Inwood’s Old Timers Day Brings Graffiti Legends to 215th Street

Key facts

• Old Timers Day took place earlier this month on 215th Street in Inwood, just off the 1 train.
• Veteran graffiti writer and b-boy Bom 5 was photographed by Richard Alicea breaking in front of his freshly painted piece.
• First-generation style master Part One of TDS participated.
• NYC-based Japanese graffiti writer and muralist Shiro One shared her iconic character Mimi with her mentors.
• Pioneering writer Snake 1 appeared alongside Shiro, and first-generation subway writer King 2 (Hodgee) was pictured below.
• Sharp, a 1980s subway graffiti pioneer and abstract calligraphic artist, was featured.
• Subway graffiti pioneer Frank Del Toro and graffiti icon Break Uno appeared below Staff 161, founder of the legendary Ebony Dukes.
• Pioneering subway king Comet and Staten Island-based classic writer Braze One were present.
• First-generation NYC subway graffiti pioneer Ree, veteran writers Ira 1 and Cose TDS, and Sweden-born Scratch were documented.
• Legendary pioneers Charmin 65, Mike 171, T-Kid, Rocky 184, Keon, and Clyde were shown, along with the late Lava, whose presence was preserved.
• Mike 171, Rocky 184, and Brooklyn-based documentarian Karen Merz were also captured.
• Photo credits: Richard Alicea for images 1, 3, 5, and 10; Lois Stavsky for 2, 4, 6, and 9; Sara C. Mozeson for 7 and 8.