HAPPY FATHER’S DAY: CELEBRATE LIKE THE GODFATHER (OF GRAFFITI)
Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads, stepdads, granddads and guys stepping up to this tough role in any way they can. For Mother’s Day we celebrated our Top 5 DAMN Cool Moms and you know we can’t leave dads hanging on their day. This Father’s Day we’re spotlighting one of the coolest guys we know – the Godfather of Graffiti.
Rising from the tunnels of New York City’s subway system to the art houses of the avant-garde, Richie Mirando, aka SEEN UA, aka the Godfather of Graffiti (aka multiple aliases are what happens when you get your kicks spray painting private property), is one of the world’s most famous graffiti artists. Although people have been tagging their names on walls long before SEEN UA started decorating the City’s underbelly in the early 70s, his prolific work grew visibility for the street art movement. SEEN’s vibrant, full-color works were splattered across subway cars streaking through New York City for more than 15 years. He refused to be confined to city streets and moved onto canvases, displays in museums and even opened a tattoo parlor to make the ultimate mark on fans.
Just like we love helping companies get their names out in their advertising, graffiti is all about promoting yourself. “When I first started graffiti, it was all about getting your name out. The more you write your name, the more people know more about your name,” said SEEN. And everyone who knows anything about graffiti has seen SEEN’s name. Let’s share the love this Father’s Day and get the name out of the father or father figure that has made a difference in your life. Maybe you can’t spray paint a subway car with your gratitude, but we’re sure a card would be just fine. Happy Father’s Day!