Bob Vylan with Keith Morris (Circle Jerks) backstage at Coachella '25 - photographed by Ithaka Darin Pappas

Left to Right Bobby Vylan, Keith Morris, Bob Vyla,  Bobbie Vylan photographed backstage at Coachella 2025 by Ithaka Darin Pappas

Book: "Beyond South Central" legendary N.W.A. photographs by Ithaka Darin Pappas

Beyond South Central: Rap legends N.W.A. as seen thru the lens of Ithaka Darin Pappas (1988-1990) 

The second edition of the 2016 photography book Beyond South Central (Sweatlodge Publishing) is now available on amazon.com. The book is the result of the three years Ithaka Darin Pappas freelanced for Priority Records, capturing the primary imagery of N.W.A., documenting almost the entire lifespan of the group, from their obscure South Central beginnings to their meteoric rise to controversial super-stardom. This publication includes iconic images such as The Miracle Mile Shot, The Bleacher Shot, Backstage In Phoenix and also rarely seen candid images of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy E, MC Ren, DJ Yella and The D.O.C.

Ithaka Darin Pappas began experimenting with his father's 35mm and medium-format film cameras as early as age 5. He started assisting professional photographers immediately after high school, and within a year, began publishing much of his own work. Perhaps the most published (and republished) commercial photographic works by IDP are his early archival images of the influential LA Gangsta rap group NWA. Pappas worked for the West Coast record label Priority Records between 1988 and 1991 and documented almost the entire lifespan of the group, from their obscure South Central beginnings to their meteoric rise to controversial super-stardom.

"Colibrís Gigantes En El Puente De La Calle Sexta" (Giant Hummingbirds at Six Street Bridge) by Ithaka Darin Pappas

 "Colibrís Gigantes En El Puente De La Calle Sexta" 

(or Giant Hummingbirds at Six Street Bridge) by Ithaka Darin Pappas

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

"Colibrís Gigantes en el Puente de la Calle Sexta" is a 2024 mixed-media artwork by photographer/artist Ithaka Darin Pappas for his international photo-collage series, Urban Nektar. Created on wood with ink, paper and acrylic paints, the original piece measures 120cm x 80cm.

"Colibrís Gigantes en el Puente de la Calle Sexta" portrays two gigantic hummingbirds feeding on fluorescent-colored cactus flowers growing directly out of the cement arches of the Sixth Street bridge in downtown Los Angeles (designed by architect Michael Maltzan).

During late 2024, Ithaka Darin Pappas made hundreds of reproductions of the image "Colibrís Gigantes en el Puente de la Calle Sexta" on long rolls of canvas panel and hung them throughout the downtown Los Angeles area surrounding the bridge, including; Boyle Heights, The Arts District, Skid Row and Little Tokyo. Graffiti artists quickly recognized the potential of surfaces and proceeded to tag upon, transforming them into new unsolicited 'collaborative works'.

"Chiapas Heart Expedition", travel photography book by Ithaka Darin Pappas

 "Chiapas Heart Expedition", the new photography book 

by Ithaka Darin Pappas highlighting rural Southern Mexico. 

The street-style travel images were created during a travel 

to remote areas near the Guatemalan border.

 "Chiapas Heart Expedition", the new photography book 

by Ithaka Darin Pappas highlighting rural Southern Mexico. 

The street-style travel images were created during a travel 

to remote areas near the Guatemalan border.

Purchasable on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNF94CN1/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EyZ4O3TBnaHx1q0efMUw2qG2KHqzyun4L5jh9bY7gxoUad09WLfCtpYVH0LEcj5xtB9LeYnzJChQPecwXbFK1NBeVyZETJjlmk6XdwY9DlN3ZiSPb6TFMuzKb1orujNQBMeqYcs1AjfrIpgPa8n2LcaPuJsZni7DBOq7fJVUqzyxI51641q4jBxt_4c3bfRsk4DYK-jGl4qtk8htMkyQ81ELSXtsDReREQIfBZNbTgM.NWSK-vYWGX-VvRUYiooLRxgSAa3TGlvsTjTTj9cpKU4&dib_tag=se&qid=1731952207&refinements=p_27%3AIthaka+Darin+Pappas&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Ithaka+Darin+Pappas

Sun Temple Sojourn - Peru ThroughThe Lens of Ithaka Darin Pappas (new photography book)

 Sun Temple Sojourn - Peru ThroughThe Lens of Ithaka Darin Pappas (new photography book) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL3GS91B

Other photography books by Ithaka Darin Pappas include;

Rangamala: रंगमाळ

Aliens of AkahtiLândia

Rangamala: रंगमाळ new book by photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas

Rangamala (रंगमाळ) new book by photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas Rangamala, by Ithaka Darin Pappas, is a collection of street and travel photographs captured during a lengthy sojourn to northern India. The images traverse a multi-socioeconomic cross section of the states of; Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The pictures are often glimpses into the daily lives of the cross-cultural citizens of modern India.

Greek-American photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas (or simply Ithaka) grew up in Southern California. He began taking pictures at a very early age, publishing work by his late teens. He has since traveled extensively, residing and working in a handful of other countries such as Brazil, Greece, Japan and Portugal. His images have appeared in renowned venues including; Annenberg Space for Photography and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles International Center of Photography (New York), Museum of Pop (Seattle), Ferro Gashouder (Rotterdam), Museum of Image and Sound (São Paulo), and Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi. Four Info ISBN: 9798394724534

Photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas

Mexican artist and choreographer César Brodermann at the opening of his show "Traslado Permanente" in Mexico City

Mexican artist and choreographer César Brodermann at the opening of his show "Traslado Permanente" at MUAC in Mexico City August 31st 2023. Photograph by Ithaka Darin Pappas.

Broken Dreams On Hollywood Boulevard: a photograph by Ithaka Darin Pappas (2022)

Oarsman in Varanasi, India by photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas

Oarsman in Varanasi, India (2018) by photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas

Pan Pacific Auditorium Fire (Los Angeles, May 24th 1989) photograph by Ithaka Darin Pappas

Decay and fire The fire of May 24th, 1989 There were hopes throughout the surrounding Fairfax District towards refurbishing the Pan-Pacific, possibly as an ice rink or cultural center and the parking lot soon became a park. However, the building was neglected for many years and damaged by small fires started by transients. In 1975, the Pan-Pacific made a brief appearance as the entrance to the NBC Studios in Hollywood for the movie Funny Lady. Interest in the building was rekindled somewhat with its 1978 inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The 1980 release of the movie musical Xanadu brought renewed hopes the building might be saved when the auditorium's facade was used to portray a dilapidated building which became a sparkling, brightly lit roller disco nightclub, but the movie was critically panned and not an economic success. It also appears at the beginning of the 1980 music video for the Barnes & Barnes song "Fish Heads". Black-and-white film footage of a man with a jet pack flying from left to right in front of the facade was used in the video for the 1981 Devo single, "Beautiful World". The dilapidated façade was used in the video for "Dancing in the Sheets" by Shalamar. Its final appearance was in the 1988 movie Miracle Mile. The auditorium continued to deteriorate throughout the 1980s, mostly owing to neglect. A large loading door on the southeast corner was often forced open, allowing free access to anyone. A fire in May 1983 damaged the northern end. On the evening of May 24, 1989 (six days after the 54th anniversary of its opening), the Pan-Pacific Auditorium was destroyed by a fire, the smoke from which was visible throughout the Los Angeles basin.[4]

World-renowned Brazilian photographer and filmmaker Dede Fedrizzi photographed at his studio in in São Paulo, Brazil (2018) by Ithaka Darin Pappas

World-renowned Brazilian photographer and filmmaker Dede Fedrizzi photographed at his studio in São Paulo, Brazil (2018)    by Ithaka Darin Pappas

"Polyrhythm" (1992) by Takashi Murakami. Photo by Ithaka Darin Pappas

Takashi Murakami with "Polyrhythm" (1992) Photographed by Ithaka Darin Pappas at Galerie Mars in Shibuya-Ku

 At the beginning of his career, Murakami appeared to be content with the lot of most successful contemporary artists: to create work that is admired by critics and desired by wealthy collectors but leaves the general public baffled or hostile. He was constructing conceptual pieces similar to the art being made in the West. Among those early works, which began attracting attention in the early 90's, was "Polyrhythm", a seven-foot-high slab of yellow resin, minimalist in form, on which many toy United States infantry soldiers climb. 

Read Full article here:  https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/magazine/the-murakami-method.html

Takashi Murakami photographed with "Polyrhythm" by Ithaka Darin Pappas 

in Tokyo Los Angeles (1992) 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takashi_Murakami

-------------------------------------------------

For more information about this image please contact: 

ithaka.art@gmail.com - Also see: @_ithaka_

Artist Takashi Murakami photographed by Ithaka Darin Pappas (Tokyo 1992)

 

"Murakami Yawns At Mars"

World-renowned contemporary artist #TakashiMurakami @takashipom with his piece entitled "Physical Pie" photographed at Mars Gallery in Shibuya-Ku, Japan, Tokyo (1992) by Greek-Californian artist/photographer #IthakaDarinPappas @_Ithaka_ @photographer_ithaka.d.pappas

For licensing inquiries regarding these rare images of

Takashi Murakami by Ithaka Darin Pappas,

please contact ithaka.official@gmail.com

"Physical Pie" by Takashi Murakami (1992)

Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas,

Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas,

Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin PappasTakashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas,Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Takashi Murakami, Ithaka Darin Pappas

Singer, Joanie Sommers, photographed by IthakaDarin Pappas

Singer, Joanie Sommers, photographed by IthakaDarin Pappas in Los Angeles Circa 1988

West Coast photographers Ithaka Darin Pappas and Peter Augustin Strube

Photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas self-portrait in Carangola, Minas Gerais (Brazil) 2001

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ithaka/69363540

https://store.cdbaby.com/artist/Ithaka2

https://www.instagram.com/_ithaka_/?hl=en

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5225987/

https://thehundreds.com/blogs/content/ithaka-interview

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ithaka

http://upmagazine-tap.com/en/pt_artigos/ithaka-2/

EAZY-E FROM N.W.A, SKATEBOARDING (1989). PHOTO BY ITHAKA DARIN PAPPAS.

https://www.provokr.com/photography/contact-high/15-eazy-e-from-n-w-a-skateboarding-1989-photo-by-ithaka-darin-pappas/

15. EAZY-E FROM N.W.A, SKATEBOARDING (1989). PHOTO BY ITHAKA DARIN PAPPAS.

https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=107522.0

World-renowned, Violinist Raaginder photographed by Ithaka Darin Pappas

World-renowned violinist Raaginder Momi http://raaginder.com -
photographed by Ithaka Darin Pappas in California September 2019

"The Miracle Mile Shot" (1988) The Photograph of N.W.A. by Ithaka Darin Pappas

    Watch here:

                   

About the mini-documentary: "The Miracle Mile Shot":

"The Miracle Mile Shot" is an experimental, non-dialogue short-subject documentary film by Greek-American artist-photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas. This is the third in his series of hip-hop Photomentaries almost entirely relying on his own archival imagery of West Coast rap artists.

"I begin seeing these incredible documentaries randomly at different times and places around the world, on planes, at friends houses etc. And it took me a minute to realize that all of this compelling story-telling; Jazz, The Civil War, and The National Parks: America's Best Idea were coming from the same source, Ken Burns. His projects can tell an entire story with only still photographs if necessary, it's amazing.

I realized that I was the creator of much of the kind of raw still photographic material that Mr. Burns uses for his projects, and it has inspired me to begin to edit and present these images in a film format to tell a story. The Miracle Mile Shot is my third short-subject film festival project. I have already completed earlier this year "Eazy E & Venice Locals (A Historic Day in the Brotherhood of Hip Hop and Skateboarding".

I call these projects Photomentaries, meaning at this point I am only using still photographs in movement, with sound and text to vocal communicate ideas. I am not sure I will ever incorporate narration, I am enjoying the closed-mouth communication direction of it all and think I'd like to take it to the next level and even try a much longer project, of up to an hour.
_____________________________________________

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miracle_Mile_Shot
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10519540/
https://businessallstarsblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/26/the-miracle-mile-shot-non-dialogue-short-subject-documentary-at-lagff/

Artist, Chaz Guest on his 58th Birthday Celebration

World renowned artist, Chaz Guest in 2019,
at his 58th birthday celebration - Los Angeles.
See Chaz's brilliant work at: http://chazguest.com/

Photograph by Ithaka Darin Pappas.

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artist_CHAZ_GUEST_in_Los_Angeles_2019_photo_by_Ithaka_Darin_Pappas.jpg