Robot_Apocolypse Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 http://www.SupportKET.org http://youtube.com/watch?v=0ndEMi-9EFQ Alain Maridueña (better known as Alan Ket) grew up between Jackson Heights, Miami and Brooklyn. He is the first born to his parents, both immigrants from Latin America. A native of Ecuador, Alain's father came to New York and landed a job as a machinist in Astoria - a far cry from his family's home in Guayaquil. His mother emigrated from Cuba with the rest of her family and landed in Washington Heights like the other Cubans in the '60s. Alain was raised by his mother and grandparents in the Latino enclave of Jackson Heights until the age of seven, when he moved to Miami. As a child, Alain passed his time with Spider-Man comics, Hot Wheels cars and an equal dose of TV like the Smurfs and Happy Days. At 10 Alain returned to Brooklyn to live with his dad. Summers in Brooklyn meant playing sports, learning how to breakdance and copying Bruce Lee moves. Midwood High School was the backdrop to Alain's teen years in Brooklyn. His goal was to pursue his interest in science and leave the neighborhood that was exploding with crime, drugs and escalating violence. Working his way through high school, Alain forfeited baseball and lacrosse with the other kids to help with the household bills and his own expenses. It was during these years of taking the 5 train to school that Alain fell in love with graffiti art and the soundtrack of his Brooklyn neighborhood sparked his love for Hip Hop music. After high school, he moved out on his own to escape the domestic abuse at home. It was during these years that Alain became known in the graffiti world as a serious artist and outspoken political activist. He went on to study at Borough of Manhattan Community College, eventually earning a scholarship to both Vassar and New York University, where he completed his studies in graphic communication technology and management in 1996. While at New York University, he married, had a daughter and started his first business, Stress Magazine. With this venture, Alain combined his NYU education with his passion to communicate the urban experience of young people of color who participated in Hip Hop culture. During Stress' existence (1995-2000), Alain and the magazine became known as advocates for prisoner's rights, political prisoners, journalists of color and against police brutality. Above all, the magazine gave the Hip Hop movement an outlet for firsthand experiences by employing non-traditional writers and participants of the culture. Stress spawned the Hip Hop journal, Elementary, and Black August, an organization to support political prisoners in exile. The years of working for a meager wage and the long work hours took a toll on Alain and his family. By the end of 1999, he and his wife separated. In 2000, Stress closed its doors forever and Alain went on to start a new magazine, Complex, for his friend Marc Ecko of Ecko Unlimited. At this point, Alain had become a magazine publishing expert and took advantage of his entrepreneurial training in order to better provide for his family. He welcomed his son into the world in 2001. Now divorced, Alain threw himself into his work, including lecturing and painting around the world on the topics of graffiti history and Hip Hop entrepreneurism. He lectured at such prestigious universities as Princeton, Brown, Berkeley and Wesleyan. He also painted and exhibited work around the world in cities such as Munich, Zurich, Copenhagen and Amsterdam. By 2003, Alain started working with fashion brands Azzure Denim and Indigo Red as Vice President of MarAlaining and Advertising, helping the company become a leader in the urban fashion category. During his time there, he consulted for Marc Ecko on his video game venture and the launch of the video game, Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. Alain served as the lead environment and graffiti consultant, making sure that the game was authentic and inclusive of the world's graffiti art pioneers. He was able to contract over 75 artists to work with him to create the art for the game. In 2005, Alain branched off to work for himself again, founding From Here to Fame LLC, a book publishing, content development and art agency. Since then, he has worked with a diverse group of clients like MTV, Lugz, Atari, Vibe magazine and Mountain Dew. That year he also curated Marc Ecko's block party, an event that paid tribute to graffiti pioneers and the cause of much controversy when New York's Mayor Bloomberg decided to revoke the event's permit. After a heavily publicized court battle, the City was forced to reinstate the permit and the event was a huge success. This was the beginning of a strained relationship with local politicians because of Ecko and Alain's public pro-graffiti stance. Today, he continues to promote Hip Hop and graffiti culture through the three book titles he has published thus far: Street Play, Hip Hop Files and The Nasty Terrible T-Kid 170. Alain continues to be active in preserving New York and urban art history by documenting the art scene in lectures, magazines like Mass Appeal and the upcoming book, The History of New York Subway Graffiti. At the time of his arrest in October 2006, Alain was working on eight different books on graffiti and fashion. He suffered a major setback as a result of the police confiscating his archives and computers. Alain is not only a parent, but also an uncle to two nieces and a nephew. He is an elder in his family and provides guidance and support to his parents, siblings and cousins. He volunteers his time in his community and to his friends. For many, he is a connector, a person with extensive contacts that is never unwilling to share resources and ideas. To others, he is just a busy and determined man, always looking to build on a new project or talk politics. When he isn't working, you can usually find him in the park walking his two dogs. THE FACTS What Happened? In October 2006, a Special Investigations Unit of the New York Police Department performed a search of writer, artist and publisher Alain KET Maridueña's From Here to Fame (FHTF) home office. They seized documents, computers, art supplies and equipment used in publishing three of FHTF's titles. The seized materials included historical photos being used for an upcoming book on the history of New York City's graffiti movement, images for a book being published with Michael O'Mara books from London and slide shows for university lectures. As an artist, historian and journalist, all of the materials seized are used for work purposes and pose no risk to anyone. The seized property was to be analyzed and, if deemed criminal by the District Attorney's office, indictments would be handed down. In March 2007, police returned to Alain's home to arrest him on criminal mischief charges, violating an agreement that Alain's lawyer, Daniel Perez, and the District Attorney worked out for Alain to voluntarily surrender. At the time, Alain was out of town and the Brooklyn District Attorney's office was forced to work with Perez to arrange for Alain to surrender to face formal indictment charges in three separate counties. On March TK, 2007, Alain turned himself into the Brooklyn District Attorney's office and was charged with three counts of criminal mischief in the second degree, a class D felony. After being released on his own recognizance by the judge, Alain was re-arrested and taken to Manhattan to be formally indicted there. On his way out of the courthouse, photographers snapped photographs of Alain which indicate that the case was larger than previously imagined. Alain spent the night in jail in Manhattan before seeing Judge Yates in the morning. The charges in Manhattan amounted to nine separate charges ranging from criminal mischief in the second degree to possession of graffiti tools. Unlike the Brooklyn judge who released Alain on his own recognizance, Yates granted the District Attorney's request for $50,000 bail. For the next week, Alain sat in jail coordinating with friends and family to raise the needed bail money. Queens County's indictment was still pending. On March TK, 2007, Alain was transported from his cell in the Manhattan correctional facility to a Queens court to face indictment. In this case, the judge did not grant the District Attorney's request for $50,000 bail and instead reduced the bail to $10,000. From Queens, Alain was transported back to his cell in Manhattan until all the bail money could be raised. He was finally released on March TK, a full week after surrendering to the District Attorney. Today, Alain faces a possible 20 years in prison in what has become increasingly clear is a politically motivated attempt to silence a writer, publisher, historian and artist whose work popularizes an art form criminalized by city government policy. What Were Alains Charges? The following is a breakdown of the charges faced by Alain Maridueña in New York City as of 4-12-07. Re: People v. Mariduena, Ind. No. 849-2007 (New York County) People v. Mariduena, Ind. No. 1730-2007 (Kings County) People v. Mariduena, Dkt. No. 2007QNO13440 (Queens County) Kings County 2 counts: Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree – Class D felony Queens County 1 count: Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree – Class D felony New York County 7 counts: Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, in violation of penal law 145.10 – Class D felony 2 counts: Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree – Class E felony, in violation of penal law 145.05(2) 1 count: Possession of graffiti tools, in violation of penal law 145.65 – Misdemeanor Any 2nd degree conviction carries a sentence of between 1 to 3 years (minimum) and 2 1/3 to 7 years (maximum). Why is he being charged in three different counties? Alain is being charged in separate counties because the incidents of alleged graffiti he is being charged with took place in the three separate counties over a few years span. It is New York City policy to prosecute criminal cases in the borough that the crime was committed. Why is graffiti a felony? Graffiti is a felony when the estimated damage to the property exceeds $1,500 US dollars. This became law in the 80s when the City of New York was trying to combat the wave of graffiti that existed on the subway trains. Rather than create programs to educate the youth offenders, the city decided to further criminalize the act in order to be able to ask for jail time for offenders. Before this, graffiti was a misdemeanor crime punishable by fine or community service or both. What's the worst that could happen to Alain? Alain can be convicted at trial and receive a sentence of 3-7 years for each felony count he is charged with. The case against Alain KET Maridueña is precedent-setting and the outcome will determine whether artists, journalists, intellectuals and anyone exercising their right to free speech can, in fundamental violation of the United States Constitution, be criminalized merely for their ideas. Like other cases that challenge our democracy, this is a test case for how far the government can reach, unopposed, into colleges, universities, museums and even our homes to silence free speech, thought and inquiry. The issues are fundamental – freedom of speech, freedom of expression and academic freedom – and defending these rights is vital. Does Alain have a criminal record? Alain has a clean record with no felony convictions WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Get more information about setting up outreach events, donating to Alain's legal defense, and spreading the word about his case here. We hope that this helps answer any questions you may have had. Thanks for your support. WAYS TO HELP Visit http://www.supportket.org/ways_to_help.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ape Shit Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greensleeves Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 doooon't care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAJ Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Sooooo...when does the 100 post requirement go into effect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLIK$ Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 shoulda figured a bunch of herbs wouldnt get the idea of supporting a real writer. aside from that i dont really know if this is the right place for this. possibly crossfire? *moved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawood Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 correct me if I'm wrong, but ....you probably don't care because you don't paint..... I did a year back in 95 for graff because the transit police played dirty dawg on me. Before that , it was unheard of for writers to get time, They made an example out of me. They charged me in 11 different courts and since then writers in my area have been getting time. So, I can see why you don't care....just don't paint anything , don't care about anything and go nite nite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLIK$ Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 If that was directed at me, youre pretty far off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fist 666 Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 glik, i don't think that was directed at you. thats fucked up. i don't paint and i still care. graffiti is a huge part of my personal history and the more documentation of this art form the better, esp. the new york area--where ever you're from NY graf has affected you, seriously... like dawood said, and the "article" explains, this will set precedence for future trials--possibly yours--so give a fuck, because when its your ass on the line, i'd laugh knowing all you had to say about this was "don't care"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLIK$ Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 there's also another large case being built and going with another well known NYC graffiti writer and crewmate of mine for clean trains, although not as highly publicized. Being told hes going to face 18 to 36 months for writing a fake name on trains. Being charged like some rapist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fist 666 Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 another thought before i go to bed: say this wasn't KET and it was RAVEN... as i see it what KET was doing isn't much different than anyone involved in publishing/getting flics/remembering this game. this shit affects you all, maybe not some of the channel zero folk... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CILONE/SK Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 When people started getting arrested for serious quite a few ago, I made a point of not keeping shit at my house at all. If you are in a city, they will/might raid and all that is evidence against you. Be safe and store your shit someplace else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Jefe Uno Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Faces possible 20 years? Man, that's fucked up This pisses me off and scares the hell out of me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLIK$ Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 NYC Vandal Squad will do you dirty no how small the charge. They'll go out and write people's names over other people, they'll go online and start beef, they'll anonymously rag pieces, they'll pretend they have search warrants for things completely unrelated, go to someones house and convince their families/them to let them into the home to search and seize. They make shit personal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CILONE/SK Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Yes they do. Because even if you get off the charges, they at least made you broke from lawyers and more then likely severly jacked up your life. Win win for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILOTSMYBRAIN Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Which should scare every writer in NYC, is that this is going to do is set a precedent. I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more writer's getting time like this if he loses in trial. Here's hoping for the best for Ket, and every other writer in NYC for that matter. :( Hooked on phonexxx workeed forr meh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NayS Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 20 years? It clearly says he is facing from 3-7 years in the article.:( it clearly states for each offence aswell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CILONE/SK Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Noone ever gets max sentence for small crimes like that. Look at Paris Hilton and cases like that. Jails are way too crowded in big cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Galt Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 On a 20 year sentence he might serve a total of six, maybe seven, then get paroled. Yes, it sucks for him and for any other writer that gets busted, but at the same time, when are we going to admit that WE ARE CRIMINALS? Why do people paint if they aren't willing to lose everything for it? If you have a family and you're out bombing rooftops every night, you had better be prepared for the possibility of sending your kids a note saying, "These are the hours you can come visit me." Life has consequences. Deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLIK$ Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 um im pretty sure no one is trying make us out to be philanthropists, but thats not the fact here. The fact is hes facing more time than most convicted violent crime criminals for writing a fake name on trains. Doing 3 months on the boat or in Rykers for graff is really nothing new to most of us who have put in work. We all know what we're getting into, especially when it comes to the New York Vandal Squad Nazis goin hardbody. But the fact that an organization has gotten so much power to put a man into hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt because of some bullshit charges, hidden agendas, personal "vendettas", and to crucify/make an example out of Ket in order to try and swing the pendulum into their favor because they're losing a war they've been fighting for 25 years. get your head out of your ass, deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawood Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Nah, that wasn't directed at you glik0 . It was directed at the ones who said "I don't Care" at the beginning of the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatetown Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 couple of homeys were gone for about a year for graff related bullshit. sucks, but thats the price you pay to play the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatetown Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 and this is a reason why i have no blackbooks, no photos, or really anything graff related just sitting around my house..keep all that shit in a box or cabinet with a lock on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERIZENO Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Ok am I wrong in this .... He wasnt writing currently they just raided him and are trying to charge him with some older shit? Or shit that was done in his name by someone else, something to that effect right? The thought of a former writer who has moved on to document the art form being pressed by the law to keep the documentation from being in the public relm is scary big brother type shit. A good chunk of people on this site were made aware of and became intrested this art from the documentation that took place in the 80's and 90's. Style Wars, Subay Art, Spraycan Art ... jut the tip of the iceberg. If they do get a conviction that puts me in a similar category which isnt cool at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serum Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 yeah thats my impression is that he is getting busted not in the act but after the fact of raiding his house finding pics and then prosecuting him. i dont know the whole story but i wish him good luck. i dont think the charges will stick but it sucks to be in that situation none the less, worrying about your freedom, loss of property, and lawyer fees. seems pretty cold hearted not to care about someone that is doing the same shit as you. you probably have or will own one of his books in the future but could careless how it got there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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