Brooklyn Street Art | …loves you more every day.

Alice Pasquini in Ithaca, NY

March 14, 2013 Artists

Ithaca, near the geographical center of New York State, is a socially progressive town that has experimented with its own currency (“Ithaca Hours”), was one of the first cities in the US to confer rights to same-sex partners (1986), and is the home of two universities (Cornell University and Ithaca College). At the southern end of one of the Finger Lakes (Cayuga, 38 miles long), it’s a nice bastion of natural beauty and lack of attitude, and increasingly, is host to international graffiti and Street Artists.

Italian Street Artist Alice Pasquini did a couple of murals 5 hours from NYC last week, and the photographer Jessica Stewart shares them here with BSA readers.

“Alice’s murals in Ithaca were hooked up by Meal from Cap Matches Color. His inventory of old sprays is insane and I had a field day photographing that too,” says Jessica.

Alice Pasquini (photo © Jessica Stewart)

Alice Pasquini, her new mural, and a roof full of solar panels. (photo © Jessica Stewart)

Alice Pasquini (photo © Jessica Stewart)

Coming April 5-7 >>> Get . Up State in Ithaca https://www.facebook.com/events/512546188788553

WK Interact in “360”, A Survey of Conflict in Degrees

March 13, 2013 Artists

“If his work on the street is an indication, it has been a constant state of war. Look at these images and themes that reappear in WK’s work since he first came to New York; Ever-present fear, violence, anxiety, overheated sex-play, fishnets & firearms, contorted figures racing, martial arts kicks to the head, hand-to-hand combat, boxers swinging, prisoners tied and bound, hooded figures snapping heads of bound businessmen, terrifying escapes in progress, maniacal twined and twisted forms and faces, propaganda, undercover spies, official seals, gun assembly diagrams, digitized labels, ID fingerprints, cameras, surveillance, camouflage, radioactive symbols, streaming codes and bureaucratic text passages, black military choppers hovering overhead, contorted soldiers screaming “bring me back”, a permanent state of survivalism…” – to quote ourselves from our 2 part series on WK Interact a few years ago.

WK Interact (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Now in 2013 Jonathan Levine Gallery plays host to a survey of the Street Artist that blew our minds when we traipsed through Soho in the 1980s and 90s, when Manhattan was still cool and had the authentic atmosphere of a vibrant arts “scene”. As we look at the new display that spans his career from street to gallery so far, the cultural explosions of that time and their dancing reflection as captured by WK in his large scale street installations of black and white, we realize it was an accurate depiction, and a prophetic one.

WK Interact (photo © Jaime Rojo)

As a result, a brand new visitor will be just as taken by this collection as one twenty years ago. Given the increasingly militarized aspects of the modern day, what might have seemed like a paranoid future vision by WK now looks like contemporary society. What keeps all of it immediate and alive is how WK infuses the most static piece with the movement, the speed, the rush of the street.

“My work is very black, it’s very bold, it’s very graphic, it’s very strong. There is nothing really friendly like a little bird flying around or a pink piglet… it’s totally not that. But I live in New York City and I am responding to that kind of contrast.” ~ WK on BSA

WK Interact (photo © Jaime Rojo)

WK Interact. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

WK Interact (photo © Jaime Rojo)

WK Interact. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

WK Interact (photo © Jaime Rojo)

WK Interact “360 A 25 Year Survey” is currently on view at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery Pop-Up at 557 W 23 Street, NYC. Click here for more details.

Click here to read our interview with WK “The 25 Year War: WK Interact in New York. Part I

Click here to read our interview with WK “The 25 Year War: WK Interact in New York. Part II

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Please note: All content including images and text are © BrooklynStreetArt.com, unless otherwise noted. We like sharing BSA content for non-commercial purposes as long as you credit the photographer(s) and BSA, include a link to the original article URL and do not remove the photographer’s name from the .jpg file. Otherwise, please refrain from re-posting. Thanks!

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STIK on London Streets and Walls

March 12, 2013 Artists

London Street Artist Stik has breathed a relaxed at-ease quality into the familiar stick man of your childhood and expanded his reach across walls, boarded windows, doorways, and buildings. Working on the street (and sometimes living on it) for the last ten years, the former live art-school model has grown in stature on the scene with his ability to imbue this archetype of the human with some measure of humanity, while keeping it purely graphic.

“The Street Art scene is a dialogue. It’s more than a dialogue – it’s a whole forum,” he says in the video posted below, a promotion for a new issue of Big Issue, where his figure is given center stage.

Here are a couple of photos recently taken by photographers Jaime Rojo and Geoff Hargadon as well as a look at the new figure from Stik that he says is “perfect… balanced.”

Stik on the roofs Brooklyn, NY. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Stik on the streets of London. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)

STIK ON THE STREETS

LNY Talks About “The Golden Hour”

March 11, 2013 Artists

Street Artist LNY was in the Fountain Art fair this weekend and is on the street 24/7 right now in lower Manhattan as part of a Fourth Arts Block public arts project directed by Keith Schweitzer.

The sweeping careening necks of the long billed birds are wrapped around a malfeasant from below, wrestling in a violent and epic struggle while both are tossed by the waves in a lyrical, illustrative hand.

LNY “The Golden Hour” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

LNY tells BSA what “The Golden Hour” refers to; “Its name comes from the medical term referring the period of time after traumatic injury during which treatment is most likely to prevent death,” he says. As the city continues to struggle with rebuilding and relocating our dispossessed neighbors four months after Hurricane Sandy, the Street Artist says this mural relates to the unprecedented damage lower Manhattan sustained from the natural disaster.

“Its a dense, violent narrative but the colors make it pleasant so I am very happy with the reactions so far, ” he says.

LNY “The Golden Hour”. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

LNY “The Golden Hour” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

This mural is part of Fourth Art’s Block public art program and was produced by MaNY.

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Ambush Gallery Presents: “In Our Nature” An art exhibition featuring New Paintings & Mural Installations by Beastman & Phibs (Sydney, Australia)

March 10, 2013 Afghanistan

Entwined in the apparent randomness of nature are strict laws governed by mathematical order. Control, geometry, symmetry. Entwined in the flourish and flair of Phibs and Beastman’s signature artworks are the same elements. Control in their masterful application of aerosol paint, geometry that pulls together the flourish and flair of their complimentary and well-honed aesthetics, and symmetry in their personal and professional lives. As friends, studio mates and collaborators, Phibs and Beastman reflect the organic inspiration of their artworks.

In Our Nature, then, is an apt and intriguing concept for the pair’s latest collaborative exhibition. Launching Friday 22 March, 6 pm at aMBUSH Gallery, the show comprises new paintings on mounted wood that further explore nature’s boundless influence and capacity to inspire. Twisting together both real and imagined colours, patterns and life forms encapsulated by their organic references, Phibs and Beastman’s vibrant portrayals of nature’s enigma will capture your attention, and the painstaking intricacy of their works will keep it, long after the exhibition has been packed away.

http://ambushgallery.com/whats-on/

Lars Bolin Gallery Presents: Shai Dahan “A Class Divided” (Östersund, Sweden)

March 10, 2013 Afghanistan

Lars Bolin Gallery is pleased to announce A Class Divided, a solo
exhibition by Shai Dahan featuring 15 new paintings; including “a world seen in a bell
jar (the change of luck of the unlucky soldier)” the largest painting Shai has painted for
an indoor showing. The opening reception will be held on March 16, 2013 from 12:00 to
16:00 and runs till April 5, 2013. Shai Dahan is one of the most regarded of the emerging
contemporary urban artists today with a bright future. A Class Divided takes a look at the separation of the classes during the Romantic era in
the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, where the world was on the brink of war and the upper
class were filled with fashion, architectural beauty and a sophisticated lifestyle. Dahan
unfolds…

http://mad.ly/226293?pact=373590611565802406&fe=1

Images of the Week 03.10.13: Happy 70th Birthday Martha Cooper

March 9, 2013 Artists

“I can’t believe it. I never expected this, ever.”

The Houston Street Wall was the site of a sidewalk surprise birthday party Saturday for photographer Martha Cooper, who was planning to stop by for what she thought would be a new mural shoot. The world famous graffiti photographer had no idea that artists How and Nosm had begun masking the letters of her nickname out of their mural at 7 a.m. to prepare for an all-star cast of some big graffiti and street art names from the last 4 decades to create a larger-than-life birthday card for her.

Thanks to speedy social media, a sunny early spring day, and her stature as an historic photographer of fortitude and integrity, the impromptu guest list ballooned throughout the day for this street side celebration, while the boisterous honking New York traffic rolled by.

Above: Happy Birthday Martha Cooper (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The “Marty” wall begins at the Houston Wall in NYC as How and Nosm buff their mural and mask out her name. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

By the time Martha and her cousin Sally arrived with wall organizer Meghan Coleman just after noon, the “MARTY” letters had already been half completed and she stood staring with mouth smiling and agape, waving at the cluster of photographers shooting her atop the Houston Street meridian. A second later she was laughing and racing across the street, camera in hand, ready to capture the painting action and get mobbed with well wishers. Cooper confessed to being pretty overwhelmed by the sight of her name so big. For her part, Sally, a confidant and buddy since they attended grammar school together in their hometown of Baltimore, busted out into tears.

How & Nosm at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Just inside of one day the famed wall that has hosted the likes of Haring, Scharf, Fairey, and Faile was suddenly regaled in eye-popping color and a variety of styles by Lady Pink, How and Nosm, Bio from Tats Cru, Freedom, Free5, Crash, Daze, Terror 161, Faust, and Aiko – producing a head spinning and sweet greeting to a person whom they all respect and admire for her work and determination. In addition to the steady flow of fans, writers, artists, bloggers and photographers asking to have a photo taken with one the few photographers of New York’s 1970s subway graffiti scene, a number of friends stopped by to have some birthday cake and watch the painting – like Wild Style director Charlie Ahearn, his brother artist John Ahearn, hip-hop photographer Joseph Conzo, and master sculptor Simon Verity, among others.

The brand new “Marty” mural is up for an incredibly short time, possibly only days, so if you have an opportunity or inclination, catch this personal and public display of affection for a lady who helped us all appreciate art in the streets.

Bio from the Tats Cru at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Crash shows his sketch for his portion of the wall. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko(photo © Jaime Rojo)

Crash at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Martha (center) arrives and gets a big surprise. Flanked by Meghan Coleman on the left and Cousin Sally on the right. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Davide (Nosm) greets Martha. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faust at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Freedom at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Freedom signs a book and talks to a young admirer. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Daze at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Terror 161 at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bio at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A possible devotee of the Seapunk movement walks past “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A New Yorker captures the action from the comfort of his taxi while waiting for the light to turn green. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bio does the official birthday wish.”Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Lady Pink at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

How & Nosm at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Aiko at work, or rather, her shadow. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Laboutins and aerosol make a riveting combination for Aiko. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

All the artists with Marty. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Marty poses for us. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA loves Martha Cooper. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko. (photo © Leah )

The final shot. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Fountain 2013 Shots of Street Art Above and Below

March 9, 2013 Artists

The Fountain fair raised the Street Art to the rafters this year with an installation curated by Mighty Tanaka Gallery and Robots Will Kill. The canvasses wave above the exhibit floor in this historic Armory space while below thousands of people milled through the booths of a varied collection of this years offerings. Here are new shots of the work we found Friday in the first full day of this weekend full of art fairs.

Fountain Art Fair 2013: Alan Ganev, Dark Clouds, CERN, Chris RWK, Veng, Danielle Mastrion, NEVER, ND’A, Joe Iurato, Chris Stain, See One, CAM, Miguel Ovalle, JMR, Apolo Torres, Keely, Quel Beast and Cake. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cern. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ND’A. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chris Stain. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chris. RWK. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cake. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Apolo Torres. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Fountain Art Fair 2013: Alan Ganev, Dark Clouds, CERN, Chris RWK, Veng, Danielle Mastrion, NEVER, ND’A, Joe Iurato, Chris Stain, See One, CAM, Miguel Ovalle, JMR, Apolo Torres, Keely, Quel Beast and Cake. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chris Uphues. Detail. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

John Breiner. Detail. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

En Masse doing some live painting. Detail. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

Fumero does Marilyn, Biggie, Keith. He says he has coined a term to describe the school of work he and others are evolving within as “Grafstract Expressionism” (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

Sinxero. Detail. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

A delightful guest at Fountain. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

Light artist Vicki DaSilva has video and photos of her work. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

Pop Mortem has some political commentary dripping with drama, or oil. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

Art performances with nearly naked people tend to draw an appreciative crowd. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

LNY prints being discussed. Detail. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

Labrona. Detail. (photo © Steven P. Harrington)

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BSA Film Friday 03.08.13

March 8, 2013 Artists

ESSAM (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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

Now screening: Drones and Street Artist Essam.

BSA Special Feature:

Drones, Rand Paul, and Street Artist Essam

Street Artists use their medium of message on the street sometimes to entertain, engage, or educate the passerby. Whether it’s a personal, cultural, or politically relevant message, often the work provides a mirror for us to look at and examine ourselves. Sometimes the sentiments are seemingly irrelevant, other times prescient. Last year photographers of Street Art, who already had been accustomed to the multiple fake and usually comical “official” messages posted around the city on signposts by Trustocorp, began noticing the street signs that warned of drone surveillance. Most people had a vague idea of what drones were, but couldn’t see the connection between drones and our streets. This week we had a 13 hour national education when the very conservative Libertarian Kentucky Republican Rand Paul filibustered on his feet about the use of drones in the US and abroad, stirring up a huge controversy about their use that could actually rise to become a genuine crisis for this president as citizens contemplate the constitution and the use of technology like this.

It brings to mind of course the Street Artist and his further work and what may ultimately be revealed as his role as the canary in the coalmine. According to news reports he is still under arrest for putting his art up, and there is a fundraiser for his benefit, and while the major networks talked about his signs when they came out (New Yorker, Complex Magazine, Portland Press Herald, CNN, Fox Business…), you don’t see as much news about it today. Today we feature this mini-doc about Essam and consider the impact of Street Art on public policy and how sometimes it can have the power to advance important conversation and debate.

ESSAM (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

A new mini-documentary on events of the past year surrounding Street Artist Essam and the national and local news coverage it generated.

To read more about this visit: http://www.freeessam.com/

BSA Guide to Street Art @ Armory Week

March 7, 2013 Artists

Armory Week is back in New York for the 2o13 Edition. Millions will be traded, thousands sold, and probably more will go unsold. Works by artists who are identified as Street Artists are on target for more exposure in these more formalized settings than five years ago thanks to the globalization of the phenomenon, but collectors are thinking carefully when considering a variety of factors including track record, quality of materials, authenticity, originality, street rep, and yes, Internet buzz. Also, do you love it? There are many who would be king or queen, but as usual, you have homework to do.

If you think walking streets in Brooklyn or the Bronx looking for new Street Art and graffiti is hard, you’ll be surprised how much walking this is – and how expensive it can be – to walk through the fairs. So pack a sandwich and some chips and a bottle of water, pace yourself, bring a map, and check out the action. The smaller newer fairs feel more real and the larger ones are about reputation and perceived prestige, but they all have their moments of perfect chaos. Here are a few venues that will be showing at least one Street Artist:

Armory Show 2013

Mar. 7th – 10th, 52nd Street and 12th Avenue, New York.

Assume Vivid Astro Focus At The Suzanne Geiss Company. FOCUS, Booth 907

Shepard Fairey at PACE Prints. Pier 92 Booth 412.

Barry McGee at Roberts & Tilton. Pier 94, Booth 726.

Ryan McGinness and Retna at Michael Kohn Gallery. Pier 94, Booth 509

Click here for a complete list of artists and exhibitors at Armory Show.

Greg Haberny at Lyons Wier Gallery

Mark Jenkins at Now Contemporary Art

Click here for a complete list of artists and exhibitors at VOLTA Art Fair

RERO at Fabien Castanier Gallery

SANER at FIFTY24MX Gallery

Gilf! at Galerie Swanström

Sheryo & The Yok at Krause Gallery

Cassius Fouler at Weldon Arts Gallery

TMNK Nobody at Amstel Gallery

Amanda Marie at Andenken Gallery | Kallenbach Gallery

Ron English “Culture Jam Supermarket” Site Specific Installation

Click here for a complete list of artists and exhibitors at SCOPE Art Fair

Robots Will Kill and Brooklyn’s own Mighty Tanaka Gallery are talking about a floating installation at Fountain Art Fair. Artists include: Dark Clouds, CERN, ChrisRWK, Veng, Danielle Mastiron, Hellbent, NEVER, ND’A, Joe Iurato, Chris Stain, See One, CAM, Miguel Ovalle, JMR, Apolo Torres and Cake, among others.

Fumero and Sinxero at Bowl of Mixed Art.

Leon Reid IV

Pop Mortem / BlueBeard

Click here for a complete list of artists and exhibitors at Fountain Art Fair.

John Breiner will be showing at this Pop-Up Art Fair.

Click here for a complete list of artists and exhibitors at The (UN)Fair

For Crochet Street Artist OLEK “The End is Far”

March 6, 2013 Artists

For those who follow this sort of thing Street Artist Olek has monopolized the category for pink and purple camouflage crochet sculpture on the street.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say she actually invented the category, owing as much to the D.I.Y. and hand-crafting movements as to public artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, whose work also lusts for custom wrapping everything that occupies space. Where Christo might prefer tarps and massive scale multi-week installations, Olek is content for now to hand-crochet her bespoke skin covers for bicycles, shopping carts, strollers, the Wall Street Bull sculpture, and every inanimate object in her apartment.

Now we can add to that list candelabras and human skeletons.

In her new solo show “The End is Far” at Manhattan’s Jonathan Levine Gallery, the Polish born Street Artist (please don’t say “yarn-bomber”) again covers the entire interior of the exhibition space with the sweet poppy palette in which so much of her street work has been sheathed. Possibly new here is the focus on adornment; brocade and appliqué treatments that are deliberately fussy and feminine, and a dining set that curves toward Victorian.

Somehow this added ornamentation clouds the candy camo and cushions the blow of her cursively tart twists on homey axioms like “All We Need Is Love and Money,” and “Being Beautiful on the Inside is What Counts Ha Ha Not Really”. With metallic yarn stretched across skulls and wine bottles and chalices, the tough stuff is softened by the thickness of the cover, and the attitude of pure play.

Fresh from very publicly beating a rap for assault in London, she happily calls sexism on the carpet and champions human rights as part of her work, and you’ll see elements of this here too. Call this a show about candy colored empowerment. Call her a creative force to reckon with, and possibly adore (But don’t be too saccharine; she’ll call you a pussy). With this much attitude and determination, you can expect expansion and refinement to intensify during this still blooming career, and one can imagine Olek crocheting a way to wrap an entire city before it is all over.

Olek “The End is Far” is currently on view at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery. Click here for further information.

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New Art Center Presents: “From The City to The World” A Group Exhibition. (Newtonville, MA)

March 5, 2013 Afghanistan

This is an INVITE-ONLY preview. The show will be open to the general public on April 1st, 2013.

Urban art –artwork that reflects on city life – by four visual artists and numerous writers and video makers will be featured in From the City to the World. The gallery and online exhibition is Pontius’ curatorial début. “I live in the City of Cambridge, and much of my art is about my urban environment, so I’m thrilled by the opportunity to present other artists who share my passion for city life,” said the first-time curator, whose photographs will also be on display.

The main gallery of the New Art Center is an 1800 square feet converted church with stained glass windows that provide an intriguing backdrop to the carefully selected urban art. The centerpiece of the show will be a monumental street poster, a 12-foot tall painting of an American woman peering into the burqa covered face of an Afghan woman, by the Italian artist known as BR1 (Turin, Italy). This exhibition will be his U.S. premiere. Echoing the lines of the painted burqa is a sculpture comprised of a tent with a cabin-like interior by Kevin Cyr (Brooklyn, NY). The sculpture conjures up ideas about temporary and permanent homes. Nearby, a photography installation by Pontius (Cambridge, MA) documents everyday objects left in a city park. Gabriel Specter’s (Brooklyn, NY) crucifix shaped sculpture inspired by hand-painted storefront signage is a reminder that the exhibit is in a church turned art space, a transformation that testifies to the ever-evolving nature of city life.

http://www.newartcenter.org/galleries/exhibit.aspx?id=57

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