The City of Oakland honors "DREAM DAY"

Lookout world, this may be a first.  The City of Oakland has officially proclaimed February 17th, 2010 "DREAM DAY" in honor of outlaw artist and rebel graffiti writer Mike "Dream" Francisco. Its HELLA official... gold leaf proclamation states:

CITY OF OAKLAND
City Council Proclamation

PROCLAMATION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MICHAEL “DREAM” FRANCISCO
WHEREAS, it is my privilege and pleasure to recognize the life and contributions of Michael “Dream” Francisco; and

WHEREAS, DREAM was born on August 15, 1969 in Vallejo, California to parents Irene Francisco-Ancheta and Sergio G. Francisco and raised with brothers John Francisco, Kenny Ancheta, and Dexter Francisco and step-father Sonny Ancheta; and

WHEREAS, DREAM was an Oakland artist, writer, father, and community member who pioneered the art form of “graffiti” on the West Coast; and

WHEREAS, DREAM used the power of his art to convey messages to the greater society, connecting and raising the sights of a broad community voice, unifying people from vastly different backgrounds, and taking a stand against nuclear proliferation, police violence, colonialism, cigarette companies for unfairly targeting communities of color; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 1983, DREAM became recognized as one of the Bay Area’s stylistic innovators, organizing and participating in gallery installations such as “No Justice, No Peace – Word from the underground” (1993) and “Amerikan Terrorism – Shadows on the Global Street” (1995), globally-recognized murals including the 1993 memorial mural for Plan Bee, which spoke out against gun violence, and collaborations with Oakland and Bay Area musicians featured in music videos and on album covers; and

WHEREAS, DREAM challenged young people and his peers to determine their own pathways in life, through revolutionary literacy, pride in culture and history, respect for the family, conscious living, and lifelong learning; and

WHEREAS, DREAM took great pride in his Pinoy roots, and embraced other cultures by building bridges between the Black and Asian/Pacific Islander communities in Oakland and throughout the Bay Area; and

WHEREAS, DREAM earned the 1995 Precita Eyes Youth Mural Arts Award and 2001 Best of the Bay Award for Visual Arts; and

WHEREAS, DREAM gave lectures on graffiti to students at the University of California at Berkeley, Laney College, and the Eastside Arts Alliance and was featured in numerous films and documentaries, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s production Roots, Rhymes + Rage: The Hip-Hop Story; and

WHEREAS, DREAM’s murder on February 17, 2000 was Oakland’s twelfth homicide that year and sparked a renewed focus on anti-gun violence in the Oakland community; and 

WHEREAS, DREAM, the TDK “The Dream Continues” crew honors DREAM’s life and work in the forthcoming book “The Title of My Book Reads: Advanced Vandalism”; and

WHEREAS, DREAM’s fiancé, Nicole Sellers lost her battle with breast cancer this year, their larger community has re-pledged their commitment to support Dream’s brother John in caring for their son; and

WHEREAS, DREAM’s son, Akil Francisco, continues as an artist and future community leader in father’s legacy, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the City of Oakland recognizes the great contributions of the arts and community that DREAM brought to Oakland and encourages all to join us in declaring and celebrating February 17, 2010 MICAEL “DREAM” FRANCISCO DAY.

Nancy J. Nadel
Councilmember, District 3

Wow.

 

Vogue and I got it framed and we presented it to Dream's Brothers and Neice at the Dream Day throwdown! 

In recognition of the occasion, the TDK CrewFamilyMassive are continuously creating art for the entire 24 hours of Feb. 17th, 2010.  Check back for updates, images and video... I hear it started exactly as the time went from 11:59 to 12 midnight!

For your listening pleasure, DJ SakeOne CFD, during the first few hours of Dream Day busted this dope soundtrack for the 24 hour celebration!  All tunes are TDK associated/inspired... Thanks Sake!

SakeOne - "Tha' Dream Kontinues" Mix
free download: CLICK HERE

DREAM DAY 1O: Honoring the Life & Legacy of Mike "Dream" Francisco

"Dream Day" Celebrating the life and legacy of Mike "Dream" Francisco
February 5th, 2010

@ The New Parish
579 18th St. @ San Pablo Ave

Oakland, California
Art Reception  5pm-9pm, All Ages, Free
Showtime 9pm-2am, $10 (dontations accepted) All Ages (with parent)

Art exhibition by TDK crew + more

Music by DJs: Apollo, ShortKut, Sake One, Fuze, Myke One, Platurn, Namane, and Willie Maze. Live drums by:  Big G of the 808 Band

Performances by:  Equipto, F.A.M.E. and The Bangerz.

The Bay Area's best DJs and Artists have assembled to pay tribute to life and legacy of Oakland's beloved Graffiti King and Bay Area legend, Mike "DREAM" Francisco. Recognized worldwide as a style master, Dream's graffiti established the visual aesthetic of Oakland's Hip Hop culture, and put The Town on the map in what is now the fastest growing art movement in human history.

This event marks ten years since Dream was tragically murdered in a robbery on February 17, 2000. All DJs, Performers, and organizers will be donating their skills to benefit Akil Francisco, Dream's only son (now 10 years old) who also just lost his mother to breast cancer in January.

 

Mike Dream’s use of a temporary and renegade art form created a lasting legacy of radical education, social justice, speaking truth, and creative self expression. His life and work continue to inspire thousands and bring pride to his community. The TDK crew is also proud to announce the forthcoming book on Dream's art and life: “The Title of My Book Reads: Advanced Vandalism.”  

If you are unable to attend and want to support, please make checks out to:  The Dream Trust Fund, or Akil Francisco.
Checks can be  mailed to:

Irene Francisco-Ancheta
427 Central Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501

Thank you,
-TDK CrewFamilyMassive

IZ THE WIZ - REST IN PIECE

"THIS IS IIIIIIIIIIIT, THIS IS IIIIIIIIIIIITTT!!!!" -IZ THE WIZ


Filmed 5 days before his passing into LEGEND.

I have been working with Frisco Graffiti's Spie One TMC/TDK/FC on the "DREAM TDK" book project this week, today he informed me that another King has passed on to join the ancestors. Our thoughts and prayers go out to IZ, his family and friends. IZ the WIZ was as central character to the foundation of Graffiti, not to mention the "Style Wars" Documentary which was a huge influence in my upbringing and thousands of other writers around the world.

The Roots - Act Too (Love Of My Life)


When the TDK crew put an held a memorial artshow to raise funds for DREAM's son and to fund a book/documentary of DREAM's work, IZ THE WIZ was there, sending original artwork to be auctioned off to support the cause. We will always remember IZ THE WIZ with honor and the utmost respect as a true Graffiti King and bad mother fucker.

“A lotta trains, a lotta fun…a lot of art”. -IZ THE WIZ. [MORE VIDEO CLIPS]

I have spent some time recently with the TDKids, the children of my TDK brethren. This generation will grow up with graffiti in there lives from day one. Had our lives been the slightest bit different, these beautiful little mammals might not exist... who knows? It all might not go down the same without Legends like IZ THE WIZ that inspired us to get up... REST IN POWER. We've got another sprit on our shoulders to lookout for us.

Go hit up IZ if you LOVE THIS GRAFF SHIT!

BIG UP NAH RIGHT for suma the links

TAX DOLLARS KILL, TDK Crew (1995)

The Tax Dollars Kill production was a great moment in Oakland/Bay Area graffiti. The concept came from the TDK brothers Mike Dream and Spie in 1995. That's Dream in the photo. Whenever Spie and Dream connected on a wall, you could be sure that the message would be strong and the styles would be fierce. The Tax Dollars Kill production represents what writing graffiti is all about for me... blasting the truth and calling out the oppressors. In style!

Unfortunately our government continues to prove that the words still stand (although the mural is gone). Thoughts and prayers for the loss of life in Gaza. Long live a free Palestine! Get your ass in the streets!

Oakland Wall of Fame Update

Beat Street/B-Boy Interlude- The Roots

Meut One TDK, Soul TDK, portrait by Amend TDK

Dream's Tattoos of fallen brothers PakOne TDK and PlanBee 11-5 By Spie TDK

J Dilla- Anti-Amerikkkan Graffiti

Vogue TDK reps an original style... wholly shit.

PakOne R.I.P. by Spie TDK, TMC, FC, IRIE POSSE

Chino BYI rep'n NYC!

Original style innovators, Mark Bode character, Stan 153

Young buck Daz flexes on the Meeting of Styles section of the wall.

Tall homies are the last to Rock, we gotta sew the backgrounds together and it's a wrap! Apologies to those not featured, promise I'll get you up, the shadows were too much for my sidekick... booooo.

More from Oakland's Wall of Fame. Stay tuned for a massive post once it's all said and done... Shit is lookin DOPE. The wall is almost a QUARTER MILE long with many of the Nation's freshest writers rocking styles in memory of Mike "Dream" Francisco, Oakland's favorite son and style master who was tragically murdered in February of 2000. The wall is a tribute by his comrades that helped Mike put Oakland/Bay Area Graffiti on the map. Keep an eye out for the opening party throwdown coming soon!

Ps... the banner image for this blog is a pic of one of my old pieces the day before painting began on this huge project. The wall was so caked with hundreds of burners that it was falling off in huge beautiful chips that had to be pressure washed off and primed. Big up to young Kufu 2!
-wm.