery Ballet's production of Deuce Coupe.^[11]

2014: SJK 171's work is included in the permanent collection of The Museum of the City of New York.^[12]

2018-2019: SJK 171 was included in "Beyond the Streets", a street art exhibition displayed in Los Angeles and New York.^[5]^[6]

References

^ "Graffiti". Democrat and Chronicle. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
^ "Street Art Originals Cornbread, Shepard Fairey and More on Graffiti's Radical Change". Observer. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
^ Riefe, Jordan (June 21, 2018). ""Beyond The Streets" Harkens To Graffiti's Roots In Diversity". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
^ ^a ^b Thomas, Sean P. "Celebrating Street Art in a Chinatown Warehouse". Los Angeles Downtown News - The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
^ ^a ^b Barry Samaha & Chloe Kantor (June 21, 2019). "From Vandals To Vanguards, This Exhibition Shows The Evolution Of Graffiti Artists". Surface. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gastman, Roger (2015). Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence (1st ed.). Berkeley, California: Gingko Press Inc. p. 121,122, 137,141,142. ISBN 978-1-58423-601-6.
^ Siegel, Marcia (2020). Howling Near Heaven: Twyla Tharp and the Reinvention of Modern Dance (1st ed.). University Press of Florida. p. 77. ISBN 9780813068145.
^ Goldstein, Richard (26 March 1973). "This Thing Has Gotten Completely Out Of Hand". New York Magazine. New York City.
^ Schjeldahl, Peter (September 16, 1973). "Graffiti Goes Legit—But the 'Show-Off Ebullience' Remains". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
^ Siegel, Marcia B. (2007-04-01). Howling Near Heaven: Twyla Tharp and the Reinvention of Modern Dance. Macmillan. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-4299-0877-1.
^ Corcoran, Sean; McCormick, Carlo (2013). City as canvas : New York City graffiti from the Martin Wong collection. Wong, Martin,, Corcoran, Sean, 1974-, McCormick, Carlo,, Museum of the City of New York. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-8478-3986-5. OCLC 857194047.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American graffiti artist}}
 {{BLP sources|date=April 2019}}{{Infobox artist
-|name = SJK 171
+| name             = SJK 171
+| honorific_suffix = [[United Graffiti Artists|UGA]]
-|image= File:SJK171 3.png
+| image            = Steve sjk171 25.jpg
-|imagesize=
+| imagesize        =
-|caption= SJK 171 (Steve Kesoglides) in the early 1970s
+| caption          = Portrait of Kesoglides standing by his SJK 171 [[Tag (graffiti)|tag]], 1972
-|birth_name = Steve Kesoglides
+| birth_name       = Steve Kesoglides
-|birth_date =
+| birth_date       = c.1957<ref>{{cite news |title=Graffiti |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113609808/democrat-and-chronicle/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=7 November 2016}}</ref>
-|birth_place = [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights, New York City]]
+| birth_place      = [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights, New York City]]
-|death_date =
+| field            = [[Public art]]<br />[[Graffiti]]<br />[[Painting]]<br />[[Street art]]
-|death_place =
+| education        = [[High School of Art and Design]]
-|nationality = [[United States|American]]
+| movement         = [[Graffiti]]
-|spouse =
+| works            =
-|field = [[Public art]]<br />[[Graffiti]]<br />[[Painting]]<br />[[Street art]]
+| known_for        = Pioneering the use of [[Arrow (symbol)|arrows]] in graffiti
-|training =
+| website          = {{URL|sjk171.com/}}
-|movement =
-|works =
-|patrons =
-|awards =
-| website     = {{URL|sjk171.net}}
 }}
-'''SJK 171''' (aka '''Steve the Greek'''), born '''Steve Kesoglides''', is a New York City [[graffiti|graffiti artist]] who was active during the late 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2018/05/shepard-fairey-chris-pape-and-darryl-mccray-on-how-graffiti-changed/|title=Street Art Originals Cornbread, Shepard Fairey and More on Graffiti’s Radical Change|date=2018-05-22|website=Observer|language=en|access-date=2020-01-02}}</ref> A native of [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]], he was a founding member of [[United Graffiti Artists]], one of the first professional graffiti collectives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/beyond-the-streets-harkens-to-graffitis-roots-in-diversity|title="Beyond The Streets" Harkens To Graffiti's Roots In Diversity|last=Riefe|first=Jordan|website=[[LA Weekly]]|language=en|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref> Some sources have recognized him as a graffiti pioneer<ref name="Celebrating Street Art in a Chinatown Warehouse" /><ref name="From Vandals To Vanguards, This Exhibition Shows The Evolution Of Graffiti Artists" /> and also for originating the "squiggly lines" style of outlining graffiti.<ref name="Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence" />{{Better source|date=April 2019}}
+'''SJK 171''', {{aka}} '''Steve the Greek''' (born c.1957) is a New York City [[graffiti|graffiti artist]] who was active during the late 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2018/05/shepard-fairey-chris-pape-and-darryl-mccray-on-how-graffiti-changed/|title=Street Art Originals Cornbread, Shepard Fairey and More on Graffiti's Radical Change|date=2018-05-22|website=Observer|language=en|access-date=2020-01-02}}</ref> A native of [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]], he was a founding member of [[United Graffiti Artists]], one of the first professional graffiti collectives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/beyond-the-streets-harkens-to-graffitis-roots-in-diversity|title="Beyond The Streets" Harkens To Graffiti's Roots In Diversity|last=Riefe|first=Jordan|website=[[LA Weekly]]|language=en|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref>
 == History ==
-SJK 171 attended the [[High School of Art and Design]] along with a number of other early graffiti artists, and began writing in 1968 under the name SJK 171.  His work was the first triple outline, large colorful letters to appear on the 1 Line of the New York City Transit System.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}  In early 1971, he began to use the "swiggly radiant energy lines" later popularized by [[Keith Haring]].<ref name="Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence">{{cite book|first=Roger|last=Gastman|year=2015|title=Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence|edition=1st|publisher=Gingko Press Inc.|location=Berkeley, California|page=121,122, 137,141,142|isbn=978-1-58423-601-6}}</ref> SJK 171 is also credited with pioneering the use of arrows in [[graffiti]] writing around this same time.<ref name="Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence" />  In 1973, SJK 171 was featured in a ''[[New York Magazine]]'' essay on graffiti art by [[Richard Goldstein (writer born 1944)|Richard Goldstein]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|date=26 March 1973|title=This Thing Has Gotten Completely Out Of Hand|magazine=New York Magazine|location=New York City|publisher=New York Magazine|access-date=}}</ref>
+SJK 171 attended the [[High School of Art and Design]] along with a number of other early graffiti artists,<ref name="SAMO©...SINCE 1978: SAMO©...Writings: 1978-2018">{{cite book |last=Diaz|first=Al|date=2018|title=SAMO©...SINCE 1978: SAMO©...Writings: 1978-2018|publisher=Irie Books|page=201|isbn=978-1515417194}}</ref> including [[Tracy 168]] and [[Al Diaz (artist)|Al Diaz]], co-creator of [[SAMO]], and began writing in 1968 under the name SJK 171.  His work was the first triple outline, large colorful letters to appear on the [[1 (New York City Subway service)|1 Line]] of the New York City Transit System.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}  Some sources have recognized him as a graffiti pioneer<ref name="Celebrating Street Art in a Chinatown Warehouse" /><ref name="From Vandals To Vanguards, This Exhibition Shows The Evolution Of Graffiti Artists" /> and also for originating the "squiggly lines" style of outlining graffiti.<ref name="Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence" />{{Better source needed|date=April 2019}}
+In early 1971, he began to use the "swiggly radiant energy lines" later popularized by [[Keith Haring]].<ref name="Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence">{{cite book|first=Roger|last=Gastman|year=2015|title=Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence|edition=1st|publisher=Gingko Press Inc.|location=Berkeley, California|page=121,122, 137,141,142|isbn=978-1-58423-601-6}}</ref> SJK 171 is also credited with pioneering the use of [[Arrow (symbol)|arrows]] in [[graffiti]] writing around this same time.<ref name="Wall Writers Graffiti In Its Innocence"/> In 1972, he was hired by the [[Joffrey Ballet]] to paint his designs, live, in the stage production of [[Twyla Tharp]]'s ballet [[Deuce Coupe]], along with other graffiti artists, including [[Stay High 149]].<ref name="Howling Near Heaven: Twyla Tharp and the Reinvention of Modern Dance">{{cite book|first=Marcia|last=Siegel|year=2020|title=Howling Near Heaven: Twyla Tharp and the Reinvention of Modern Dance|edition=1st|publisher=University Press of Florida|page=77|isbn=9780813068145|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XG5xDAfa0FcC}}</ref>
-=== Gallery and show appearances ===
-'''1972:''' The first canvas created by the [[United Graffiti Artists]] collective, United Graffiti Artists "No. 1", included contributions from SJK 171.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}
+In 1973, SJK 171 was featured in a ''[[New York Magazine]]'' essay on graffiti art by [[Richard Goldstein (writer born 1944)|Richard Goldstein]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|date=26 March 1973|title=This Thing Has Gotten Completely Out Of Hand|magazine=New York Magazine|location=New York City}}</ref>
-'''1973:''' A collaborative mural bearing SJK 171's tag, along with those of [[PHASE 2]] and a dozen other early graffiti artists, was the main attraction at a gallery show of graffiti art at Razor Gallery in [[SoHo, Manhattan|SoHo]].<ref name="Graffiti Goes Legit—But the ‘Show‐Off Ebullience’ Remains">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/16/archives/graffiti-goes-legitbut-the-showoff-ebullience-remains.html|title=Graffiti Goes Legit—But the ‘Show‐Off Ebullience’ Remains|last=Schjeldahl|first=Peter|website=[[The New York Times]]|language=en|date=September 16, 1973|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref> SJK 171 was also one of several graffiti writers featured in the backdrop design for the Joffery Ballet's production of ''Deuce Coupe''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=7DFtXZCjbpkC&pg=PA77&dq=%22sjk+171%22+joffrey+ballet#v=onepage&q=%22sjk%20171%22%20joffrey%20ballet&f=false|title=Howling Near Heaven: Twyla Tharp and the Reinvention of Modern Dance|last=Siegel|first=Marcia B.|date=2007-04-01|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-1-4299-0877-1|location=|pages=77|language=en}}</ref>
+=== Gallery and show appearances ===
-'''2011:''' SJK 171 was one of the artists featured in a collaborative canvas in the [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles|Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art]], curated by MOCA Director Jeffrey Deitch and Associate Curators Roger Gastman, and Aaron Rose.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}
+'''1973:''' A collaborative mural bearing SJK 171's tag, along with those of [[PHASE 2]] and a dozen other early graffiti artists, was the main attraction at a gallery show of graffiti art at Razor Gallery in [[SoHo, Manhattan|SoHo]].<ref name="Graffiti Goes Legit—But the ‘Show‐Off Ebullience’ Remains">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/16/archives/graffiti-goes-legitbut-the-showoff-ebullience-remains.html|title=Graffiti Goes Legit—But the 'Show-Off Ebullience' Remains|last=Schjeldahl|first=Peter|website=[[The New York Times]]|language=en|date=September 16, 1973|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref> SJK 171 was also one of several graffiti writers featured in the backdrop design for the Joffery Ballet's production of ''Deuce Coupe''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7DFtXZCjbpkC&dq=%22sjk+171%22+joffrey+ballet&pg=PA77|title=Howling Near Heaven: Twyla Tharp and the Reinvention of Modern Dance|last=Siegel|first=Marcia B.|date=2007-04-01|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-1-4299-0877-1|pages=77|language=en}}</ref>
 '''2014:''' SJK 171's work is included in the permanent collection of [[Museum of the City of New York|The Museum of the City of New York]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=City as canvas : New York City graffiti from the Martin Wong collection|others=Wong, Martin,, Corcoran, Sean, 1974-, McCormick, Carlo,, Museum of the City of New York|isbn=978-0-8478-3986-5|location=New York, NY|oclc=857194047|last1 = Corcoran|first1 = Sean|last2 = McCormick|first2 = Carlo|year = 2013}}</ref>
-'''2018-2019:''' SJK 171 was included in "Beyond the Streets", a street art exhibition displayed in Los Angeles and New York.<ref name="Celebrating Street Art in a Chinatown Warehouse">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ladowntownnews.com/arts_and_entertainment/celebrating-street-art-in-a-chinatown-warehouse/article_43b3597a-5ded-11e8-930e-c3bd9c40acd7.html|title=Celebrating Street Art in a Chinatown Warehouse|last=Thomas|first=Sean P.|website=Los Angeles Downtown News - The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles|language=en|access-date=2019-12-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/06/21/how-spray-paint-ego-and-activism-turned-graffiti-into-an-art-form|title=How spray paint, ego and activism turned graffiti into an art form|author=Raquel Laneri|date=June 21, 2019|publisher=[[New York Post]]|accessdate=December 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name="From Vandals To Vanguards, This Exhibition Shows The Evolution Of Graffiti Artists">{{cite web|url=https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/beyond-the-streets-exhibition-brooklyn-best-graffiti-artists|title=From Vandals To Vanguards, This Exhibition Shows The Evolution Of Graffiti Artists|author=Barry Samaha & Chloe Kantor|date=June 21, 2019|publisher=[[Surface (magazine)|Surface]]|accessdate=January 5, 2020}}</ref>
+'''2018-2019:''' SJK 171 was included in "Beyond the Streets", a street art exhibition displayed in Los Angeles and New York.<ref name="Celebrating Street Art in a Chinatown Warehouse">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ladowntownnews.com/arts_and_entertainment/celebrating-street-art-in-a-chinatown-warehouse/article_43b3597a-5ded-11e8-930e-c3bd9c40acd7.html|title=Celebrating Street Art in a Chinatown Warehouse|last=Thomas|first=Sean P.|website=Los Angeles Downtown News - The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles|language=en|access-date=2019-12-29}}</ref><ref name="From Vandals To Vanguards, This Exhibition Shows The Evolution Of Graffiti Artists">{{cite web|url=https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/beyond-the-streets-exhibition-brooklyn-best-graffiti-artists|title=From Vandals To Vanguards, This Exhibition Shows The Evolution Of Graffiti Artists|author=Barry Samaha & Chloe Kantor|date=June 21, 2019|publisher=[[Surface (magazine)|Surface]]|accessdate=January 5, 2020}}</ref>
-== Films & documentaries ==
-'''2016:''' Wall Writers, a documentary produced by Roger Gastman, showcases various graffiti artists from the late 60s and early 70s, including SJK 171.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wallwritersthemovie.com/|title=Wall Writers|website=Wall Writers|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref>
-'''2018:''' Work by SJK 171 and MIKE 171 was featured in the "Ride/2 Da House" Medley Official Music Video.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blendednyc.com/music/2018/3/20/dj-sanity-brings-music-and-art-back-to-the-east-coast-with-new-medley-visual|title=DJ SANiTY Brings Music and Art Back to the East Coast With New Medley Visual|website=BLENDED|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref>
 == References ==
@@ Line 52: / Line 43: @@
 {{Street Art}}
-{{authority control}}
+{{Authority control}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:SJK 171}}
-[[Category:Street art]]
-[[Category:Graffiti and unauthorised signage]]
 [[Category:Photographers from New York City]]
 [[Category:American graffiti artists]]
 [[Category:People from Washington Heights, Manhattan]]
+[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
+[[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

v t e Street art
Culture	Activism Aerosol paint Culture jamming Direct action Graffiti (terminology) Handstyle Hip hop culture Installation art Propaganda Screenprinting Spray paint art Subway Art
Types	Guerrilla art Moss graffiti Mural Pieces Poster Reverse graffiti Rock balancing Stencil graffiti Sticker art Tagging Throw ups Yarn bombing Wheatpaste Wildstyle
Lists of artists	Street Graffiti Stencil
Photographers	Henry Chalfant Martha Cooper
Places	Adelaide Atlanta Berlin (Berlin Wall) Brazil ( Southeastern Brazil (pichação), São Paulo (Beco do Batman)) Hong Kong (Free Ai Weiwei campaign) Kyiv Northern Ireland Melbourne New York City (5 Pointz) Philadelphia San Francisco (Balmy Alley, Clarion Alley) Sarajevo Sydney (Newtown area) Tehran Toronto Palestine (West Bank Wall)
Events	Beton Fest The Cans Festival Living Walls See No Evil Pasadena Chalk Festival Sarajevo Street Art Festival Sarasota Chalk Festival
Related	Built environment Public art Public space Psychogeography Street party Urban planning Visual arts Vandalism
Category: Street art

Latest revision as of 19:49, 5 September 2024

History

Gallery and show appearances

References

Further reading