Shot

In just about every movie set in New York City in the 1970s and 80s there's an establishing shot with a graffiti-covered subway.
For city officials, train graffiti was a sign that they had lost control. So, starting in the early 70s, mayors of New York vowed to eradicate graffiti. First, Mayor John Lindsey formed the first anti-graffiti task force.  He also re-classified graffiti from a nuisance, like littering or loitering, into a crime.
In 1984 David Gunn became President of the New York City Transit Authority.
Systemically, train line by train line, Gunn took the subways off the map for graffiti writers. While they were fixing it, they didn’t allow any graffiti on it. If graffiti artists “bombed” a train car, the MTA pulled it from the system. Even during rush hour.
May 12, 1989 was declared the official day of the city's victory over train graffiti.
But of course train graffiti has never stopped.
There is still subway graffiti—it just never leaves the train yards. Artists—many of them from abroad—paint subway cars knowing full well that they will get cleaned before they're ever seen by the public.

99% Invisible-117- Clean Trains

Sleep Rules Everything Around Me

Get it on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/quinine / Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ay5m0W / Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2b7c8KQ

Dessa just released a brand new single called "Quinine"!!! The track was produced by Paper Tiger with co-production by Lazerbeak and additional production from Dessa herself (shout out to that sweet marimba). A true family affair and ultimate collabo heat knocker in every sense. This is the first new bit of recorded music that Dessa has released since 2013's Parts of Speech album and hints at way more to come.

Written and performed by Dessa
Produced by Paper Tiger
Co-produced by Lazerbeak
Additional production by Dessa

Mixed by Joe Mabbott at the Hideaway
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic

Photo by Bill Phelps

Quinine

Quinine - Single

Buy on iTunes

Dessa "Quinine"

A collection of every #1 song on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks (now known as "Alternative Songs"), from Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Peek-a-Boo" to Of Monster's and Men's "Little Talks" -- which became the 300th #1 on the chart in July 2012.

5 Seconds of Every #1 on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks (1988-2012)

E-flat major: Master of the Universe

A tiny radio show about design, architecture &amp; the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world.

http://99percentinvisible.org/

New episodes every Wednesday.

On the radio on 91.7 KALW in San Francisco. Fridays at 7:35am and 4:30pm, Saturdays at 8:35am.  And public radio stations across the country.

Created by Roman Mars.


99% Invisible-117- Clean Trains

Roman Mars

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