April 2018

BSA Film Friday 04.06.18

BSA Film Friday 04.06.18

April 6, 2018

bsa-film-friday-JAN-2015

Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities.

Now screening :
1. Chip Thomas AKA Jetsonorama new KQED mini-doc
2. Sinclair Says: Multiple Sources for Your News? No.
3. Studio Visit with Mark Dean Veca

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BSA Special Feature: Chip Thomas AKA Jetsonorama

He has a hat, sunglasses, and he has been creating huge black and white photo installations of people wheat-pasted to the sides of buildings for how long? Surprising to us that Jetsonorama is not more of a household name in Street Art circles – his work is solidly tied to biography and human rights, uses his own photography, and routinely elevates humanity – and has been doing it for some time now.

Why isn’t he in huge museum exhibitions?

Today we have a new video giving you a good look at the work and the artist along with the genuine connection and presence that he has with community, taking the time to share their stories.

 

Multiple Sources for Your News? No.

They don’t call it programming for nothing. The reasons Biff and Buffy newsreader don’t seem to have any souls is because that’s not really them talking. Thanks to the 1996 Telecommunications Act signed by Bill Clinton, the majority of TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, news websites, and billboards are now consolidated into the hands of about 6 companies, instead of 36, or 300.

This system seems ripe to put out any message and hit you with it three, five, seven times a day every day from multiple sources – until you think that the message must be the voice of the people. Imagine what they can convince you of.

When they say “deregulate” often what they really mean is “we regulate”. Moments of truth like this video only pop their heads up out of the foxhole once in a while – then disappear in a fog.

Juxtapox Magazine x Chop’em Down Films: Studio Visit with Mark Dean Veca

A quick visit to Mark Dean Veca and boom we out.

 

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ESCIF, BLU, SAM3, More Join “SenseMurs” as Activists Protecting “La Punta”

ESCIF, BLU, SAM3, More Join “SenseMurs” as Activists Protecting “La Punta”

April 5, 2018

AYÚDANOS A DEFENDER LA HUERTA Y PARAR LA ZAL – Help Us to Defend the Garden and Stop the ZAL.

Street Artists in Valencia, Spain are using their work to reclaim land for a people’s agenda.

BLU. Detail. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Street Artist Escif organized with other artists to fight the commercial development of seaside land in Valencia last month. With the help of other socially responsible artists including Aryz, BLU, Borondo, Escif, Anaïs Florin, Hyuro, Luzinterruptus, Daniel Muñoz “SAN”, Sam3 and Elías Taño, Escif and local organizers are publicly pushing a message that shows the local council what it means when citizens are engaged.

According to the organizers La Punta is a hamlet of orchards and gardens located in the south of the city of Valencia where more than 15 years ago the “Logistics Activities Zone” (ZAL) project of the Port of Valencia decided to chase hundreds of people out of this land to give to developers as a new port initiative.

BLU. Detail. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Well, that failed spectacularly, probably because funding fell through due to the global financial crisis, and 15 years later development has not happened. The land has begun to evolve and return to its more natural state and a local farm economy has sprouted up. Meanwhile city planners are hoping they can conjure up another way to use these public lands for private profit.

But grassroots organizers say they want the public/private predatory folks to step back and let citizens decide what to do with this area. Thanks to this new “SenseMurs” public art initiative that is drawing a lot of critical eyes to the matter, more citizens may actually get a seat at the table. Well organized and great communicators, on March 10 and 11 the artists and activists gave tours of the murals of SenseMurs, called a press conference, threw a concert, and opened the doors to other citizens for their participation in the process.

BLU. Detail. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

“Within this context, neighbors and associations are trying to bring attention to this reality in order to negotiate with the Administration and start a public participation process,” says the art collective Luzinterruptus in an email, “where it will be decided how these lands will be used and to mend the injustices committed against the neighbors so another chance is given to the deported families to return and work the lands of l’Horta de la Punta.”

Enjoy these shots of the installations from Martha Cooper and two from Juanmi Ponce, starting off with the one and only BLU.

BLU. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Escif. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Escif. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Because there are lettuces!

From Escif’s Instagram:

A: ¿ Porqué HAY LECHUGAS ?
B: Pues porqué alguien plantó semillas en esta tierra fértil, les puso agua y dejó que el sol hiciese su trabajo. Imágino que es un ciclo natural. La tierra es generosa y muy prospera. A poco que la cuides, te regala lechugas como estas.
A: No me refiero a eso. Mi pregunta es porque escribes la frase HAY LECHUGAS.
B: Ah! …pues porque hay lechugas!

Hyuro. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Borondo. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Borondo. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Aryz. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Aryz. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Sam3. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

SAN. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

SAN. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Luzinterruptus. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Juanmi Ponce)

Luzinterruptus. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Juanmi Ponce)

Elías Taño. SenseMurs. La Punta, Valencia, Spain, March 2018. (photo © Martha Cooper)

 

SenseMurs participating artists: Blu, Luzinterruptus, Aryz, Hyuro, SAN, LIQEN, Anaisflorin, Eliastano, Sam3, Escif

To learn more about the project please go to RECUPEREM LA PUNTA / Valencia, Spain
Recuperem La Punta, aturem la ZAL and La Punta.

 

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Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. 50 Years Later

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. 50 Years Later

April 4, 2018

A dark day in our nation’s history today as we mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and we recognize that our legacy of racism still severely hinders our progress forward today.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., flanked by Reverends Bernard Lee, Jesse Jackson and Ralph Abernathy, looks over notes before his “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speech delivered on the eve of his untimely death, April 3, 1968, at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tenn. (Maurice Sorrell/Ebony Collection via AP Images) Photo: Maurice Sorrell

He had a vision of us as a unified people, a vision that we get glimpses of but still haven’t reached. Seeing his speeches, hearing his words, remembering his strength and determination gives us the impetus to rededicate ourselves to the causes of equality and justice and the dismantling of systemic racism.

When we say equality, it has to be equal access to opportunity. And when we say justice, it has to be economic justice.  Some say that it was King’s more strident and vocal advocacy of economic justice and the rights of workers and unions, his criticisms of the manipulations of the press, and his outspoken targeting of the military industrial complex that ultimately posed a threat to power.

Garment workers at the Abe Schrader Shop listen to the funeral service for Martin Luther King, Jr. on a portable radio. April 8, 1968 (Some rights reserved by Kheel Center, Cornell University Library)

Only a short time before he was shot, he gave a speech that would sound prophetic later.

“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!”

Here is the full speech below

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Biancoshock Regrets Nothing

Biancoshock Regrets Nothing

April 3, 2018

“Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention”

~ Frank Sinatra

–

“Nazi punks, fuck off!”

~Dead Kennedys

Bianchoshock. “Regrets” Cremona, Italy. 2018. (still from the video courtesy of Biancoshock)

Italian word-player and sociologist Biancoshock examines again the famed throw up and the innerworkings of his brain to bring us this charming call-and-response graffiti tag.

See the video below for the full performance.

Bianchoshock. “Regrets” Cremona, Italy. 2018. (still from the video courtesy of Biancoshock)

Bianchoshock. “Regrets” Cremona, Italy. 2018. (still from the video courtesy of Biancoshock)

 

“REGRETS”
Cremona (IT), 2018

2,20 x 0,55 mt – plastic wrap, spray cans

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Pejac: An Illusionary Tree Grows from the Bricks In Brooklyn

Pejac: An Illusionary Tree Grows from the Bricks In Brooklyn

April 2, 2018

The Spanish Street Art illusionist Pejac is in Brooklyn for a hot minute and he has been knocking back bricks to create a reversed relief that catches the attention of people passing by. The wall is a brick façade typical of many Brooklyn neighborhoods, but this one appears to have grown a tree this week.

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Perhaps he chose this symbol because the promise of spring has inspired him, or because this Bushwick neighborhood remains industrial and would benefit from some more of nature’s influence. For us it’s all about context so it is good to see that a tree grows in Brooklyn.

 

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pejac. The Bushwick Collective. Brooklyn, NYC. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

 

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BSA Images Of The Week: 04.01.18

BSA Images Of The Week: 04.01.18

April 1, 2018 ,

BSA-Images-Week-Jan2015

Happy Easter, fool.

JK it’s also April Fools Day but we know you are no fool amiright?

This week we are going all graffiti for our Images of the Week section, and most of it is on Brooklyn roofs. So we’re giving a high five to tulips, daffodils, forsythia, hyacinths, ducklings, robins singing, Sunday dinner with your moms or pops, the hat parade on 5th Avenue, chocolate rabbits, and graffiti pieces on the roof. Here’s hoping for warm weather, a new colorful season, and excitement coming back to the streets of the city.

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Aneko, Asult (2DX), Baer, (BTR), Bishop203, Curve, Distort, Egs, EWOK, False, Home, Jins, Kider, Low Brow, Minus, MQ, Nerds, RELS, Sear, SEN, and Trace.

With special thanks to Stephen Kelley for his expertise and inspiration.

Top Image: We are not going to try to guess who this artist is (please help) but we know this is the most appropriate image to lead this Sunday’s edition of BSA Images Of The Week. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Aneko at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Distort (New Jersey) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

We ran into BSA contributor Stephen Kelley on the streets of Brooklyn and he informed us of his impending move for greener pastures and bigger dwellings to accommodate the yet to arrive new member of the family (congratulations buddy). At the same time we invited us to his rooftop where he has been hosting writers, locals and forefingers to get up on the perfect canvases that are the squares that house the rooftop staircase exit. We hereby dedicate today’s Images Of The Week to the graff writers….STEVE keep waxing poetic…

MQ (DMS) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Minus (2DX) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

EGS & SEN from Helsinki. SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

EGS (WM) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Trace at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

RELS (NJ) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

EWOK (SMH/Imok/004) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Asult (2DX) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Curve (TGE/NSF/IMOK) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

FALSE (DethKult) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Baer (BTR) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

HOME (BTR/GFR) at SMKjr Rooftop. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bishop203 for his buddy SEAR at LowBrow. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jins . Nerds . Kider at The Bushwick Collective. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

B (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. New York City Subway. March 2018. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

 

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