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Phase 2 (artist)

March 17, 2024

This article is about the graffiti artist. For other uses, see Phase II (disambiguation).

Michael Lawrence Marrow (August 2, 1955 – December 12, 2019),[1] known as PHASE 2 and Lonny Wood, was an American aerosol paint artist based in New York City. Mostly active in the 1970s, Phase 2 is generally credited with originating the "bubble letter" style of aerosol writing, also known as "softies".

Phase 2
PHASE 2 in 1999
Born
Michael Lawrence Marrow

(1955-08-02)August 2, 1955
New York City, U.S.
DiedDecember 12, 2019(2019-12-12) (aged 64)
New York City, U.S.

Early life edit

Born to the late John Thomas Marrow and Adele Crichlow Marrow. He was a native of The Bronx, New York City, and attended DeWitt Clinton High School. Many famous graffiti writers of the early 1970s would meet at a doughnut shop across from the school before heading down to the 149th Street–Grand Concourse station to watch tagged trains on the IRT subway lines pass.[2]

He began writing in late 1971 under the name Phase 2.[3] Part of the appeal of aerosol writing for Phase 2 was that it allowed him to get his "name" known, yet remain anonymous.[4] He noted later that tagging provided disadvantaged urban teens "the only significant vehicle to represent their existence."[5]

Career edit

 
Example of a PHASE 2 piece on a subway car, utilizing the bubble letter style.

In late 1972, Phase 2 first used an early version of the "bubble letter" or "softie", a style of writing which would become extremely influential and is considered a "giant leap" in the art form.[6] The puffed-out, marshmallow-like letters drawn by Phase 2 were soon copied by other artists who added their own variations. Phase 2 quickly embellished on his original form, creating and naming dozens of varieties of softies, such as "phasemagorical phantastic" (bubble letters with stars), "bubble cloud", and "bubble drip".[7] He described the thrill of tagging subway cars as "impact expressionalism".[1] He is also credited with having pioneered the use of arrows in graffiti writing around this same time.[8] Hip-hop journalist Jeff Chang has noted that Phase 2's canvasses from 1973 have "been widely recognized as defining the early genre."[9]

Over time Phase's work become more complex, moving away from the simple tags of the early 1970s to "hieroglyphical calligraphic abstraction."[4] In 1975, he joined the newly created United Graffiti Artists, a professional aerosol writer collective that began to attract media attention. He was featured in an essay on graffiti art by Richard Goldstein, which appeared in New York magazine.[6]

In 1986, Phase 2 became the art director of International Get Hip Times, the first 'zine about aerosol culture.[10]

Phase participated in hip-hop shows organized by Kool Lady Blue during the summer of 1982 at The Roxy in Chelsea, Manhattan. These shows brought together the top DJ's, rappers, break-dancers, and aerosol artists from the South Bronx and introduced hip-hop music and culture to the downtown punk and new wave scenes. Phase 2 designed the flyers for these events and often created aerosol pieces live on stage.[11] He was also part of the first "international" hip-hop tour when stars from the Roxy performances toured in England and France.[12]

In 1982, as part of his involvement with the Roxy scene, Phase 2 released two rap singles. "Beach Boy" was a collaboration with Barry Michael Cooper, who later wrote the script for New Jack City. "The Roxy" featured the Bill Laswell-led group, Material, and Grand Mixer DXT.[13][14]

Phase 2 was also a b-boy and claimed that his dance crew pioneered the uprock (or "battle rock") style of dance, despite claims that it originated in Brooklyn.[13]

Along with Michael Holman, Phase 2 helped form the pioneering break dance crew, The New York City Breakers, and gave the crew their name. Phase 2 made numerous flyers for Holman's hip hop events and many other hip hop events, and was the first person to use the term "hip hop" on a flyer. Holman: "Phase 2 was a good friend and a good person who cared deeply for other people and the culture (hip hop, aerosol/graffiti) he was greatly responsible for creating. He spent a lot of time educating people like me who were eager to learn more about hip hop culture, back in the early 1980s. He will be missed, dearly."

Phase 2 was the first to create a large-scale, three-dimensional graffiti/aerosol sculpture. The piece stood over 6 feet high and was made of brushed steel. The sculpture stood for years in the Jacob Javits Center. It was accidentally removed and destroyed during a reconstruction of the center.

Though he did not have a role in the production, Phase 2 did apparently influence the classic early hip-hop movie Wild Style. In the DVD commentary for the film, director Charlie Ahearn explained that, when thinking about the key character named "Phade", he had Phase 2 in mind. The role was played by Fab 5 Freddy, also a graffiti artist. Phase 2 later worked as a consultant on the 1984 movie, Beat Street.[15]

Personal life edit

Marrow died on December 12, 2019, at age 64 in New York City, after suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[16]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (December 20, 2019). "Phase 2, an Aerosol Art Innovator, Is Dead at 64". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ^ Castleman, p85.
  3. ^ "GrAfFiTi". Archived from the original on March 13, 2004. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Maizels, John. . Raw Vision. Archived from the original on August 16, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  5. ^ Christen, Richard (Fall 2003). "Hip Hop Learning: Graffiti as an Educator of Urban Teenagers". Educational Foundations. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  6. ^ a b "History, Subway Writing, 1969-89". Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  7. ^ Castleman, p56.
  8. ^ Woodward, Jason Dax (June 13, 1999). . Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  9. ^ Chang, p153.
  10. ^ "Graffiti Glossary". Graffiti.org. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  11. ^ Chang, 174.
  12. ^ Chang, 182-84.
  13. ^ a b "Interview with Phase 2". Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  14. ^ . Archived from the original on September 16, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  15. ^ "Beat Street Behind the Scenes". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  16. ^ "Hip Hop Mourns Death Of Legendary Graffiti Writer PHASE 2". HipHopDX. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019.

Works cited edit

External links edit

  • Adam Mansbach interview with PHASE 2

March 17, 2024
phase, artist, this, article, about, graffiti, artist, other, uses, phase, disambiguation, michael, lawrence, marrow, august, 1955, december, 2019, known, phase, lonny, wood, american, aerosol, paint, artist, based, york, city, mostly, active, 1970s, phase, ge. This article is about the graffiti artist For other uses see Phase II disambiguation Michael Lawrence Marrow August 2 1955 December 12 2019 1 known as PHASE 2 and Lonny Wood was an American aerosol paint artist based in New York City Mostly active in the 1970s Phase 2 is generally credited with originating the bubble letter style of aerosol writing also known as softies Phase 2PHASE 2 in 1999BornMichael Lawrence Marrow 1955 08 02 August 2 1955New York City U S DiedDecember 12 2019 2019 12 12 aged 64 New York City U S Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 Works cited 6 External linksEarly life editBorn to the late John Thomas Marrow and Adele Crichlow Marrow He was a native of The Bronx New York City and attended DeWitt Clinton High School Many famous graffiti writers of the early 1970s would meet at a doughnut shop across from the school before heading down to the 149th Street Grand Concourse station to watch tagged trains on the IRT subway lines pass 2 He began writing in late 1971 under the name Phase 2 3 Part of the appeal of aerosol writing for Phase 2 was that it allowed him to get his name known yet remain anonymous 4 He noted later that tagging provided disadvantaged urban teens the only significant vehicle to represent their existence 5 Career edit nbsp Example of a PHASE 2 piece on a subway car utilizing the bubble letter style In late 1972 Phase 2 first used an early version of the bubble letter or softie a style of writing which would become extremely influential and is considered a giant leap in the art form 6 The puffed out marshmallow like letters drawn by Phase 2 were soon copied by other artists who added their own variations Phase 2 quickly embellished on his original form creating and naming dozens of varieties of softies such as phasemagorical phantastic bubble letters with stars bubble cloud and bubble drip 7 He described the thrill of tagging subway cars as impact expressionalism 1 He is also credited with having pioneered the use of arrows in graffiti writing around this same time 8 Hip hop journalist Jeff Chang has noted that Phase 2 s canvasses from 1973 have been widely recognized as defining the early genre 9 Over time Phase s work become more complex moving away from the simple tags of the early 1970s to hieroglyphical calligraphic abstraction 4 In 1975 he joined the newly created United Graffiti Artists a professional aerosol writer collective that began to attract media attention He was featured in an essay on graffiti art by Richard Goldstein which appeared in New York magazine 6 In 1986 Phase 2 became the art director of International Get Hip Times the first zine about aerosol culture 10 Phase participated in hip hop shows organized by Kool Lady Blue during the summer of 1982 at The Roxy in Chelsea Manhattan These shows brought together the top DJ s rappers break dancers and aerosol artists from the South Bronx and introduced hip hop music and culture to the downtown punk and new wave scenes Phase 2 designed the flyers for these events and often created aerosol pieces live on stage 11 He was also part of the first international hip hop tour when stars from the Roxy performances toured in England and France 12 In 1982 as part of his involvement with the Roxy scene Phase 2 released two rap singles Beach Boy was a collaboration with Barry Michael Cooper who later wrote the script for New Jack City The Roxy featured the Bill Laswell led group Material and Grand Mixer DXT 13 14 Phase 2 was also a b boy and claimed that his dance crew pioneered the uprock or battle rock style of dance despite claims that it originated in Brooklyn 13 Along with Michael Holman Phase 2 helped form the pioneering break dance crew The New York City Breakers and gave the crew their name Phase 2 made numerous flyers for Holman s hip hop events and many other hip hop events and was the first person to use the term hip hop on a flyer Holman Phase 2 was a good friend and a good person who cared deeply for other people and the culture hip hop aerosol graffiti he was greatly responsible for creating He spent a lot of time educating people like me who were eager to learn more about hip hop culture back in the early 1980s He will be missed dearly Phase 2 was the first to create a large scale three dimensional graffiti aerosol sculpture The piece stood over 6 feet high and was made of brushed steel The sculpture stood for years in the Jacob Javits Center It was accidentally removed and destroyed during a reconstruction of the center Though he did not have a role in the production Phase 2 did apparently influence the classic early hip hop movie Wild Style In the DVD commentary for the film director Charlie Ahearn explained that when thinking about the key character named Phade he had Phase 2 in mind The role was played by Fab 5 Freddy also a graffiti artist Phase 2 later worked as a consultant on the 1984 movie Beat Street 15 Personal life editMarrow died on December 12 2019 at age 64 in New York City after suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 16 References edit a b Caramanica Jon December 20 2019 Phase 2 an Aerosol Art Innovator Is Dead at 64 The New York Times via NYTimes com Castleman p85 GrAfFiTi Archived from the original on March 13 2004 Retrieved September 21 2007 a b Maizels John Writer of the Storm Raw Vision Archived from the original on August 16 2007 Retrieved September 21 2007 Christen Richard Fall 2003 Hip Hop Learning Graffiti as an Educator of Urban Teenagers Educational Foundations Retrieved September 21 2007 a b History Subway Writing 1969 89 Retrieved September 20 2007 Castleman p56 Woodward Jason Dax June 13 1999 How to read Writing Archived from the original on October 24 2007 Retrieved September 21 2007 Chang p153 Graffiti Glossary Graffiti org Retrieved September 21 2007 Chang 174 Chang 182 84 a b Interview with Phase 2 Retrieved September 21 2007 The Bill Laswell Discography 1982 Archived from the original on September 16 2007 Retrieved September 20 2007 Beat Street Behind the Scenes Retrieved July 20 2009 Hip Hop Mourns Death Of Legendary Graffiti Writer PHASE 2 HipHopDX December 12 2019 Retrieved December 14 2019 Works cited editGeorge Nelson 2001 Buppies B boys Baps amp Bohos Notes on Post Soul Black Culture Da Capo Press ISBN 0 306 81027 1 Chang Jeff 2005 Can t Stop Won t Stop A History of the Hip Hop Generation Picador ISBN 0 312 42579 1 Castleman Craig 1982 Getting Up Subway Graffiti in New York MIT Press ISBN 0 262 53051 1 External links editAdam Mansbach interview with PHASE 2 Writer of the Storm Raw Vision interview with PHASE 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phase 2 artist amp oldid 1148060304, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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