Futura

[erl1580]

I dig the man's work and have read up on some interviews/bios. But i'm wondering what is it that made him a legend. Please school me as to why i have heard some call him the "godfather of graf" even though he wasn't the originator. Was it some new style or did he just hit up mad places? Seems like he also used to roll with Haring and Basqiuat whose paintings have gone for millions and have become world famous. Yet I don't really see his name mentioned alongside them. My understanding is that he left the "fine" art world to do his own thing and I probably respect him more because of that but still can't help but wonder why he doesn't get more exposure. I have heard that he is much more popular in Japan and France though.

[Blanc0]

Futura (Lenny McGurr) was a writer in the early-mid 70's, so he's been around (just celebrated his 50th), he has a style that wasn't/isn't typically your "piecing" style, although his tag has become iconic (as have his "pointman" figures, and his atoms). He has done graphic design work for other "hip" streetwear companies you may be familiar with including Recon, Supreme (he designed the box logo w/ the Kruger font), A Bathing Ape, Undercover, etc...and has his own line, Futura Laboratories. check his site: futura2000.com or futuralaboratories.com. He aslo has a book out: Futura. I don't think he neccessarily "rolled" with Haring and Basquiat, but he was a peer of thiers, so to speak, so I know they were at least familiar with each other...

BTW, I know all this, not because I'm obsessed or anything (although many out there are), but Lenny is actually a friend, and I had the honor of interviewing him for a documentary that may or may not ever come out.

[show_N_pruv]

Quote: he designed the box logo w/ the Kruger font

didn't know that.

I come fresher than a moist towelette

[werdtoyourmoms]

i dont think the supreme logo is necessarily a big achievement, more like an "homage" if you want to be nice. i think he knows a lot of people, and has been around forever. i'm not blown away by anything he's done, but i guess he's been around forever.

korn feat. ice cube

[frogeyes]

yeah he didn't really "roll" with haring and basquiat. More with Lee, Zephyr, Rammelzee. From the big graffiti movement of that era, Futura broke out into the fine art world throgh shows at Tony Shafrazi's gallery and strated doing art tours with a few other members. He was hot til it all cooled off in the late 80's to mid nineties and now it's on again.

[Blanc0]

not an achievement, but definitely iconic, especially for the hipsters not neccessarily familiar with the man. As far as writing, he was one of the founding members of Soul Artists, along with Eric Haze...the name Zoo York? well that was also a crew before it was a clothing/skate label sold to Marc Echo....Shafrazi is where he got his start in galleries, but it was really Agnes B. that gave him a big break into the finer art world after he got out of the military, and his touring with The Clash.

[englandmj7]

(he designed the box logo w/ the Kruger font),

How the hell can you design something with someone else's company name in someone else's font?

[minya]

Recontextualization and appropriation is a very large part of a lot of modern art, if you weren't aware.

Rauschenberg, Duchamp, there are a billion others but my mind is blanking and those are two of the most famous.

[Blanc0]

it's actually called graphic design. some one designed EVERY font. does that limit that one person to using it?

[baldy]

i didn't know marc ecko bought out zoo york. was it just the clothing or skate department as well? cuz that kinda sucks if he did

[starvinglawstudent]

futura bold italic is from kruger. i am pretty certain about that, but the name does throw me off.

-pete

[bobbyhundreds]

pretty thorough summary blanco!

now how about that documentary..?

thehundreds is huge.

www.thehundreds.com

[erl1580]

blanco, whats the documentary on? graffiti i'm assuming? either way, sounds pretty interesting if you got an interview with Futura in it. i'd check it out on the strength of that alone.

[6MT]

"futura bolf italic"

i have that font, ha

[Blanc0]

the doc is the 2nd edition of Upper Playground's Dithers documentary/interview DVD....the interview i did w/him was a couple of years ago now....i actually don't know if the next one is still being made or what....

[bobbyhundreds]

Yeah that 2nd DITHERS is wayyy overdue. I remember Logan filmed his part about 2 years ago..

what a shame if that stuff never sees light.

thehundreds is huge.

www.thehundreds.com

[r_mutt]

he rocked the first abstract whole car. check out the spread in subway art its amazing. I'm not a huge fan of what he does now but I am definantly not mad at him for how sucessful he is.

[gus]

I think Futura's cover art was a huge part of the appeal (and probably the trainspottery) of the Mo Wax label. Those early DJ Krush sleeves were beautiful. Those UNKLE guys got a little old, but so had Mo Wax by then.

[8destijl8]

Futura (Futura 2000) has been a writer for a looong time- he has letf his mark on so many walls. And now he has became a reknowned designer, doing projects for Nike, Zoo York, The Creative Network, and Even Lance Armstrong.

[werdtoyourmoms]

futura was designed by paul renner (by hand) in 1927. barbara kruger was a photographer / designer who used white futura bold oblique in red boxes for her art.

korn feat. ice cube

[Marcus]

Thanks for the info wtym! Do you have a link for that font??

[edwin]

nice one blanco.

eye candy. nice guy. he deserves everything good that came his way.

[Blanc0]

nice pic. that looks like my ibook...

[werdtoyourmoms]

Quote:

Thanks for the info wtym! Do you have a link for that font??

--- Original message by Marcus on Nov 26, 2005 07:31 PM

www.myfonts.com

nerdy design note: call it a typeface

korn feat. ice cube

[thomas_highstreet]

he rolled with the clash too

Quote:

This is a message from Futura

Don't prophisize the future

I liven up the culture

Because I'm deadly as a vulture

I paint on civilization

It's environmentally wack

So presenting my attack

I'll brighten up your shack

I'm down by law

That's a fact

Just give me a wall

Any building dull or tall

I spray clandestine night subway

I cover red purple on top of grey

Hey, no slashing cuz it ain't the way

The T.A. blew 40 mil they say

We thew down by night

They scrubbed it off by day

OK tourists

hohoho

[Blanc0]

he also recorded a 12", "The Escapades of Futura 2000". A hip hop single with The Clash as his backup band.

[Cue]

yeah, i'll never been able to find it ... guess it's on the bay for loads

closest i have gotten are the liner notes to combat rock

[SENDkylHISPASSWORD]

If anyone has this in digital format, please do let me know. I'm not too interested in Futura, but I dig the Clash, and Futura seems like he knows what's up.

my favourite things

http://mfthings.blogspot.com/

[SENDkylHISPASSWORD]

Is Futura they guy rapping on the Clash's Overpowed by Funk? If so I dig it.

my favourite things

http://mfthings.blogspot.com/

[erl1580]

nice one edwin. where were you able to get that from and for how much? seems hard as hell to get original works by him. heres one circa 1986- http://www.downlowsf.com/dlfut2.jpg