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Blackwing Volume 2
The Light & Dark Pencil
In 1973, art found itself at the forefront of a cultural shift. The United States
military had just pulled out of Vietnam after nearly two decades, and mid
century optimism had given way to uncertainty. Art, even when created for
mass appeal, took on a darker tone. 1973’s highest grossing movie – the
Exorcist and top-selling album Pink Floyd’s Dark side of the Moon – gave us a
glimpse into the cultural landscape of the time.
The following year, a new wave of art – films like Chinatown and The
Conversation and albums like Bob Marley’s Natty Dread – shined a light on a
broken system. And gave us the tools to understand it. Art reflects the world
around us and helps us process complex issues so that we can move forward.
Leonard Cohen once said “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light
gets in.” Art creates cracks in the world’s darkest places, letting in the light of
knowledge.
Fifty years later, the Blackwing 2 acknowledges art’s role in bringing about
change. Each pencil features a cracked glow-in-the-dark design that plays on
the duality of art and the challenging realities that inspire it. Each pencil also
includes our firmest graphite yet – a special 2X firm graphite formulated
specially for this release.
