Dedicated to “The style master general” DONDI WHITE 1961-1998

By FlyCat

AL October 1998

New York City, October 21, 1998.

The writing community is devastated by the loss of one of its most influential and respected members. DONDI White left us on Oct. 2 at the age of 37 after a long illness. Born Donald J. White, to Italian and African American parents, DONDI grew up in Brooklyn in East New York. He was part of that small group of metropolitan artists who successfully made the leap into the international gallery and museum scene.

He began his writing career in the mid-1970s as NACO, a member of the Brooklyn-based TOP crew (The Odd Partners). With his comrades MICKEY729, HURST, DIKE, MOVIN‘, JEE2, I.K. and UPS2, the Odd Partners dominated the BMT lines. In 1977 DONDI formed his first crew called CIA (Crazy Insides Partners). A partial list includes DURO, KIST, AERON, GREG167 and KID56, and it was on the No. 2 subway line that DONDI painted most of his pieces that earned him the nickname ’The Style Master General.“ With robot-like precision, DONDI created lustrous and streamlined letters. He delivered them to metal with grandiose precision and control.

Letters in ‘wild style’ were his forte and no one could do better. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, DONDI redefined the graffiti aesthetic. He began using a wide range of names to perform his aerosol art stunts (POSE, PRE, BUS129 and ASIA to name a few). He was a mentor to many and helped numerous writers develop their talents. He often cited his graphic influences and names include MICKEY, NOC, HURST and SLAVE. In 1983 DONDI exhibited his paintings and drawings in the United States and abroad.

His work was highly appreciated in Europe and was represented by a Dutch gallery for several years. His work can also be found in several permanent exhibitions including those at the Boymans and Groningen museums in the Netherlands. DONDI's gallery works often show studies of individual letters, anatomical images and shadowy figures. Personal icons such as longilinear figures, tricycles and spray cans were constants in his visual vocabulary.

He often wrote texts directly on the canvas telling stories about his efforts as an artist: “Gladiators from a dark continent will continue the battle on earth until they find the cure for blindness.” DONDI left behind a legacy. His wonderful work has remained here among us to be admired forever. His soul, love and vision were present in everything DONDI did. DONDI touched us. We will miss him forever and never forget him.