2009

Matt Siren and Lee Holin at “Street Crush”

Ghost Girl is a perfect amalgam of the perfect girl for Matt Siren.

Long hours playing Pacman as a kid seered her ghostly shape into his retina. Long hours sitting in the pew at Catholic church in Queens staring at the rosary produced the stylized Keltic Cross barrette in her perfectly combed hair. Her prim reserve and Japanime styling probably folds into that Catholic upbringing too, but let’s not all be armchair psychoanalysts! Or am I projecting?

You’ll find Ghost Girl nested into pieces by Matt, even when the topic is something else, or when he is collaborating.  He likes collaborating with artist to see what is produced by the collision of styles, and usually is really stoked by the results.  His show at Woodward Gallery with Dark Clouds last year featured multiple collaborations with a number of street artists (see a nice post on C-Monster from that show).  A designer at heart, Matt has produced clean boyant posters for bands and burlesque shows.

For the “Street Crush” show at Alphabeta this Friday, Matt is collaborating with artist Lee Holin, who favors portraits of friends in his work – first photographing their image and then painting it.  “Skinny Drip”, their piece together, features one of these black and white images with silver screen print of Matt’s newest character (the Skull Mistress) masking out part of Holin’s model.  And of course, nestled into the text at the bottom you see 4 little red “Ghost Girls”. Perfect!

"Skinny Drip" by Matt Siren and Lee Holin (for "Street Crush" show)

"Skinny Drip" by Matt Siren and Lee Holin (for "Street Crush" show)

STREET CRUSH is a BEST BET in New York Magazine this week.

Matt Siren’s Site

Woodward Gallery

Read more

I Heart You! Chris Uphues at “Street Crush”

Who doesn’t know this happy heart guy?  Raise your hand!

That is because you are bitter.  That’s what it is.  And probably your mom was mean to you and your father was a big green sewer frog.  You know these hearts, with their various personalities and dispositions, but you just don’t want to admit it because you think that will make you soooooo un-tough.

When you round a corner and hit a sudden patch of hearts smacked up – with their different personalities and dispositions, they made you a little bit happier.  It’s okay.  No one will tell.

U Makin Me Salivate!  (Chris Uphues for "Street Crush" Show)

U Makin Me Salivate! (Chris Uphues for "Street Crush" show)

I got a love hangover (Chris Uphues for "Street Crush" show)

I got a love hangover (Chris Uphues for "Street Crush" show)

Tough Love  (Chris Uphues for "Street Crush"

Tough Love (Chris Uphues for "Street Crush" show)

Check out this fun animation of Chris’s art made by Jason Robert Bell.

Love from Jason Robert Bell on Vimeo.

Chris Uphues

Street Crush Show

Read more

“Work to Do” show at 112 Greene Street

Royce Bannon and a diverse team of talented street artist/graff writers are taking the challenge seriously: Revive the artists’ space in Soho that boasts a proud history and restore it to the constructive, collaborative, democratic roots of a real artists’ community; one that will have a mission of giving back, as well as re-establishing a laboratory for discovery.

These are times for bold actions of hope, and all hands are on deck for a show opening this month called “Work to Do” at 112 Greene Street in Soho, a place that first flourished in the years before the Reagan Revolution.

Read the Brooklyn Street Art Post for this event here

A Monstrous Welcome to a New Era for 112 Greene Street (Royce Bannon)

A Monstrous Welcome to a New Era for 112 Greene Street (Royce Bannon)

Endless Love Crew

Read more

FOUR ROOMS AND A WALL at Carlton Arms Hotel

ARTBREAK GALLERY IN CAHOOTS WITH
THE CARLTON ARMS ART PROJECT PRESENTS:

FOUR ROOMS AND A WALL

5 NEW AND WONDEROUS ADDITIONS TO THE WALLS OF THE CARLTON ARMS HOTEL
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS: ANDRE VAN DER KERKHOFF, JAMES AND KARLA MURRAY, DIZA HOPE, OTTJORG A.C., DAREK SOLARSKI, DAVID COOPER AND VENG.
Yes, I'd like a room with a vibrating bed please.

Yes, I'd like a room with a vibrating bed please

LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES BY MICHAEL POWERS AND BAND (FEATURING GABRIEL ALDORT) WITH SPECIAL GUESTS MARK BIRNBAUM, MICHAEL FISHER AND MERYL LEPPARD.

THURSDAY MARCH 12TH 6 – 10 PM

THE CARLTON ARMS HOTEL
160 EAST 25TH ST. (AT 3RD AVE.) NY, NY 10010
212 679 0680

Read more

Imminent Disaster On Target for Street Crush

Coming off a big Brooklyn show at ThinkSpace in December,

Imminent Disaster scales down the size, and scales up the the symbolic power in this hand inked collage of found wood and debris on the street. It’s character is lyrical and brutal, refined and rugged.

Imminent Disaster comes on strong with a message to the Haterz, and you can decide what it is.

"Haterz" by Imminent Disaster (for the "Street Crush" Show)

“Haterz” by Imminent Disaster for the “Street Crush” show

Read more

First Street Crush – Sneak Peak – Jef Aerosol

Deep in the frozen tundra of Greenpoint Brooklyn….. this group of artists have focused their gaze on one theme,

and each one comes at it from a different angle. They are each going up with a variety of ways to see love, sex, sensuality, and the streets.  The show is rockin’ it sexaaaay!

Starting us off is one example from stencil pioneer Jef Aerosol.

It seems appropriate to pay tribute to Bettie Page (Jef Aerosol for Street Crush Show)

It seems appropriate to begin with a tribute to Bettie Page: "Fishnets" (Jef Aerosol for Street Crush Show)

Jef Aerosol Myspace

Read more

Fountain Art Fair All Weekend

  • Fountain, the independent art fair pioneered by cutting-edge galleries, celebrates its 3rd year in New York.

  • Location

    Pier 66 26th St Hudson River Park
  • Schedule

    March 5-8, 2009 11am–7pm
    VIP/Press: Thurs March 5th
    Reception for the Artists: Fri. March 6, 7pm–midnight

Fountain New York 2009 participating galleries include:

Ad Hoc Art – Brooklyn
Front Room – Brooklyn
Definition Gallery – Baltimore
Glowlab – New York
Leo Kesting – New York
McCaig-Welles – Brooklyn
Stuart Shepherd Gallery – New Zealand
Vagabond-Schmarotzer Gallery – New York

Fountain was launched in March 2006 in New York in an effort to leverage support for independent galleries overlooked by the larger, corporate-sponsored art fairs. The name “Fountain” is a nod to Marcel Duchamp’s controversial sculpture which shook up the art world when it was rejected by the Society of Artists’ exhibition in 1917. Similarly, in defiant contrast with The Armory Show, Art Basel Miami Beach, Pulse, Scope and the numerous other international art fairs, Fountain has received wide public support and critical acclaim for its experimental slant. In form and spirit, the artwork exhibited at Fountain reflects the avant-garde attitude of the Dada art movement, while attracting the attention of the international clientele and top collectors who attend the more traditional fairs.

Ad Hoc Gallery will be showing work by:

Armsrock, C215, Dain, Camilla d’Errico, Leslie Ditto, Eine, Ewelina Ferruso, Gaia, Imminent Disaster, Sarah Joncas, Dan-ah Kim, Hiro Kurata, Tommii Lim, Anthony Lister, LogikOne, Mijn Schatje

Imminent Disaster at the Ad Hoc Booth

Imminent Disaster at the Ad Hoc Booth at Fountain

Read more

Rise Up! To the Roof tonight!

Chris Stain is ready to show the peeps on the left coast just what it looks like up on the roof here in the BK. Of course, right now if you went up on my roof you better take a flask of Makers Mark, cuz it it is cold as Lou Dobb’s heart up there this time of year.

If you are going to the opening tonight, plan to get there early because Chris has made a limited edition print especially for the show as a gift to the first fans through the door tonight.  That is so like him.

Anyway, if you can’t make it to the opening, here’s an hors d’oeuvre tray of images to sate your appetite. Try the pigeon pâté!

A formidable team! (Chris Stain courtesy Carmichael)

A formidable team! (Chris Stain courtesy Carmichael)

Here Comes the Sun!  I'm Free.  (Chris Stain courtesy Carmichael Gallery)

Here Comes the Sun! I'm Free! (Chris Stain courtesy Carmichael Gallery)

Homeward

" Homeward Bound" (Chris Stain courtesy Carmichael Gallery)

In the rear gallery “LIFELINE” a group exhibition featuring Alex Hornest, Jim Darling, Ilia of Btoy and Sesper with Andreas Ragnar Kasapsis in the Showcase Space.

Carmichael Gallery

Read more

Life is Like a Box of “Delineations”

Ad Hoc is currently hosting a chocolate box full of delectables:

An array of mostly hand-drawn early renderings by a number of artists (street artists and not) – graphite, ink, colored pencil, charcoals, acrylic, paper, cardboard and wood.

“Delineations” is a tastily curious assortment that, upon close examination, reveals what you may have already known: there is a very healthy collection of talent taking over the scene, and their roots are in the drawing tradition. Drawing may not be the new painting, but it’s definitely part of the process!

"USA 19" by Cycle (photo Steven P. Harrington)

"USA 19" by Cycle (Photo Steven P. Harrington)

(Toofly) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Superfly Mama deftly drawn (Toofly) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

"Remarks" by Miha (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Oh this old ratty lions head scarf? It's nothing, it's a hand-me-down. "Remarks" by Miha (photo Steven P. Harrington)

"Illegal Tender"

Okay, this is as hilarious in real life. Check out the gold leaf! "Illegal Tender" by EZO (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Logik ONe

Logik One is rocking the jams (photo Steven P. Harrington)

The first Brick Lady

The First, the Original, Brick Lady (Lady Pink) (photo Steven P. Harrington

The show “Delineations” runs through February 15.

Ad Hoc Gallery

More details in our Calendar

Read more

Hey you kids, stay away from the ledge! Chris Stain is on the Roof with the Pigeons

Chris Stain prepares for his upcoming show at Carmichael.

Chris Stain (courtesy Carmichael Gallery)

Chris Stain (courtesy Carmichael Gallery)

He talks to us about where the inspiration came from for the upcoming show…

Brooklyn Street Art: The name of the show came from something your grandfather used to say: What was he talking about?

Chris Stain: “Up on the roof countin pigeons” was a reply that my grandfather would use if you would inquire where a family member was. Honestly not sure what he meant exactly. My guess is it was in reference to someone bein loony.

Brooklyn Street Art: When you talk about doing something on the roof, a familiar song written by two Brooklyn natives, “Up on the Roof”, comes to mind.

Chris Stain: Yeah I remember that song. A lot of people still do go up on the roof to get away for a minute. The work I will be showing has everything to do with what is going on down on the street. The roof idea for the install is just to try and switch it up in the gallery a bit. No hidden allegory here plus it ties into my grandfathers’ saying.

Up on the Roof” is a song written by Brooklyn natives Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded in 1962 by The Drifters. Yo, check out the graff on the roof circa that time, and  they actually have a cage with pigeons up there!!! Coolness.

Full description of the Show in Our Calendar

Carmichael Gallery

ChrisStain.com

Read more

LA II New Panels at Woodward Gallery Project Space

Walking along in lower Manhattan (yes, that is part of Brooklyn, people) you will notice a smart installation across from Woodward Gallery on Eldridge Street that they like to call their project space. It’s brand new, and it is by LA II, who showed new work at the A MAZE show in November at Factory Fresh.

Colorful Cacophony (LAII) (Image courtesy Woodward Gallery)

Colorful Cacophony (LAII) (Image courtesy Woodward Gallery)

LAII is the nickname of an artist named Angel Ortiz, who was an early collaborator of Keith Haring’s, working closely with the artist between 1980 and 1986. Credited by Haring in John Gruen’s Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography with advancing the Pop artist’s creative development, and has been called Haring’s “silent partner. Currently on a tour, LAII is bringing on his style, which added some color since those days.

Keith Haring and LA II (1981) (courtesy Haring.com)

Keith Haring and LA II (1981) (courtesy Haring.com)

Read more