May 2011

3rdEye(Sol)ation Gallery Group Show (Brooklyn, NY)

Group Show
brooklyn-street-art-3rd-eye-solation-gallery

3rdEye(Sol)ation group show 6/3/11. Bushwick, NY

show opens 6/3/11 in conjunction with the Arts in Bushwick Art Walk of 6/3-6/5, at 3rdEye(Sol)ation Gallery ((3rdEye(Sol)ation non-profit arts collective, 1501 Broadway Ave. Brooklyn)) J train to Halsey St. featuring: Billi Kid, Peru Ana Ana Peru, ASVP, Mike Die, Jos-L, dint wooer krsna, Quel Beast, Septerhed, Choice Royce, Kosbe, QRST, Trixtr Rabbit, Bankrupt Slut, CCB, Wisher 914, ZamArt

Read more

Opera Gallery Presents: “The Street Art Show” (London, UK)

Opera Gallery

brooklyn-street-art-Blek-le-rat-Banksy-opera-galleryBlek Le Rat “Banksy” (image courtesy © of the gallery)

Opera Gallery London will be hosting “The Street Art Show” from June 17 to June 30 and will bring street art on posh New Bond Street.
The group show will bring together some of the most established street artists and young promising up-and-coming graffiti artists.

Alexandros Vasmoulakis, Banksy, Blek Le Rat, b., Alexone, Keith Haring, Jean Michel Basquiat, Seen, Ron English, Logan Hicks, Crash, The London Police, Nick Walker, How & Nosm, Saber, Roa, Swoon, Kid Zoom, Anthony Lister, Rich Simmons.

The preview night will be dedicated to raise funds for the UK Charity Action for Children.

The event is Free entrance and you can turn up at anytime during opening hours

Mon-Sat 10.00am – 7.00pm and Sun 12.00-7-pm.
Opera Gallery London Ltd
134 New Bond Street
London W1S 2TF

Read more

Images of the Week: 05.15.11

Brooklyn-Street-Art-IMAGES-OF-THE-WEEK_05-2010Our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring Elle, Googly Eyes, Julia Langhof, Karat, Kid Zoom, Money Population, Sweet Toof, The Dude Company and scenes on the street from photographer Jaime Rojo.

brooklyn-street-art-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-1Hiding behind a fern; an unknown artist’s wheat paste of a B&W photo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-kid-zoom-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-15Kid Zoom in Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-death-free-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-7

Some people go into debt to bury their dead. Death is far from free – and what about those pesky estate taxes?  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-10

Another fleeting moment on the streets of New York;

This construction worker appeared to mimic dance-like movements while working before this street level video installation of a dance troupe.   (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-artist-unknow-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-2

Looking to zone out? Here is as good a place as any. Artist unknown  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-elle-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-13

Sun dappled Elle is such a lamb. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-julia-langhof-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-3

Eve in the garden of Brooklyn and Evil. Julia Langhof (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-karat-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-16

Street Artists, illustrator, graphic novelist Karat recently installed these bronze plaques in locations in New York that mark historical events in her life. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-artist-unknow-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-12

Go NYC, yeah you know me. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-money-population-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-8

Money Population (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-mr-googly-eyes-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-9

Googly Eyes intervenes ever so slightly in this media campaign poster (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-the-dude-company-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-4

The Dude Company recently rolled through Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-sweet-toof-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-5

Sweet Toof (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-sweet-toof-jaime-rojo-05-11-6-web

Sweet Toof (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-14

With love from the streets of Brooklyn. Untitled (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-11

With love from the streets of Manhattan. Untitled (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Read more

Street Artist JR In Brooklyn

Placement is Key in the New Installations

French Street Artist JR has begun his “Inside Outside” global art campaign as a result of winning the 2011 TED prize and the first results appeared in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood this week. Giving the photographing job to anyone who would like to participate, the campaign provides you with your own large scale print to install as you wish. Keeping with the innovative spirit in which JR has plastered his mammoth sized portraits elsewhere in cities around the world, these images of locals are installed in an integrated, human manner. Facing the world, they are not simply vanity exercises but anthropological in nature. Welcome to Brooklyn, JR! Hope to see you at the museum next spring.

brooklyn-street-art-jr-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-9JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jr-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-1

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jr-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-3

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jr-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-5

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jr-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-4

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jr-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-7

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jr-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-2

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-jr-jaime-rojo-05-11-web-6

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Read more

Fun Friday 05.13.11

Fun-Friday

A GUIDE TO WHAT’S UP, BROTHERMAN AND SISTERWOMAN

This weekend is a perfect storm of shows that are opening on the East, West and points in between.

Up Close And Personal: RJ Curates Street Artists Into an Upper West Side Apartment (NYC)

In the intimacy of a private residence in the Manhattan suburbs of UWS, RJ Rushmore of Vandalog fame along with Keith Schweitzer and Mike Glatzer of newly minted M.A.N.Y. have mounted a fresh new open house show just off Broadway. An exquisitely curated show with marquee names and a few newbies the selection is solid in quality and unusual in it’s scale.

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-troy-lovegate-other-vandalog-RJ-Rushmore-Keith-Schweitzer-Mike-Glatzer

Troy Lovegates aka Other (image courtesy of the curators)

Participating artists include:
Aiko, Chris Stain, Clown Soldier, Don Leicht, Edible Genius, Elbowtoe, Gaia, How & Nosm, Jessica Angel, John Fekner, Know Hope, Logan Hicks, Mike Ballard, OverUnder, R. Robot, Radical, Retna, Skewville, Tristan Eaton, Troy Lovegates aka Other and White Cocoa.
brooklyn-street-art-WEB-AIKO-vandalog-RJ-Rushmore-Keith-Schweitzer-Mike-Glatzer

Aiko’s cans are on proudly on display at the bachelor pad, and that’s not all (image courtesy of the curators)

Dates: May 12th– 15th, 2011
Times:
May 12th, 7 – 9pm
May 13th, 7 – 9pm
May 14th, noon – 9pm
May 15th, noon – 7pm
Note: Due to the limited exhibition space, people may be admitted in block times every half-hour.
Location: Apartment on the Upper West Side (217 West 106th Street, Apartment 1A, New York, NY 10025) – Between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues.
Cost for entrance: Free

Go to Hellbent and John Breiner Tonight in Brooklyn (NYC)

Mighty Tanka is presenting a show with two Brooklyn based artists: Hellbent and John Breiner.
brooklyn-street-art-WEB-hellbent-john-breiner-mighty-tanaka-gallery-1
Mr. Hellbent says of the show: “The best part of making a show like this is to finally see it up on the wall and the way that everything interacts. I have been thinking of these pieces as parts of a quilt, different fabrics being stitched together. The different colors, floral stencils, animals, and jaw bones melding together and playing off one another, even down to the different depths and sizes of panels, but until it was hung they were just pieces, not yet a whole. Its given me an opportunity to show the different elements that i am working with and how they have grown out of one another and to display all the different carvings and stencils patterns together, where on the street they are separated in different locations.”

To learn more about “Smiled Distress” at Mighty Tanaka tonight please click on the link below:

Matt Siren and My Plastic Heart present “Ghost in the Machine” (NYC)

25 spirits in the material world have made tributes to Street Artist Matt Siren’s Ghost Girl character for this show on the Lower East Side tonight. The custom toy show transforms the character that appears in doorways around New York, each putting its own unique spin on his character.

brooklyn-street-art-my-WEB-plastic-heart-matt-siren

The show includes work from 64Colors, Royce Bannon, Steve Chanks, Chauskoskis, DarkCloud, Deeker, Gril One, J*RYU, Jester, Keely, Abe Lincoln Jr., Map-Map, Marka27, Brent Nolasco, Lou Pimentel, Reactorss, Marc Reusser, Todd Robertson, Robots Will Kill, Chris Ryniak, Matt Siren, Scott Tolleson, Julie West, Wheelbarrow, Wrona

Click on the link below to learn more about this show:

http://www.myplasticheartnyc.com/gitm_051311/preview/gitm_051311_preview.html

210 Forsyth St   New York NY 10002 | 646 290 6866
Ghost in the Machine
May 13th 2011 – June 12th 2011

Chicago Street Art Show Tonight (CHI)

Tonight the book “Chicago Street Art” is being released at the the Chicago Urban Art Society  in conjunction with a show titled “The Chicago Street Art Show”

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-chicago-street-art-joseph-j-depre

Brooklyn’s AD HOC has a New Puppy in Los Angeles (LA)

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-ad-hoc-arts-New-Puppy-gallery

On the West Coast the dynamic duo and husband and wife Garrison and Allison Buxton have curated a group show “I have a dream, I have a nightmare: Friday the 13th” at The New Puppy Gallery opening this Friaday from 7:00 to 11:00 pm

Artists include: Alison Buxton, Beau Stanton, Bill Fick, Broken Crow, Bunnie Reiss, Chor Boogie, Chris Stain, CRASH, Dabs & Myla, Daryll Peirce, David Loewenstein, Don Leicht, Ezra Li Eismont, Garrison Buxton, Hellbent, Joe Iurato, John Breiner, John Carr, John Fekner, Jordan Seiler, Know Hope, Lady Pink, Michael De Feo, Mikal Hameed, Paul Booth, Peat Wollaeger, Ray Cross, Rex Dingler, ROA, Robert Steel, Sean Starwars, TheDirtyFabulous, & Thundercut.

Ad Hoc Art – www.adhocart.org

New Puppy LA – www.newpuppla.com

WHERE: 2808 Elm Street, Los Angeles, California 90065

English Kills Group Show Saturday, “The Mother Ship” (NYC)

Chris Harding, owner and ringmaster of the Bushwick Brooklyn-based space station English Kills brings out his strong stable of artists for this group show aptly titled “The Mother Ship” opening this Saturday at 7:00 pm. It’s not necessarily Street Art – but this is a hotbed of new ideas so it is always worth your trip.

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-english-kills-gallery

Participating artists include:

Brent Owens, Andy Piedilato, Vilaykorn Sayaphet, Jim Herbert, David Pacheco, Hiroshi Shafer, Gyles Thompson, Sarah H. Paulson, Holly Faurot, Tescia Seufferlein, Peter Dobill, Steve Harding, Judith Supine, Lenny Reibstein, Andrew Ohanesian, Jason Peters, Don Pablo Pedro, Steven Thompson, Andrew Hurst and Rob Andrews.

English Kills is located at:

114 Forrest St. Ground Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11206
(718) 366-7323

Specter is a “Repeat Offender” 5/14 at Pawn Works in Chicago (CHI)

Brooklyn based artist Gabriel Specter’s solo show “Repeat Offender” opens this Saturday at the Pawn Works Gallery.

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-specter-pawn-works-gallery

Opening Reception Saturday, May 14, 2011/ 6-10pm

PawnWorks
1050 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60622

Ph: 312.841.3986

London Police in Denver, “Amsterydynasty”

In Denver Colorado Black Book Gallery brings back the glamour of the 80’s with The London Police and Handiedan in a show titled “Amsterydynasty”

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-the-london-police-black-book-gallery-Handiedan


Opening reception May 14th at 7pm

Click here to learn more about this show

Olek Crochets for a Bicycle in Poland

ROA in San Francisco

Women’s Faces in Art

500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art by Philip Scott Johnson.

MoCA Art in the Streets. Wisk, Ser, Chubbs and Prime destroy a wall.

Read more

Ad Hoc Art and New Puppy LA Present: “I have a dream, I have a nightmare: Friday the 13th” (Los Angeles, CA)

Ad Hoc Art
brooklyn-street-art-ad-hoc-arts-New-Puppy-gallery

AD HOC ART GATHERS 34 INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS TO EXPLORE DREAMS, NIGHTMARES, SUPERSTITIONS, AND EXISTENCE TO YEILD CREATIONS RANGING FROM THE PAINFULLY REAL TO THE ETHEREAL FANTASTIC.

— An Art Exhibit Celebrating the Expansiveness of Consciousness & Culture —

WHEN:            Exhibition Opens Friday, May 13th, 7-11pm

with an additional Artwalk Opening: Saturday, May 14th, 7-11pm

Through June 18th, 2011.  Hours: 12-6pm Thursday – Saturday and by appointment.

WHAT:            AD HOC ART presents “I have a dream, I have a nightmare: Friday the 13th”, an eclectic and electric charge of vast creativity, synapses, and neural networks seeping into Los Angeles’ artmind via New Puppy LA.

That we are living in very fascinating and unprecedented times on the cusp of something is crystal clear.   What that “something” is, exactly, is not.  What waits on the other side?  Is it beautiful or horrendous, sustainable or cataclysmic, truthful or deceptive, just or fraudulent?  We all play a leading role in guiding the future of this sweet unraveling already well underway.

Around the world, energies are coming together, people are relating, and the future is so bright.  Is the light from the billions of shining smiles of a humane and democratic existence that sustains life; or is it the glistening blast from a bomb dropped by the sociopathic ceo/politico at MegaGlobalBankCorp determined to take all or nothing at our expense?

To divine an answer, dreams, nightmares and Friday the 13th energies have been harnessed, channeled and will be unleashed this 13th of May in the City of Angels.

Enjoy these visual nuggets swimming through the realms of spacetime.

Artists include: Alison Buxton, Beau Stanton, Bill Fick, Broken Crow, Bunnie Reiss, Chor Boogie, Chris Stain, CRASH, Dabs & Myla, Daryll Peirce, David Loewenstein, Don Leicht, Ezra Li Eismont, Garrison Buxton, Hellbent, Joe Iurato, John Breiner, John Carr, John Fekner, Jordan Seiler, Know Hope, Lady Pink, Michael De Feo, Mikal Hameed, Paul Booth, Peat Wollaeger, Ray Cross, Rex Dingler, ROA, Robert Steel, Sean Starwars, TheDirtyFabulous, & Thundercut.

WHO:                        Ad Hoc Art – www.adhocart.org

New Puppy LA – www.newpuppla.com

WHERE: 2808 Elm Street, Los Angeles, California 90065

Read more

Matt Siren and My Plastic Heart Present: “Ghost in the Machine” (Manhattan, NY)

Matt Siren
brooklyn-street-art-my-plastic-heart-matt-siren

myplasticheart and Matt Siren presents Ghost in the Machine, a custom toy show dedicated to Matt’s iconic Ghost Girl figure. Twenty-five artists have been chosen by Matt to transform and put their own unique spin on his character. This talented group consists of seasoned street artists, painters, illustrators, and top-notch customizers. Join us for the festivities on Friday May 13th from 6-9pm. Many of the participating artists will be in attendance.

Also making its debut on opening night will be the Do-It-Yourself version of Ghost Girl available for purchase for the first time… a perfect blank canvas for those who want to try their hand at customizing a Ghost Girl of their own.

Artist List:
64Colors
Royce Bannon
Steve Chanks
Chauskoskis
Darkcloud
Dril One
j*ryu
Jester
Keely
Abe Lincoln Jr.
Map Map
Marka27
Brent Nolasco
Lou Pimentel
Reactor88
Marc Reusser
Todd Robertson
Robots Will Kill
Chris Ryniak
Matt Siren
Scott Tolleson
Julie West
Wheelbarrow
Wrona

Curated by Matt Siren

myplasticheartnyc
210 Forsyth St.
Lower East Side
New York
646.290.6866
www.myplasticheartnyc.com
www.myplasticheart.com

Read more

“Chicago Street Art” Debuts with an Exhibition and a Book

Author Joseph J. Depre has been traveling around the world to photograph and write about Street Art for the last few years and and when he returned to his hometown of Chicago he rediscovered his love and appreciation for the art in the streets of his city. The images in his first book just released give a very good documentation of the current scene while his essays are personal, poetic and passionate.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-CHICAGO-STREET-ART-bookOpening tomorrow at the Chicago Urban Art Society is a retrospective of work by many of the artists on that scene today.  With brand new works curated in this not-for-profit gallery environment developed by Lauren Pacheco and Peter Kepha, visitors will have the chance to see the Street Art talent that is growing in their community, including pieces by Artillary, Bonus Saves, Brooks Golden, Chris Silva, CLS, Senor Codo, Cody Hudson, CRO, Cyro, Chris Diers, Don’t Fret, Emen, 80 Legs, Tom Fennell IV, “It’s Yours, Take It”, Goons, The Grocer, Juan Angel Chavez, Kepto Salem, Melt, Nick Adam, Oscar Arriola, Poor Kid, Safety First, Saro, Sighn, Solve, Tiptoe, The Viking, You are Beautiful, among others. More information about the show at the end of the post.

brooklyn-street-art-chicago-street-art-joseph-j-depre-web

Debuting his book “Chicago Street Art” for the first time at the opening, Mr. Dupre is very excited to see the show come to fruition after nearly a year of planning. Brooklyn Street Art asked him about the Chicago scene today and his new book and he gives us some insights here. We also had an opportunity to shoot some art on the streets of Chicago last month – see photos by Jaime Rojo after the interview.

Brooklyn Street Art: How long have you been preparing this book “Chicago Street Art”?
Joseph Depre:
I originally had the idea for a book on Chicago Street Art when I started to integrate into the Chicago Street Art community in 2004. I think that is about the time I started writing. I was fascinated by these unique artists and was lucky enough to be able to talk openly with a good number of them, bounce ideas off the artists and they helped me refine my thoughts. As I traveled I was able to get together with Street Artists in cities like New York, Berlin, Barcelona, and Sao Paulo. After experiencing the Street Art in these cities and got back to the States my thoughts reflected back to Chicago and the incredible history of Street Art we have here and I thought it was important to give Chicago the recognition it deserves. So I’ve sent the last 9 months talking to all of the Artists and putting this all together.

brooklyn-street-art-chicago-street-art-Solve-Combo-Oscar-Arriola-webBrendan “Solve” Scanlon (photo courtesy of the author © Oscar Arriola) from “Chicago Street Art”

brooklyn-street-art-brendan-solve-scanlon-chicago-street-art-joseph-j-depre-3-web

Brendan “Solve” Scanlon (photo courtesy of the author © Oscar Arriola) from “Chicago Street Art”

Brooklyn Street Art: Can you introduce us to the Chicago Street Art scene at this moment from an artist and creative perspective?
Joseph Depre: I won’t be so forward to say I can tell you anything from an artist perspective, but as a conscious observer I can say there are a lot of good things happening in Chicago at the moment. Nice-One seems have refined his characters with an air-brush technique that looks really nice. Don’t Fret has really been putting in his time and effort. His characters are always fun and expressive. He’s turning into to a great storyteller. Mental 312 has been hitting the streets hard and doing some really beautiful work. He’s one of my favorite artists right now.

brooklyn-street-art-tip-toe-chicago-street-art-joseph-j-depre-1-web

TipToe (photo courtesy of the author) from “Chicago Street Art”

Brooklyn Street Art: Chicago has a very active anti-graffiti program, which cleans or “buffs” pieces, good and not so good, quickly with brown paint. Can you talk about how Street Artists have responded to the efficient and rapacious pace of buffing?
Joseph Depre:
Most of the Street Artist I know really hate the buff and attribute the fact that Chicago has so little international Street Art respect to “the buff.” But all of these Artists just work harder in spite of the Buff. In New York one piece can stay up for years, in the Chicago the Street Artist has to do 20 pieces just to stay up through the season.

Brooklyn Street Art: Street Artists like Chris Silva and Cody Hudson have gone beyond two-dimensional painted works to create sometimes expansive sculptural set installations. Do you see more stuff like this around Chicago these days?
Joseph Depre:
Oh Yeah. The first artist that comes to mind is CLS. It is really amazing what he has been able with scraps of wood and branches he finds on the street.

brooklyn-street-art-chicago-street-art-joseph-j-depre-thomas-fennell-IV-4-web

Photo courtesy of the author (© Thomas Fennell IV) from “Chicago Street Art”

Brooklyn Street Art: Borrowing a tenet from the flash mob street manifestations of the last decade, Street Artists like BonusSaves devised something called “It’s Yours, Take It”. Can you talk about this practice of giving art to the public and how it has become an international programmatic approach to engaging communities?
Joseph Depre: The Internet has really helped out with this. Through sites like Flickr, BonusSaves is able to organize and direct hundreds of people from all over the place. All with the same state of mind and love of giving art to people and bringing communities together through gifting creativity. But it is not solely his doing… All the artists really believe in the idea and have been running installations in cities all over the world all by themselves. It really is a testament to the power of people to come together and do something really good just for the sake of doing something good.

brooklyn-street-art-chicago-street-art-Nice-One-Let-It-Rain- Chris-Diers-web

Nice One (photo courtesy of the author © Chris-Diers) from “Chicago Street Art”

Brooklyn Street Art: You dedicate a few pages of your book to the occurrence of a piece attributed to London Street Artist Banksy on a wall in Chicago, and the response of the city and other street artists to it. Is there such a thing as a “Banksy Revolution”?
Joseph Depre: I cannot say what Banksy’s actual intent is – only he knows what that is. For my part, I hope he’s attempting a revolution. If not then we are all the butt of a pretty sick joke. I also hope that he doesn’t get discouraged, I think people are just starting to listen. Maybe not the people who were introduced to Street Art through “Exit, Through the Gift Shop” but others.

brooklyn-street-art-mental-312-chicago-street-art-joseph-j-depre-thomas-fennell-IV-2-web

Mental 312 (photo courtesy of the author © Thomas Fennell IV) from “Chicago Street Art”

Brooklyn Street Art: What do you think distinguishes the Chicago scene and why do you feel an affinity for it?
Joseph Depre:
Other than Chicago being my home and my introduction to Street Art, I think there are quite a few things that distinguish it from the rest of the world. The sculptural history exemplified by the likes of Juan “Angel” Chavez, Cody Hudson, and Chris Silva would be a good place to start. The other thing is that all of the artists are personally close here. Everyone knows everyone. They don’t just meet up at shows and events but talk on a regular basis and are invested in each others’ lives and success.

Brooklyn Street Art had the fortune to be in Chicago for a day recently where photographer Jaime Rojo got an afternoon to run around shooting as much as he could find. Brooklyn artist Gaia had recently been in the city and he left some nice gifts for the Chicago art lovers to enjoy.  The images below are from that visit to Chicago and are not a part of the book “Chicago Street Art”

brooklyn-street-art-mars-dynamo-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-1

Mars Dynamo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-gaia-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-2

Gaia’s tribute to photographer Martha Cooper (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-gaia-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-6

Gaia (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-gaia-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-8

Gaia (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-artist-unknow-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-5

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-mikey-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-4

“Left Handed Wave” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-artist-unknow-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-7

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-artist-unknown-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-9

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-artist-unkown-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-10

“Left Handed Wave” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-buffer-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-3

Buffer Chicago Style (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chicago Urban Art Society, 2229 South Halsted. The show will run until June 4. http://chicagourbanartsociety.tumblr.com/

Book Cover Artist: Chris Sliva

Read more

Skin Deep Beauty on the Subway in NYC : Poster Boy Interventions?

The Reality-Show-Industrial-Complex continues to warp everyone’s perception of reality with its brain cell melting fusillade of advertising everywhere you turn. Street billboards, banner ads, barking taxi cab screens, and bone-headed subway posters spill bilious candy coated banality upon bystanders and passersby with entreaties to experience the misadventures of buxom babes and the buff boys who bang them.

You have to wonder how these funhouse images affect the self-perception of girls and boys and women and men who are surrounded daily by them. You will not escape the visual assault as you ride captive on the trains to your job or school or museum or library or the unemployment office – as  the vast tentacles of the entertainment industry reach ever further in search of a market.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that citizenry doesn’t talk back.

brooklyn-street-art-poster-boy-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-3Poster Boy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

From Keith Haring in the 80s to Poster Boy (s) and LUDO and a number of non street artists in the last couple of years, there is an occasional attempt to  steer the conversation, stem the tide and claim the eyeballs and attention on the subway, if just for a minute. Some artists feel that the subways are a fair playground and an instant gallery, to the chagrin of those who see their art interventions as crimes or at least, damaging to profits.

brooklyn-street-art-poster-boy-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-2

Poster Boy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Recently we spotted a series of ads with images of the new “celebrity” class marred with the tiniest “interventions” that ring of Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kreuger and even William Burroughs. Whether these are the work of Poster Boy or the Poster Boys he hoped to inspire, the placement short circuits the messaging and questions how women are being portrayed. Ultimately these little interventions are  just a finger in the whole.

brooklyn-street-art-poster-boy-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-6

Poster Boy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-poster-boy-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-4

Poster Boy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-poster-boy-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-1

Poster Boy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-poster-boy-jaime-rojo-04-11-web-5

Poster Boy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Read more

Signs of the BEAST Seen in California (Rapture Update)

I swear if the world does not burst into flames this year and the sky doesn’t cloud with locusts and the Chinese don’t bomb the shit out of the heartland and if Angelina Jolie does not ride naked and pregnant on an 8-headed lion with wings and Jesus Christ doesn’t appear floating in the sky with his arms open to welcome all the Republicans who just got sucked out of their cars up into his embrace – if all that does not happen on May 21, 2011, I will never again listen to any prophecies for the rest of my time here with you.  I’m serious. I have spent my entire frickin’ life expecting supernatural star spangled annihilation and a prison planet and all I got was this orange “War on Terror” t-Shirt and a machine that scans my nuts at the airport.

brooklyn-street-art-beast-los-angeles-4-webBeast (photo © Beast)

Street artist Beast put up his/her own series of billboards in Los Angeles last week.  In this case, we can actually say that we are seeing the Signs of the Beast. He used the back of 25 bus shelter benches, which usually advertise nasal decongestants and accident lawyers 800 numbers, to bring an uplifting message of impending pestilence and catastrophe and unemployment.  Times are so bad that superheroes are trying to cut in line at the job fair.

brooklyn-street-art-beast-los-angeles-1-web

Beast (photo © Beast)

You know, we spent $3 Trillion on something over the past 10 years with this war machine, surely someone could start up a World War to give these spandexed and bedazzled folks some work.  Although I don’t see too many people carrying resumes in hand here, so they could also use some career coaching.

brooklyn-street-art-beast-los-angeles-2-web

Beast (photo © Beast) This dude will face some stiff competition to snag a position with that crowd ahead of him. Hang in there buddy, Jesus is on his way.

brooklyn-street-art-beast-los-angeles-5-web

Beast (photo © Beast)

brooklyn-street-art-beast-los-angeles-3-web

Beast (photo © Beast). All 25 benches. Same message, different spots.

Read more

Mighty Tanaka Gallery Presents: Hellbent and John Breiner “A Smiled Distress” (Brooklyn, NY)

Hellbent and John Breiner
brooklyn-street-art-hellbent-john-breiner-mighty-tanaka-gallery-1

brooklyn-street-art-hellbent-john-breiner-mighty-tanaka-gallery-2

You’re Invited…

To the Opening Reception of A Smiled Distress, A Duel Art Show by Hellbent & John Breiner

Mighty Tanaka gallery is thrilled to bring you our latest show: A Smiled Distress, a duel art show featuring the work of Hellbent and John Breiner!  Both artists have been individually creating a lot of buzz in the NYC underground art scene for with their consistently dynamic artwork and we are super excited to be featuring both powerhouses in one show!

A Smiled Distress Opening Reception:
Friday, May 13th
(show runs until June 3rd)
6pm  – 9pm
68 Jay St, Suite 416
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(F Train to York Street)

Balance. All life on Earth depends on it. However, human’s impact on the world is disrupting the natural cycle, suffocating the planet. We have reached a breaking point as human beings teeter on the edge of an uncertain future. Whether it’s man-made or natural, another disaster is always right around the corner. A Smiled Distress, a duel exhibition featuring the artwork of Hellbent & John Breiner, brings forth the brutal truth of a world in transition and the ultimate fragility of life itself.

A Smiled Distress mirrors the myth of Cassandra, as one foresees the future, yet the warnings will never be heeded. Hellbent and John Breiner’s art juxtaposes the duality of life and death through our acceptance of a fate and the inevitable outcome. Their work reflects the strains of the Earth through a beautiful and enchanting interpretation of a planet in distress.

Hellbent & John Breiner approach their work from different angles, both complimenting and conflicting one another, with a means to a common goal. As the world further declines into a state of anguish, the artist’s work becomes a prophecy of things to come. A Smiled Distress matches the beautiful with ominous through each artists unique understanding of the world.

Read more

Birdman Captures ROA in Wilds of LA

Photographer and BSA contributor Birdman captures Belgian Street Artist ROA at work in Los Angeles last week as part of LA Freewalls Project spearheaded by Daniel Lahoda. ROA loves long walls and jumped on this one like a bird of prey.

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-23-webROA (photo © Birdman)

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-3-web

ROA (photo © Birdman)

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-1-web

ROA (photo © Birdman)

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-25-web

ROA (photo © Birdman)

Perusing the selection of night images, a hallucinatory sun burned tint washes over ROA’s images like a lost day baking in the desert, certain feathered friends flying in circles over your head.

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-26-web

ROA (photo © Birdman)

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-30-web

ROA (photo © Birdman)

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-31-web

ROA (photo © Birdman)

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-27-web

ROA (photo © Birdman)

brooklyn-street-art-roa-birdman-05-11-28-web

ROA (photo © Birdman)

Read more