There are two things we never expect to see in our lives here on the streets when looking for new Street Art and graffiti. One is a live unicorn walking down the street twirling a hula hoop on its horn and farting glitter. The other is the 1UP crew hitting up a wall wild style in broad daylight, wearing those mystical Tron-Kabuki masks – on the front wall of the nascent Urban Nation Museum (UN).

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

As the double barrelled aerosol assault was happening we could hear the sound of heads exploding when the news of this ubiquitous graffiti crew hitting up this location would hit various constituencies. We could also hear the sound of the guys yelling over the Bülowstraße street traffic to each other through their masks – asking for one to throw a particular can or to question whether to do a specific fill or line. “We don’t usually work during the day,” said one of them to us as he gazed up at the blue fire glow that frames the 1UP name. “With so many people around with cameras these days, we can’t take many chances.”

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

In this historically graffiti-loving city you have to work really hard for people to notice your work, and crews like 1UP and Berlin Kidz are revered for their aerosol prowess – and the chances they take. Not sure what the German term would be but in English the word “crushed” may have a picture of 1UP next to it in the dictionary. Equally impressive is their ability to stay completely anonymous – and with more members than the annual Menudo reunion BBQ.

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Compound the occasion with celebrated graffiti and Street Art photographer Martha Cooper pacing back and forth on the pavement and capturing every angle of the action. She’s crouching low and climbing higher for the right show while normal every day dudes like Shepard Fairey walk up to the small group of assembled observers to see what the matter is.

Shepard and his crew have just finished a large building side mural a block from here, as well as an expansive piece inside the museum space, where he’s DJing tonight. He seems to like the 1UP work and he also mentions how he digs Berlin Kidz and their style of rappelling down walls – and then talk turns to Brazillian pichação writers.

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

When a red-faced teenaged girl approaches one of the masked markers, he takes a minute to answer her inquiries, can in hand, ready to hit the wall but happy to respond to her multiple follow-up questions. Then he darts back up the ladder to spray a few small white starbursts while she aims her smartphone up at the action and he starts to looks for a red can to spray Martha’s name. Seeing Martha’s name up there seems appropriate, considering the first Martha Cooper Library will open here in four months.

So that’s it, nothing special happened today here in Berlin, only that 1UP knocked out a large piece on the outside of UN. Nothing more to see here.

Keep your eyes open for unicorns.

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

1UP Crew. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporay Art. PM/12 – We Broke Night.  Berlin, May 19, 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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