Volume 2 acknowledges that art brings about change. It features a special cracked Glow-in-the-Dark design and an all-new 2X Firm Graphite specially formulated for this release.
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 midcentury 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 The 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 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.
Made in: Japan
Materials: California cedar, graphite, metal ferrule, elastomer eraser
Specifications:8" long each; available in a box of 12
Further Reading: Every pencil is made of graphite and wood. Only Blackwing pencils combine the best graphite in the world, the best wood in the world, and generations of craftsmanship to create an exceptional pencil. When you’re looking for the perfect pencil to write a song, sketch a landscape, or brainstorm a business idea, look for Blackwing’s distinct rectangular eraser.
Blackwing's Volumes packs are released quarterly and feature limited edition pencils that celebrate the people, places and events that have defined our creative culture over time.
View our entire collection of Blackwing pencils and accessories here.
Read about the rebirth of the iconic Blackwing pencil in "Back in Blackwing", The New Yorker.
