GV4 Film Reviews
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GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com FILM REVIEWS of GV4: Basic Techniques for Creating Graffiti Art on Walls & Canvas Directed by Multi Award-Winning Filmmaker Bob Bryan THE ARTS Featured Article in VIDEO LIBRARIAN by Mike Tribby, Contributing Reviewer GV4’s Bob Bryan “The fourth entry in the Graffiti Verite’ series (see review of Graffiti Verite’ {VL - 5/96} covers the basics of becoming a graffiti artist, with instruction by graffiti artist SANO in the techniques of sketching, outlining and fading, highlighting and shadowing, “can” control, 3D effects, and more. Declaring his absolute love of the genre, SANO sketches ideas on a pad while sitting in the sun, and talks about translating his vision onto the wall of somebody else’s property (just kidding!) Actually, SANO demonstrates his considerable artistic gifts on sanctioned al fresco surfaces: a 50-foot long wall at the Venice, California Graffiti Pit, and a canvas in a park. A far cry from the flamboyant if illegible tags that constitute the bulk of graffiti art in many locales, SANO’s larger work is nonetheless semi-traditional, centered on his name, but with some really nice adjoining elements like a colorful mushroom cloud. His smaller work is a portrait of Tupac Shakur which, given the black background, looks something like a hip-hop equivalent of an Elvis on black velvet masterpiece, albeit a very artistic one. Attention to detail and clarity of instruction are plusses here, but no doubt the subject matter will raise issues for some collections, SANO’s obvious talents notwithstanding, since graffiti art is not universally esteemed as desirable public art. However, as either art instruction or social document this is a worthy addition, and is therefore recommended. - VIDEO LIBRARIAN Vol. 18 : The Video Review Magazine for Libraries, No. 4, Jul/Aug 2003 - Pg 29 *** (3 out of 4 Stars) 68 min. Bryan World Productions. PPR. Color Cover 1 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com he term graffiti brings to mind vandals spraying subway walls with four-letter words. Viewers may be surprised to “Tlearn that not only is this a legitimate art form, but there are contests (the narrator is the two-time winner of the INTERNATIONAL GRAFFITI ART COMPETITION), legal graffiti walls (one in Los Angeles is shown), and a variety of techniques and procedures used to produce top quality aerosol art. A bit different from the earlier videos in this series which showcased multiple artists, this one features SANO, an articulate young artist who explains his process and discusses the inspiration behind his art. He credits such diverse influences as da Vinci, and white. An unusual take on an often maligned Michelangelo, Rubens, Duchamp, and Japanese art form, this video will inspire art students.” animation as well as music - reggae, traditional, and hip-hop - and social and political forces. - Lauri Edwards, Susquehanna Art Museum, The video shows SANO in action from the Harrisburg, PA conception of an idea to the final execution of his - SCHOOL design. It is interesting to note that he begins by LIBRARY JOURNAL July 2003 Issue, Multimedia Review “The world is a canvas and I’m expressing my thoughts on your walls! “ recently had the opportunity to peep out GRAFFITI VERITE Volume 4, a 67 minute documentary on the art commonly roughing out ideas in a sketchbook. Then he covers “Ireferred to as graffiti. previous wall graffiti with a paint roller (buffing the wall), but allows the colors underneath to bleed A well laid out movie starts out with two time through his base coat. winner of the INTERNATIONAL GRAFFITI ART COMPETITION, SANO writing some of After donning a paint mask, he sprays in outline his ideas in his book and explaining to us how you and guidelines, then paints the design using several start with the concept of your piece and doing a ruff different techniques and explains how to regulate outline of it. the flow of the spray. What looks like a early morning venture, he walks Once the mural is complete, he offers ideas for using us down to the beautiful beaches of what seems aerosol art on canvas and demonstrates its fine art like Venice beach. What I like about the movie is potential by creating a realistic portrait in black that they’re not trying to come with fancy concepts, 2 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com but just plain down to earth filming with Sano, the he greatest compliment that one can give perfect teacher. Local graf heads should peep this an artist is to remark about the level of video out as its very helpful if you’re just starting out. inspiration that has been derived by their His first showcase was the walls on the beachfront Tbody of work. I will start my review of GV4 by that firstly needed to be cleaned. He started with the saying that since viewing the film over a week ago outline, explaining why he chose certain colours. I have been moved to create no less than one new piece each day. At no point in my life can I claim The SANO letters started taking shape and what the title of “writer”, the closest I come to personal seemed simple, became very complex. SANO affiliation with this element is being commissioned gave us a broad overview of shaping letters, fill-in to create graffiti nameplates for my friend’s college techniques, and loads of other techniques that could dorm rooms. I have though put in some work and it be helpful in creating the next Michelangelo or has been three years since I graduated from freedom even SANO, as a matter of fact. After what seemed and entered into corporate indentured servitude. In more than a days work his piece was done and he that time I have been completely abstained from any went into explaining the whole concept behind it. sort of graphics. To bring solace to my dissertation The striking part for me was when he explained the here… bombing part on his piece. Its been a minute since I did a piece so props are due. SANO is part Black and part Asian and said it was SANO and Bob Bryan should both be commended a dedication to his people that was killed in the for taking the time to demonstrate the at times bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. forgotten art of graf. I was convinced that Cleveland, Ohio has more In today’s multimedia distraction heralded by the to it than just Bone Thugs and Harmony. SANO’s MTV’s, Clear Channels, and popular press the art final piece was one of graffiti is often misrepresented and the culture that he was going to of hip hop suffers. SANO’s step by step passage do on a canvas. It was through the mindset and execution of the “burner” of the late legendary is on point, as it should be coming from such an rapper Tupac (2pac accomplished artist. From the importance of pre- Shakur) created solely sketching, to color selection, to cap sizes, to grip with black and white styles, and flaring the essence is captured and spraypaint. presented so you feel like you are a part of the project. I grinned in hearing of SANO’s influences I was convinced that this guy was a genius! I would finding they are as close to home as other writers like to convince all lecturers of art classes to get a but, as far reaching as Japanese cartoonists and copy of this for their students, as it’s truly a great contemporary legends. This is an important bit for addition to have for your video library, alongside all the ignorant “hip-hop breeds trouble” types to other such greats as Wildstyle. hear. In short I get the feeling that viewers will be sub consciously scouting railyards and bridges for Award-winning filmmaker Bob Bryan truly possible canvases. captured every moment with such precision. If mics could be given to this video I would give it 5. Get ya The effects of films like these can aid in starting MasterCard out and order this.” movements of right thinking and positivity. Thanks - RUSH for the hard work. Peace. South Africa - TIMMYGRINS www.africasgateway.com www.arcanemusic.com Elements TV Tuesday nights 8-9pm ch. 5 3 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com hile the GRAFFITI VERITE’ SERIES Cleveland writers real proud by being so honest is not easily accessible to people in our about his influences. Both pieces he did on the tape part of the world, GV4 somehow found put my 10 year-old son, who is an aspiring artist, in it’sW way to the Out4Fame reviewing desk. Unlike total awe. other documentaries centered around Graffiti such as StyleWars, GV4 does not educate the general Since watching GV4, I’ve been sketching out wild public about the culture of Graffiti but instead style letters and tagging on nearly any blank piece of provides an insight into the process of creating paper I can find, which is something I haven’t been graffiti art, as demonstrated by LA Graf artist motivated to do in over 10 years. He made me feel SANO. This demonstration is divided into two it again, you know? GV4 is a solid documentary, no parts, the first being the creation of a large scale doubt.” semi-wild style piece at a legal wall in Venice beach. The viewer is taken through the process from start - ROUGHDRAFT to finishbeginning with the artist sketch. Can control, choices of colour and the thought process behind the concept for the piece are all covered as just watched the tape yesterday with some well as everything in between.