Snake 1
DATE OF INTERVIEW:
Summer 2006
1- NAMES USED:
Ed 188, Snake 188, Snake 1
2- YEAR STARTED WRITING? YEAR RETIRED?
I started writing around 1970 and stopped on subways & walls around 1975, 1976
3- AGE WHEN YOU STARTED WRITING?
I started at the age of 13
4- WHERE?
I started uptown, Washington Heights where it all started
5- WHY DID YOU START WRITING?
It was all about fun, to see who can get around the most
6- WHO WERE YOUR WRITING PARTNERS (IF ANY) ? STILL IN TOUCH WITH THEM TODAY?
My main writing partner was Stitch I, may he rest in peace. I also wrote with CAT 87, Spanky 132 and WEB II
7- WRITING GROUPS YOU FOUNDED OR CO-FOUNDED?
Writer’s Corner 188
8- WRITING GROUPS YOU BELONGED TO?
United Graffiti Artists founded by Hugo Martinez
9- YOU WROTE YOUR FIRST TIME ON A WALL, BUS, TRAIN OR TRUCK?
I wrote my first time on lamp posts & walls
10- YOUR FIRST HIT EVER - WHICH MEDIUM DID YOU USE, i.e. MARKER, SPRAY PAINT, PEN, ETC.?
Back then you only used markers (dri)
11- WHERE DID YOUR WRITING NAME COME FROM?
I Loved Drag racing and my favorite racer was Don Snake Prodome (Funny car). Mattel hot wheels also named a car after him which I still have
12- WHICH WAS THE FIRST TRAIN LINE YOU HIT? (IF YOU HIT TRAINS)
The first subway line I hit was the Broadway line #1
I also hit the A, #2 & #3 lines
12A- WHAT OTHER MAJOR LANDMARKS DID YOU HIT?
14- WHAT YARDS & LAYUPS DID YOU WORK AT?
I wasn’t much of a yard or lay up writer, but I did go to the 207th yard and the Bronx lay ups
15- WHERE YOU 'KING' OF "SOMETHING"? (TRAIN LINES, WALLS, ETC.?)
I was very well known for hitting inside Busses, since I used to take 2 busses each way to high school
16- WHO WAS YOUR MENTOR? (IF APPLICABLE) DID YOU MENTOR ANY OTHER WRITERS?
Some of my mentors were guys & gals. Babyface 86, Rat, Stitch I, Joe 182, Coco 144, Eva 62, & Barbara 62
17- WHICH WRITERS DID YOU LOOK UP TO? WHY?
I looked to writers like Stitch, Lee163, StarHigh149, CAY 161, Futura 2000 and Slim I, they had a unique style.
18- DID YOU INTRODUCE ANYTHING NEW TO THE WRITING MOVEMENT? IF 'YES,' WHAT WAS IT? WHAT YEAR?
I believe I’ve started the Flames, arrows & hearts, in 1971/72
19- HOW LONG WOULD YOU GUESSTIMATE THAT EACH GENERATION OF WRITERS LASTED?
I would say for the 70’s, about 5 years, 80’s & 90’s longer.
20- WHICH WERE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS TO WORK WITH?
My favorite colors were Regal Blue & Red
21- WHICH BRAND OF SPRAY PAINT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TO WORK WITH?
My favorite was Red Devil.
22- WHICH MARKER WAS YOUR FAVORITE?
My favorite was Dri Marker, and Uni Wide’s, which I still own today
23- WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE SPOT TO HIT YOUR NAME IN THE TRAIN SYSTEM? (IF APPLICABLE)
My favorite spot was the 191st #1 IRT Subway line & the Broadway tunnel
24- DO YOU HAVE IN MEMORY A "FAVORITE" MASTERPIECE THAT YOU DID? IF 'YES,' WHICH ONE? WHEN? WHERE? WHY?
My favorite Masterpiece was on Writer’s Corner 188 in Washington Heights. It came down with florescent hot pink spray, so it really stood out. Done around early 1970’s
25- WERE YOU EVER ARRESTED FOR WRITING? IF 'YES,' WHEN? WHERE? WITH WHOM? BY WHOM?
NO, never arrested
26- WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GET PAINT FROM?
In my neighborhood in Washington Heights
27- WHICH IS THE CORRECT NAME FOR THIS CULTURE: WRITING? GRAFFITI? AEROSOL ART? WHY?
I still call it Graffiti Art because I feel we were the ones to put this name in the Dictionary
28- ARE YOU STILL WRITING / PAINTING TODAY? IF YOU USE CANVAS, YOUR FEELINGS ON PUBLIC SURFACE -VS- CANVAS?
I’m not tagging on walls, only legally, but still keeping active
29- *WHY* DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT AFTER ALL THE EVOLUTION THAT WRITING HAS EXPERIENCED SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS IN ' 69-' 70, EVOLUTION THAT INCLUDES ACCEPTANCE BY SOME GOVERNMENTS OUTSIDE THE U.S., THE POWERS THAT BE IN THE U.S. STILL CONSIDER THIS CULTURE AS ONLY AN EYESORE? IS RACISM TO BLAME? CLASSISM? OR BOTH?
I would say that it’s not a racism issue, maybe more of a middle and lower class one
30- DO YOU CONSIDER WRITING AN "ART FORM"?
Of course
31- WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "SCRACHITI" ?
It’s another step for the new generation to do what they could do on public transportation, which I don’t think it’s the same
32- WHAT DO YOU DO PROFESSIONALLY TODAY?
Currently a printer
33- ANY ADVICE TO YOUNG WRITERS WORLDWIDE TODAY?
Yea, “don’t get caught”
34- ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
I would like to say I still & always will support graffiti art
35- YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION?
Snake 188@verizon.net
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