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SEEN leaving the HOLLYWOOD sign on his way back to Da Bronx 1985

 

 

In 1984 "Blade 1" and I went to Hollywood, California on a mission to leave our mark. We bombed from Venice Beach to the Sunset Strip. We even decided to throw Hollywood a bonus and tag the Hollywood Star Tour Buses run by the famous Manns Chinese Theater. When I saw one of the buses drive past one day, I turned to BLADE and said, "those Rustoleum National Blue Buses need some color", he agreed and we planned to pay a visit to the bus depot. With KRYLON White spray paint and a 6 inch Fat Cap, we painted the buses with full sided tags which read "SEEN and BLADE from DA BRONX" complete with a cloud. We hit every side on every bus in the depot that night. We would fight for fronts of each bus, but that was only natural being writers and wanting the better spots.

 

The following morning on the flight back home, all I could think about was the "HOLLYWOOD" sign. To me, that was Hollywood's prize possession and we didn't hit it! I knew then I had unfinished business in California and I would be back. A few months later I returned to Hollywood alone to put the icing on the cake. My sole mission this time around was to paint the Hollywood sign.

 

I planned to proceed with my mission on my first night there not to waste anytime. There were some small trees and some 6 foot weeds that would be in my way, so I got the tools that I would need to pull the job off, a saw, weed whacker and most importantly the paint. The colors I decided to use were Red, Black, and Silver. I chose Silver as my fill in color because I wasn't sure how much time I had to paint and Silver would cover quickly.

 

I waited until late night, then made my move. I drove around looking for a spot to climb up the mountain, but it was dark and I was in unfamiliar territory. After driving around for a couple of hours, I decided to get some sleep and try the next day. Not to get lost again at night, I decided to make my move in the morning, so when nightfall came -I would be ready! I made it to the top of the mountain by 3:00 in the afternoon and I was amazed how big the sign was. I was excited to begin and while it was still light out. I begun to clear away the small trees and weeds. I built a make shift ladder and figured out how I would maneuver around these gigantic letters. Soon after the sun went down I started. I figured out the size of the letters and began my rough outline. All of a sudden these big bright lights lit up the sky. It was just like the movies, lights all over the sign and the sky. It was really cool ,as soon, as I realized I was the cause for the light show.

 

I rolled down the hill and hid in the bushes for about an hour. Then I went back to work, stopping occasionally to document my progress with my camera. I was half way done when suddenly from behind the sign came a searchlight and the sounds of a helicopter. Again, huge spotlights flashed across the sign but now an unfinished SEEN piece as well. I ran down the hill again ripping the film out of my camera just in case I got busted, and jumped into the bushes. I must have hid there for, at least, two hours. Sitting there looking up at the lights reminded me of Yankee Stadium during a night game - it was bright!

 

After what seemed an eternity, the lights went down and the helicopter left. I was even more determined to pull this off! I was here for one reason and I wasn't leaving until it was done. By the way, my legs were killing me from all the running around and I didn't want to climb the mountain again. I got into a flow and was not disturbed again. After a few more hours and with the sun beginning to creep up, I was done! Exhausted, I went back to my hotel room for some sleep. After I woke up, I had to make one last trip up there for my flicks. It was easier now that all I had to carry was my camera and my piece was up there. I got up there, admired the view and kissed HOLLYWOOD good-bye.

 

Mission accomplished.

 

 

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SEEN stands atop the famous Hollywood sign.

 

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Hector, SEEN's right hand man.

 

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The two "L's" in the Hollywood sign...bombed!.

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