Paris is a feast for those of us who love Jef Aerosol's work. 'saw so many of his pieces here. This one is a particular favorite -- as it's a metaphor for what's happening in so much of the world, but especially in the Middle East. Will we ever learn?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Miss.Tic
Miss.Tic's stencils of women are everywhere in Paris, each one accompanied by some clever writing. I was not familiar with her work until this trip, but her cool chicks caught my eye just about everywhere I was graffiti-hunting. She's quite prolific and a google search led me to her impressive site -- http://www.missticinparis.com/
Paris Truck Art
The curbs alongside each market place/flea market in Paris are lined up with trucks, all graffiti-styled! The styles range from haphazard tags to fine pieces like this one.
First Stop in Paris
Soon after arriving in Paris, we headed off to the exhibit "Ne Dans La Rue" ("Born in the Streets") at the Foundation Cartier. The exhibit was a wonderful tribute to NYC graffiti, as it celebrated the birth of graffiti in NYC and its evolution to a significant global movement. From an aesthetic perspective -- as well as from a socio-cultural, historic, one -- the exhibit was exceptional. I haven't seen anything of this calibre in NYC.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Bushwick Street Art
It's been about a year since folks have been telling me about a wall in Bushwick that's a "must see." 'finally saw it yesterday and was blown away, by the high quality and variety of all of its pieces. It's on Knickerbocker off Morgan. 'ran into it by chance and will definitely return.
Apolo Torres @ Factory Fresh
As today was the last day of "lichen", an exhibit featuring three street artists from Sao Paulo, I made my way into Factory Fresh in Bushwick. The artwork mesmerized me -- as I knew it would -- and the installation was perfect. 'so cool that Ali and Ad are doing this and doing it so well.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Online Street Culture Magazine
I'm constantly floored by the number of really fine street art magazines that I've been finding online. I just discovered this one -- based in Detroit -- today: www.lafamigliazine.com
'can't get enough of os gemeos
Each time I look at a close-up from the mural that the twins completed on Houston Street, I'm once again blown away. Their skills with details, color and perspective are pure genius.
Friday, July 24, 2009
READ on the LES
From the moment I got out of the F train on Second Avenue yesterday morning, I was greeted by dozens of variations of this same message, "Read." Most were on stickers of all sizes and colors, often with an accompanying message to reinforce it. I love it!
LES Street Art
It's been a few months since I passed this spot on Rivington Street -- directly across from where I used to work. When I first started documenting street art -- a bit less than two years ago -- a stunning Swoon piece graced this space. Lots has happened since!
5Pointz, LIC
5Pointz is great for discovering artists from abroad whose work isn't generally seen on the streets of NYC. This is the work of Roman de Milk & Wodka of Switzerland.
Black Acid Co-op @ Deitch Projects
Although I generally love everything connected to Deitch Projects, I had no interest in checking this out until I read Roberta Smith's review of it in the New York Times. Then my curiosity get the better of me. Anyway, the endless installations in "black Acid Co-op" are insanely impressive in their depiction of the underside of American life. It's kind of like a journey into hell. Interesting -- but I'll take Os Gemeos any day.
On the LES
'surprised to see one of WK Interact's "12 angry men" off Grand and Hester Streets-- in a space generally free of street art of any kind! Anyway, it worked! I found the image far more striking here than on the walls of Jonathan LeVine's gallery -- where I first saw it.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
And they just keep coming!
'just checked Amazon to see what's up with graf books to be released soon. It seems they just keep coming. I'm especially looking forward to this, as the first Graffiti Planet was a real hit with my former high school students (and, unlike so many graf books it's light-weight and affordable.)
Downtown Sidewalk Stencil
I've seen Leviticus's paste-ups and installations just about everywhere in just about every boro. Because of my personal aversion to the name and all its connotations, I generally avoid reading his messages. This is the first time, though, that I've seen anything of his stenciled on the ground. It's kind of cool!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Downtown Sticker
Dani noticed these stickers when we were downtown on Friday. There's a message here. R.I.P., Dash Snow.
Preet Srivastava
Visiting Preet's studio is always fun. East meets West in her life and art. This is a variation of the self-portrait she created on a NYC subway map a number of years back.
Zarina Hashmi @ Luhring Augustine
As I've been thinking lots these days about collage, prints and mixed-media, I was intrigued by Zarina Hasmi's work I discovered by chance at this Chelsea gallery. Born a Muslim in India over 60 years ago, Zarina is now based in NYC. The exhibit continues through 7/31 @ 531 W, 24th Street.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Cern on 163rd Street
'went up with Dani to the wall on 163rd and Park Avenue in the Bronx to see what was going on there -- as I'd heard that Os Gemeos had been there. I did not expect to run into Cern -- one of the few artists I know who is as home in the Bronx as he is in Williamsburg!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Os Gemeos on Houston Street
I returned today to the Os Gemeos wall on Houston Street to show it to Chino, a young artist/b-boy, whose artwork will be in the next exhibit I'm curating for Hamilton Fish, NYPL. Each time I see the mural, I discover new details that blow me away. I love the references to Iz the Wiz and Dash Snow in this close-up. Brilliant -- as is everything the twins do!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Bronx Graffiti
After leaving Crotona Park this evening, I ran into a former student who directed me to some walls in the area. This is a close-up from one of Tats Cru's murals. It has a different vibe from the ones they do downtown.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Abandoned in Bed-Stuy
Walking along some of the side streets off Broadway in Bed Stuy -- where it borders on Bushwick -- Tara and I discovered quite a few abandoned and boarded up buildings. Directly across the street from one of them, I noticed a teddy bear dangling from a wall. As I approached it, I saw a man on a sofa bed, apparently awake -- as he warmly greeted me. I asked him if I could take his photo. He readily agreed. I feel a bit awkward about it, though. I plan to return to this spot to speak to him.
Bed-Stuy Characters
Lots of tags and throw-ups in Bed-Stuy off Broadway, but not too many characters. I love these two.
Os Gemeos on Houston Street
When I stopped by this afternoon, the Os Gemeos mural was almost complete. It's mesmerizing! 'so glad I had the opportunity to see the twins in action.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
On Houston Street w/Os Gemeos
When my son stopped by the almost-completed mural on Houston Street, he discovered Os Gemeos posing with a group of kids "straight out of the 90's." 'sorry I missed this!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Os Gemeos on Houston Street
As I've been out of the city the past few days, I haven't checked out Os Gemeos's progress on Houston Street since Thursday. My son Dani, though, spent some time there on Friday and found them at work on a truck. This is a close-up.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Graffiti Hall of Fame
Dani returned to the Graffiti Hall of Fame in East Harlem this past weekend and discovered a newly painted Tats Cru piece. These guys are amazing -- in a league of their own -- and they never seem to stop evolving. This is a close-up from a huge mural with a host of amazing characters.
Willoughby Windows
'ended my day yesterday by checking out "Willoughby Windows" -- an amazing collaboration between Ad Hoc Arts and MetroTech's BID that transformed 11 storefronts into dazzling installations. This is a close-up of a piece by Dennis McNett.
Ben Frost @ Brooklynite Gallery
'finally made my way over to Brooklynite Gallery in Bed-Stuy, a relatively new space I've been meaning to check out for awhile. 'great discovering Austrailian artist Ben Frost whose utterly engaging, somewhat subversive, pieces were the subject of the current exhibit, Plague Landscapes. It continues through the 18th @ 334 Malcolm X Blvd.
On President Street
I always love watching writers at work. Some of the best were transforming this parking lot on President Street in the South Slope into a wonderland yesterday.
Found @ "No Longer Empty"
In my quest to check out Know Hope's piece at the Chelsea Hotel, I discovered the incredibly cool "No Longer Empty" -- a group of artists and curators who are transforming empty storefronts into amazingly creative, vital spaces. The current exhibit, set in a storefront next to the Chelsea Hotel, continues through July 18th @ 222 West 23rd Street. It's definitely worth a visit.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Guyton/Walker
As I love collage and am always interested in the direction it's taking, I headed over to Greene Naftali (508 West 26th) to check out this exhibit. Wonderful patterns and exuberant colors emerge from this collaboration between two artists. The entire gallery space, in fact, becomes one huge installation. 'definitely worth a visit. I hope to return before it closes on 8/8, as the experience is a "natural high."
Hidden on Rivington Street
As we were walking on Rivington Street, Tara noticed over a dozen tags and throw-ups hidden behind a boarded up fence. 'got some pics from a narrow opening in the fence. 'found some real beauty in these amidst all of the shallowness that has come to characterize the "new" Lower East Side.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Os Gemeos on Houston Street
Thanks to Vandalog's blog, I found out that Os Gemeos are in town. 'headed down to Houston and Bowery -- the site of their mural-in-progress -- in the afternoon and was thrilled to have the chance to see them at work.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
5Pointz Sticker Art
Dani seems to be finding amazing stickers at 5Pointz that I haven't seen anywhere else. This one is among them.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
On the Sidewalk in Florence, Italy
Daya Rao -- whose art studies have brought her to Italy this summer -- reports that portraits of Michael Jackson, along with those of the Mona Lisa, are appearing on the sidewalks of Florence. Thanks, Daya and husband, Jayesh Rao, who took this photo and sent it to me.
Shiro @ 5Pointz
I had asked Dani earlier today to get a book over to Meres @ 5Pointz. We both thought things would be quiet there on a Monday. But Dani reports that the place was booming. Among the artists at work was Shiro.
Monday, July 6, 2009
East Harlem Graffiti
Aside from the Hall/Wall of Fame, I'm not at all familiar with the walls in East Harlem. Tara discovered some graf up there yesterday and took these photos to share. Thanks, Tara!
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