In 2006, when Max was six, we were sitting on the stoop of our new apartment, taking part in that time-honored Brooklyn tradition — the stoop sale. One of the passersby stopped to look through my stuff. Even though he had a baby in a stroller, I could tell this was no Park Slope local. He looked like something between a grunge band roadie in paint-splattered plaid and a cosplay Charles Manson. He turned out to be the Italian graffiti legend, DUMBO.
As he thumbed through the CDs, he glanced up and asked if one of the covers was by Barry McGee. That small question opened the door — soon we were cautiously trading questions and discovering a surprising number of shared interests, even a few mutual friends.
Real name Ivano Atzori, he and his amazing wife Kyra became quietly indispensable to our sanity in the increasingly bland sameness of Park Slope. They had a rare mix of kindness and edge — artists who still carried a spark of the city’s old grit.
When they moved back to Italy, Wini & I were very sad & really felt the loss. We’d grown close, and they were the only people in the neighborhood who reminded us that art, and life, could still feel a little wild.
This week they returned to New York to show the world a book Ivano has made and do an exhibition of images, objects and ephemera from the book itself.
As he thumbed through the CDs, he glanced up and asked if one of the covers was by Barry McGee. That small question opened the door — soon we were cautiously trading questions and discovering a surprising number of shared interests, even a few mutual friends.
Real name Ivano Atzori, he and his amazing wife Kyra became quietly indispensable to our sanity in the increasingly bland sameness of Park Slope. They had a rare mix of kindness and edge — artists who still carried a spark of the city’s old grit.
When they moved back to Italy, Wini & I were very sad & really felt the loss. We’d grown close, and they were the only people in the neighborhood who reminded us that art, and life, could still feel a little wild.
This week they returned to New York to show the world a book Ivano has made and do an exhibition of images, objects and ephemera from the book itself.
“The Non-Linear Timeline New York City“ at SLAM JAM 292 Broome St. 12.00-6.00 till Dec 20th 2025.
