Art + Culture Diaries: ALAN KET

Is there such a thing as anglicized aloofness, and if so, is graffiti not its antidote?  Many of us long for the days of flavor, before Sex in the City invited the flavorless to inhabit a once eclectically vibrant city – known as – New York.  But, like Bobby Seale said in 1970, Seize the Time. And, according to Alan Ket, for the graf world, 2008 is calling for not only the education of educators and policymakers on the importance of art, but also, an organized graf community to engage at the local level with business owners and perhaps, even, the government. If we take a look at public visual space, we generally see paid for advertising by corporations with deep pockets and the skillz to negotiate government bureaucracy.  Or, national and state funded grantmakers offering the biggest public art projects to big name artists that will boost tourism dollars for the city (Olafur Eliasson’s NYC Waterfalls).  Why does this matter and what does it have to do with Alan Ket?  It matters because young kids in local neighborhoods with limited access to resources are increasingly losing opportunities for self-expression generated through organic community based activity. And, Alan Ket is finally starting to see the light at the beginning of the end of the tunnel, after being New York City’s marquee prosecution for the criminalization of graffiti.

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(Image: Alan Ket, 2008. Courtesy of the artist.)

It’s been one year since Ket’s lawyers brokered a deal with the NYC D.A.’s office in regard to felony counts revolving around his graf activity as a youngster.  Although still indebted financially to the city, KET is continually processing the fall-out/silver lining of his transformational last few years.  His theoretical thinking has turned to the questions: How can I create something positive out of this? How can we (the graf community) have a strong, respected and influential voice? How do we (the public) address laws that stifle public voices and public creativity? And, canvas, who knew?! With plenty of experience in business development as a founder of both Stress Magazine and Complex Magazine, as well as marketing expertise, somehow it seems likely that KET will find a way to answer these questions and more.

(Image: Alan Ket, 2008. Courtesy of the artist.)

To that end, his role as an artmaker/caretaker/platform builder will be back in effect with several projects (put on hold due to his case) hitting the marketplace in 2009. Books on graf legends SENTO, GHOST and PART will come out on his publishing imprint, From Here to Fame, alongside his follow-up compilation to Graffiti Planet, a series that surveys the best graf art around the world.

Ket’s six-figure legal fees and fines have thus far been partially paid for through generous art donations and sales from artists, enthusiasts and supporters. For more info and to purchase art in support of Ket’s cause, visit supportket.org.