Florencia '71
"Bird" has added the numeral 1 to his name. There is a certain commonality to be found in gang nicknames and apparently there was more than one "Bird" within the Florencia gang, thus the footnote style identifier.
In any event, "Bird1" was obviously very talented at what he did and he did a lot of it. His work was so prolific and spread over such a vast geographic area that he could be considered one of the original taggers. This piece appears to be marker rather than spray paint and is dated "'71".
Comments and faves
crewzta, MARK - theyardie, scpgt, Marken Phreely, and 99 other people added this photo to their favorites.
trumpet2 (68 months ago | reply)
This is my favorite. Are there any left today? i wonder if Bird1 is still around, don't you?
KID DEUCE (68 months ago | reply)
Today Bird is CEO of a graphic design firm. Just kidding, I don't know.
otherthings (66 months ago | reply)
Terrific set of photos, KD! Just blogged this over at Graffiti Archaeology.
i like it! what is it? (66 months ago | reply)
really cool calligraphy
bklyn blossoms (66 months ago | reply)
I also really like the calligraphy, it is very precise and graceful. Seems like a precursor to the highly stylized script used in gang tattoos.
parasrez (66 months ago | reply)
florencia is still around
parasrez (66 months ago | reply)
the graffiti looks almost like todays graffiti
parasrez (66 months ago | reply)
bird is probably dead
pproblemchild (64 months ago | reply)
that shit is off the hook my nigga. ima keep it treal doe. thas some shit bruh.
Aint I pretty (64 months ago | reply)
Very ill hand style that's evident in today's grafitti and even tattoo cultures.
Skylar Woodman (62 months ago | reply)
Real Barrio steez. I love this type of writing. This was the forerunner of the LA Graff style, still looks so good. Puts dudes like Cornbread to shame, all respect due
ILLUMINATI1 (61 months ago | reply)
BIRD FROM FLORENCE 13 GOT DOWN WITH THIS PIECE,IT TAKES ME BACK TO BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN YOU USED TO SEE ALOT OF THESE CALIGRAFFITTIS IN SCHOOL OR BOOKS.THAT STYLE WAS REMNANT OF THE 70's AND UP IN THE 80's BUT THE 80's SAW ITS OWN STYLE .BY THE MID 80's A NEW BREED HAD EMERGE WITH TRACES OF THE PAST JUST AS DIFFERENT STYLE OF OTHER ERAS.
No. 3 Killer (61 months ago | reply)
I never got why some writers would say they were influenced by gang graff until I saw stuff like this. Great handstyle.
Voyage Voyeur (59 months ago | reply)
Being an East Coast Mexican, former Graff writer, An Art/Calligraphy buff, I can truly appreciate the wealth of of pics you're sharing here. It makes me feel nostalgic. Great Pics !! So much talent
felipe.mujica (56 months ago | reply)
Hi KID DEUCE,
I really like your BW graffiti images. I am an artist and I am working on a new project which researches certain graffiti's and their relationship to the environment. These old pictures you have posted are great because they show very well both the graffiti AND its context, most of them the city of LA in the 70's, I believe. I am having soon a show in Mexico DF (yes mexico city) and I would like to know if I could use some of your images, I would of course credit YOU as the photographer and owner of all the rights of the images. My basic and first idea is to print them in some thick material that would allow me to build a structure/sculpture.
what do you say, is collaboration possible?
PitMan_00 (54 months ago | reply)
To me that's very artistic. It takes me back to thee old days. I grew up in the 80's and vatos use to write placas just like that. That vato "Bird" should've been a graphic desingner.
pmoragiannis (53 months ago | reply)
Thats just amazing skill right there, amazing
sabkilla (53 months ago | reply)
the bird tag is more like drawing not writing,but still a nice tag for its era. i have a block letter print style also,come on over to ALL NITE SLAM ADDICTS, and you will see.
askone (47 months ago | reply)
proper stylish
707loonie (44 months ago | reply)
these type of styles still float around in my city
achexce (22 months ago | reply)
HARBORC1tYX3 fuc flowers.