SJK 171

Biography

SJK 171 (Graffiti Artist) (aka Steve the Greek) is one of the earliest New York City graffiti artists of the late 1960s and 1970's. He is generally credited with originating the "swiggly lines", a style of outlining graffiti. He was also known as "King of the A-Trains", meaning his graffiti dominated the A-Line of the NYC transit system. Later, he was one of the founding members of the United Graffiti Artists.

SJK 171 and Taki 183 the 2 earliest graffiti artist are both of Greek heritage and both from the very small Greek community in Washington Heights. He began writing in 1969 under the name SJK 171 with Mike 171. SJK 171 attended High School of Art and Design along with a number of other early graffiti artists.

Public attention

It was in early 1971 that SJK 171 was the first to use the "swiggly radiant energy lines" that 10 years later were used by Keith Haring. SJK171 is also credited with pioneering the use of arrows in graffiti writing around this same time.

In 1972, SJK 171 as one of the founding members of United Graffiti Artists, a professional graffiti collective which began to attract media attention. He was featured in an important essay on graffiti art by Richard Goldstein which appeared in "New York Magazine" and inspired a new generation of graffiti artists.

The University of Chicago The Renaissance Society displayed the [http://www.renaissancesociety.org/site/Exhibitions/Images.Rapid-Enamel-The-Art-of-Graffiti.123.3810.html United Graffiti Artists Collaborative No. 1, 1972] the first Spray enamel on canvas 24” x 36”.

ee also

*Graffiti
*Taki 183
*Keith Haring
*United Graffiti Artists

References

[SJK 171 was also featured in the book by Craig Castleman called " [http://books.google.com/books?id=FFSD-UOkI54C&pg=RA1-PA85&vq=grand+concourse&dq=Getting+Up:+Subway+Graffiti+in+New+York&sig=E6fNdsk_11EBTmyttdNaoNdECb4#PRA1-PA119,M1 Getting Up] "] SJK 171 was also featured in the book by Craig Castleman called " [http://books.google.com/books?id=FFSD-UOkI54C&pg=RA1-PA85&vq=grand+concourse&dq=Getting+Up:+Subway+Graffiti+in+New+York&sig=E6fNdsk_11EBTmyttdNaoNdECb4#PRA1-PA119,M1 Getting Up] "

[SJK 171 was featured in a book written by Sasha Anawalt [http://books.google.com/books?id=7u5PKdRc7gMC&pg=PA411&dq=%22sjk+171%22&ei=LereSKmoDYO6yATt1fiYAg&sig=ACfU3U2fdx9irgny4zk7OMTtGOPu3VwJBA The Joffrey Ballet] ] SJK 171 was featured in a book written by Sasha Anawalt [http://books.google.com/books?id=7u5PKdRc7gMC&pg=PA411&dq=%22sjk+171%22&ei=LereSKmoDYO6yATt1fiYAg&sig=ACfU3U2fdx9irgny4zk7OMTtGOPu3VwJBA The Joffrey Ballet]

[SJK 171 was featured in a book written by By Marcia B. Siegel [http://books.google.com/books?id=7DFtXZCjbpkC&pg=PA77&dq=%22sjk+171%22+joffrey+ballet&sig=ACfU3U2dHsiHdYnt4SR4OfyGr3Dc_9KIxQ Howling Near Heaven] ] SJK 171 was featured in a book written by By Marcia B. Siegel [http://books.google.com/books?id=7DFtXZCjbpkC&pg=PA77&dq=%22sjk+171%22+joffrey+ballet&sig=ACfU3U2dHsiHdYnt4SR4OfyGr3Dc_9KIxQ Howling Near Heaven]

[SJK 171 was featured of University of Michigan's [http://books.google.com/books?id=W7dUAAAAMAAJ&q=%22sjk+171%22&dq=%22sjk+171%22&pgis=1 Print collectors newsletter] ] SJK 171 was featured of University of Michigan's [http://books.google.com/books?id=W7dUAAAAMAAJ&q=%22sjk+171%22&dq=%22sjk+171%22&pgis=1 Print collectors newsletter]

External links

* [http://nymag.com/guides/summer/17406/index3.html New York Magazine]
* [http://www.renaissancesociety.org/site/Exhibitions/Images.Rapid-Enamel-The-Art-of-Graffiti.123.3810.html Renaissance Society]
* [http://www.team183.com/html/kasinomasterpaper/paper.htm team183]
* [http://www.subwayoutlaws.com/tag%20page2/new_page_5.htm subwayoutlaws.com ]
* [http://www.wildstylers.com/wstr/index.php?module=article&view=303&MMN_position=31:31 wildstylers.com]
* [http://www.jayquan.com/Fab.htm jayquan.com]
* [http://www.at149st.com/lazar2.html at at149st.com]
* [http://www.sixcentz.com/interviews/moose106_inter.htm sixcentz.com]
* [http://www.caam.net/caamiaaa/cgi-bin/articulo.asp?idArticulo=535&idioma=EN caam.net]
* [http://www.flint707.com/history/page6/page6.html flint707.com]