Steve Powers – A Love Letter For You

In 1984 Steve Powers started climbing rooftops in his neighborhood and painting his alias ESPO as a dues paying member of the ICY graffiti club. 25 years later he returned home to Philadelphia in the summer of 2009 to write a love letter across the same rooftops facing the Market-Frankford line. The letter, meant for one, with meaning for all, encompasses 50 walls on a 20 block stretch of market street. Drawing input, inspiration, and work from the community Powers created a letter to and from west Philly. This unprecedented public art project was a collaboration of Powers, The Mural Arts Program, and the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. It required 1200 cans of spray paint, 800 gallons of bucket paint, and the skilled hands of 20 of the finest spray painters in America, who Powers put into the legendary ICY club.

“A Love Letter For You – Brick Valentines On The Philly Skyline” documents the art and the neighborhood that inspired this ambitious public art project.

Get the book here

Source: Revok’s Blog

One Comment

  1. v.keller says:
    April 14, 2010 at 2:50 pm

    I saw this show, took the official Mural Arts Program tour which is every Saturday morning = http://www.muralarts.org/whatwedo/special/loveletter/
    or you could just do your own train tour or do street level on your bike or whatever. It is really awesome and the book is totally gorgeous. Get out there and do it, you won’t be sorry.

Comment on this Article

Recent Comments

  • T.I.T.S. (Two In The Shirt) Interview
    sarina elias: ^^^^^^ don't hate on the T.I.T.S brand i think there the best thing making these sexy yet controversial T's not only v=can men wear them but... View Comment
  • Banksy BP Dauphin Ride
    Cafe Dunaway: Clever message! I wonder if most people will even notice that or will just be more thrilled that it's a FREE ride, which as we all know do n... View Comment
  • Painting of the Week No. 101
    keas: O and who did Askew Bite it from? fucking Smash, at a certain point he did that 'kracking' stuff....... View Comment
  • Painting of the Week No. 101
    keas: So? Guess who Rime bites it from? that whole fatcap suggestive style, phhhh Askew straight up.... View Comment
  • Make One Interview
    So Baaaaad: Was that really Cope2 responding to Make One? Haha, that is soap opera dramatic, dude.... View Comment

Upcoming Events

  • Dabs and Myla – “Earth-Shaking” Dabs and Myla – “Earth-Shaking”

    The graffiti artists Dabs and Myla have a brand new show opening on September 3rd called “Earth-Shaking”. The art show will be held from September 3rd to September 24th at Thinkspace Gallery in Culver City, Los Angeles. Here’s a preview video of the two graffiti artists.

  • Can You Rock 2010 Can You Rock 2010

    Can You Rock is a annual international graffiti jam held in Montreal, Quebec. This year’s event will be held on September 1st to September 6th, 2010. For more information check out: www.canyourock.org

  • 2010 Vice LA Photo Show 2010 Vice LA Photo Show

    Scion presents this year’s Vice Photo show happening in Los Angeles. They’ve put together 20 of their favorite photographers who’ve been featured in the Vice magazine over the years and are cramming them together in a gallery so we can look at all their pictures in one place. The show opens on August 14th and [...]

  • Under Pressure 2010 Under Pressure 2010

    Under Pressure is one of the biggest outdoor Canadian graffiti hip hop events held each year. This year Under Pressure will take place August 14th – August 15th in Montreal. The event hosts live graffiti, emcees, deejays, bboys, bgirls and skateboarding. For more information about the event check out www.underpressure.ca.