The Times has a good article on James De La Vega, a graffiti artist who was arrested last July for painting a mural on Willis Avenue in the Bronx. De La Vega is one of the city's best known graffiti artist, thanks largely to his sidewalk chalk works. Gothamist first noticed them about six years ago. Lots of memorable quotes like "Your Thumbs Are More Important Than You Think" and "The Rich Control The Destiny Of The Poor, But An Intelligent Man Controls His Own." De La Vega also does murals, mostly in upper Manhattan near his studio on East 103rd Street. In 1999, he was arrested while doing a permission piece on the side of a supermarket in Spanish Harlem, and ended up pleading guilty before the owner could get there an back up his story. That led to a probation sentance, which created the possibility of real jail time after the Bronx arrest last year.
De La Vega was offered another probation deal a couple of months ago, but he turned it down, expecting a jury trial. Unfortuantely, the DA knocked the charges down to class B's, which meant the trial went before a judge. Last week the trial ended with a guilty verdict, which means De La Vega is most likely getting 90 days in Rikers at the sentencing next month.
Salon had a nice profile of De La Vega in April, and the East Harlem News also has some good De La Vega stuff. Previous Gothamist post on the De La Vega arrest, with some good comments.
