Aww, just read the Press Release....
After a brief time-out, the Borf Brigade, is learning
to use their inside voice. Transforming a derelict and dilapidated music
hall in NW DC into the Institute for the Advanced Study of Delinquency and
the Arts, Borf's first show opens the last two weekends of May, featuring
pieces ranging from the first stencils ever cut to new explorations in
re-sculpting interior space. Maintaining a disregard for convention and
rules, Borf approaches fine art with a wit and spontaneity that has
carried the legacy of Bobby Fisher, whom the graffiti is a tribute to,
across borders worldwide. Resisting self-negation, the show places its
emphasis on the joy of discovery rather than any aesthetic of the streets.
Reflecting a personalized approach to education and experience that builds
from traditional graffiti and street art, the stencil and paint can have
been temporarily set aside for the brush and the canvas.

Creating many of their "banal objects" within the Memorial Building as
renovations took place, careful planning and an attention to space were
paid to create a striking and engaging space. The exhibit holds two floors
of pieces, some for sale which will act as a fundraiser to benefit the
District of Columbia's $12,000 extortion of ex-Borf participant John
Tsombikos who is banned from even possessing a pencil or glue stick in the
city.

Borf graffiti, seen all over Washington, commonly associated with the work
of one artist is in actuality the work of The Borf Brigade, a tight-knit
group of vandals, visual artists, and juvenile delinquents of all styles,
shapes, and sizes. For the past three and a half years, DC has been
littered with the remnants of their adventurous nights and illegal
escapades, from highway overpasses to mundane and forgotten park benches.
Borf actively seeks to challenge the numerous forms of degradation and
exploitation existing both structurally and within the ebb and flow of
everyday life. Functionally, their graffiti serves as DIY grief therapy,
providing an exciting alternative to over-prescribed anti-depressants and
the abuse of continually being bored and ignored. Instead, property
destruction, proper construction, and dialog function in chaotic harmony,
essential to the project's growth process. At its root, Borf is both a
consolation and painful reminder of one of the 30,000 Americans between
the ages of fifteen and twenty-four who will take their own lives every
year. In this reality, the problem of the youth within modern capitalism
is part of the total crisis of this society. It is just that youth feels
the crisis most acutely.

This is just celebrating criminal behavior by petty criminals who fancy themselves as romantic revolutionaries.

Mr. Tsombikos should pay back the $12,000 on his own through the sweat of his brow --not this lame attempt at charity.

A real charity by this "brigade" would make ts mark IN society, not ON it (to borrow and old slogan). Perhaps they could hold art classes for underprivleged kids. Or draw portraits of vets in Walter Reed. Or create nice murals for sick kids in cancer wards to look at as they go through painful chemo.

Borf isn't Banksy.

My fingers are crossed, I really really really hope the police sweep in and arrest those poser fauxhemians for vandalism. The art world needs these over-privileged, under-talented losers like a hole in the head. The Borf Brigade is a label like a giant "kick Me" sign or "The Young Republican Vanilla Ice Fan MySpace/Facebook Fan Club." Go to it guys! your mother thinks your special, so maybe you can do your own gallery show!

As if the Post didn't take enough criticism for glorifying Tsombikos' criminal behavior in the Style section and for meeting with him before his arrest without reporting him to the police. Now you put this in the Going Out Gurus column. That's more proof that the Post thinks DC is a toy to be played with. No wonder this city has so many problems.

These losers have inspired me to form my OWN blight of misfits called -- "The BARF Brigade". Our band of social miscreants will exist only to drink to excess, vomit on the shoes of NORMAL residents, and pressure the recipients for a donation for having experienced the privilege of such "artistic expression".

People sure get riled up about this guy. I loved seeing his art around the city.

replying to "DC", you loved seeing his "art" around the city?

do you live in a hovel and like it when bums urinate on your doorstep, too?

You all are the same people that would stand in line for hours for a Basquiat retrospective just because some Curator told you to.

You should be grateful that some young people are looking for a creative way to reach their peers. You should be thanking these young men for caring about their fellow man, not blasting them for trying to make their art accessible to young people.

It's not like they're tagging your front door for gosh sakes.

This is exactly the kind of reaction Borf's art is supposed to generate. You naysayer guys are vying your support even if you didn't realize it. You gotta love (the delinquent) arts!

John T. just writes 'borf' on everything and the DC art snobs think he is great? Come on John, there is a war going on!!! Where is the political statement in a rich bourgeois white kid trying to get attention from rich mommy and daddy just writing 'borf' on everything!?
Maybe they should change their name to the "BORED" brigade. You guys aren't punk... you're poseurs!

You all are the same people that would stand in line for hours for a Basquiat retrospective just because some Curator told you to.
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Hogwash! Basquiat's style changed significantly from graffiti to the gallery. SAMO was just some words on a high school wall in 1978- those words were only mildly interesting. Plus, I don't like his work, though his story is fascinating. If anything the Basquiat story is why graffiti artists really shouldn't be lauded as artists, how did his success help him at all? The guy died within 3 years of getting famous.

Maybe they should change their name to the "BORED" brigade. You guys aren't punk... you're poseurs!
----------
Oh, make no mistake, these people are quite culturally conservative. They don't have a clue who they are or what their actions are or how they are white people claiming ownership over black neighborhoods. They don't have a clue what they're actually doing, just like those frat boys at "politically incorrect" parties in racist costumes. Since they're all so stuck in their own navels, they should really sit down with an African-American Studies professor to have it explained to them what power dynamics they're exploiting to hurt or attack the working class. I know my art history, people, and what they're doing is pretty negative.

Aargh, why give any press at al to these self-indulgent petty vandals. My neighborhood is rife with Borf and Borf-copycat tags. It is expensive to clean up, and they look positively terrible. We're not talking about legitimate, colorful murals here, these are quickly-sprayed black paint tags. My recommendation to Borf and his slacker compatriots: pull up your pants, take off that stupid hat, and get a job - you are NOT an artist!

Ted...why give these guys press? You read it, didn't you?

What would the Borf brigade say if someone showed up at their exhibit and sprayed paint all over their "art"? Would they call the police to report the vandalism? Would they expect the city to protect them?

I encourage anyone who dislikes borf to go to this event and deface as much of this crap as possible.

you go girl!

Awesome idea!

I kinda like Borfs...of course they ain't no Banksy as rightfully pointed out. No surprise blah blah blah culturally conservative (and a wee bit clueless) DC chooses not to see the relative merit of a piece of "art"--instead seeing the extension of the hedgemony of the white, male patriarchy over poor African-American neighborhoods on one side of the fence and the decay of Western Society and law and order on the other. Too many critics, too few writing--I say. "Blah blah blah--I am a stuffed shirt with a law degree--listen to me roar. Blah blah blah."

It drives me crazy that he continues to get press - and therefore I could kick myself for taking the time to even post a comment about John (I refuse to call him 'Borf').

But, I had to write and respond to the idea of going to their show and defacing their art. Now that's a brilliant idea!

Perhaps if he actually created "art" - or even if he just wrote something meaningful - I would understand some of the attention he is given. But, I think he is just a spoiled rich kid who gained the attention of a bunch of bored rich Washingtonians.

People, it's not the 80's and he's not the next Basquiat or Keith Harring. Like the vast majority of other 20-somethings who fancy themselves 'artists', he'll stop creating art soon too (well, not that he ever started).

Ah! Celebrating Borf are we now? I believe Best of Craigslist will provide the appropriate coda:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/wdc/84442843.html

Civil disobedience is what makes graffiti an artistic expression.

If you're caught, you pay (and should pay) the price of justice, to say nothing of any social penalties the public debate (like this one) might tack on. Tagging without personal risk is simply painting with a spray can.

It's your right to prefer expression made only in pre-approved forms, but I'm glad we live in a world where it is not thus confined.

Someday, they may pack you into a "Free Speech Zone," and you may choose to flood the streets and risk incarceration for your cause.

Or perhaps not, and someone else will risk it on your behalf.

"Civil Disobedience is what makes graffiti an artistic expression."

????????????!!!!!!

Does it now? I suggest you re-read the Craigslist post. The writer was making the case that "Borf" was not engaging in any real "civil disobedience", rather, "Borf" was a mere vandal. Sorry if I read it differently than you...

Unfortunately, and call me old-fashioned, but vandalism is, well, just that- vandalism.

Please remind me why someone's anonymous rantings on Craigslist are any more important than my anonymous rantings on washingtonpost.com.

The question of Borf's technique is a separate matter from that of civil disobedience, which graffiti obviously is because it's AGAINST THE LAW.

A bad painting is still a painting; you're entitled to judge it by whatever merits you choose.

Perhaps this would be more convincing if I posted it on Craigslist? Let me know.

Civil disobedience is brave African-American people fighting for their rights in the 1950s and 1960s, being set upon by police, firehoses, and the KKK. It is most definitely NOT privileged, spoiled white kids from affluent suburbs coming into struggling urban neighborhoods and defacing private property with their juvenile scrawlings.
Sure, this Washington Post article gives undue attention to the little vandals and their bogus "art" project, but the upside will be that the police are keeping a close watch lest "Borf" violate ANY of the tenets of his sentencing agreement. I am salivating at the thought of additional jail time for him, so hopefully he will slip up. My neighbors and I have spent far too much time and energy cleaning up after such idiots, and our patience is long gone.

Civil disobedience is brave African-Americans fighting for their rights in the 1960s, running the gauntlet of firehoses, the KKK, and police dogs. Civil disobedience is definitely NOT privileged, suburban white kids coming into the city and vandalizing property in majority-minority neighborhoods. That is the very antithesis of civil disobedience, and it is most definitely not "art"!

Hey racist Ted, just because a kid grows up in suburbia doesn't mean his life is perfect. In fact, a lot of these kids are miserable because their parents work long, late hours and don't actually spend time with their kids. This country is obsessed with materialism, an obsession that is unraveling the social fabric. And the Borf graffiti was not limited to minority neighborhoods. But in case you missed it in all of your racism, this city is majority black, so of course he's going to hit black neighborhoods.

interesting Tom... read about John's mom and dad here and how they disciplined innocent little borfy:

http://dc.metblogs.com/archives/2006/02/the_borfs_who_g.phtml

no comment... you read, you decide:

http://dc.metblogs.com/archives/2006/02/the_borfs_who_g.phtml

Obviously, tags and graffiti art in public places is not the ideal or even appropriate venue for its display...albeit it is delinquent art! Still, as Borf matures, so will Borf's art mature. Hence, the more "mature" venue for the Borf art show at the Bobby Fisher Memorial Building.

Ted...what up, yo? Borf is controlling your thoughts.

Vandals? Live Fast Diarrhea.

To "Tom Paine" who accuses me of being racist... wtf?? Are you saying I'm racist against white people? That's ridiculous. You don't know me. My liberal, inclusive attitudes towards race and ethnic background are unimpeachable. All I'm saying is that if the graffiti "artists" and taggers dare compare themselves to real champions of civil disobedience like MLK and Ghandi, they're almost sadly living in a delusion, a pathetic, paranoid delusion. It's not racist to make light of the tagger's relative affluent and their own tidy, graffiti-free neighborhoods. You wanna make a statement? Go tag your own parent's house.

Boo hoo for the poor miserable kids and their vapid suburban existance.

I know a great way to improve that sad condition....go out and destroy stuff, especially if it doesn't belong to you.

Tom Paine, would you be as apologetic if your home was vandalized?

I understand and agree that the Post should report on this Tsombikos individual. In the interest of journalism, could you people try to be impartial and post an actual picture of him and not just play into his carefully coreographed onanism circus?

While not in favor of reckless graffiti, I am in favor of free art. I haven't seen Borf's work, but I am a fan of Basquiat, who had true artistic talent and it sickens me to read elitist attacks on him by people who think they know what art is. People who themselves probably have no artistic talent whatsoever (aka wannabee hacks).

I'm sure if any of the Masters looked at a Hockney, Warhol or even a Picasso for that matter, they'd call it graffiti. Art is completely subjective and in the eye of the beholder.

"You don't know me. My liberal, inclusive attitudes towards race and ethnic background are unimpeachable"!

i went to the event and thought it was pretty fun. I hope to see more events like this. I'm glad to see the brigade grow in this direction.

It's Nice to hear positive support from at least one viewer, especially considering the plain fact that if it's art that you don't want to see, you simply don't have to go.
As For John Tsombikos, he, unfortunately, has been asked to sit on the back burner of the Borf Brigade, for more information, you can go to www.borfyou.com and look at the video communique.
As for any likening to MLK, Ghandi, and the likes, aren't you all excited to see that kids these days are growing up with heroes who pioneered equality? I don't think anyone is trying to claim to be on the level of MLK.
And just to clear up the Washington Post nonsense, they were specifically asked to NOT cover the story, I hope that when they do write about whatever interviews they got from people walking out (since their one specific reporter was not even allowed IN the building) that they make mention of the request that they not give any coverage.
Unless everyone is lucky and they do what they were asked to...
oh, and I suppose that whole "rich white kid ruining poor black neighborhoods" thing is no longer applicable considering the brigade is busting ass to bring an abandoned, dilapidated old building up to code to ultamitely make some kind of functional contribution to that neighborhood? In the one way they can?

I went to the exhibit and was quite moved by it all. Its easy to reject all street art as senseless vandalism, but this exhibit has a theme to it, and it's not smash the system, rather its an artistic tome to a friend who committed suicide. I challenge all the haters who posted comments to go and watch the entire video upstairs. You'll see the genuine friendship John & Bobby had, and you might be able see how the pain of John's loss could have been expressed through his street art. This is one of the best exhibits I've been to in Washington, DC, and I am not much of fan of street art...