January 20, 2007: Vol. 30, No. 3
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The NYPD this week arrested Charles Abarno, who, they say, is responsible for all the “Backfat” graffiti that’s been popping up in Windsor Terrace. Here’s a sample of his “art” at the Fort Hamilton Parkway F-train station.
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del.icio.usBackfat has gotten pinched.
The graffiti vandal, who became the terror of Windsor Terrace in just a few short weeks, was arrested by cops on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said they charged the vandal, whom they identified as Charles Abarno, 21, with two counts of making graffiti and two counts of criminal mischief, all misdemeanors.
“I am extremely pleased he has been caught,” said Councilman Bill DeBlasio (D–Windsor Terrace), who claimed that his office “worked very closely with the NYPD, specifically Det. Mike Cleary, to bring him to justice.”
DeBlasio urged that Backfat receive “the appropriate punishment” for such vandalism.
A call to Abarno’s East Fifth Street home could not be completed as dialed — the phone appears to have been disconnected.
Though charged with only two acts of vandalism, Backfat’s tag appeared on at least four places near his home: he tagged up on the public library branch on Fort Hamilton Parkway near PS 230K, in the middle of a nearby crosswalk, on a paved walkway in Greenwood Playground, and on a stair in the Fort Hamilton F-train station.
Clearly, Backfat was getting plenty of exercise — but library workers aren’t happy about it.
“It’s defacing the neighborhood,” said Kairi Hollon, who’s worked at the branch for two and a half years. “It is a pretty upscale and quiet area to have this.”
Not to mention, Backfat’s work was derivative of “Neckface,” the graffiti “legend” who holds art shows all over the world and has designed sneakers for Vans. Critics — of art, not vandalism — say Backfat was just trying to ride on Neckface’s coat tails.
Others didn’t care what his motivation was — but are just happy he’s been brought to justice.
“I know they call graffiti ‘art’ at the Brooklyn Museum,” said one local resident, “but I don’t think it is.”
— with Gersh Kuntzman
©2007 The Brooklyn Paper
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