Sane Smith

Sane Smith was the name used by a New York graffiti duo, composed of David Smith ("Sane") and his brother Roger Smith ("Smith"), active during the 1990s.

Sane Smith were among the most persistent taggers in New York during the 1990s. According to Smith, they set themselves and accomplished the goal of leaving a tag every 20 feet in the 60th Street Tunnel.[1] Sane Smith are particularly notable for painting on the top level of New York's Brooklyn Bridge, after which they were sued by the City of New York for $3 million, the biggest lawsuit to date against graffiti writers.[2] The work covered both sides of the Manhattan tower of the bridge, and was visible for miles.[3]

New York's Transit Police had been tracking Sane Smith for three years and described them as "one of the top 20 graffiti artists in the city in terms of damage done."[4]

David Smith was not college educated. His brother Roger obtained a degree in computer science from Fordham University, though subsequently gave up his job to paint full-time.[2]

In October 1990,[5] Sane was found dead in the waters of Flushing Bay.[2] Speculation about the reasons for his death were rife but inconclusive.[6] It was believed he was a good swimmer.[2] In February, aged 22, he had been arrested and had become the first graffiti writer in Manhattan to be formally accused of third-degree criminal mischief.[5][7] The city dropped its lawsuit against Smith after Sane's death.[8]

Roger Smith continued to paint as "Smith", collaborating with Chris Pape ("Freedom").[9]

References

  1. ↑ Marshall Berman; Brian Berger (15 September 2007). New York Calling: From Blackout to Bloomberg. Reaktion Books. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-86189-338-3. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jennifer Toth The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City, Chicago Review Press (1993), pp. 119-122. ISBN 1-55652-190-1.
  3. ↑ Joe Austin (2001). Taking the Train: How Graffiti Art Became an Urban Crisis in New York City. Columbia University Press. p. 233. ISBN 978-0-231-11143-0. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  4. ↑ Kevin Flynn 'Vandalism Draws Ire', unattributed and undated news article, facsimile reproduced at www.puregraffiti.com. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  5. 1 2 Colin Moynihan, 'F.Y.I.', New York Times, February 4, 2001. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  6. ↑ Kevin Heldman, 'THE FIRST TIME I meet JA...', Rolling Stone, February 9, 1995. "JA's best friend and writing partner, SANE SMITH, a legendary all-city writer... SANE had written his and JA's tag and off to the side, FLYING HIGH THE XTC WAY". Article reproduced on www.graffiti.org. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  7. ↑ 'Man Seized in Subway Yard As Notorious Graffiti Vandal', New York Times, February 12, 1990 (reproduced online at whatyouwrite.wordpress.com). Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  8. ↑ L.B. Deyo; David Leibowitz (22 July 2003). Invisible Frontier: Exploring the Tunnels, Ruins, and Rooftops of Hidden New York. Random House Digital, Inc. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-609-80931-0. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  9. ↑ The Mole People, pp. 126 et seq.
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