“The Dogtown Collection” took decades to put together. #k5evening
EVERETT, Wash. — Behind the walls of an old Masonic Temple in Everett hangs a small sample of a collection that’s the largest of its kind in the world.
“Graffiti is the only art that modern North America, the United States, has put forth through the art genre to the world. Everything else came from somewhere else,” said John Carswell.
Carswell began reaching out to graffiti artists in the early 2000’s after learning that decades-old works were being whitewashed away.
“We would send back canvases and tell them what we were looking for. And what we were looking for is not what you’re doing now, we’re looking for what did you do? What was your most famous piece when you were getting up at 14 years old? So they would do that on canvas for us and roll it back and send it.”
Now known as the “Dogtown Collection,” this assembly of graffiti on canvas prints numbers into the thousands – by works of some of the most influential artists of the last five decades.
“Most people see the genre a little more like the tagging, single color, bubble letter, vandalism, essentially. Most people don’t see just how technical it is. The guys that have really moved this into an art form that very, very few people can do in the whole world,” said Carswell. “I’ve got pieces now that look like a photograph, and it’s all done with a spray can. Every single piece that we have in our collection is all done with spray, just aerosol spray cans.”
The collection has become a family affair, with John’s oldest daughter now curating the rotating pieces on display.
“I’m excited to be able to show my love of the artists and the artwork. I’m excited to be able to share the stories of these guys,” said Glorianne “Baby G” Carswell.
In this collection, graffiti is more than paint on walls – it’s the preservation of an art form that is all American.
“That talent is now on canvas here for art, people that enjoy art and students to be able to see for hopefully the next 200 years,” John Carswell said.
The Dogtown Collection is available for private tours. For info contact: babyg@thedogtowncollection.com.
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