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Mike Baca / 2ESAE – Solo Show and Fundraiser
Special guest performance by Large Professor
L.A.S.E.R. Tag after-party
October 22nd, 2007, 6:00-9:00PM
@Eyebeam
540 West 21st Street
New York, New York
Free

On October 24th Mike Baca is going to jail. He may not be free again for seven years. All for writing his name, 2ESAE. Mike is being made an example by the city of New York. The latest of many in the cities 35 year war against graffiti. But Mike is not just another example in our community. He is one of the best graffiti writers in New York City. An artist and fashion designer, his talents are sought after by cutting-edge music video directors and legendary hip-hop artists. At just 23 years old, Mike’s work has been featured in numerous publications, websites and movies, like the New York Times, Bomb it, and Esquire. His work in the street speaks for itself.

For too long graffiti has existed in two opposed worlds at the same time. Street-culture brands have made a fortune off graffiti, Swoon is in the MoMA and Banksy is the biggest artist in the world, no matter how many diamonds Damien Hirst puts in his skull. More importantly millions of people love and are inspired by the work of artists like Mike and his crew ACC. Millions of others simply tolerate or ignore it. Yet some politicians and judges still treat these artist like violent criminals and sentence them to disproportionately harsh jail terms. In NYC, they selectively target lower-income writers who cant afford lawyers in order to meet graffiti quotas and substantiate their political careers. Graffiti is a crime. But in most cases it can be cleaned up with a bucket of paint. The costly and ineffective punishment does not fit the crime.

Mike is going to jail for 3-months for a graffiti conviction in Brooklyn. While in prison he will have to mount a case against a 43 count indictment where he may be sentenced to up to 7 years in prison with only the counsel of a court-appointed legal aid lawyer. Come support Mike and the graffiti community in a fundraiser for his legal defense. Mike will be selling his own canvases and clothing line. Special guest performance by legendary musician Large Professor and the debut screening of the newest Styles P video. L.A.S.E.R. Tag after-party. Free 2esae.

Thanks to Large Professor, Dan Melamid and Eyebeam for helping to make this happen.