BLAZE

BLAZE: The Birth of Oakland Graffiti is a firsthand account of graffiti in Oakland and Berkeley from 1983 to 1990. Steven Johnson, who painted as BLAZE, began writing in 1983 and tells how he learned letterforms and developed his own style among the writers working in the East Bay.

The book pairs his recollections with original photographs and pages from his blackbooks, documenting pieces, spots and moments from a city that was changing around them. It also gathers stories of the crews and early writers of the Oakland and Berkeley scene.

The expanded edition runs 208 full-color pages in an 8.5 by 11 inch format, in hardcover and paperback.