March 2010

Artists Transform “Market Estate” before the Bulldozers Hit

March 13, 2010 London

Over 75 artists took over an abandoned housing building in north London and transformed the morose shell of once-utopian urban architecture into a living art installation.

Destined for destruction, the former home of hundreds of people received a final sendoff with the amazing contributions of all manner of artists, from conceptual to decorative – of course, street art easily intersects the grand process.

Look closely into the eyes of this creature by Solo One and you'll see two people peering out of the windows. (courtesy Solo One)

Last weekend a public viewing was hosted allowing visitors to tour the entire complex and contemplate the lives of the people who lived there, the fairly regular and sometimes expansive failure of architectural schemes, and the more activist role that artists have been playing in the public sphere.

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The Market Estate Project

Solo One’s Blog

RETNA “Desaturated” at New Image Art (LA)

March 13, 2010 Artists, California, Los Angeles

“DESATURATED”

new works by

RETNA

Retna preparations

Retna was born in Los Angeles, California in 1979. Since first creating a name for himself in the early 1990s, Retna has become an “eternal broadcaster” of sorts, shining a light to the kinetic urban soul of Los Angeles. The name RETNA itself evokes the timeless power, movement and visual vibrancy behind the artist’s acclaimed work. His work merges photography with graffiti style and paint, time with color, couture with street culture, the spiritual with the sensual, and fluidity with grit. Whether his paintings hang in a gallery or wall on the streets of Los Angeles, they serve as a retina through which we view the urban journal of contemporary art.

At an early age, Retna was introduced to L.A.’s mural culture. While still in high school, he led one of the largest and most innovative graffiti art collectives the city has witnessed. He is perhaps best known for appropriating fashion advertisements and amplifying them with his unique layering, intricate line work, text-based style and incandescent color palette reflecting an eclectic artistic tradition. RETNA became just as notorious for his ornate painting technique as his timeless style: he used paintbrushes mixed with the traditional spray can. Many of his pieces synthesize the line between fine art and graffiti, between power and opposition, between tradition and advancement.

Today, Retna traverses between the galleries and streets with ease. Retna is a member of the Art Work Rebels and Mad Society Kings Art Groups. In December 2007, he contributed to a large-scale mural project with El Mac and Reyes called “La Reina del Sur” at Miami’s Primary Flight during Art Basel. His most recent projects include an exhibition titled “Vagos Y Reinas” at Robert Berman Gallery and a mural called “Seeing Signs” at the Margulies Warehouse for Primary Flight

New Image Art
7908 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 654-2192
www.newimageartgallery.com

Brazilian Street Artist Mundano has first Solo Show

March 12, 2010 São Paulo

From SÃO PAULO, here are a few pieces from Mundano’s first solo show, “Cidade Reciclável”(Recycable City)

Mundano said the opening night was perfect, “A lot of people, artists, Japanese food, hot weather, cold beer, caipirinha, 5 big canvasses sold and a lot of projects running at the same time. I wish you and other friends from NYC could have been at the opening last night, – the same way I want to be in NYC to see personally the exhibition of fresh pieces on the streets.”

Painting on found objects by Mundano.

Themes from the show, and often in Mundano’s work, include issues of economic justice, environmental pollution and waste, recycling, bicycling, consumerism, and witty playful monsters with faces of the ancestors, every watchful and observant.

Mundano.

Mundano likes to use street art as a way of a social revolution. He says his characters are imbued with messages so people can see and think about the problems he addresses.

Some recurring symbols and expressions from Mundano.

“Cidade Reciclável”(Recycable City)

Grand Opening: March 10th, Wednesday, from 20h to 23h

The show runs till April 10th. The music, food, and entertainment venue is open Wednesday to Saturday

Asia 70

Domingos Andrades st. (corner with Kansas st.)

Brooklin

www.asia70.com.br

Call 11 5102 2215

About the Artist:

Mundano’s work can be seen in the favelas, big avenues, as well as art galleries and on his Flickr page: www.flickr.com/artetude

BSA Exclusive: How to Catch LISTER Painting on the Street

March 12, 2010 Artists, Brooklyn, NYC, On the Street

Brooklyn Street Art got a little hotter yesterday – thanks to spring time temperatures and the wildly talented Anthony Lister, who is working on this new mural.

In between his installation at PULSE art fair last week and his solo show “How to Catch a Time Traveler” next Friday, we had a really great time watching him painting this new face in the neighborhood.

A little more white over here… Anthony Lister (photo ©Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister on his toes on the streets of Brooklyn (photo ©Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister (photo ©Jaime Rojo)

Tune in to Sunday’s “Images of the Week” on BSA where we’ll feature the finished piece.

Anthony Lister “How to Catch a Time Traveler” at Lyons Wier Gallery

March 11, 2010 Artists, Manhattan, NYC, Opening

ANTHONY LISTER
How to Catch a Time Traveler

Quietly Confident, by Anthony Lister

Lyons Wier Gallery is pleased to present Anthony Lister’s second solo exhibition with the gallery, How to Catch a Time Traveler. The exhibition follows directly on the heals of Lister’s 50-foot, site-specific mural, “Red Dot”, created specifically for the Pulse Art Fair, NYC (2010), showcasing Lister’s undeniable signature style that has garnered him international acclaim.

Anthony Lister (courtesy Lyons Wier)

Known in the Low Brow movement for his intriguing, playful hybrid of street art,expressionism, and cubism; Lister’s new body of work shows the tongue-in-cheek frivolity of his earlier pieces developing (or decaying) into a more mature and disturbing direction. The deformities and un-done aesthetic resolve of Lister’s work provides viewers with a concretization of contemporary societies’ psyche – or, as the artist himself states, “making the obvious more, well, obvious”. In his latest series, Lister continues his examination of pop culture and how a generation raised on American television processes and interprets the symbols and imagery of their youth. The result is gender bending cartoon characters, and superheroes such as Wonder Woman and Bat Girl, that uncover the unconscious sexual desires and repressed taboos embedded in these seemingly innocuous popular icons. The work contains a circular perspective, one that shifts between, even confuses the non-rational inner workings of the child and adult mind. Yet this inescapable paradox of the human condition, wherein we are at all times evolving from and dependant upon the experiences of youth, is unlocked by Lister’s painterly antics, and revealed to be the utterly serious and impossibly ridiculous condition it is. Lister’s practice is indeed about reality. A reality his work does not claim to resolve, but rather to question, loudly.

Anthony Lister has shown widely internationally in solo exhibitions at Metro 5, Melbourne; K Gallery, Milan; Spectrum Gallery, London; Criterion Gallery, Hobart; and the Wooster Collective, New York; among others. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Artforum, Australian Art Collector, Vogue Magazine, Modern Painters, Paper Magazine, Art in America and VICE Magazine. Lister’s work is present in many reputable collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the David Roberts Collection, the TVS Partnership and the BHP Collection.

Lister is the receipient of the Prometheus Award (2009, 2005), the Dobell Prize for Drawing (2008) and the ABN Amro Art Award (2007).

Gallery Hours: Monday – Saturday 11-7, Sun. 12-6 • Subway: C, E exit 23rd @ 8th Ave. 1, 9 exit 23rd @ 7th Ave.

Exhibition Dates:

March 19th – April 19th, 2010

Opening:
Friday, March 19th, 2010
6:00 – 9:00 pm

Lyons Wier Gallery

175 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10011

http://lyonswiergallery.com/

The Dress Made the Trip from Brooklyn: Armsrock & Imminent Disaster ‘Refuge’

March 11, 2010 Artists, California, Los Angeles, Opening

Andrew Hosner at Thinkspace Gallery could have gotten a little nervous when he saw pics of the new 3-dimensional back skirt that Imminent Disaster was making in Brooklyn for the show that opens tomorrow in L.A.

In fact, even Miss D. wasn’t sure how she was going to ship it when we saw her making it in the studio.

A protective blanket guards the hem during installation (photo courtesy ThinkSpace)

But, new pictures reveal that the cut-paper sculpture made it and today’s progress looks like the show will open tomorrow night with no hitches or stitches.

Armsrock and Imminent D. have been taking over the gallery with their theme of refuge, referring to the millions of people on earth who are pushed from their homes by political persecution or war or environmental disaster.

One of Armsrocks’ pieces is also a sculpture of sorts; “Weight of the World”, Ink & graphite on paper affixed to a globe. (image courtesy ThinkSpace)

Looking at some of the first images, one cannot help think of the temporary housing that we have seen set up for victims of recent earthquakes.

Found wood pieces strung together with twine frame this cut paper piece by Imminent Disaster (image courtesy ThinkSpace)

Of the transformation of the gallery, Hosner says, “Man, they are going to town. The space looks epic.”

“Laura Reclining” by Imminent Disaster, Hand cut paper hand sewn to quilted fabric (courtesy ThinkSpace)

See Imminent Disaster’s preparation in the studio HERE

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Armsrock & Imminent Disaster ‘Refuge’

Thinkspace Gallery

4210 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90029

#323.913.3375

Thur-Sun 1-6PM or by appointment

http://www.thinkspacegallery.com

NohJ Lights Up at “East Williamsburg” show at Eastern District

March 11, 2010 Artists

Here’s a sneak peak at a brand new piece by NohJColey for tomorrow nights show at Eastern District. It’s called “every maveRick meets it’s match”.

If you flick this lighter you’ll see all the diseases and ailments that come from smoking cigarettes – cataracts, gangrene, loss of hearing… “I don’t think everyone makes a connection sometimes between seeing people who are ill and smoking cigarettes,” says NohJ

Click here to see a simple low-res video demo of using the lighter to illuminate the piece

Friday the show “East Williamsburg” opens at Eastern District (in Bushwick)

Eastern District Gallery Presents: “East Williamsburg” with new work by CA$H 4, JUAN DOE, JIM KIERNAN, LUCAS MCGOWEN, NOHJCOLEY AND POSTER BOY

Coming Up Friday: Gore B. and “Stokenphobia” at Pandemic Gallery (NY)

March 11, 2010 Artists, Brooklyn, NYC, Opening

The long awaited return of Gore B.

– don’t know why I say it that way but it seems that the streets had a few more historical references and sudden intricate storylines when Gore B. was around. His new “drawing” show opening at Pandemic Gallery in South Williamsburg tomorrow features densely layered elements in black white and silver – all of his favorites: painted portraits from early photos, symbols from science, religious and maybe astronomy textbooks, ornate filigranic linework, and an ongoing fascination with type styles and letter faces.

Some new Gore B. drawings that will be on display at the Pandemic Gallery Friday (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Detail of new Gore B. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

But Gore B. will not be alone at Pandemic by any means on Friday – “Stokenphobia”, a show about two geometric shapes, will feature the work of around 40 street artists and friends in a show of community love for signage.

Keely’s entry into the show (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

For the non-eggheads reading this – stokenphobia is fear of circles – so Pandemic has provided small rectangular shaped metal signs to a number of people to create a piece on.

Buildmore (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Says Robbie D. of Pandemic, “It’s kind of sporadic. There was no real theme except ‘Just do whatever you feel on the objects we give you.’ We provided the metal signs and basically everybody is allowed to do what they want. So there’s no real theme to the artwork – it’s just about the shapes.”

Street art and graffiti photographer Luna Park has entered this beautiful piece in the show (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Shai Dahan and Darkclouds ready to be hung. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Speaking about the makeup of the group who was invited to participate in the show, Robbie D say, “Mainly they are street artists but there are a lot of friends and artists who don’t work on the street but work in a studio. So it’s really just acquaintances and other street art people we respect and have known for a while now – kind of a close group of people that we know.”

“Open all doors – real and imagined” opens this metal screed – and AVOID pounded every letter into this sign. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

On the opposite side of the room, are a number of large frightening circular shapes that are used as canvasses.

Celso’s blue lady stroking your stokenphobia (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

"Fake Beef" is the name of this piec by Buildmore (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

"Fake Beef" is the name of this piece by Buildmore - referring to the lively imaginations (or paranoia) of artists who think others are out to get them. It's circular shape and lace-like patterned background also reminded me of a piece that Hellbent did- but now I can't find a picture of it. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

CAKE Rises from MarketPlace Gallery’s Ashes in Albany

March 10, 2010 Artists

This past weekend a new show at MarketPlace Gallery opened – which is remarkable in itself since an electrical fire badly damaged it last summer.
New York Street Artist CAKE, Brooklyn illustrator Travis W. Simon, and Albany’s RADICAL! took over the expansive space, run by brothers Samson, Alex and Max Contompasis.

The CAKE sign at the entrance of Marketplace

The gallery, one of the capitol city’s few that support emerging and street artists from New York City and around the world, was also home to the brothers, who lost a lot of art, personal belongings, memories – and most importantly, Max’s bulldog, Xena.

CAKE, known for one of a kind illustrations and paintings wheat-pasted around town, created an abstract backdrop for a small collection of realistic line-drawn portraits .

Installation of CAKE wall.

A framed CAKE illustration.

This Is CAKE’s Flickr

Travis W. Simon’s Website

RADICAL! Flickr

Marketplace Gallery

flyer by RADICAL!

Test Your Art History Knowledge With This Video by “Hold Your Horses”

March 10, 2010 Artists, Video

Every want to act in your own Video? How about acting in a painting?

The Group is called “Hold Your Horses” comprised of French and American members.
Song is “70 Million”

Hugh Leeman in India

March 9, 2010 Artists, India

Street Artist Hugh Leeman, whose work you may have seen in Lower Manhattan, is currently in India, and he sends this dispatch about some wheat-pasting he’s been doing there: “These pieces I recently put up in Varanasi, India just as Holi festival began. They are on the ghats near the Ganges river.”

CLICK THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE

“I was working on these just before sunrise while off in the distance from many different directions. You could hear the chanting of monks and holy men coming from ashrams all while wild monkeys watched me from above and crows cawed as small black birds with brilliant orange specs ate at my excess drips of wheat paste.”

“Further down the river banks bodies are cremated or floated down this holy river.”

“Note the orange splatters on the face – This is from the Holi festival which is celebrated by splashing colored water on each other – and on my wheat paste.”

“The temple here is slowly sinking into the river.”

Street Layers from Paris, Berlin and Vienna

March 9, 2010 Artists, Austria, Berlin, France, Germany, Paris, Vienna

From the Editor:

In the past I breezed by destroyed posters and flyers that amass on construction worksites and abandoned buildings with little thought. Thanks to the work of photographer Vinny Cornelli I have learned to see them entirely differently – like Earth Science, like strata; a layer of text or design or photography with internally consistent characteristics that distinguishes it from contiguous layers. The destruction and consequent revealing of shapes, color, and texture create haphazard new compositions. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but hell yeah, some times it does, and Vinny is always on the lookout.

From photographer Vincent Cornelli:

After my recent trip photographing street art in Hamburg, it brought me back to some of the photos I took last summer in Paris, Berlin and Vienna. I thought it would make the perfect follow-up piece for my bi-weekly posts for BrooklynStreetArt.com. I think I would rather let the pictures speak for themselves. Hope you enjoy them.

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From SÃO PAULO, here are a few pieces from Mundano’s first solo show, “Cidade Reciclável”(Recycable City)

A little more white over here… Anthony Lister (photo ©Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister on his toes on the streets of Brooklyn (photo ©Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister (photo ©Jaime Rojo)

One of Armsrocks’ pieces is also a sculpture of sorts; “Weight of the World”, Ink & graphite on paper affixed to a globe. (image courtesy ThinkSpace)

Found wood pieces strung together with twine frame this cut paper piece by Imminent Disaster (image courtesy ThinkSpace)

Found wood pieces strung together with twine frame this cut paper piece by Imminent Disaster (image courtesy ThinkSpace)

“Laura Reclining” by Imminent Disaster, Hand cut paper hand sewn to quilted fabric (courtesy ThinkSpace) See Imminent Disaster’s preparation in the studio HERE

Armsrock & Imminent Disaster ‘Refuge’

If you flick this lighter you’ll see all the diseases and ailments that come from smoking cigarettes – cataracts, gangrene, loss of hearing… “I don’t think everyone makes a connection sometimes between seeing people who are ill and smoking cigarettes,” says NohJ

Some new Gore B. drawings that will be on display at the Pandemic Gallery Friday (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Detail of new Gore B. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Keely’s entry into the show (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Buildmore (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Street art and graffiti photographer Luna Park has entered this beautiful piece in the show (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Shai Dahan and Darkclouds ready to be hung. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

“Open all doors – real and imagined” opens this metal screed – and AVOID pounded every letter into this sign. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Celso’s blue lady stroking your stokenphobia (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

The CAKE sign at the entrance of Marketplace

CAKE installation at Marketplace Gallery (photo ©Lia Smaka)

Installation of CAKE wall.

A framed CAKE illustration.

The Group is called “Hold Your Horses” comprised of French and American members. Song is “70 Million”

“Further down the river banks bodies are cremated or floated down this holy river.”

“Note the orange splatters on the face – This is from the Holi festival which is celebrated by splashing colored water on each other – and on my wheat paste.”

“Note the orange splatters on the face – This is from the Holi festival which is celebrated by splashing colored water on each other – and on my wheat paste.”

“The temple here is slowly sinking into the river.”

“The temple here is slowly sinking into the river.”

Featured Video | Martin Wong’s “Houston Street”

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“Laura Reclining” by Imminent Disaster, Hand cut paper hand sewn to quilted fabric (courtesy ThinkSpace)

See Imminent Disaster’s preparation in the studio HERE

The Group is called “Hold Your Horses” comprised of French and American members.
Song is “70 Million”