The Public Animals
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The Public Animals (also known as TPA), founded in late 1976 to early 1977 by VADE, JOEY TC and DEMO, became the largest, longest-lasting spray-paint crew in graffiti history. It (TPA) still thrives today under the leadership of "JOEY", TPA and his chosen leadership structure.
JOEY TPA is the last remaining semi-active founder. His graffiti career began in New York City at the age of 10 years and grew to the more serious level of "train-hitting" in 1976, the year of the United States bicentennial. He quickly started following in the footsteps of the first generation writers and became very instrumental in recruiting other writers from the Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens regions of New York City. In 1980-1981, he retired to pursue his fortunes elsewhere. Much of TPA's origins can be recounted by hundreds of artists who became members of this band. DEMO is occasionally seen at infrequent graffiti gatherings in New York City, such as the "Old Timer's Day" party in Long Island City, former site of the old and famous Phun Factory. VADE (rip) had an early passing and has been fondly remembered by all the surviving members as a fearless and talented originator of the TPA crew.
Today, in the twenty-first century, TPA has re-emerged into the graffiti scene on a different level. Rather than being a practicioner, JOEY has assembled portions of his old crew for large-scale productions on a legal basis. Events include The Meeting of Styles, and Write for Gold. It seems that his motivation is similar to his inspiration in his youthful career as a fledgling writer; to bring people together, regardless of the usual divisive lines among the general public. He truly seems to be more interested in using the "language of style" (his words, not mine) to help unify urban youth on a global basis with the aid of the internet and other modern means of communication.
As the corporate CEO and Founder of TPA Productions LLC, it would appear that the young graffiti writer of yesterday has succeeded in fulfilling his goal today, roughly thirty years later. JOEY TPA has assembled notable writers from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Chechnya, as well as multiple other countries in an effort to expand the original message of TPA: "One World, One Love". The selective recruitment of members is also prevalent in U.S. cities, most notably, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston and Seattle.
TPA has seemingly re-emerged as an upcoming powerhouse in the graffiti/commercial/fashion world under the leadership of this original writer who helped found the original (TPA) band of graffiti-writing kids in New York City. TPA has gone from urban New York City to All-World status under him.
