M.T.A Roller Dwarfs Saber's

Last year, Los Angeles' own M.T.A crew accomplished the massive feat of creating the worlds largest piece of graffiti in the Los Angeles River. Their work stretches a half mile long, three stories high, and took an estimated 400 to 500 gallons of paint. Ever carried a five gallon drum of house paint? Imagine that... times a hundred. It seems to me acquiring enough paint for the job, and getting it there was a remarkable task in itself.

Before this giant roller appeared, another L.A writer Saber, had held the crown for pulling off the largest piece in 1997, also in the L.A River. Although it wasn't as big as the M.T.A roller,it was much more elaborate and colorful, and was apparently done by Saber alone. After he had completed it over a period of time, news quickly spread across the country to the so called mecca of Graffiti, New York City. 

One of N.Y's more prolific bombers  JA didn't seem to like the attention Saber was getting over the masterpiece, and took it upon himself to travel cross country and cover the giant burner with tons of smaller throwups. Despite JA's attempts to destroy it, Saber returned to repair the damage and it remains there to this day although it has been scrawled on  again over time.

In the last few weeks the authorities have stated they have just caught atleast seven members of the M.T.A crew.  Even before they managed to paint these huge letters in the river, which you can see from a satellite, the crew was already well known all over Los Angeles for painting freeways, billboards and any other ultra visible surfaces. Obviously, the police aren't too happy about it, and are looking to make an example of the group of writers.

                        

                 Above: Saber roller from '97 after years of wear