Brooklyn Street Art | …loves you more every day.

Images of the Week 07.03.11

July 3, 2011 Artists, Brooklyn, Manhattan, NYC, On the Street

As you scan the skies this weekend for bright lights at night you are likely to see a lot of new Street Art in NYC that has suddenly exploded.

At a steady march French Street Artist JR and company is taking over walls in New York during his campaign of installations culminating in multiples in the Bronx this weekend, bursting like the crescendo of fireworks at the end of a show. Similarly Shepard Fairey is in town for a few more days getting up with some new aesthetic and political stuff he’s been working on around the city. In time for this weekends celebrations and commemorations, Street Artist General Howe has put up a brand new hand carved print (his first?) of the skeletal remains of a soldier, expanding on his themes of war and Brooklyn’s historical connection to America’s bloody founding. If anyone thought that Spring had given us a deluge of Street Art in New York City, it looks like Summer 2011 is going to set some records, and not just on thermometers.

Here is our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring Billi Kid, General Howe, Infinity, JR, Obey, Olek, and Stikman.

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Unknown artist minimalist painting on ceramic tile beautifully placed. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

An Unknown artist’s interpretation of the original King Kong in NYC ( (photo © Jaime Rojo)

OBEY (photo © Jaime Rojo)

General Howe first lino-cut ever! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Infinity (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Billi Kid (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A toddler sized Olek (photo © Jaime Rojo)

An Unknown artist’s re-interpretation of a Banksy piece, possibly an advertisement (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Stikman continues to place his character in new contexts (photo © Jaime Rojo)

This sculpture is on a wall of a private residence. We don’t know the artist. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Specter BKLN/PARIS Mashup with FKDL as Gracious Host

July 2, 2011 Artists, On the Street, Paris

As we have previously reported here Street Artist Specter was in Paris recently for his solo show “Things Change” at the Since-Upian Gallery. His magnum opus on the street while there was the faithful recreation of a Brooklyn bodega façade that juts out into the street with a surprisingly genuine quality. For added authenticity, the rolldown gate is reproduced with the graffiti tag of Miss 17, ubiquitous throughout many neighborhoods of New York.

You know it’s not Brooklyn if there is a uniformed guy sweeping the street with a green broom. Specter’s “Brooklyn Bodega,” a typical store front imported to Paris. (photo © Lauren Besser)

Ever challenging to conventional notions of what the Street Art scene is, Specter likes to turn your brain upside down with his actions like his spot-jocking of other Street Artist last year. Plumbing the gray areas again, he reproduces graffiti and Street Art within his own work, at once a documentation, tip of the hat, and visual paradox causing one to re-consider self evident truths about art and vandalism.

Specter painting his “Brooklyn Bodega” on a wall in Paris. (photo © Lauren Besser)

While in Paris, Street Artist FKDL played host to Specter and his friend and facilitated a small tour of some well known spots for Street Art, here documented by Lauren Besser in these photographs exclusively for BSA readers:

Specter “Brooklyn Bodega,” Paris. (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter spreads out pieces for the street (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL getting up (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL getting up (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL (photo © Lauren Besser)

Fun Friday 07.01.11 : Fourth of July Weekend

July 1, 2011 Artists

Wishing everybody a happy, safe and celebratory Fourth of July. Don’t play with fire kiddies!

Photo © Jaime Rojo

“Outside In” Opens (Stavanger, Norway)

Martyn Reed the affable bad boy from Norway curates this new show of urban and street artists who are equally at home tackling antiquated etching techniques, watercolors, drawing and oil painting as they are with a spraycan and marker. Says the impresario “On July 1st we’ll be opening one of Scandinavia’s, and certainly Norway’s, largest exhibitions dedicated to street and urban art.”

Image of a piece by Nick Walker © and courtesy Reed Projects

They are arriving by the boatload for “Outside In”. Hope there is valet parking. (Photo © courtesy Martyn Reed)

A little preview of “Outside In” © courtesy Martyn Reed

K-Guy Print Release

And today in London K-Guy will release a series of prints of his Primate Pontificate piece seen here on the streets of New York:

K-Guy “Primate Pontificate” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For more information about the different color-ways of this print and where to buy it click below:

http://www.kguy.co.uk/

Miss Van “Bailarinas” (VIDEO)

French born Street Artist Miss Van talks about here recent show at Jonathan Levine “Bailarinas” via Babelgum by Friends We Love.

A Cell Phone Movie: The Split Screen Life of a NY/LDN Romance (VIDEO)

Moniker Projects Presents: “Gossip Well Told” (London, UK)

June 30, 2011 Artists, Gallery, London, Opening, U.K.

Moniker Projects

Dan Witz’ Mind: A Cabinet of Natural and Unatural Curiosities

June 30, 2011 Artists, Book Review, Brooklyn, Events, Features, Gallery, Manhattan, NYC, On the Street, Opening

Anyone on the subway this morning knows what it is like to be mashed together with strangers and attitudes, a roiling mass of boobs and butts and sunglasses on the forehead, Rhiannon on the headphones next to you on the right, death metal on your left, and your upper arm is not as strong as you thought while you grab for something on the ceiling to hold onto. It’s a half sleeping mosh pit of commuters, with people who have just applied nice smelling things, but this ladies bag is still jammed into your back while you are pressing your already wrinkled summer pants against a messengers bike. Here’s an opportunity right in front of me; Might as well smash the lights and crank up the metal and have some Subwaypalooza, people! Or just go see the new Dan Witz show at Jonathan Levine Gallery tonight, that’ll be fun too.

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn based Street Artist and fine artist Dan Witz has been making art “In Plain View” as he likes to say it, for over 30 years. Throughout his prolific career he has been fearless in his exploration of art and the subjects that he likes to approach. He can paint beautiful photo-realistic canvases of still life scenes and humans in motion with the same ease as murky tormented scenes behind grimy windows and fragile and ethereal humming birds in flight or a lone tiny skate boarder gliding across a rusted metal wall. Pairing his study of light, his classically trained technique, and an enduring punk rock attitude, Witz’s body of work often takes it where you haven’t gone, and might be afraid to.

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mr. Witz’s new book, “In Plain View”, shows how in a span of 30 years he has pushed psychological limits with triggers in your periphery, a pursuit of interactive art with prickly engaging relevance in the public, if the public slows down and sees it. A storyteller out in the open, you’ll stop dead in your tracks when Witz hits you, commanding you to stay there until you can figure out what the hell that is, and ponder why is it there. What’s the story behind this faux door with two humans passionately kissing in the dark? Or this figure behind the wire crossed window; is she in pain? Is he dead? Is this real?

Dan’s solo show “Mosh Pits, Human and Otherwise” is opening tonight at the Jonathan Levine Gallery.

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “In Plain View” This is the limited edition version of the book with a hand painted cover (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz Detail of his piece for this year Welling Court. You can see the full piece here (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz. Street installation from 2009 (still there in plain view) (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “Mosh Pits, Human and Otherwise” at the Jonathan Levine Gallery (photo © courtesy of the artist)

Opening Reception June 30, 2011
6 to 8 pm

Jonathan LeVine Gallery
529 West 20th Street, 9th floor
New York, NY 10011

212-243-3822

We Are The Image Makers Presents: “12 x 12” (Sydney, Australia)

June 29, 2011 Artists, Australia, Gallery, Opening, Sydney

12 x 12
12X12[4]…
12 Australian Artists
12 Artworks Each
12X12 Inches

Full details attached

aMBUSH Gallery
4A James Street, Waterloo
Sydney NSW 2017 AUSTRALIA
P +61 2 8399 0707 | F +61 2 8399 0787
www.ambushgallery.com

White Walls Gallery Presents: D Young V “Make an Effort” (San Francisco, CA)

June 29, 2011 Artists, California, Events, Gallery, Opening, San Francisco

Make an Effort
Event Information:
Make An Effort, New work by D Young V
Opening Reception – July 9, 2011, 7-11 pm
On View Through July 30, 2011,
@ White Walls (www.whitewallssf.com)
835 Larkin St,
San Francisco, CA

Shooting Gallery Presents: Anthony Sneed Solo Show “Grand Illusion” (San Francisco, CA)

June 29, 2011 Artists, California, Events, Gallery, Opening, San Francisco

Grand Illusion

Anthony Sneed (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Opening Reception – July 9, 2011, 7-11 pm
On View Through July 30, 2011,
@ Shooting Gallery (www.shootinggallerysf.com)
839 Larkin St,
San Francisco, CA

Causey Contemporary Gallery Presents: Ritual: A Group Exhibition By Honeycomb (Brooklyn, NY)

June 29, 2011 Artists, Brooklyn, Events, Gallery, NYC, Opening

Ritual

For more information regarding this show click on the link below:

http://www.inthehoneycomb.com/ritual_press_release.html?r=20110529143837

Mondo Pop Gallery Presents: “Street Parade” (Rome, Italy)

June 29, 2011 Artists, Events, Gallery, Italy, Opening, Rome

Mondo Pop

Summer special group show dal 7 al 31 Luglio

OPENING PARTY

giovedì 7 luglio H 19.00

con aperitivo e DJset

***

Street Parade

La Street Art accessibile che entra in galleria

Dal 7 al 31 luglio 2011 MondoPOP International Gallery passa in rassegna alcuni dei migliori lavori di Street Art degli ultimi anni, a prezzi riveduti. Mentre la street art cresce a quotazioni inaccessibili MondoPOP presenta una mostra in cui le migliori firme italiane si possono comprare oltre che ammirare!

Una nuova tappa dello Urban Superstar Project, evento curatoriale e mediatico consolidato nella realtà artistica nazionale iniziato al Museo MADRE di Napoli nel 2009, riconfermaro nel 2010 e ora itinerante.

Un viaggio nell’universo duro e puro dell’arte urbana per ritrovare le origini di una forma espressiva che rivendica origini semplici nonostante il trend mainstream.

Artisti italiani e internazionali che danno un contributo tangibile alla definizione di New Art, con opere in mostra a prezzi accessibili.

L’opportunità di comprare opere originali per tutti i fan della corrente.

Nuovi lavori di promettenti street artist per mantenere un filo conduttore con la strada.

La migliore chance dell’estate per toccare la Street Art con mano.

Come di rito a MondoPOP si festeggerà l’opening della mostra sabato 7 luglio dalle 19 con musica e aperitvo, dj set.

Artisti:

Allegra Corbo, Bigfoot, Becca, Buff Monster, Diavù , Boris Hoppek, Camilla Falsini, Diamond, El Gato Chimney, Fupete, Giò Pistone, Ian Stevenson, Jeremy Fish,

Mr Klevra, Mr Wany, Nicola Alessandrini, Odö, Scarful, Sone, Sten&Lex, 100Taur, 999, #

Brooklyn Bodega Presents: “Under the Influence” Co-curated by Royce Bannon and Alex Emmart (Brooklyn, NY)

June 29, 2011 Artists, Brooklyn, Events, Gallery, NYC, Opening

Under the Influence

Celebrating Hip-Hop’s Impact on the Arts

Brooklyn Bodega presents “Under The Influence,” the first curated art event to be held in conjunction with the 2011 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Opening Tuesday, July 12th as part of the Festival’s week-long programming at The powerHouse Arena, 37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY; the exhibit will celebrate the influence Hip-Hop has had for multiple generations within the artistic community.

“The idea is to pay tribute to the culture and bring together artists who have something special in common – an influence, a back-story, a motivation. Hip-Hop wouldn’t have become the same movement without the influence of the graffiti writers who created an aesthetic for a new generation. The artists in this show prove that the influence of the golden era keeps its roots and continues to inspire new creations. The influence is powerful and this show brings together both the pioneers and a new wave of artistic progression.”- Corrie Zaccaria, Event Captain, The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

Artwork on view during “Under The Influence” has been curated by Royce Bannon and Alex Emmart of Mighty Tanaka Gallery. We are also excited to announce Gawker Artists as media partners of “Under The Influence.” The opening night festivities include a public reception with refreshments provided by Brooklyn Brewery and music from a special guest DJ. A live music performance and more featured artists will be announced soon!

Featured inthe Show:

Photographs from Back in the Days Remix: 10^thAnniversary Edition – Book Signing
Upon its first publication in 2001, Back In The Days by Jamel Shabazz became an instant classic. This seminal and iconic title has been inspiring a decade-long, international revival in old-school Hip-Hop style, music and culture. Appearing alongside photographs from the book, Shabazz will be on-hand to sign copies of the limited-printing, tenth-anniversary edition of Back in the Days Remix. It includes a new edit with over 30 never-before-published photographs, a new essay, an interview with Shabazz and deluxe cloth binding.

Contributing Artists – Second Floor Gallery
212 Magazine, 907 Crew (UFO, SADU, DROID, Tony Bones, OZE 108 and GEN II), Ader, Ak5, Alice Mizrachi, Avoid, Cash4, Darkclouds, Destroy & Rebuild, Don Morris, Endless Love Crew (Royce Bannon,Matt Siren, Celso, Infinity, Abe Lincoln Jr), Ellis G, Eric Jordan, Jesus Saves, Joe Conzo, John Brenner, KA, Keely, Kosbe, Martha Cooper, Miguel Ovalle, Mike Screiber, Moody, Pesu, Robots Will Kill, Rodeo, The Me Nobody Knows, Toofly, Tuxedo, URNewYork and Vanessa Chew + more TBA.

—

What: “Under The Influence” Art Event
When: Opening BHF ’11 Reception: Tuesday, July 12, 6:00 – 10:00PM
Exhibit Dates: Wednesday, July 13 – Sunday, August 7, 2011
Where: The powerHouse Arena, 37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY
Who: Photographs from Back in the Days Remix: 10^thAnniversary Edition. Gallery showing of influential artists.

Free ticketed admission

Neon Signs, Shiny Balloons, and Brutality : Patrick Martinez In Studio

June 29, 2011 Artists

LA artist Patrick Martinez depicts urban life with unflinching stories that happen in the real world where he lives. We like to say, “Mine the diamonds in your own back yard”, and that is exactly what Patrick does by incorporating into his art without apologies what he sees where he goes. Using symbols of authority, militarism, commercialism and their brutal or humorous intersection, men play roles of protagonist and antagonist on a stage where murky gray municipal Greek architecture surrounds strip malls, plantations, and supermarket parking lots.

With flexibility of medium, he constructs the world with symbols and materials and snatches of conversations on the street. Chaotic pileups of people at cross purposes are mingled with free floating graffiti tags in the air. Cool bright neon glows and recalls liquor stores, pawn shops, and bullet proof glass – words are pulled out of context and combined with slogans. Insistently shiny helium filled happiness, near bursting with optimism, becomes a metaphor for aspiration – heart shaped balloons pulling at their strings to fly upward; and of dreams brutally dashed as they are stomped underfoot or caught in the crossfire. Brutality and storewide sales, when paired, can evoke a certain sunny sarcastic fascism in a showman’s hands, but Martinez prefers commentating on the life in the streets without that romanticism or coy finish.

Here are some in studio images from a visit to Patrick by photographer and BSA contributor Todd Mazer.

For more on Patrick Martinez art click below:

http://www.patrickmartinez.com/

For more on Todd Mazer Photography click below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/legenddairy/

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JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Unknown artist minimalist painting on ceramic tile beautifully placed. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

An Unknown artist’s interpretation of the original King Kong in NYC ( (photo © Jaime Rojo)

OBEY (photo © Jaime Rojo)

OBEY (photo © Jaime Rojo)

General Howe first lino-cut ever! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Infinity (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Billi Kid (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A toddler sized Olek (photo © Jaime Rojo)

An Unknown artist’s re-interpretation of a Banksy piece, possibly an advertisement (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Stikman continues to place his character in new contexts (photo © Jaime Rojo)

This sculpture is on a wall of a private residence. We don’t know the artist. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled (photo © Jaime Rojo)

You know it’s not Brooklyn if there is a uniformed guy sweeping the street with a green broom. Specter’s “Brooklyn Bodega,” a typical store front imported to Paris. (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter painting his “Brooklyn Bodega” on a wall in Paris. (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter “Brooklyn Bodega,” Paris. (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter “Brooklyn Bodega,” Paris. (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter “Brooklyn Bodega,” Paris. (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter spreads out pieces for the street (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL getting up (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL getting up (photo © Lauren Besser)

Specter and FKDL (photo © Lauren Besser)

Photo © Jaime Rojo

Photo © Jaime Rojo

Photo © Jaime Rojo

They are arriving by the boatload for “Outside In”. Hope there is valet parking. (Photo © courtesy Martyn Reed)

A little preview of “Outside In” © courtesy Martyn Reed

K-Guy Print Release

K-Guy “Primate Pontificate” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For more information about the different color-ways of this print and where to buy it click below:

Miss Van “Bailarinas” (VIDEO)

A Cell Phone Movie: The Split Screen Life of a NY/LDN Romance (VIDEO)

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “In Plain View” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “In Plain View” This is the limited edition version of the book with a hand painted cover (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz Detail of his piece for this year Welling Court. You can see the full piece here (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz. Street installation from 2009 (still there in plain view) (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz “Mosh Pits, Human and Otherwise” at the Jonathan Levine Gallery (photo © courtesy of the artist)

Anthony Sneed (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

Patrick Martinez (photo © Todd Mazer)

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