All posts tagged: NY

Doodles for Living Walls : Albany

October 11, 2011 Albany, Art Fair, Artists, new york, On the Street

Finished Piece Frees Itself From Fear

That dude Doodles completed his piece at “Living Walls : Albany” in this hidden alley of the state capitol after all the camera-packing explorers and six-packing parties ran out of town. Out behind of storehouse Doodles had a lot of time to himself and he created this ode to shaking off the burdens of life with a progressive story across a cinder-blocked wall. The Street Artist explained to us that in one interpretation the figure represents an average modern person accumulating possessions in a materialistic world. But the metaphor he likes best is about shaking off the mounting burden of fear. The final frame, inspired by the artist’s recent trip to the wilds of the Adirondacks in upstate New York, shows the figure freeing himself from those fear and making a break for the woods. Off the grid! Here we go!

Thanks to Samson Contompasis for photos of the finished piece.

Doodles (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles (photo © Samson Contompasis)

Fun Friday 10.07.11

October 7, 2011 Artists

Welcome to Friday! Hope it’s a good one for you.

1. “Anti-Social Networking” Show by Skewville at Black Book (Denver)
2. Oh MOMO You Didn’t! That’s right. (Philadelphia)
3. Street Art Tribute to Steve Jobs on Bond Street in Manhattan (VIDEO)
4. Swoon and Olek on the TV Machine (VIDEO)
5. Cape Town Crushes Rochester, New York (VIDEO)
6. Formaje In Romania (VIDEO)
7. HOPE and Craola in Connecticut (VIDEO)
8. Anthony Lister Plays with Fire (VIDEO)

“Anti-Social Networking” Show by Skewville at Black Book (Denver)

You’ve been Skewvilled again, this time with a number of their “friends, including BAST. The constellation of connections you can make will be revelatory. Like.

For more information about this show please click on the link below:

http://www.theblackbookgallery.com/2011/10/black-book-gallery-presents-skewville-anti-social-networking/

Oh MOMO You Didn’t! That’s right. (Philadelphia)

The post-graffiti abstract Street Artist MOMO is in Philadelphia for a small group show with Amber Dubois and Steven Riddle opening today at the Space 1026 Gallery. It’s an opportunity to see three painters exploring traditional issues of abstraction. Through their use of color, shape and form – each in their own distinct but related mediums of painting, collage and sculpture respectively. Check it.

MOMO (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For more information about this show please click on the link below:

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=25169

Street Art Tribute to Steve Jobs on Bond Street in Manhattan

A poorly shot little video of this lenticular tribute to Steve Jobs, but you get the idea. Yesterday there were many tributes to the founder of Apple in front of the Apple stores in Manhattan, as many people were clearly affected by the creative genius of the guy over the last 3 decades. Our thoughts go to his family and friends.

Swoon and Olek on the TV Machine

PBS ARTS has a new short film with two female Street Artists SWOON and OLEK for their series “Off Book”. Watch it below- sorry about the commercial at the start of the video.

Cape Town Crushes Rochester, New York

This summer in July a group of four artists from Cape Town, South Africa traveled to Rochester, New York to collaborate on a series of murals with local artists. Watch Faith47, Make1one, Dal, and Freddy Sam at work. This privately funded project was sponsored by the Synthesis Collaborative, a non-profit based in Rochester.

Formaje In Romania

Here is a teaser for their upcoming show Cosmonotrips. Short but fun!

HOPE and Craola in Connecticut

The Beast Brothers presents HOPE X CRAOLA getting work done in New Haven, CT. Video by Carlos East.

Anthony Lister Plays with Fire

Anthony Lister talks to Frank 151 in West Hollywood, CA. while playing with fire. See our interview with Mr. Lister posted last week after you watch the video, if you like.

Fun Friday 09.23.11

September 23, 2011 Artists, Beacon, Fundraising, Gallery, new york

Welcome to Fun Friday

1. Abstract Art on the Street
2. “Abstractions” open at Opera Gallery
3. “Contemporary Abstractions” at Mighty Tanaka
4. “Abstract Graffiti” – The Book
5. Art Show and Charity Auction at FUTURE TENSE (Dallas)
6. Please Support “Electric Projected” TODAY
7.MISSED the SHOW? See “Street Art Saved My Life : 39 New York Stories” in VIDEO
8. VIDEO -Street and fine Artist Peat Wollaeger
9. VIDEO Mr.Klevra Vs Omino71 – The Secret Spot 2011
10 VIDEO STEN & LEX at the ATTACK FESTIVAL 2011

“The more frightening the world becomes, the more art becomes abstract”~ Wassily Kandinsky

The street provides a forum from all dialogue and Street Artists can be sometimes divided into categories after you survey the expanse of expression. We’ve been tracking the geometry of abstraction for the last decade as an aesthetic counterbalance to the more free form gestural markings that are it’s more prevalent neighbors. The abstract direction continues to garner attention and you can get a good look at it’s past and present at two New York shows opening today, and learn more about it’s global movement in a recently published book by Cedar Lewisohn.

“Black and Violet”, Kandinsky, 1923

“Abstractions” open at Opera Gallery

The Opera Gallery new show in Manhattan titled “Abstractions” opens today to the general public. This show will examine the abstract movement from the 1940s through present day with artists that range from Miro and Matta to Bast and Saber.

Image of Saber courtesy Opera Gallery

Abstractions will be open to the public starting on September 23 at 11:00 am
September 23 – October 16
Free admission: 11:00 – 7:00 daily

Opera Gallery

212.966.6675

Further information on this show please click on the link below:

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=24719

“Contemporary Abstractions” at Mighty Tanaka

Mighty Tanaka Gallery in Brooklyn continues the theme with some names familiar to BSA readers and a couple of new talents at their show “Contemporary Abstractions” tonight, with the opening reception at their temporary location in the Power House Arena in DUMBO starting at 6:00 pm.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-JMR_contemporary-abstractions-mighty-tanaka-sept2011

JMR image © Jaime Rojo

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

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=24637

“Abstract Graffiti” – The Book

We’ve really been enjoying the schooling and the photography from Cedar Lewisohn in this new book “Abstract Graffiti” and can recommend it wholeheartedly. You’ll recognize a number of these artists from being on BSA, including MOMO on the back cover.

Art Show and Charity Auction at FUTURE TENSE (Dallas)

Saturday September 24 in Dallas, TX the Future Tense has curated and impressive line up of artists for a worthy cause. An Art Show and Charity Auction to benefit The MTV Staying Alive Foundation. Opening reception and live auction at the Goss-Michael Foundation starts at 7:00 PM.

Lee Baker, Shepard Fairey, Harland Miller, Adam Ball, Katrin Fridriks, Polly Morgan, Peter Blake, Christopher Gascoigne, Gerard Rancinan, Billy Childish, Pam Glew, Rankin, D*Face, Haroshi, Stuart Semple, Brian Adam Douglas, Pieter Henket, Jamel Shabazz, Elizabeth Eamer, Damien Hirst, Benjamin Shine, Ben Eine, Jeremy Kost, Gavin Turk, Tracey Emin, Joseph Loughborough, Dan Witz, Faile, James Marshall and Russell Young.

For more information regarding this event please click on the link below:

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=24739

Please Support “Electric Projected” TODAY

And our friends at Open Space in Beacon New York are seeking your help to save their project “Electric Projected: Reboot”

Dan and Kalene have been on the Street Art scene for a decade, have opened many doors to and championed Street Artists with their Electric Windows project. Today we are asking you to pledge their “Electric Projected: REBOOT” Kickstarter page. They got seriously rained out last month for this exciting project in Beacon, New York – a huge projection show on the side of a factory building. With your help, they are going to do it right next weekend.

Jared Deal projects Big Foot (photo still © Courtesy of the gallery)

Dan and Kalene say:

“We still need your help to make Electric Projected REBOOT a reality. Since our last email (only 5 days ago) we have received over $2500 in pledges to our kickstarter campaign. Over 100 people have already contributed to this campaign and we are so grateful for this generosity and support. Not a day goes by without people telling us how excited they are for the REBOOT event on October 1st. We are excited for it too, but here is the reality of the situation. If we do not meet our kickstarter funding goal by Saturday Sept 24th at 6pm Electric Projected REBOOT will not happen on October 1st.

Aaron Maurer projects Paper Monster (photo still © Courtesy of the gallery)

Please hurry and pledge. They are almost there for their $16,500 goal and your donation will help them reach the finish line. They only have until tomorrow Saturday September 24 at 6:00 pm.

Please click on the link below to go to their Kickstarter:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pilgrim/electric-projected-reboot

Jack Myeres projects Elia and Cern (photo still © Courtesy of the gallery)

MISSED the SHOW? See “Street Art Saved My Life : 39 New York Stories” in VIDEO

Fabio Cunha shot and edited a video at the opening of “Street Art Saved my Life: 39 New York Stories” in Venice, CA. All those cool LA people milling around … love love

PEAT Makes a VIDEO

Street and fine Artist Peat Wollaeger is out of work – a very modern affliction.

Mr.Klevra Vs Omino71 – The Secret Spot 2011

STEN & LEX at the ATTACK FESTIVAL 2011

Living Walls : Albany Roundup

September 19, 2011 Albany, Artists, new york, On the Street

RECAP – BSA and Living Walls : Albany

This weekend in Albany very important Street Art presentations were made at the New York State Museum during “Living Walls: Albany”, including one from Street Art duo Broken Crow, pictured here in custom made aluminum foil head gear that reflected light rays all around the Clark Auditorium.

Mike has the remote for the Powerpoint show in his right antenna. Broken Crow at the New York State Museum. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

There were so many moving parts in this large and easy going cultural festival this weekend, and we were really happy to meet so many people in the street, at the Marketplace encampment, in St. Joseph’s Church, at the tile factory, and during our keynote lecture at the New York State Museum Saturday. Thanks to Samson Contompasis for asking BSA to partner with him for LWAlbany and a quick shout out to other local partners James Shultis at Grand Street Community Arts, Sivan Shimoni, the staff at NYS Museum, and local blogger KC Orcutt at KeepAlbanyBoring.com along with photographers Andrew Franciosa, Bob Anderson, MC3, Frank Whitney, and Ken Jacobie. Also big ups to Monica Compana, who c0-spearheaded Living Walls Atlanta, which we covered a lot when it began last year. For all the locals mentioned, they are just the tip of the iceberg of a large committed creative and professional community in the Upstate New York region who helped to pull this thing off with almost zero dollars and tons of planning and hustling. For the first year, it is/was a major achievement.

Broken Crow (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Of course our main focus is always the Street Artists and the creative spirit that is alive and well on the streets so it was a total honor to see the artists and see brand new stuff going up, like the last one before catching a train last night – Broken Crow’s ram under a bridge. There are still some pieces being finished by NohJColey, Clown Soldier, Doodles, and one we missed from Michael DeFeo. Also coming up should be Hellbent and possibly some other artists this fall, so we’ll get back to you on that. Not all these pics are from Living Walls : Albany by the way — when you are combing the streets you find all kinds of stuff you didn’t expect.

Check out all BSA coverage on the archive page here.

Broken Crow (photo © Jaime Rojo)

White Cocoa (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles at work on his wall. He explained to BSA that it will eventually contain 5 frames of a figure gradually being crushed under a backpack, which he will shake himself from and run into the wild. It’s meant to symbolize the fears and problems that can accumulate in life and our need to shake the “baggage” if possible. — and some more esoteric descriptors that we can tell you about if you want to know. Stay tuned for the finished piece. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles at work on his wall (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles wall in progress (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey at work on his wall (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cake, Infinity (photo © Jaime Rojo)

(photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder next to an old Radical! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Veng RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Clown Soldier (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Michael DeFeo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Radical (photo © Jaime Rojo)

N’DA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Take your own tour this fall with the Living Walls : Albany MAP

Images of the Week 09.18.11, during Living Walls : Albany

September 18, 2011 Albany, Artists, Events, new york, On the Street

For the last 10 months this initiative to bring Street Art and public art to the forefront of the conversation in New York’s capital has been a boon to discourse, unusual during a period of retrenchment and an ongoing financial crises that is rocking every segment of society in the US. After years of incremental cuts to arts programming in public schools and cultural institutions at every level, it is a perfect opportunity for artists to re-assert their voices as this Street Art movement continues to evolve and develop in an organic way. Ironically this scene with roots in graffiti has shape-shifted and its emergence looks like a democratic movement, messily yet constructively filling a creative void for this new generation while the budgetary axes continue to fall around them.

As Street Artists have been installing their new works on walls around Albany these past 10 days or so, the common story one witnesses is the level of engagement of adults and kids stopping on the sidewalk, in their cars, watching the process, photographing and discussing the art, and exploring the creative process. Some folks have even become assistants to the artists, creating a sense of ownership, and yes, community. There is obviously more to this evolving story, and we’ll continue to track it.

Below are photos from photographer Jaime Rojo to give you an idea of the wealth of creativity that is alive in Albany at the moment. And we commence with our weekly interview with the street this week featuring Broken Crow, Chris Stain, Gaia, How and Nosm, Joe Iurato, LNY, Nanook, ND’A, NohJColey, OverUnder, Radical! ROA, Shin Shin, and Wing. First, we go to church with Joe Iurato.

Joe Iurato (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ROA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia and Nanook (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey made one of his most expansive and eclectic sculptural installations yet inside St. Joseph’s church. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey (photo © Jaime Rojo)

LNY (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow called a quorum of penquins to hold a discussion on weighty topics of the day . (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow worked overnight and completed this elk downtown on Mikes birthday this week. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow is literally stopping traffic on Second Avenue with this powerful stencilled piece. People are jumping out to take pictures of this and question what it might symbolize. The puncturing of the foreground plain with the spilling of “blood” from the carcass is a temporary and powerful effect that will last only until winter. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A bird in the hand from GAIA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Birds of a different feather from Street Artist Radical (photo © Jaime Rojo)

N’DA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

How and Nosm (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Shin Shin and Wing (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Radical (photo © Jaime Rojo)

This new large scale mural created by Street Artist Chris Stain is at the entrance of the New York State Museum, where many presentations and symposia have been taking place since Friday under the “Living Walls : Albany” auspices. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chris Stain (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder and Broken Crow at “Living Walls : Albany”

September 16, 2011 Artists

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)

Fun Friday 09.16.11

September 16, 2011 Artists

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.

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)

September 14, 2011 Albany, Art Fair, Events, Museum, new york

Living Walls Albany

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

Hosted by “Living Walls : Albany”, Samson Contompasis, Director, and Grand Street Community Arts, James Shultis, Executive Director.

Cake at Living Walls: Albany

September 14, 2011 Albany, Artists, Events, Features, new york, On the Street

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.

Learn more about Cake and see Jaime Rojo’s photos of her work in our recent interview with her on Juxtapoz.

Living Walls Albany: The City Speaks (Albany, NY)

September 13, 2011 Albany, Artists, Events, new york, On the Street, Opening

Living Walls Albany

About

*For the most up to date information follow us Mural by Mural on-
http://livingwallsalbany.tumblr.com/
and also

About

Living Walls: Albany is a project designed to raise awareness about the use of public space. It is about exploring options that a smaller city like ours has and giving the people here a chance to interact with public space as they never have before. Through a series of lectures, performances, and the involvement of some of the world’s great mural artists, we are looking to provide and education into public art. The Living Walls project is intent on creating an open dialogue between the people and city.

The Living Walls conference was started in Atlanta GA. Along with changing the urban landscape, the Living Walls conference set out to highlight a number of problems facing the city. Living Walls did not just showcase art, but also built a platform for much-needed dialogue in the city. The success of the event was so great that Living Walls is returning this year to take place in Atlanta, Ga and Albany, NY.

Dates For 2011

September 16th – 18th

Venues for Living Walls: Albany

St. Joe’s– 38 Ten Broeck
The Marketplace Gallery– 40 Broadway
Grand Street Community Arts– 68 Grand St
“Arrival and Departure” Performance Art venue-99 Pine St.

Contact

For more information please feel free to contact us by email: livingwallsalbany@gmail.com

or visit our site at:

http://livingwallsalbany.com/

Younity Presents: “Goddess Hood” (Yonkers, NY)

September 8, 2011 Artists, Events, Gallery, NYC, Opening

Younity

Female Urban Art Collective YOUNITY Presents Exhibition Exploring the Themes

Mother Earth, The Hood, and Sustainable Agriculture in conjunction with

The Yonkers Riverfront Public Library and Sarah Lawrence College

All female urban art collective, YOUNITY, presents GODDESShood: Our land is our jewel, an art exhibition that will feature 10 artists in conversation with the themes mother earth, the hood and sustainable farming. Opening on Saturday, September 10, from 2pm – 5pm at the Yonkers Riverfront Public Library, during the annual Yonkers Riverfest event, the project utilizes urban art as a platform for visual discourse on sustainable agriculture, food systems, food justice, and mother earth, and closes on Sunday, December 4th, 2011. Additional programming in the City of Yonkers and at Sarah Lawrence College will take place throughout fall 2011, including youth workshops and a panel discussion.

All of the artists in the exhibition, Lichiban, Swoon, Sofia Maldonado, Krista Franklin, Marthalicia, Diana McClure, Faith 47, lmnop, Lady Alezia, and Alice Mizrachi, engage with the theme mother earth or nature, and related concepts, both directly and indirectly in their individual artistic practices. In the context of this exhibition the artists were asked to utilize the idea of the hood as a metaphor for not only local neighborhoods and urban culture, but also land, nature and the natural environment at large. And, finally, the genesis and inspiration for the exhibition stems from the curators’ discovery of La Via Campesina (The International Peasant Movement) and an intense global movement for land and agricultural rights taking place below the radar.

In the YOUNITY tradition, GODDESShood: Our land is our jewel will include painting, murals, photography, and stencils, as well as video and sculptural objects. The exhibition picks up where YOUNITY’s last exhibition FRESHER!, which addressed consumerism, environmentalism, health, and renewable energy, left off in the fall of 2009. Co-curator Diana McClure says, “With the GODDESShood: Our land is our jewel exhibition we wanted to use the YOUNITY platform as a tool for social change and disseminator of information by bringing visibility to a battle being fought by peasants, small and medium-size farmers, landless people, women farmers, indigenous people, migrants and agricultural workers from around the world. A battle that seems to get lost in mainstream media’s disregard for the economic politics of green living.” With the success of YOUNITY’s premiere exhibit in 2007, The C R O S S O V E R, the second annual Heart and Soul show and book publication in 2008, and FRESHER! in 2009, YOUNITY has become one of the most sought after all-female collectives to date. Co-curator and YOUNITY co-founder Alice Mizrachi says, “After 3 years of annual exhibitions, wall productions, youth workshops, etc. The core YOUNITY production team decided to take a year off in 2010 to explore new ideas and individual creative pursuits. During that time we’ve all developed and hope to use our growing cultural capital to continue to support female urban artists and address social issues as individuals and a collective.”

For more information on public programming in conjunction with the GODDESShood: Our land is our jewel exhibition, including youth workshops led by Co-Curator/Arts Educator Alice Mizrachi for Yonkers youth, and a panel discussion moderated by Co-Curator Diana McClure at Sarah Lawrence College, visit www.theyounity.com.

About YOUNITY: artists Alice Mizrachi and TOOFLY founded YOUNITY in New York City in 2007. After spending many years involved in the art world, it became evident that urban contemporary women artists did not have a properly organized forum through which to disseminate ideas and showcase work to their contemporaries and the public at large. The confines of galleries were too rigid and staid and the ‘white cube’ did not lend much room for personal expression and individual style. So, Alice and TOOFLY decided to: 1) create a place where females could tell their stories in more universal, down-to-earth voices; 2) build a stable community in which they could teach the next generation of women the process of curating exhibitions and successfully spreading artistic ideas; and, 3) allow members to explore their own flavor while retaining their identity within the context of a collective body. YOUNITY is also committed to the documentation and archiving of itself as a community of unique, autonomous participants through exhibitions, new media and publishing.

Chris Stain in Church, Museum : 9/11 Mural With “Living Walls: Albany”

September 8, 2011 Albany, Artists, Museum, new york

The Street Artist Creates 40 Foot Mural Marking 10th Anniversary

Living Walls with Chris Stain

Words by KC Orcutt

with photos from Andrew Franciosa, Frank Whitney, and Ken Jacobie

Working in the monumental landmark of St. Joseph’s church, the focal point marking Albany’s Ten Broeck Historical District, everything echoed. The shake of the spray paint can, Chris Stain’s soft but direct voice, friends casually eating out of take-out containers and the sliding of a huge ladder against the wooden floor echoed against the high, detailed ceilings of the church, breaking the silence in what felt like both a privileged and private setting to be working in.

This portion of the “Living Walls: Albany” project directly faced the challenge all artists face: make something out of nothing. For the organizer, Samson Contompasis, that challenge was making a 40 by 16 foot wall out of 20 wooden pieces for Chris Stain to create his contribution to the project. Challenge met. Next.

As Chris Stain humored me in talking about Albany, the culture of zines and independent art books, doing his art homework on the train up here and how the quietness of the church was peaceful, he worked very swiftly. With one can of spray paint on deck in his back pocket and one in his hand, he got to work on his installation piece, depicting a scene of firefighters, an American flag and slanted city buildings, working with the ‘perfect’ red and an assortment of spray paint cans aligned like soldiers ready to go.

The finished piece alongside the ornate details of the church allowed for a natural moment of silence, soaking in what Stain sprayed before us, ready to be taken apart and installed in the setting of the New York State Museum the next day as a part of the new exhibit, “Reflecting on September 11, 2001.”

“Reflecting on September 11, 2001” opens at the New York State Museum Friday 10.9.11. Please click here for more information.

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Johannes Mundinger: “La Bella Confusione”
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Finished Piece Frees Itself From Fear

Doodles (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles (photo © Samson Contompasis)

Doodles (photo © Samson Contompasis)

Doodles (photo © Samson Contompasis)

Welcome to Friday! Hope it’s a good one for you.

“Anti-Social Networking” Show by Skewville at Black Book (Denver)

Oh MOMO You Didn’t! That’s right. (Philadelphia)

MOMO (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Street Art Tribute to Steve Jobs on Bond Street in Manhattan

Swoon and Olek on the TV Machine

Cape Town Crushes Rochester, New York

Formaje In Romania

HOPE and Craola in Connecticut

Anthony Lister Plays with Fire

Welcome to Fun Friday

“The more frightening the world becomes, the more art becomes abstract”~ Wassily Kandinsky

“Abstractions” open at Opera Gallery

Image of Saber courtesy Opera Gallery

Abstractions will be open to the public starting on September 23 at 11:00 am September 23 – October 16 Free admission: 11:00 – 7:00 daily

“Contemporary Abstractions” at Mighty Tanaka

JMR image © Jaime Rojo

“Abstract Graffiti” – The Book

Art Show and Charity Auction at FUTURE TENSE (Dallas)

For more information regarding this event please click on the link below:

Please Support “Electric Projected” TODAY

And our friends at Open Space in Beacon New York are seeking your help to save their project “Electric Projected: Reboot”

Jared Deal projects Big Foot (photo still © Courtesy of the gallery)

Aaron Maurer projects Paper Monster (photo still © Courtesy of the gallery)

Jack Myeres projects Elia and Cern (photo still © Courtesy of the gallery)

MISSED the SHOW? See “Street Art Saved My Life : 39 New York Stories” in VIDEO

PEAT Makes a VIDEO

Mr.Klevra Vs Omino71 – The Secret Spot 2011

STEN & LEX at the ATTACK FESTIVAL 2011

RECAP – BSA and Living Walls : Albany

Mike has the remote for the Powerpoint show in his right antenna. Broken Crow at the New York State Museum. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow (photo © Jaime Rojo)

White Cocoa (photo © Jaime Rojo)

White Cocoa (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles at work on his wall (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Doodles wall in progress (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey at work on his wall (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey at work on his wall (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey at work on his wall (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cake, Infinity (photo © Jaime Rojo)

(photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder next to an old Radical! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Veng RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Clown Soldier (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Michael DeFeo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Radical (photo © Jaime Rojo)

N’DA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Joe Iurato (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Joe Iurato (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Joe Iurato (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Joe Iurato (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ROA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ROA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia and Nanook (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey made one of his most expansive and eclectic sculptural installations yet inside St. Joseph’s church. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey (photo © Jaime Rojo)

LNY (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow called a quorum of penquins to hold a discussion on weighty topics of the day . (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow worked overnight and completed this elk downtown on Mikes birthday this week. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Broken Crow (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A bird in the hand from GAIA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Abstractions will be open to the public starting on September 23 at 11:00 am
September 23 – October 16
Free admission: 11:00 – 7:00 daily