October 2012

Arabbers; A Dying Baltimore Tradition Brought to Life by Gaia

Street Artist Gaia regularly highlights people from whichever community that he’s painting or wheatpasting in. Passersby commonly stop to talk while he’s working, often adding layers of history, knowledge, opinion, and nuance to his piece while he works. With his newest wall in Sandtown, a neighborhood of Baltimore, Gaia draws attention to a dying local profession that is hanging on, but barely.

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Arabbers, pronounced locally with a long A (“A-rab”) were salespeople who had as many as 400 commercial carts offering fresh produce and other items rolling daily through the streets of Baltimore at one time, according to some accounts.  Horse-drawn carts were a normal part of the early 20th century street life and amazingly B-Town still supports a few of these small business people on the streets in the 21st.

Because of new zoning and bylaws enacted during a period of urban renewal, the city restricted where horse stables existed, and many were put out of business. But during our travels through Baltimore with photographer Martha Cooper, who grew up there, we have had occasion to meet a number of the people who still carry this trade forward, some for many generations. Their small fenced off plots of land and stables appear suddenly like an oasis of farm life from another era in the middle of otherwise urban blocks. Once able to provide a good living to a family, Arabbers still brings fresh food to under served communities at reasonable prices. Unfortunately the proud profession is now endangered by the economic pressures of rising fees, the costs of animal care, and stable upkeep.

One of the people featured in the new mural by Gaia, Great Grandpa Manboy. Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012. (photo © Gaia)

“The Arabbers are a dying Baltimore tradition,” says Gaia, “that have long been a staple of this remarkable city.” The NYC Street Artist, who has been living in Baltimore for a handful of years while attending university as an art student, feels a kinship to the families who are still enduring to keep this kind of livelihood sustainable. “These men and women define the word ‘hustle’,” he remarks, “trotting along both desolate and vibrant landscapes selling their goods and making ends meet. This mural depicts four generations; starting with the great grandfather Manboy in the middle and up to Fruit’s son on the top right.”

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

As the many expressions of Street Art freely bleed into all of art’s disciplines, many of Gaia’s more recent work clearly overlaps the traditions of community murals, where local residents are called out and celebrated, deified, congratulated, and mourned.  In this case, the tradition also extends to being a little bit educational as Gaia points to some of the contributing factors that endanger a profession here, “ The Arabber portraits are mixed with the logos on the containers in which their produce comes: a global economy meets a fading, tough tradition.”

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

Gaia “The Arabbers” Sandtown, Baltimore. 2012 (photo © Gaia)

A Pony in a Baltimore stable. 2011 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A Pony in a Baltimore stable. 2011 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pigeons and Ponies mix well at a Baltimore Stable. 2011  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

 

 

 

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Galerie Swanström Presents: Gilf! A Solo Exhibition. (Manhattan, NYC)

Gilf!
NOTE: THE RECEPTION FOR THIS SHOW IS PRIVATE AND RSVP IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND.

Gilf! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Motivated by the idea of inspiring people I perhaps will never meet, I hope
to breathe hope into many of the issues we face as a global society.  My goal is to
create art that provokes thoughtfulness and motivates a change of the zeitgeist.” gilf!

Featured in this year’s SCOPE Art Show at Art Basel Miami Beach and New York Comedy Festival — produced by Carolines on Broadway — in association with Comedy Central. ArtScout® at

Galerie Swanström is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by (GILF!) on October 24th at the gallery from 5 to 8 PM. The private reception will include a brief Q&A with this Brooklyn-based, female street artist to discuss her inspiration, technique and new work addressing “Citizens United, and our disintegrating constitution”… explains the artist.

The artist depicts herself as The Statue of Liberty in the painting titled Oh Yeah? which discusses Americans ‘drinking the Kool-Aid’ (so to speak) as our government, corporations, and police forces may take advantage of a complacent society. The hand written text quoted in the background is taken from a speech given by Aldous Huxley in 1962.

GILF!’s paintings boldly confront challenges facing contemporary societies.
In the poignant painting titled Who’s in Control?, the letters around the dial of the birth control package — usually indicating the days of the week for each pill — have been replaced to spell: “WHY ARE CROTCHETY OLD MEN DECIDING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR WOMEN’S BODIES?” The artist uses the birth control package as a visual metaphor to call attention to the bias apparent at a Capitol Hill hearing on women’s health; an all-male panel led the hearing and no women were called to testify.

GILF!’s paintings are accessible to the new collector and directly benefit the causes she calls attention to; the artist donates a portion of each sale to not-for- profit organizations relevant to each painting’s social commentary. In doing this GILF! includes her collectors in taking actions that will facilitate change.

Galerie Swanström is located at 136 Sullivan Street, 3rd Floor.

 

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Gallery for the People Presents: Fall 2012 Pop-Up Exhibition. (Los Altos Hill, CA)

Gallery Brown

Curtis Kulig AKA Love Me. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gallery For The People

_________________________________________________

Fall 2012 Pop-Up Exhibition 

Evan Pricco and Marisa Tomei Host New Works by

Sage Vaughn, Deedee Cheriel, and Curtis Kulig

October 18th, 2012 | Stonebrook Court Estate, Los Altos Hills, CA

Gallery for the People is pleased to announce that its Fall 2012 pop-up exhibition, featuring exclusive new works by artists Sage VaughnDeedee Cheriel and Curtis Kulig, will take place Thursday, October 18th at the Stonebook Court Estate, in Los Altos Hills, CA. Hosted by Juxtapoz Magazine Editor-In-Chief, Evan Pricco, and actress, Marisa Tomei, the Fall exhibition is the first Bay Area pop-up for the migrating gallery, founded by Eva Maria Daniels and Ally Canosa.

“We are thrilled to show new works for the first time in the Bay Area and of course to partner with the PAIFF,” says gallerist and co-founder, film-producer, Eva Maria Daniels, who is located part-time in Palo Alto. “Our mission is to celebrate the cultures of film and art, and we are privileged to bring our vision to Silicon Valley, where these platforms can thrive amidst the foreground of technology.

Devyani Kamdar, Executive Director of the Palo Alto International Film Festival states: “Moving or still, every stunning image distills a narrative. We’re honored to be included in this inspirational gallery pop-up bringing together the art, film and tech communities.”

“With a commitment to distinctive, enlightened, and pioneering artists, we are incredibly grateful to showcase three of the top contemporary artists in the country,” says Ally Canosa, co-founder of GFTP. “Their unique and influential ties to pop-culture radiate through their deeply innovative works.”

As a painter and illustrator, Sage Vaughn is best recognized for his ‘Wildlife’ series depicting vibrant butterflies, owls and sparrows, in otherwise melancholic, city scenes. Vaughn is interested in the interface between man’s wild side and animals’ civilized qualities, proposing a heavy dichotomy of beauty, violence and urban melancholy, packaged in a technicolor, sugary surface. His work includes illustrations for multiple music videos including N.A.S.A’s “Way Down,”and an exhibit at MOCA, curated by Mike D of the Beastie Boys. His art has been shown and collected internationally for over a decade.

With influences derived from such opposites as East Indian temple imagery and punk rock,Deedee Cheriel‘s images are indications of how we try to link ourselves to others and how these satirical and heroic efforts are episodes of both compassion and discomfort. Bold elements drawn from urban and natural landscapes as well as pop culture suggest the ability to find commonalities and relationships between ourselves and our surroundings that inevitably confirm our greater humanity and quest towards love

Curtis Kulig is presenting a new collection from his acclaimed series Love Me, a mixed-media message that can not only be found on his canvases, but also amongst street corners and rooftops of New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tokyo. His iconic style has been featured in branding campaigns with Vans and Smashbox to the walls of Paris’ paragon of fashion, Colette.

Work will be showcased in the Ballroom of the Stonebrook Court Estate for one night only before becoming available to collectors via the gallery website on October 19th, 2012. A percentage of the proceeds from the opening will directly benefit The Palo Alto International Film Festival. For more information, please visit www.paiff.net.

Artist Reception and Gallery Preview will begin promptly at 6:00p . RSVP for this event is required

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Gallery Brown Presents: Gregory Siff “Matter of Time” (Los Angeles, CA)

Gregory Siff

Gallery Brown is thrilled to announce Matter of Time, an exhibition of new paintings, works on paper and sculpture from artist Gregory Siff. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Gregory officially made Los Angeles home in 2009 where he has since established himself as a recognizable cultural influence.

Gregory’s distinct handmade style merges unique elements of abstraction, street, and fine art; his technique coalesces the voice of a fearless child with the wisdom of a seasoned warrior. His influences include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, RETNA, Ray Johnson, RISK, David Shillinglaw, Louis XXX and his father.

Matter of Time is an examination of fame, idolatry, memory, determination, kingship and heart. Gregory’s half-whispered thoughts are painted out in full roars on found material, handmade panel and canvas.

Gregory’s first solo show in 2011, G, at La Fonderie in Los Angeles was quickly followed by There & Back at Siren Studio’s Rooftop Sessions to much acclaim. Commissions include The Standard Hotel and De La Barracuda Wall. In New York, his work was featured in The Deitch Projects Art Parades. His work has also been exhibited in London, Dublin, Italy and Vancouver, and has appeared in Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine, Paper Mag, The LA Times, Complex and Glamour. Most recently, Gregory won the 2012 Los Angeles Red Bull Curates: The Road to Art Basel, Miami where his work will be featured.

“I make paintings to hang on your wall, I play characters you meet in your dreams, and I write stories you heard when you were falling asleep as a kid.” – Gregory Siff

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C.A.V.E. Gallery Presents: Shark Toof “Ping Pong Show” (Venice Beach, CA)

Shark Toof

Please join us for the opening reception
Saturday, October 20,  7 – 10pm
   

On view thru November 10

SHARK TOOF’s new book will also be available at the reception.

Artist will be in attendance to sign copies.

Ping Pong Show is the spectacle of romance and nature.  Nature and romance are adversaries in a constant battle akin to the idea of predator versus prey.  Core belief systems are challenged.  These uncomfortable proximities provoke questions and leave the viewer reflecting about the complexity of social interaction.

Shark Toof has taken an ambitious parallel path to his iconic street work and created a spectacular new series of paintings that express a bold conceptual vision and the technical merit of his multi media skills. The exhibition will showcase original paintings in which the artist skillfully juxtaposes textures, employs precise lines and traditional rendering, in dynamic and complex compositions saturated with of color – and with meaning.

About Shark Toof

Shark Toof currently lives and works in Los Angeles. He graduated from Pasadena Art Center College of Design with a BFA in Illustration in 1998. Solo and group shows include Dreams Deferred, Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles; Duality, CB Gallery; Marxist Glue, Hold Up Art; Small Gift Sanrio 50th Anniversary, Barker Hanger; Sugi Pop, Portsmouth Museum of Art, New Hampshire; Unfaithful Forever, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery; Dead Letter Playground, Leo Kesting Gallery, New York; Viva Lost Wages, Joseph Watson Collection, Las Vegas; Crazy 4 Cult, Gallery 1988; MAYDAY, Barracuda and Baker’s Dozen, Fountain Art Fair, Miami.

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Batbamacare, Bane Capitalist – Street Artist Election Parody on Web by General Howe

Holy Healthcare, Batbama!

Conceptual Street Artist General Howe will be sticking a pointy eared mask onto Obama’s photo after the presidential debate tonight – as he writes his next report for the Super Election News website.

A screengrab from the art parody blog by conceptual street artist General Howe called “Super Election News 2012”

One part HuffPost Politics, one part The Onion, and one part Halloween super hero role-playing – The site is the onscreen version of parodies General Howe started in his street work a few years ago. By subverting the election “news” that’s continually blared from the polycephalic cluster of political blogs and trustworthy news websites, Howe equates the candidates staged personas as spun by PR machines with the simplified good and evil story that is told in the Batman sagas.

Obama as Batman, Romney as Bane, Gingrich as Penguin, Sheldon Adelson as the Joker… “Presidential elections and summer blockbuster movies have become the same thing,” explains General Howe, “There is an epic battle of good vs. evil and the fate of the world is up for grabs.  If we pay a little extra for the larger soda, the experience will be that much better.”

 

General Howe. The Supers. Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

With regular postings on his online art/politics website, the General has been mulling over the implications of simplification of complex issues, the corrupting influence of blind money donations, the surreal spinning of real news, as well as parodying the more obvious manipulations he sees in his daily review of what has essentially has become a hyper-charged money-fueled media industry that commoditizes candidates for profit and ignores/deludes the citizenry.

What may frighten you more are the similarities between fact and fiction.

General Howe. The Supers. Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

General Howe’s new series of characters are called “The Supers” and he has made a print comic book for the 2012 election, as well as installed some parody election signage in the perfectly mowed autumn lawns of sterile suburbia, where the effect of seeing a pro-Bane or pro-Batman and Robin sign is startlingly normal appearing in all their patriotic colors and crisp graphics. Antecedents to this campaign can be found in General Howe’s reworking of actual advertising signage during the 2008 campaign where John McCain was 2Face, Hilary Clinton had the bloody clown lips of the Joker, and Obama was again depicted as Batman.

General Howe. An infographic that merges olde with new on The Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

While his art on the streets has always had a political element that is informed by American culture and history, General Howe has been having a blast with this new online art project, “This work has strong roots in street art but is completely digitally based.  I’ve been thinking a lot about making accessible work and communicating a message to the masses and as much as street art does that and I think there is unexplored territory in how much of peoples lives exist in the digital world.  It would be a great evolution to see digital content and websites subverted the same way our physical environment is being subverted by street art. I don’t have the skills or knowledge of a hacker so this is my attempt at transforming the digital experience.”

General Howe. The Supers. Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

General Howe. The Supers. Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

General Howe. The Supers. Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

General Howe. The Supers. Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

General Howe. The Supers. Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

General Howe. The Supers. Super Election News 2012 (photo © General Howe)

From 2008 by Street Artist General Howe, these advertising panel interventions featured Obama as Batman and John McCain as 2Face.  (photos © General Howe)

From the 2008 campaign by Street Artist General Howe, Hilary Clinton was merged with The Joker for this wheatpaste and this fine art panel displayed at the BSA “Street Crush” show.  (photos © General Howe and © Jaime Rojo)

 

Updated for 2012, these new pieces from “The Supers” were on display at the Crest Hardware Art Show this June by General Howe. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Updated for 2012, these new pieces from “The Supers” were on display at the Crest Hardware Art Show this June by General Howe. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For more day-to-day update on The Super Election News from General Howe go to:

http://superelectionnews.wordpress.com/

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KRAUSE GALLERY Presents: Hanksy “Young Puns 2 – Now With More Pun” (Manhattan, NYC)

Hanksy

HANKSY: Young Puns 2 – Now With More Pun

Exhibition Dates: November 1st – November 28th, 2012
Hours: Wednesday – Friday, 11:30am – 5:30pm, Saturday – Sunday, noon – 6:00pm, Monday -Tuesday by
appointment.
Address: Krause Gallery, 149 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002
Reception: Thursday, November 1st, 2012, 6:00pm – 9:00pm

KRAUSE GALLERY is proud to present Young Puns 2 – Now With
More Pun, HANKSY’s second solo exhibition at Krause Gallery in New York. After the success of his
debut gallery exhibition in January of 2012, Hanksy has emerged on the art scene as one of the most wellknown
and beloved street artists in America. To celebrate his new wordplay series, the first 35 people in
attendance will receive a complimentary limited edition signed t-shirt. In addition to original pieces, limited
edition prints will also be available for purchase. Young Puns 2 – Now With More Pun will run concurrently
with the NYC Comedy Festival where Hanksy will be adorning several New York building facades with
puns featuring the performing comedians. With three solo shows coming in 2013 (LA, Melbourne, and
Chicago), be sure to attend the New York kickoff to see what it all really memes.

New York City based artist HANKSY uses the streets as his canvas, employing clever puns and turns of
phrases to delight fans and observant passersby.
Shortly after moving to New York in 2010, HANKSY began noticing the city’s vibrant street art scene, in
which hand painted works of art, elaborate stencils, and detailed screen prints enrich blighted spots and
capture the attention of urban dwellers. Wanting to contribute to the ever-growing movement, but
determined to maintain a light-hearted approach, HANKSY began satirizing British street art legend
Banksy by mashing up his most famous works with references from Tom Hanks films. His clever remixes
delighted New Yorkers, turning HANKSY into a social media phenomenon and quickly earning him a
place in the competitive New York street art world.
HANKSY’s new work broadens his satirical scope, lampooning pop culture icons like Bruce Willis and
Ryan Gosling, while staying true to his punny origins. With HANKSY on the streets, no celebrity is safe.

###

LISTING INFORMATION:
What: Hanksy – Young Puns 2 – Now With More Pun
Where: Krause Gallery, 149 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002
When: November 1st – November 28th, 2012

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All Rights Destroyed and Dot Dot Dot Present: “ARD*POP-UP Show” (Oslo, Norway)

Ard*Pop-Up Show

Welcome to ARD*POP-UP Show in Oslo, Norway!

After a long way with a few stumbling moves we managed to get this show together in a couple of months.
All Rights Destroyed was founded by DOT DOT DOT and some fellow companions on May 17th, the Norwegian national day actually 😉
We are very proud to welcome all the artists and very happy that they will contribute in the show on a such short notice.
After many hours spending on mail correspondance and very hard work with partners and sponsorships we managed to get our shit together…

The line up is now complete and we are very happy to get all the artists over to Oslo in the end of October.

We produly present this years artists:
CODEROCK (NOR), M-CITY (POL), PHLEGM (UK), PEZ (SPA), KENOR (SPA), ZOSEN(SPA), CHANOIR (FRA), GALO (BRA),
SUB LUNA (ISL), ACHOE (NOR), MARTIN WHATSON (NOR) and DOT DOT DOT (NOR)

The festival will open November 1st at 7PM and last until November 4th.
So just drop by when you have the chance around the start of November, and maybe you are lucky to see some of them paint live under the festival…

Global Gallery will exhibit artwork from some of the artists at “Ingensteds”, a small urban “gallery” down by the river Akers Elva, right by the wall pieces…

The doors will open November 1st at 7PM and last until November 4th at Ingensteds, Brenneriveien 9, 0182 OSLO.

Opening hours: 12pm-6pm every day
(Friday November 2nd until Sunday November 4th)

Stay tuned for more updates from the artists and the show at http://www.allrightsdestroyed.com


All the best,

All Rights Destroyed AS
Kristian Augusts Gate 11
0164 OSLO
NORWAY

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Michael Mutt Gallery Presents: Blu Dog 10003 “Re Tail Blu’s” (Manhattan, NYC)

Blue Dog 10003

NYs favorite four legged vandal is serving boutique realness 

w his pop up store in the East Village at Michael Mut Gallery 97 Ave C 

from OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 17, 2012

OPENING PARTY THURSDAY OCTOBER 25th 6p-8p
The high end pop up store features recycled and reclaimed items
rebranded with his unique BluDog charm. Known for his colorful
and provocative street sticker campaigns mixing pop art, culture
jamming and social awareness,  BluDog10003 has evolved into a
staple of the New York scenery as well as making his mark on
cityscapes across the globe.
NYC’s BluDog10003 is a furry, four legged adhesive artist that
believes sticker bombing is a much more hygienic form of marking
his territory than what his instinct dictates.
He chooses the street as his gallery because it remains democratic.
“You put up and if people like it they take pics or poach it. If it sucks they slap over it.”
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Lab Art Gallery Presents: “Babes & Bears” Becca and Philip Lumbang. (Los Angeles, CA)

Babes and Bears

DATE:
OCTOBER 18TH – NOVEMBER 15TH .2012

ADDRESS:
LAB ART GALLERY, 217 S. LA BREA AVE. LOS ANGELES CA 90036

LAB ART Gallery hosts a collaborative show by renowned street artists, Becca and Philip Lumbang titled, ‘Babes and Bears’ which opens its doors to the public on October 18th and runs until November 15th.

Taking her work to the streets since the late 80’s, Becca is considered pivotal in pioneering the street art movement’s transition from graffiti to art status. Her work has been exhibited across the country over the last two decades, and her ubiquitous, carefree images of women, girls and animals, which decorate our urban landscape, have attracted fans and notable art collectors alike and added a feminine touch to a primarily male dominated art form.

“ I try to bring my characters to life, I like to have company and that’s what my paintings are, they’re tangible. It hurts when pieces have a short shelf life on the streets, especially since they’re one-of-a-kind. That’s the gamble I take going in and every time I go out. It’s definitely worth it”. Becca

Philip Lumbang’s humorous bears have become a frequent sight on the streets of LA; grinning back at passers-by and generating “good vibes” as is the intention the artist ‘sates’. Lumbang is heavily influenced by his childhood days of watching TV and illustrated cartoons, which now manifest through his art. The craftsmanship and subtlety of his style has garnered much attention amongst collectors and his peers.

“TV is like my homie. I loved cartoons; I still love watching cartoons to this day. I still buy toys. I’m just a big kid that really never grew up; just one who now has to pay bills.” Philip Lumbang

“Babes and Bears is a fusion of Becca’s whimsical style with Philip’s playful bears. We are elated that these two artists will be sharing the primary presentation space of LAB ART to create a burst of magic.” Rachel Joelson, Co-Founder LAB ART

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