Industry! The city of Albany is percolating with painters and wheat-pasters on walls all over the place as “Living Walls : Albany” is in full effect, causing people in neighborhoods to stop and talk and discuss the works that are happening before their eyes. Here are a couple in-progress scenes with German twins How & Nosm on a lift beginning their new mural Friday afternoon after arriving from Miami, where they completed new work for Wynwood Walls. Also we were excited to have spent some time seeing OverUnder working with a local tile maker and two new assistants from the neighborhood mixing up mortar and slapping those newly cut tiles to the wall. So much industry, so much excitement, and so many one way streets – including the one which earned us an interview with the police and a fancy new traffic ticket! It’s never a dull moment with the Street Art scene, but you can always be assured of a good show.
Joe Iurato Transending at “Living Walls : Albany”
Street Artist Joe Iurato went to church yesterday at St. Joseph’s in Albany, where a number of street artists have been putting together some great work this week. These pieces are floated in front of the walls, rather than painted directly on them out of respect for the original building, an the effect immediately makes the hallowed spaces of organized religion feel more relevant than seeing the Pope on a skateboard.
Explains Joe, “Man, wait til you guys see this place. The architecture is magnificent and in a perfect state of decay. I’m not a very religious person, but I take a great interest in faith and trying to understand where it comes from. Every now and then there’s a moment where I truly get it – and I swear I catch a glimpse of something I’d otherwise tell you isn’t really there. That’s what this felt like to me, and I felt completely privileged to put these pieces up. “
Overunder and Broken Crow at “Living Walls : Albany”
Words by KC Orcutt
Images by Andrew Franciosa and MC3
Overunder is a firecracker. From my initial participation in witnessing the Living Walls unfold in Albany, he has been nothing but a friendly and tireless ball of creative energy (in the best way possible) showing me parts of the city I grew up in that I didn’t even know existed on Google maps of places he’s been exploring. As a first time visitor adapting to the town, we joked about him about being able to give directions better than I, myself, could as a local.
Overunder (photo © Andrew Franciosa)
Overunder has work installed currently at the Marketplace Gallery and his pieces have been sprinkled throughout Albany, such as one gem tucked away in the South End sharing a building with Broken Crow. His portraits are as engaging as the quirky characteristics of each building or wall themselves, picking up on elements of the city (such as painting people that he’s met during his stay here) and his attention to detail in his work brings out new characteristic aspects of walls that otherwise would have continued to blend in unnoticed with the city’s surroundings.
Overunder’s pieces are as conversational as the artist himself and his work has breathed fresh air into these community spaces. Just judging off of our several conversations over the past week, I’d say it’s a safe bet to make that he has more tricks up his sleeve and more work will surface as the weekend draws closer.
Overunder (photo © Andrew Franciosa)
Overunder (photo © MC3)
Broken Crow (photo © Andrew Franciosa)
Broken Crow (photo © Bob Anderson)
Broken Crow (photo © Bob Anderson)
Street Artist ROA and a Dead Squirrel for Living Walls : Albany
Within moments of ROA’s arrival on site to his designated building for “Living Walls : Albany,” he spotted a recently departed squirrel, took it as a sign and it became quite clear what he was going to do next.
The squirrel population in Albany is (somewhat) jokingly of a “different” breed – they are as tough as they are territorial, while still somehow managing a natural presence and a non-intrusive interactivity with passer-bys. Squirrels are everywhere in Albany, making it a more-than-fitting subject for ROA’s large-scale contribution to the Living Walls project.
ROA (photo © MC3)
Cosmically or maybe even comically enough, as ROA was working up in the lift adding detail to the animal laying on its back, a man associated with the building’s owner shared an anecdote of how a couple years back a pesky squirrel’s nest almost resulted in the same building burning down, with firefighters called to the scene and all.
During ROA’s time creating the piece, people stopped by to inquire more about the wall and what was going on, with many lingering on the “why a squirrel” question.
ROA (photo © Andrew Franciosa)
“People are bored with simple messages,” said ROA “they want something deeper.”
With the inspiration of the piece still laying off to the side, ROA entertained the public’s curiosities with a grin saying, “Its for you to figure out if it’s dead or alive and the meaning behind it. It’s a very simple message – just a squirrel on it’s back,” as another onlooker proudly repeated his take on ROA’s work in succession, “that symbolizes something!”
ROA (photo © Andrew Franciosa)
No animals were harmed during the making of this mural. (photo © Andrew Franciosa)
ROA (photo © Andrew Franciosa)
ROA (photo © Andrew Franciosa)
Fun Friday 09.16.11
FIRST, THE WEATHER FOR TODAY

Wooooo Hoooooooo! It’s Friday in Brooklyn! Great news in the mailbox from the postman this morning about a big Keith Haring exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum this April “Keith Haring: 1978-1982”. Guess it was meant to coincide with the big “Art in the Streets” exhibit that was moving from LA MOCA to Brooklyn in 2012 but was cancelled recently. That’s okay, we still get Keith, a patron saint of Street Art. And we are completely convinced that “Art in the Streets” will be coming to New York, so don’t be surprised.
Living Walls : Albany This Friday Saturday Sunday in New York’s Capital City
BSA has been partnering with Living Walls : Albany to bring you the new Street Art and other stuff and today is the official kick off day, coinciding with a big Fall festival Albany has every year. Props go to Samson Contompasis for his unwavering commitment to artists and the creative spirit.
Yo, check the archive to see all the BSA coverage http://mim.io/5e3391 . Also follow the Twitter Feed at @LivingWallsALB . The list of participating Street Artists includes How & Nosm , Chris Stain ,Gaia, Cake ,Michael DeFeo, Broken Crow, Over/Under, Nanook, Jon Burgerman ,Veng, Depoe, Radical!, White Cocoa ,Evereman Scott, Michael Ackerman, Uneek, Clown Soldier, Marcus Anderson, Joe Iurato ,Papertwins, Jacqueline Brickman ,VRNO , Hellbent, ROA ,Gregory Maxwell, Dunn II, YARK, Army of One, Deacon Czar
Saturday, September 17th
Located in the Clark Auditorium of the New York State Museum
3:30-4:45PM
KEYNOTE LECTURE
“Street Art Stories: A New Direction on the Street”
Presented by Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo, founders of Brooklyn Street Art
In Street Arts’ latest chapter, the storytellers are hitting up walls with all manner of influences and methods. More than ever before, formally trained and self taught fine artists are skipping the gallery route and taking their work directly to the public, creating cultural mash-ups and highly personal stories of their own, altering the character of this scene once again. Eclectic, individual, and as D.I.Y. as you can imagine, these Street Artists may have knowledge of who came before them or not, but they are determined to be a part of one art scene that is perceived as authentic, relevant, and alive.
Join Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo, authors (“Brooklyn Street Art”, and “Street Art New York”, published by Prestel/Random House) and founders of Brooklyn Street Art (BrooklynStreetArt.com) and contributing Street Art writers for The Huffington Post ARTS, as they show and compare examples of work from New York’s streets today. Then join a lively discussion in a Q&A session to help explore this storytelling practice and discuss how it may be evolving what we have been calling “Street Art” for the last decade.
Hosted by “Living Walls : Albany”, Samson Contompasis, Director, and Grand Street Community Arts, James Shultis, Executive Director.
Mexican Street Artist KRAKEN at Hold Up Gallery (LA)
KRAKEN’s solo show “Fantasmas” this on Saturday:
For more information regarding this show please click on the link below:
http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=24457
NECKFACE at New Image Art (LA)
Isn’t that nice? Neckface and his fine feathered friend “Fuck Life” have a dainty little show at New Image Art this weekend in West Hollywood. Bring your Barbies!
For more information regarding this show click on the link below:
http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=23978
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Thanks to JUXTAPOZ for showing us the Tom Hanks Weather report GIF. See more of their GIF collection HERE.
Clown Soldier, Wing, Shin Shin, NohJColey, N’DA at “Living Walls : Albany”
A Special Report
Words by KC Orcutt Photos by Bob AndersonWith Marketplace Gallery transformed into what is best classified as a sleep away art camp — complete with scattered sleeping arrangements, wheat pastes hung up on the gallery walls ready to greet the outside world, in progress portraits of some of the participating artists by White Cocoa and a healthy buzz of street art-fueled conversations late into the night — the past couple of days and nights have blurred together leading up to the debut of the Living Walls project in Albany, officially launching this weekend.
Clown Soldier (photo © Bob Anderson)
Away from the hustle and creation taking place both in the street, at the gallery and St. Joseph’s church, a conductor of sorts sits under a bridge in Rensselaer at the Art Park, overlooking Albany. The piece, as created by Clown Soldier, puts a figure in command of the happenings of the city from a detached control station. One can’t help but picture the happenings in Albany in relation to the Living Walls as beneath the futuristic bubble Clown Soldier created. The tag line that organically manifested surrounding the Living Walls in Albany — “This Is Happening In Your City” — is setting in.
Clown Soldier (photo © Bob Anderson)
Kitty corner to the Clown Soldier piece is another Living Wall where Shin Shin and Wing collaborated under the massive support of the bridge in Rensselaer. The pair got to work using a bright palate environmentally fitting for the open industrial space, creating a natural and whimsical balance on the surface of the bridge’s support.
Wing and Shin Shin Collaboration (photo © Bob Anderson)
Wing and Shin Shin collaboration (photo © Bob Anderson)
Wing and Shin Shin collaboration (photo © Bob Anderson)
Wing and Shin Shin collaboration (photo © Bob Anderson)
NohJColey, Depoe and N’DA also got down in Rensselaer, working over the course of several days on large-scale pieces, bordering existing (and aging) public murals, while also bouncing in between St. Joe’s church, where Living Walls installations are coming into form from a multitude of artists, local and beyond.
N’DA (photo © Bob Anderson)
NohJColey and N’DA work in progress (photo © Bob Anderson)
N’DA and NohJColey lend a hand to Shin Shin with the installation of one of her Golden Trees at St. Joe’s Church (photo © Bob Anderson)
N’DA and NohJColey (photo © Bob Anderson)
N’DA (photo © Bob Anderson)
NUART 2011 Presents: TOU SCENE & Stavanger City Streets (Stavanger, Norway)
NUART FESTIVAL 2011: PROGRAM
TOU SCENE OCT 1 – NOV 1
OPENING OCT 1, 19.00
DAN WITZ (US), DAVID CHOE & DVS1 (US), VHILS (PO), HERBERT BAGLIONE (BR), DOLK (NO), LUCY McCLAUCHLAN (UK), HERAKUT (DE), TELLAS (IT), ESCIF (ES), HYURO (ES), PHLEGM (UK)
12 Artists from 9 countries tackle over ½ kilometre of wall space at one of the worlds leading contemporary urban art exhibitions. In addition, we present our most extensive support program yet.
Join us for an up close and personal series of artist presentations, panel debates with leading professionals, artist workshops and lectures.
Nuart in association with SF Kino are also proud to have secured two exclusive must see European Premiere’s of the years greatest street art documentaries. Lights, Camera Pichação and Vigilante, Vigilante:
EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN FILM PREMIERES
Lights, Camera Pichação (100mins BR)
A ground breaking documentary about the often misunderstood street culture of Rio de Janeiro’s “PICHAÇÃO. told in their own words. It asks of us an important question, what came first, the clean white wall… or artistic expression? Who got in the way of who ?
http://www.luzcamerapichacao.com.br/
Sf Kino Fri 23.09 and Sat 24.09, 16:00 Tickets 60kr
Vigilante, Vigilante (86mins US)
A new breed of crime-fighter now stalks the urban landscape. Two filmmakers go undercover to expose anti-graffiti vigilantes who stop at nothing to rid their neighbourhoods and cities of street art, stickers, tags, and posters.
http://www.vigilantefilm.com/
Sf Kino: Fri 30.09. Sat 1.10 and Sun 02.10, 16:00 Tickets 60kr
WORKSHOPS, TALKS AND PANEL DEBATE – FREE
Escif & Hyuro: Workshop at Kunstskolen i Rogaland, Sat Oct 1st 12:00-15:00*
Dan Witz: Workshop for kids with at Tou Scene, Sat Oct 1st 12:00-15:00**
Artist talks: Tellas (ES), Thur 22.09, 18:00 Herbert Baglione (BR), Fri 23.09, 18:00 KiR
Street Art lecture: Carlo McCormick (US) – Thur 29.09, 18:00 Tou Scene
Panel Debate with Artists, Carlo McCormick and Juxtapoz (US) Fri 30.09, 18:00 Martinique
*The workshop has 10 free places. To attend send your name and phone number to marte@numusic.no
**This is a sticker workshop for kids. The workshop will be in English.
For more information visit our website www.nuart.no or contact
www.facebook.com/nuartfestival
www.twitter.com/nuart11
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nuart
Hold Up Art Gallery Presents: KRAKEN “Fantasmas” (Los Angeles, CA)
OPENING RECEPTION
Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 7:00PM to 11:00PM
Exhibit runs September 17, 2011 through October 20, 2011
Hold Up Art
358 E. 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Fantasmas is the first solo exhibition by prolific Mexican street artist Kraken. Consisting of twenty-one pieces, ranging from giclee reproductions to handmade silkscreen prints and original drawings, Fantasmas showcases the unique style and voice of this talented artist. The exhibit’s opening reception will feature a live performance by Adrian Terrazas Gonzalez (The Mars Volta) with Jazztec.
Known for his dark, gothic and somewhat disturbing images, Kraken is a highly sought after commercial graphics artist in Mexico. His work has been used to brand products from alcoholic beverages to sneakers, from apparel lines to bands. As a member of Mexico’s E3 Collective, Kraken has been involved in numerous group shows around the world. His work has appeared in an Amnesty International art book to raise money for the cause in Darfur, and he has had his work featured in an installation by the Centro Cultural España. Kraken’s work is often recognized for his use of repetitive graphics and what could be called an obsession with eyes.
“I am inspired by different things when I work; comic books, movies, but mostly emotions. I get a lot of inspiration from reading psychological case studies of serial killers,” shares Kraken, “That’s where I got the idea of deforming humanity with unnatural light and dark colors, and repetitive imagery, like eyes. The eyes represent different things in my work, but lately they represent anxiety. I have this notion that your eyes see things differently when you’re having a panic attack; your stomach aches and your palms itch. It’s like those parts of your body are filled with eyes.”
For more information about this and other exhibits,
please visit www.holdupart.com.
Cell Phone Snap : Broken Crow + Wolves Feasting on a Carcass
Is this a metaphor for the rich feasting on the US economy? Or just the Macy’s One Day Sale? Here’s a quick cell phone snap of the new piece by Broken Crow at Living Walls : Albany, complete with blood slopping across the field of yellow flowers. More to come soon.
Broken Crow photo © Samson Contompasis
Living Walls : Albany Presents: Keynote Lecture by Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo “Street Art Stories: A New Direction on the Street” (Albany, New York)
Saturday, September 17th
Located in the Clark Auditorium of the New York State Museum
3:30-4:45PM
KEYNOTE LECTURE
“Street Art Stories: A New Direction on the Street”
Presented by Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo, founders of Brooklyn Street Art
In Street Arts’ latest chapter, the storytellers are hitting up walls with all manner of influences and methods. More than ever before, formally trained and self taught fine artists are skipping the gallery route and taking their work directly to the public, creating cultural mash-ups and highly personal stories of their own, altering the character of this scene once again. Eclectic, individual, and as D.I.Y. as you can imagine, these Street Artists may have knowledge of who came before them or not, but they are determined to be a part of one art scene that is perceived as authentic, relevant, and alive.
Join Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo, authors (“Brooklyn Street Art”, and “Street Art New York”, published by Prestel/Random House) and founders of Brooklyn Street Art (BrooklynStreetArt.com) and contributing Street Art writers for The Huffington Post ARTS, as they show and compare examples of work from New York’s streets today. Then join a lively discussion in a Q&A session to help explore this storytelling practice and discuss how it may be evolving what we have been calling “Street Art” for the last decade.
Hosted by “Living Walls : Albany”, Samson Contompasis, Director, and Grand Street Community Arts, James Shultis, Executive Director.
Cake at Living Walls: Albany
Street Artist Cake brought her hand painted people to Albany yesterday, with these portraits of a “wondrous traveler”named Saige. A fine artist who makes one of a kind wheate-pasted pieces as a means of therapy and tribute, Cake has a unique style that is at once melodic and medical, enabling the viewer to have x-ray vision. Recently Cake has been introducing metallic, as in these two new pieces using silver leaf.
Knock knock, Cake is at the door. (photo © Cake)
Cake (photo © Cake)
Cake (photo © Cake)
Marley’s Angels and F.A.M. Present: New York Comic ConArtists Afterparty (Manhattan, NY)
New York Comic ConArtists

New York Comic Con-Artists Afterparty & First Annual Artists Fight Club Live Art Battle @ Identity Lounge 511 East 6th Street (btwn A & B) NYC.
October 15, 2011, 8pm-4am. 21+ $5.
featuring: Mike Die, Jos-L, Chris RWK, Intro, El Toro, UWP, Ticky, Choice Royce, Downer, Emi Boz, Burn 353, Tomorrow, Zam, Melodreama, Billi Kid, Josh Taylor, Aya Kakeda, Bishop 203, Joe Lurato, See One, Gus Fink, Aaron Kraten, Steve Talkowski, Dint Wooer Krsna, Crystal Shephard, Nose Go. & DJ’s: Carlos Tera, DJ What, Mark VII, Dee Jay Kava.
BROOKLYN STREET ART LOVES YOU MORE EVERY DAY












































