January 2011

Images of the Week 01.23.11

January 23, 2011 Artists, Brooklyn, Miami, NYC, On the Street, Primary Flight

Tonight it will be 7 degrees farenheit in Brooklyn, and the wind will blow down the East River to the Verrazano, around Coney Island and the Rockaways in a bashing fashion. New York City in January can be an inhospitable and unfriendly city, especially if you are a new arrival. “Where are all the people?” New Yorkers, all clad in blacks and grays pile out from the subway tunnels in droves and scurry fast down the sidewalk, like ants whose mound has been disturbed. The puffy fashions often mute gender, causing a great many otherwise fashionable or sexy dudes and dudettes to look like large tubers. Outside is a place to pass through as you stomp toward your dwelling without looking around or upward. Exhausted by layers of fabrics and zippers and buttons and laces and pulling on, over, and off – dropping bags and backpacks, the peeling off wet socks and salty boots are the final salvo before collapse. Depressed yet?

The flip side of this is that a lot of Street Artists are working in their kitchen/toolshed/studio right now and really putting a lot of effort into it – some are even stockpiling like squirrels for spring. If it is sunny for a minute in the afternoon, and you can peer over your scarf on the icy snow piled sidewalks of Brooklyn for a second you’ll see there is some new Street Art here and there. There is one reason to go outside and it’s encouraging to see that some street artists that call New York their home have been getting up despite the elements. It’s not really surprising to find that Street Artists are a scrappy lot; it kind of goes with the territory. Nonetheless it can bring a smile to your frozen face. Happy Winter.

And now our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring AVOne, AWR, BAST, DAIN, General Howe, Jim Darling, Katsu, Nasa, Nohj Coley, Rae, Skewville, Sofia Maldonado, Surge, and the Witness

Rae (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Nohj Coley’s first interactive piece on the streets (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Mucho Gusto!” Nohj Coley First interactive piece on the streets (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Nohj Coley detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Wanna see a movie? Nohj Coley detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A big new Dain about town looking quite continental. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Double the pleasure with Dain (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dain (photo © Jaime Rojo)

AVOne (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Katsu (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Oh, fine thanks, except that I had to kill my boss.” Bast (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bast (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Skewville shows you to your entrance (photo © Jaime Rojo)

General Howe commentarty on past and present events in our still young Nation (photo © Jaime Rojo)

On to warmer climates…. and here are some more images from the glut of new work in Miami that we’ve been showing you this month.

Sofia Maldonado. Primary Flight Miami 2010 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jim Darling created this expansive sculpture made entirely from found objects. We learned that the owner of the lot was at first pretty disturbed by the accumulation of junk until the piece began to take shape. Now of course they love it and the streets are a little cleaner too. Primary Flight Miami 2010 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jim Darling. Detail Primary Flight Miami 2010 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The Witness AWR NASA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Getting Really High on the West Coast: Mear One, Chor Boogie, Shark Toof, Shepard Fairey

January 22, 2011 Artists

During the recent Los Angeles Art Show 2011, four Street Artists regaled the residences at the Ritz Carlton with brand new pieces. Mear One, Chor Boogie, and Shark Toof each worked for 6 days in the highest residence on the West Coast in advance of the big opening party hosted by Shepard and Amanda Fairey. Curated by Bryson Strauss, the show features aerosol, traditional brush painting, and a pulpy wall of wheat-pasted pieces.

Mear One at work (photo © Kohshin Finley)

That’s fine. Mear One puts down the cans and picks up the paintbrush. (photo © Kohshin Finley)

(photo © Kohshin Finley)

Mr. Toof tagging up the penthouse (photo © Kohshin Finley)

Shark Toof attempts to hug his paint cans (photo © Kohshin Finley)

A wall of pop/pulp inspired imagery adapted by Shark Toof. Yes, I know what you’re going to say. (photo © Kohshin Finley)

Always test-spray first for smoove flow. (photo © Kohshin Finley)

Hold it just right; Chor Boogie flossing his creature (photo © Kohshin Finley)

If you gave him 3 colors, he would feel mute. Chor Boogie doing the color therapy. (photo © Kohshin Finley)

Special thanks to very talented LA-based photographer Kohshin Finley for these BSA exclusive pics.

See more photos of the guys setting up on Hi- Fructose HERE:

See a sound-clippishly funny interview on the local news station with Chor and Shark Toof HERE:

Musee Des Avelines Presents: “Jef Aérosol fait un carton à Saint-Cloud !” (Saint-Cloud, France)

January 22, 2011 Artists, Events, France, Gallery, Museum, Opening

Jef Aerosol

“Jef Aérosol fait un carton à Saint-Cloud !”

Exposition / installation

Musée des Avelines

60 rue Gounod

92210 Saint-Cloud (France)

vernissage / opening : mercredi 26 janvier à 19h (entrée libre)

Le catalogue de l’exposition, préfacé par Ernest Pignon-Ernest, sera dédicacé le soir du vernissage.

The catalogue of the exhibition, with a foreword by Ernest Pignon-Ernest, will be signed by the artist during the opening.

Une série de 6 cartes postales sera également éditée / A set of 6 postcards will also be released.

pour en savoir plus (dossier de presse) / more details : http://www.saintcloud.fr/Media/File/dpjef.pdf

podcasts (interviews mp3 Jef Aérosol & Emmanuelle Le Bail) : http://www.saintcloud.fr/musee/

Fun Friday 01.21.11

January 21, 2011 Artists

1. Ellis G Solo Show Tonight in Dumbo
2. Futura Rocks the New Futura Tag on a Window and His New 12 oz. Prophet Video
3. Graffiti Photographer John Naar Expounds on Video – Re-Release of “Faith of Graffiti”
4. Area Grandmother Reveals That She is Banksy
5. Shepard and DEVO: The Big Picture Tomorrow

Ellis G @ Mighty Tanaka Tonight in Brooklyn

There is only one Ellis G and he’s been banging out these hand-traced silhouettes across the city for a good run, now. With a deft hand the Brooklyn Street Artist literally draws your attention to shadow and light, using the cityscape and chalk. Over time his photos of his work have taking on a poignancy because they capture this truly temporary, almost ethereal shadowing of elongated, foreshortened, and otherwise curiously distorted urban structures – freezing them for a second before they fade into the gritty ethers. Tonight he’ll be performing live at his opening at Mighty Tanaka.

All photos Ellis G (courtesy of the gallery)

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, January 21st, 2011, 6:00PM – 9:00PM – MORE HERE

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“This is a Message from Futura!” The 12oz Prophet VIDEO

We are really excited to see Brooklyn’s own Futura in da bloghouse! Props to the 12 oz crew for this warm and natural portrayal.

Check out this exclusive window tag by Futura that he sent for you, the BSA family…

“Condensation tagging could be the next biggest thing,” he says (photo © FUTURADOSMIL)

Check his Flickr for more goodies and read the BSA interview with FUTURADOSMIL on The Huffington Post:

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Gorgeous Insights from Photographer John Naar (VIDEO)

On the occasion Wooster Collective’s re-release of Jon Naar’s and Norman Mailer’s seminal 1970s book “Faith of Grafitti” as part of their “Special Edition” series, here’s a video of Jon Naar courtesy of Stussy.

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Area Grandmother Comes Forward As ‘Banksy’

Reportage courtesy of

“LONDON—At a press conference Tuesday, 89-year-old Rose Biggin, a grandmother from the Camden Town neighborhood of North London, announced that she was in fact the internationally renowned graffiti artist known only as Banksy. “Those drawings? Oh, yes, those are mine,” said the diminutive octogenarian, who admitted to scaling buildings and climbing fences in order to put up life-sized stenciled images that satirize modern society’s mores and its inherent political power structures. “It sure does help to pass the time.” Biggin then returned home, where along with some of her “dearest friends,” she sipped tea, sampled some nice ginger cake, and planned the necessary destruction of dominant capitalist paradigms.” Courtesy of The Onion

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Geniuses: Shepard Fairey and Mark Mothersbaugh

Readying for his show tomorrow for “The Big Picture” at Subliminal Projects with the ordained minister in the Church of the Subgenius, Mark Mothersbaugh, Mr. Fairey appears so relaxed and personable in this video shot for a completely different show.

Damn, these people are so busy! I’m crawling around under the bed looking for a lost sock and Shepard’s over there on the left coast making art to address “the dialogue about power and control in society” and having an art show with the King of DEVO.

Subliminal Projects and The Art Of Elysium’s Elysium Project Present: “The Big Picture” A Show Featuring Shepard Fairey and DEVO’s Mark Mothersbaugh

January 20, 2011 Artists, California, Events, Gallery, Los Angeles, Opening

Subliminal Projects Gallery

Exhibition Dates:
January 22 – February 19, 2011

Subliminal Projects and The Art of Elysium’s Elysium Project are pleased to present a two-person show featuring work by artist, pop culture icon, and DEVO frontman Mark Mothersbaugh and artist Shepard Fairey. This exhibition focuses on their work as artists and philanthropists.

As artists, Mark and Shepard create work that demand the viewer’s attention, drawing them into a world where scale is pushed to the forefront. From several feet back, Shepard’s work tells one story while, up close, the intricate patterning tells another. The symbols in a Shepard print provide a contextual framework and the elaborate detailing reflects a careful attention to craft. Mark’s creative process begins on a small scale. His postcard-size illustrations and paintings often serve as the initial step in his creative process, from which he then pulls imagery for his larger work. These highly personal postcards are created on an intimate scale and, once enlarged into large-format works, the viewer is invited to step into Mark’s whimsical world. In both cases, it is the carefully thought out details that make The Big Picture.

These two artists are keenly aware of The Big Picture when committing to a charitable cause. Their influential roles as tastemakers and cultural icons serve as a bright spotlight on the charity they choose to support. Thanks to their dedication to The Art of Elysium, both artists help bring attention to the charity’s mission, thus enriching the lives of gravely ill children in the Los Angeles serviced by the charity. Shepard Fairey, the 2010 Art of Elysium Visionary, and Mark Mothersbaugh, the 2011 Art of Elysium Visionary, are celebrated in this exhibition for their art and their charitable spirits.

“I am so thrilled that Shepard has opened his gallery for this extremely special collaboration. This is the first collaboration between two of our VISIONARIES. It is our hope that the people that have been asked to join our VISIONARY CIRCLE share in creative collaborations not only to benefit The Art of Elysium and all of its various programs but that their joint endeavors inspire change in the world at large. That is the BIG PICTURE that we are hoping for.”

— Jennifer Howell, founder of The Art of Elysium

SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS GALLERY
1331 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
E: info@subliminalprojects.com
P. 213.213.0078
F. 213.213.0077

MOMO: Public/Private are Two Sides of the Door

January 20, 2011 Artists

Here’s a question to the Street Artists out there; Have you ever knocked on the door before putting a wheatpaste or stencil or sticker on it? The work you put up is for the public to see, but what if “the public” who lives inside asked you to come in?

It sounds crazy – but it DOES happen. Last summer one Brooklyn landlord snagged two street artists on two occasions and paid them to put work up on walls inside her house – artists whose work has appeared on BSA with some regularity in the last 12 months. When Street Artist MOMO was invited to a residency program in Key West, Florida last year, he decided to try out a similar experiment and now some people are living with his work every day. In his own words:

“I was curious to try creating artwork for a sampling of “the public” for free and with no obligations, like I’d do in the street, but more directly. I really don’t know the public I’m working for when I make things anonymously, and often the idea of public becomes mythic and hazy. This seemed like a way to learn what different people thought of my work, and to experience some pressure from the close contact” MOMO

“You touch my Miami and I’ma bite you, Future Boy,” MOMO (photo © MOMO)

To continue reading and to see more images of MOMO’s project please click on the link below:

Public Art in Private Spaces

An experiment to take “Public Art” deeper; right into peoples homes and intimate spaces.

Swoon Talks at the 92Y Tomorrow Thursday, January 20

January 19, 2011 Artists

In 2010, Brooklyn-based street artist Swoon traveled to Haiti as part of the Creative Time Global Residency Program and worked with communities in Port au Prince and Bigones to rebuild housing and community structures after the devastating earthquake last year. Hyperallergic reported on the the project’s recent inauguration in Haiti:

The project is a rebuilding initiative, which “uses dome-style structures and the super-adobe technique of earth bag architecture to create sustainable, inexpensive and dependable housing for the people of Haiti. While the structures are extremely resistant to natural disasters, they also have the major benefit of being comprised of 90% earth and requiring no specialized scaffolding and understructure to build — making it a viable option for the people of Haiti to continue building on their own once they learn the method.”

Swoon was one of six New York-based artists—along with Sanford Biggers, K8 Hardy, Emily Jacir, Maya Lin and Walid Raad—given the opportunity “to get off the race track” that is life in New York City and focus on their work in another part of the world. Maya Lin researched mass extinctions while visiting Ecuador, Egypt, and China, Walid Raad traveled to Beirut, Sanford Biggers visited Brazil to work with video; K8 Hardy made stops in Chile, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina to investigate fringe queer culture and Emily Jacir investigated activism in Italy.

This Thursday, January 20, all six artists will come to 92nd Street Y to share the stories, findings and lessons from their time abroad.

Click on the link below to read Brooklyn Street Art Studio Visit and Interview with Swoon on The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jaime-rojo-steven-harrington/post_1551_b_807120.html

Another Breathless Banksy Update 01.19.11

January 19, 2011 Artists

Awards Season, Ebay Auctions, And Other Tales

His mysterious excellency in “Exit Through the Gift Shop” ©Paranoid Pictures

The nominees for the 2011 ©Oscar Ceremony to be held in Los Angeles in February 27 will be announced the 25th of January and we expect the feeding frenzy of no-news will continue its build up with legions of smart publicists and studio’s marketing heads selectively leaking or straight-up spoon feeding stories to us. We’ve heard that Bansky’s crockumentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop” has made the short list of 15 films to be considered for best documentary and because you have a Twitter account, so have you. If he is nominated we can’t wait to see a bimbo with a microphone asking him on the red carpet, “And who are you wearing?”

Sadly, Swiss film maker Joachim Levy says he was left off the credits in the movie and should have been included, according to a New York Times piece by Melena Ryzik, “A few minutes of “Life Remote Control” and some footage from Mr. Guetta and Mr. Levy appear in “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” which subsequently became the story of how Mr. Guetta was transformed, with Banksy’s prodding, from a chronicler of street art into an artist himself”. He’s protesting bitterly about his exclusion from the credits, and the cash cow the movie is turning into, we might add.

For all we know this is just one of the many marketing plots that Banksy or Banksy’s camp have concocted to create extra buzz for the film in the hopes that it would get nominated by the Academy. What with the many interviews (via email) that the normally invisible Banksy has granted? So far the strategy appears to be working as the film did get a nomination this week from the BAFTA people (the British version of the Oscars) for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.

And finally, we won’t get to find out his true identity now that Ebay has taken down the auction that had 38 bidders up to almost a million bucks. The prize? A scrap of paper with his alleged real name. Sorry kids, no Banksy or Santa Clause information will be revealed. Luckily you can still bid on a chunk of concrete with a rat stencil sprayed on it.

Tomorrow on Ebay, to more robust bidding I expect, I will be auctioning my electric bill from December. As a bonus you’ll see the price of a weekly Metrocard and a cellphone shot of my granny’s teeth in a glass.

What are we to think? Is Banksy behind this “auction”? For sure he knows his own identity, or does he? And why would this be on Ebay? – Shouldn’t it be on Sotheby’s or Christie’s?

In the next “‘Breathless Banksy Update” we’ll talk about who we think should design his full length burka-style hoodie to attend the Academy Awards ceremony should he be so lucky as to snag a nomination. If he is reading this, as we know he most certainly is, we urgently implore him to start looking for a designer PRONTO.

In the midst of all the speculation about Banksy’s identity, perhaps the elephant is on the screen in your living room.

Eli Cook’s 2011 Wish Comes True

January 18, 2011 Artists

Remember Eli Cook? He’s the BSA reader who had a wish last month to finish a painting?

Well, he finished it and sent us the picture so we thought we’d share it with you. It’s a way to honor the creative spirit in all of us, and to honor Eli’s grand dad.

Good job Eli. We’re proud of you.

To see Eli’s wish and the unfinished piece click on the link below:

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=17029

L.A. Art Machine Presents: “Vox Humana” A Large Scale Live-Art Installation (Los Angeles, CA)

January 17, 2011 Artists, California, Events, Gallery, L.A., Los Angeles, Opening

LA ART Machine

The L.A. ART MACHINE is proud to present VOX HUMANA, a large-scale, live art installation by celebrated international artists Edward Walton Wilcox, Andrew Hem, Shark Toof,and Chor Boogie at the 2011 L.A. Art Show, January 19-23, 2011. Taking place over five days and covering more than 500 square feet of canvas, this unique art happening invites visitors into the esoteric world of the artistic creative process. You are cordially invited to join us for this special art happening.

Schedule:
January 19: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM (VIP Opening)
January 20-22: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
January 23: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Completion ceremony January 23, 2:00 PM Location:
Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall
1201 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, California 90015
map it

Presented in partnership with:

LeBasse Projects, FIND Art Magazine, Merry Karnowsky Gallery, Sister Cities Los Angeles, and Castelli Framing

for more information contact: voxhumana@laartmachine.com or 323.702.3594

Mighty Tanaka Presents: “Permanently Temporary” Ellis G Solo Show (Brooklyn, NY)

January 17, 2011 Artists, Brooklyn, Events, Gallery, NYC, Opening

Ellis G

Ellis G Photo Courtesy of the gallery

Mighty Tanaka presents:

Permanently Temporary

A Survey of Works and Installation by Ellis Gallagher AKA Ellis G

Ellis Gallagher, AKA Ellis G, is the quintessential street artist, having created a highly unique and stylized interpretation of the City and its surroundings that New Yorkers take for granted. Through tracing of shadows with sidewalk chalk, his artwork is the very definition of temporary, marking a specific time and place that few are lucky enough to stumble upon. Mighty Tanaka is proud to bring you Permanently Temporary, A Survey of Works and Installation by Ellis Gallagher AKA Ellis G.

For the first time ever, original Ellis G shadow and chalk drawings will be made available to the public. The installation for Permanently Temporary will double as a performance piece during the opening reception on Friday, January 21^st, as he will create custom shadow and chalk artwork on site for the gallery visitors. This special event translates an otherwise temporary form of art into an obtainable milestone of artistic interpretation.

Ellis Gallagher has paid his dues time and time again on the streets of NYC and throughout the world, as he has created an iconic technique that is recognized globally.

OPENING RECEPTION:

Friday, January 21st, 2011

6:00PM – 9:00PM

(Show closes February 4, 2011)

Mighty Tanaka

68 Jay St., Suite 416

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Email: alex@mightytanaka.com

Web: http://www.mightytanaka.com

(F Train to York St.)

In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 17, 2011 Artists

Johannes Mundinger: “La Bella Confusione”
April 25, 2024
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BSA Hits The North! – See You Soon in Belfast, Northern Ireland
April 23, 2024
We are excited to announce that BSA will be part of the exhilarating ‘Hit the North’ 2024 festival in Belfast! …Read More »
BSA Images Of The Week: 04.21.24
April 21, 2024
Welcome to BSA Images of the Week! “It’s the only time of the year when New York City smells good,” …Read More »
Barcelona Tributes for The Amazing SKE
April 18, 2024
Today, we pay tribute to an iconic figure from the Puerto Rican graffiti scene, Eliezer “SKE” Pagán Torres. Born on …Read More »
Elfo Declares “I’m a Figurative Painter”… and I’m the Queen of England!
April 16, 2024
Elfo, the ever-witty Italian street artist, strikes again with his latest work scrawled across an abandoned building in Italy. Known …Read More »
BSA Images Of The Week: 04.14.24 / “Return2Burn” in Hunts Point, Bronx
April 14, 2024
Welcome to BSA’s Images of the Week. We decided to dedicate this weekly survey to the artists of “Return 2 …Read More »
Martha Cooper and Seth in Kibera. Kenya: Part 2 / “We Are One”
April 11, 2024
Nestled within the bustling city of Nairobi, Kenya, Kibera is a testament to its inhabitants’ challenges and its collective indomitable …Read More »