Alleged L.A. tagger arrested after cops find him on YouTube

An image of "Revok" from a graffiti video on YouTube, and the Riverside County booking photo of Jason Williams.

"Revok" is a prolific graffiti artist who also has a heavy presence on YouTube (see video below). As it turns out, the two might not go so well together. As KNBC reported here, Indio police arrested Jason Williams in Los Angeles last week on vandalism charges after they traced fingerprints from various tags and street art back to the L.A-based Williams. Most of the tagging in question apparently took place during the Coachella music festival.

Revok is not a small-timer. He appears in a number of online videos about graffiti, including at least one where he spraypaints a wall himself -- and others where he is interviewed and profiled as a well-known Southland graffiti artist. In this video interview, Revok says, "More than half my life now has been spent doing graffiti. I've gone to jail I don't know how many times, had people trying to kill me. There's really no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for that."

The graffiti in many of the YouTube videos is ornate and expertly rendered. Revok is clearly a talented artist. But ...

"No matter what you call it," an Indio police spokesman told KNBC, "it's defacing public and private property.''

For repeat offenders, felony vandalism (for damage greater than $400) is punishable by a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Not what you would call a pot of gold.

Comments

[rick]

How the hell did he do that in the middle of the day, with cars driving by. He had to have been there for hours, and the police had to use YouTube? What the hell? Come on LAPD...

Whatever, This guy is dumb to post his face online, especially associated with an illegal artwork. But is this really considered defacing to you? This is more like, giving a face.

And I don't believe this is $400 worth of damage, just paint over it. A couple cans of paint, 24, maybe 35 dollars. Make him paint over it. There you go.

[the messenger]

The Tyrant Boot print was inspired by the Frederick Douglas quote “The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress”. Frederick Douglas, an African American, was a leader of the Abolitionist Movement. He was a firm believer in the equality of all people, whether black, woman, Native American, or recent immigrant. He was fond of saying, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”
I felt that this print is appropriate for the situation my friend Revok is facing. Revok has been a major inspiration for me since I saw he and Saber’s huge pieces in the San Fran Bay area in the mid 90’s. I’ve never seen a Revok piece that did not enhance its surroundings. In July, the famed Los Angeles graffiti artist was arrested on felony vandalism charges. Indio police raided REVOK’s home, confiscating art supplies, cameras, hard drives, computers—essentially everything he uses to earn a living. This has crippled his entire business and destroyed his income. To add insult to injury, the felony charges are excessive and unjustified. REVOK is a celebrated artist who has dedicated his life to his work, not a criminal deserved of jail time. To fight these charges, REVOK will incur great legal expenses. If you would like to help, buy this print, or please visit www.revok1.com to see more of his work. All profit from the Tyrant Boot will go to Revok’s legal defense fund. Combat oppression, support and buy something.

-Shepard

http://obeygiant.com/post/revok-tyrants

[Insight]

Graff is against the law making it vandalism. I realize there are all kinds of societal issues and pros and cons surrounding writers or taggers, such as the tens of thousands of dollars costing tax payers each year in LA, to the alternative it provides to getting into a neighborhood set or gang. Yet it is an unstoppable sub-culture struggling to make a name for themselves and establish an identity. The vast majority although hitting daring spot are toys none the less scribbling their names seeking fame.

Yes it is a crime, yes it is not fair to business owners, yes it is misunderstood by society, yes you may dislike this genre, but one thing which is indisputable and undeniable is that REVOK is a prolific, gifted, and extraordinary artist. He has created phenomenal master pieces using aerosol paint (can control) he has mastered artistic principles such as perspective; core shadows, high lights, color theory, not to mention incredible creativity and style. Yes he has broken the law, but if you say he has is not a gifted artist you are ignorant and know nothing of art or too blinded by your hate. REVOK an LA artist has revolutionized the world in this genre of graff art and is what Phelps is to swimming; or what Woods is to golf, he is the greatest graff artist on the world scene.

[Insights]

Bombing (illegal graff) is a crime which I do not condone nor is it excusable. Breaking the law must face due repercussions which I support fully. But Graff is simply one style or genre of art that happened to be birthed out of the youth, mostly from the streets, hard times, getting up under stress and pressures of getting caught by cops or beat down by gangs. I agree the line of what becomes art is blurry, from tags (scribbled signature) to throw ups (bubble letters one color fill ins), to pieces (more complex color and 3d), to full blown burners or productions. Most street credibility or respect and even refined skill and experience comes unfortunately from a combination of illegal acts of risks, skill, and getting up (all city).

But we need to be clear that the style or genre of art know as “graff” is not illegal, it is simply one style, the same as cubism, pop art, post modernism, or impressionism. What makes graff illegal is where it is done. Unfortunately 85% of graff it is done in illegal venues which I agree is criminal. But there are many permission walls which are completely legal, store owners who want to put a stop to devaluing tagging by having a graff mural up will commission a graff painter. There are legal yards like Venice or Melrose allies, art district LA or legendary Belmont yard (rip). Graff artists are commissioned now by hotels, museums, t-shirt companies, music videos, commercials, Hollywood, and corporations. Hex (IC) was a talented LA graff artist in the 80s – 90s that did legal walls. Saber (msk) incredibly skilled artist and art school trained is busy getting paid now for legal works he is doing for galleries, books, and documentaries as a talented artist who has revolutionized graff styles to new levels.

Over the years beginning in the early 70’s graff has been refined from the shadows of subways, alleys, and heavens (freeway signs) to t-shirt companies, gallery artists, college lectures, art history books, documentaries and endorsements. Of the growing graff culture world wide REVOK is among the top greatest artists. He was doing a lot of legal commissioned works, gallery shows in NY, Asia, Europe and around the world, he had clothing lines, and a boost mobile sponsorship. Which makes it unfortunate that the very thing that made him a superstar became his very down fall… the streets.

[GemZer.CTC.KOC.MOMS]

Are we forgetting what happened to Revok's painting partner GKAE???? One of the most rediculously overzealous punishments for graff since the beginning of graff. Revok knew what could happen, like we all do. I had my ass kicked by San Diego PD and then got thrown in the felony tank (I guess they hoped I would get beaten further... I didn't....) for painting a billboard. I had to pay over 2 grand when it was all done. Guess what I did within 5 minutes of my release? Caught another tag. The funny thing is the cops take it personally... and they're pissed. So look out.

Graff is an addiction, any writer will agree. I've gotten up on both coasts, everywhere in between, and 6 countries. Everywhere I go gets hit up. It may not last forever, but at least my voice is heard (visually)... What do you do that anyone hears? What do you do that can reach thousands of people in a day? (painting a highway spot) and impress them? (painting a highway spot with a full color burner that is 20 feet long and 8 feet high)....

My tag screams "I am here" and I AM there... briefly. I won't be written about in books because of it........BUT...... REVOK WILL...........think about that.

Fame is the name of the game. Revok wins. Us other writers are runners up. But you silly jerks in a Lexus dreading the moment you go to work, dreading the moment you get off work and have to deal with HER.... You LOSE LOSE LOSE. You never did anything.. except maybe got a pat on the back from your "comb over" boss who hates his life more than you do. Great Job fool.

I've taken plenty of pictures of what I do after work. It gets published on the internet, along with pictures other people have taken of my work. What do you do after work? Are other people interested in seeing it? Probably not... unless your wife is naked in them. That only happens once a week now anyway huh?

Want to have a legit orgasmic experince? Paint your name colorfully on the highway walls, run from the cops, barely escape, tell your girl about it, watch her get hot, then do what a man does... It beats waiting for Grey's Anatomy to be over so she isn't distracted. Plus, if you're a writer... your girl is hot, adventurous, and covered in tattoos... not to mention her inhibitions.

So, citizen... we win. Or at least Revok wins.. He is now immortal, has an exciting life, and sleeps with Miriam, a sexy Latina that I'm sure makes it all worth it at the end of a long night of climbing buildings to put up her name (next to his) with that little heart next to it.

GemZer. KOC.CTC.MOMS.UIP.

[gerald mc boing boing]

wtf this must really suck 4 revok b'cuz now he has to change his tag, be more carefull with prints basically he's gonna have to start ova again in regards to getting his beautiful art out there i mean sure its good if he does his work on canvas and public walls but then its not easy to access and something as beatiful as this shud be free!

[THE INFAMOUS]

This goes to show that graffiti is pointless. although i like the art form, its really no payoff at the end of the road. yes some people make a small amount of income as a graffiti writer, but the majority do not. Every graffiti writer has his or her own reason for painting graffiti. And when i say graffiti, i am refering to illegal work only.
jeklone

[elmer one]

its a legal. he would get rolled if it was an illegal
the govrn. is stupid
FREE REVOK

[Mike]

This guy is amazing at what he does. He's putting everything he can, and has a talent that other people worship. And as for vandalizing public space, we are the public, so we get to do what we want with our public space. Everyone are tax payers, some people just want their share of what they bought and use it, with paint. Why have a long white wall that you pass everyday with no flavor at all, just whiteness, nothing great about this stupid wall that promotes anything, when you can put a mural across it and have people admire it and love coming into the town and such just to see the piece.

Decorating the city is not illegal. Art is not illegal. This is a democracy, power to the people, not the government.

[Roy]

I agree with THE IFAMOUS and Elmer one.
The government is stupid.. And decorating the city is not illegal, art not illegal. This is a democracy, POWER TO THE PEOPLE, not the government..

FREE REVOK!!!!!!!!!!!

[LBCD]

As a law-abiding, high-property-tax-paying, college-educated, white male living in Los Angeles County, I do not find this offensive.

In different times, this may be considered great art and it's unfortunate we do not have venues for such artists to express themselves in a more civil-abiding manner. That said, this same high-property-tax-paying person is saddened my tax dollars are directed towards this type of enforcement in place of more relevant pursuits.

[MS]

Defacing private and public property is a crime. Grafitti as an art, should go on a canvas and not on MY walls, MY freeways, MY buses. MY tax money pays for these things and to remove grafitti. We live in a city where city goverment let this town decline to the state that NYC was in in the seventies. LA has become dirty, trash in the streets, grafitti everywhere you look. It time to clean up. Drive down La Brea in Hollywood and you will see whatn I mean. Grafitti tagged on most of the buildings. It's sad that we live in a world where selfish, self centered people, who don't give a damn about other people or their property, destroy property and call it art. It's also a shame that there are people who glorify these individuals and hold them up as hero's. Taggers should get jail time and prolific taggers should get state prision time. Put them in orange jumpsuits and have them clean the freeyways, powerwash the sidewalks and paint over there own tags and grafitti.

[george]

I think his work is way overrated. Just a lot of elaborate on the fly shapemaking that ends up as a massive pile. So cheezy. So typical of most all graffiti art. Its so laughable to hear it so talked up.........The point is no attention would be paid to this boring worki n any other context so it must be shoved in your face.
Its just one more form of people who disrespect.
Some other "graphic artists" murdered a man in Hollywood five days ago. Shot up his friend as well.
He took issue with their color choices, i guess.

I'd love to see how you supportive jdiots would feel if you had your car written on.......

[Frank Ybarra L.A.]

Graffiti Artist?

NO SPRAY PAINT SALE TO MINORS.
Merchants can also respond to the graffiti
problem by making it harder to get the paint or markers used by taggers.

There is nothing artistic about vandalism.
There can be no argument in support of vandalism.
Graffiti Tagging on public property is a crime,
and "taggers" are criminals. Not every tagger is a gang member but every tagger is a vandal. They are all criminals.

Graffiti clean-up Diverts tax dollars from the delivery of other City services. WHAT DOES GRAFFITI CLEAN UP COST US ? Why should you care?
Graffiti crime can effect your community in many ways, including: Higher taxes for clean-up. Lower property values Heightened fear of crime
Cancellation or reduction of education and recreation programs.

Graffiti Facts and Figures.
Graffiti cleanup takes a big chunk out of
municipal budgets.

Graffiti is the most common
type of vandalism according to
the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Graffiti cost worldwide is approximately
$28 Billion per year.

In the United States of America,
the annual graffiti cleanup bill is $8 Billion.

California is $167 Million a year.

In 2003 the city of Los Angeles
spent $55 Million on graffiti removal.

[Ross]

There's a lot of left wing liberals here in Los Angeeles but not me ! If you due public art that's defacing property then you should be punished with public lashings in the Arena ! lol that's right !!!!!!!!! taggers should get their ass beat !

[Averroes]

Revok isn't a tagger idiot! Get it right he's a grafitti artist!! There is HUGE difference.

[D-Tragic]

This cat is amazing! SOMEONE GET HIM A LEGIT JOB AND TAKE HIM OFF THE STREETS! At this level in this cats skill, he shouldnt waste his life in the streets on walls anymore! People should step up and get him involved with a decent paying job doing this and teaching cats about Graffitti!! I wish he would come spray up my studio! This cat is Ill! If you read this Holla @ dtragic@805hiphop.com - We support all 5 elements!!

[Anthony]

Why you going to arrest him for something he did in the past....its like he murdered anyone..free revoker

[Frank F]

If only our justice system would devote this much time and effort to the prosecution of Dick Cheney.

[Tris Orendorff]

Frank F said: "If only our justice system would devote this much time and effort to the prosecution of Dick Cheney."

Oh no! Has Dick Cheney has been tagging the White House again?

[UTFO]

If you paint on property that does not belong to you and you don't have permission , there are people who get paid to find you and arrest you. If you tagged or graffitii 'd my property without my permission I would have you arrested also. It's a game "you play you pay". Stop complaining..he got caught.