- Cope2
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Fernando Carlo (also known as Cope2) is a graffiti artist from the South Bronx, New York. He has been writing graffiti since 1978-79, and has gained international credit[clarification needed] for his work. Though he is now known worldwide, he didn't receive recognition in the mainstream graffiti world until the mid-1990s.
Cope2's cousin "Chico 80" influenced Cope into writing. In 1982 he made his own crew called Kids Destroy and eventually it changed to Kings Destroy after he dubbed himself "King of the 4 Line".[1] Cope2 is well-known for his "throw-up" and is also one of the most known users of "wildstyle" graffiti, a style which originated in the Bronx.
Contents
Projects
Cope2 has achieved considerable mainstream success[clarification needed] for his artwork and has collaborated and released many projects alongside such names as Adidas and Time Magazine.[citation needed]
Some of Cope2's initial commercial artwork has been sold on the Christie's auction block for $1,000(USD) per paintingworld .[2] Early work includes cover art for a Boogie Down Productions album titled "Sex and Violence."[2]
In 2002 Cope2 provided artwork for Adam Bhala Lough's Bomb the System, including the infamous piece on the Brooklyn Bridge. He can be seen on the DVD's behind the scene footage painting one of the pieces at the end of the film.
In 2003 Cope2's book entitled "Cope2: True Legend" was published by Righters.com.[3]
In 2005, Cope2 collaborated with and designed a pair of sneakers for Converse under the "Chuck Taylor All-Stars" line.[3]
Also in 2005, Time Magazine commissioned Cope2, for $20,000(USD), to paint a billboard ad in the SoHo district of Manhattan, New York on Houston and Wooster. The ad depicts the magazines cover with graffiti tags scrawled over it, the text reads "Post-Modernism? Neo-Expressionism? Just Vandalism? Time. Know Why"[4]
Cope2 designed Converse shoes.
In 2006 Cope2 appeared in Marc Ecko's video game, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. He features as one of the "graffiti legends" who gives the protaginist advice on the graffiti world. His "throw-up" is also widely recognisable throughout the game. Cope2's "throw-up" has also had appearances in other media productions. It has appeared on walls in the videogame GTA IV and in the movie "Shrek The Third" amongst others.
In 2008 Cope2 collaborated with Adidas and Footlocker to release a collection of clothes and accecsories in Europe. The collection included Baseball Caps, Jackets, T-Shirts, Belts and Sneakers.[3][5]
In 2010 Cope2 appeared in an episode of LA Ink
Controversy
Before the release of the game, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, Cope2 called a local Councilman, Peter Vallone Jr., to complain about the shutting down of a 2005 publicity event for the title. The event, coordinated by Mark Ecko, called for the spray painting of vintage train cars during a block party celebrating Graffiti and Hip Hop culture. Vallone is noted as saying he was responsible for having the permit pulled for the event. The event permit was later reissued as Judge Jed S. Rakoff of the Federal District Court in Manhattan over turned the previous ruling on grounds of freedom of speech.[6]
Vallone is also quoted as calling Cope2 a "punk.[7] It is said this confrontation by Vallone was sparked due to the interest of Time Magazine in the artist.[7]
It has been said that Cope2 has been one of the main targets of the New York City Vandal Squad due to his high profile status in the graffiti world, however he openly brags to the police and others about his exploits and those of real Grafitti Artists. [2]
Carlo was arrested as recently as September 2010 for allegedly painting subway cars in a tunnel in uptown Manhattan a year earlier. He was charged with two counts of felony mischief and one misdemeanor graffiti charge. The arrest took over a year as he was abroad.
References
- ^ http://www.cope2kingsdestroy.com/about.html
- ^ a b c "From Vandal to Artist". Business Week. 07-19-05. http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jul2005/sb20050718_049224.htm.
- ^ a b c http://www.cope2kingsdestroy.com/projects.html
- ^ RILED POL TAGS TIME MAG AD
- ^ http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/features/interviews/cope2.html
- ^ Tavernise, Sabrina (2005-08-23 His art is also shown in movies as resent as Shierk The Third.). "Citing 1st Amendment, Judge Says City Must Allow Graffiti Party". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/23/nyregion/23graffiti.html?ex=1282449600&en=9546822e980d9ecc&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
- ^ a b "Dis War May Make Pol A Big 'Name'". Daily News (New York). 2005-07-03. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2005/07/03/2005-07-03_dis_war_may_make_pol_a_big__.html.
External links
- [vkontakte.ru/copetwo] Cope2 Official page in russian "vkontakte.ru"
- [1] Interview at britishhiphop.co.uk, June 2008
- [2] Cope2 Official Website
- [3] Curbs and Stoops Interactive Gallery: Cope2
- Liquidteks Magazine Interview with Cope2
Categories:- American graffiti artists
- People from the Bronx
- Living people
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