Finding the Gem
This June, I visited the Bay Area for the second time. My goal was to do as much exploring as possible. I love the Bay Area’s mix of commissioned murals and underground cut spots. I wanted to see and flick as much as I could. It’s a graffiti mecca where you have both a maze of tunnels to explore and storefronts covered in commissioned work. This range of places to paint allows artists to start in the tunnels and rise to the streets as their work progresses, eventually painting masterpieces out in the open. It also allows for the hidden gems. There’s nothing like crawling through that hole in the wall or hopping that fence to find that jaw dropping piece. Fortunately I had the privilege of exploring the bay area with some local urban explorers and photographers. Thanks to a few great people, I was able to capture the hidden gems below.
The Tunnel system in the bay area is the equivalent to the abandon buildings in New Orleans. The messier it gets the better the art work. Unfortunately the gems don’t leave the ravished areas in New Orleans. Graffiti in the New Orleans area is considered to be a sign of decay. It is looked down upon and rarely will you see any street art, murals, or graffiti in a tourist populated area. What is getting more popular in New Orleans is the canvas scene, a lot of local graffiti artists are taking to the canvas and doing art shows, sculptures, woodcuts, and home decorating. You can still find those hidden gems and you can see some New Orleans gems by following me @boradaexplorer
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| Gats x Cannon Dill |
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| Gats PTV Gats is one of my favorite artists and seeing so many of his pieces out in the bay was awesome |
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| Paws : Strange Animals Paws has spent time in New Orleans and when I found this hidden gem, a huge smile came to my face. It was great to see some one I've seen back home getting up out in the bay |
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| Oracle I like how this guy can do characters, throws, and letters. I like some one who mixes it up and keeps it fresh |
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| This building was awesome. A big thanks to the people who showed me this one |
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| Gats PTV (detail from previous photo) |
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| Nite Owl One of the reasons I do what I do, not only an awesome writer, but an awesome person. I can't thank this person enough for showing me some of the bay area hospitality. If you every end up in New Orleans, we will show you that Southern Hospitality |
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| Irot x Skul Another Bay Area writer I had the privilege of bumping into. Irot always keeps it fresh with so many different styles; birds, murals, characters, and throws |
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| Toxe This reminds me of the NJ Toxic Avengers. I like it! |
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| Ras Terms PTV BSK An awesome fresh find |
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| Derp A very tight colorful piece |
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| Alas A really awesome find. I love the Joker as the A |
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| Jim Really tight clean piece |
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| Maska ASE STM Another awesome find, a little different than his work in New Orleans, but still awesome to see the same artist's pieces 1500 miles away from one another |
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| The hunt will never end, there will always be progression and I'm dedicated to finding it |
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| Girafa We were on a mission and the mission was complete with these finds |
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| Girafa The tunnels made for great shots. I love the chance to shoot a reflection when I can, so I was stoked on this spot and these photos |
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| Girafa : Long Neck 4 Life An awesome creative piece |
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| Nite Owl Keeping it Drippy |
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| Roar CBS EMT This spot was the icing on the cake. Such an awesome day, thanks again to the people who made it possible |
