Events

Lady K Fever Solo Exhibit, Dubbed, to Open Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 4th, at BCA’s Longwood Art Gallery

February 3, 2015

Bronx-based Canadian artist Lady K Fever has been gracing the walls of her borough and beyond with her distinctly expressive aesthetic for over a decade. When I met up with her last week, she was feverishly at work on her inventive installation for her upcoming exhibit, Dubbed, at the Bronx Council of the Arts‘ Longwood Art Gallery.

This is all quite amazing! There is so much going on here, and I love it all. What is the concept behind this? What is going on?

I am playing with the language of graffiti. It’s a mix of sketches, drawings, pieces, tags, stickers, wheatpastes, paintings on Plexiglas and cardboard, found objects, transparencies, selfies, subway tiles, razor wire and all that I associate with graffiti. It is quite conceptual. The razor wire represents — among other things — a prison yard and the risks we graffiti writers take. The new drawings made for this exhibit have all been done in conversation with myself or a friend or a family member, exploring direct transmission through the self and hand.

When did the concept for this exhibit first come to you? How did it originate?

It began five years ago when I had a solo exhibit at Masterworks Museum in Bermuda. I became interested in playing with lines and mixing elements. It took me back to my reggae roots. The title of this exhibit Dubbed is a reference to the technical term for copying sound or other media from one tape to another. My installation explores how rhythm and emotion can translate into painted vibration and word.

When did you begin the actual work for this exhibit?

I began working on it about two months ago. But I’ve been thinking about it for the past two years.

What would you like your viewers to walk away with?

I want them to understand that there is more to graffiti than what one generally assumes. It is a rich, highly sophisticated aesthetic that involves a deliberate process.

Why did you choose the the Longwood Art Gallery as your venue?

Since I participated in a group exhibit at Longwood Art Gallery in 2011, I’ve always wanted to have a solo show here. It is the ideal space, as it nurtures and celebrates experimentation.

Note: An opening reception will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, from 5-9 at the Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos, 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. Curator Laura Napier will also be in attendance.

Interview and photos by Lois Stavsky

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Cluster Wall to Launch Tomorrow with Exhibit and Party at 17 Frost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

January 16, 2015

A specialized new online gallery certain to appeal to us street art aficionados, Cluster Wall launches tomorrow evening with an exhibit and party at 17 Frost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We recently had the opportunity to speak to Cluster Wall’s founder, Evan Tobias.

What is Cluster Wall? Why that name?

It is a term I respond to! As an art-lover and collector, I tend to cluster art of all colors and styles in our Brooklyn apartment. The results are vibrant, bold and kinetic, like New York City, itself!

What is your mission in launching Cluster Wall?

My mission is to provide art lovers with the opportunity to purchase first-rate, hand-embellished affordable art. There will not be any ink jet prints. All of the artworks will be signed and numbered, and editions will be limited. Prints will be released in a series of 100 or fewer. And, in addition, a small number of original works will also be made available.

What work experiences do you bring with you to your current position?

I was the founder and editor of Block Magazine, and founder of the Full Circle Bar in Williamsburg.

Most of the artists — whose works you will be exhibiting and selling — are active on the streets. Why the focus on street art?

I’m a big fan of street art. I’ve been living in Williamsburg since 2001, and I’ve seen how street art has enhanced my neighborhood. It has made it a better place to live. But Cluster Wall is not limited to street artists. I will be releasing artworks by other contemporary urban artists, as well.

How did you decide which artists to work with?

I started off by contacting artists I know, and then I was connected to some others. I was specifically looking for artwork that I love that would also work well as prints.

Can you tell us something about this weekend’s exhibit? What can we expect to see?

We will be featuring prints and original artworks by Chris RWK, Joe Iurato, Rubin, ASVP, Elle, The Drif, London Kaye, Solus, Opie and ORYX, along with collaborative works by John Paul O’Grodnick and Jilly Ballistic, who will also be painting live.

What is Cluster Wall bringing to the art scene?

It provides art lovers with the opportunity to collect outstanding, innovative artwork at modest prices.

That all sounds great! Good luck!

Note: The launch begins at 7pm tomorrow — Saturday — at 17 Frost Street and will feature, along with dozens of artworks, music by DJ Nigel Rubirosa and refreshments provided by Lion Beer and Sea Grape Wines.

Interview conducted by City-as-School intern Zachariah Messaoud.

Photos

1. Chris RWK

2. Cluster Wall founder Evan Tobias, seated in front of artwork by London Kaye

3. The Drif

4. John Paul O’Grodnick and Jilly Ballistic

5. Joe Iurato

All photos courtesy Cluster Wal l, except for pic of Evan by Lois Stavsky

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Ewerdt Hilgemann’s “Implosion” Sculptures on Manhattan’s Park Avenue and at Jersey City’s Mana Contemporary

January 10, 2015

After six weeks of polishing a five-foot–tall marble cube to perfection back in 1982, German sculptor Ewerdt Hilgemann rolled it down a steep slope. He liked what he saw, as its mangled, contorted forms represented “the ultimate beauty of creation.” And since 1985, Hilgemann has been forging sculptures using a unique vacuum process, which “implodes” geometric shapes causing the material to deform according to natural laws.

At once tough and sensuous, a series of Hilgemann’s seven stainless steel sculptures surfaced on the streets of our city this past summer. We were mesmerized! Opening tomorrow at Mana Contemporary is Panta Rhei, an exhibit featuring six of Hilgeman’s sculptures installed outside the Mana Glass Gallery and inside the building’s lobby.

Cube Flower, as seen in early fall on Park Avenue

Dancers, close-up, as seen in early fall on Park Avenue

And at Mana Contemporary, as seen yesterday in the icy snow

The artist

And his wondrous smaller works as viewed indoors at Mana

Also opening tomorrow at Mana Contemporary are: Making Art Dance, curated by Jeffrey Deitch; John Newsom: Rogue Arena and David Levinthal: Hitler Moves East.

The opening events are free and open to the public. You can RSVP here for free transportation from NYC. Shuttle service to and from the event will be provided every half hour starting at 12:30 PM from Milk Studios (450 W. 15th Street) and returning every half hour from Mana starting at 2 PM.

Photos: 1-5 and 7 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 6 by Lois Stavsky

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Moving Murals: Henry Chalfant & Martha Cooper’s All-City Graffiti Archive through Thursday with Closing Event Sat. 12/20 at City Lore

December 13, 2014

Moving Murals: Henry Chalfant & Martha Cooper’s All-City Graffiti Archive, a mosaic of 850 wall images of subway graffiti photographed by Chalfant — along with a series of Martha Cooper’s artist portraits — continues through this Thursday, December 18 at 4pm. A homage to the boundless creativity of the graffiti artists whose talents and passions paved the way to the global street art movement, Moving Murals is the first exhibit to grace the City Lore Gallery at 56 East 1^st Street.

Another close-up from Henry Chalfant collage, featuring the legendary Iz the Wiz

Martha Cooper’s portraits

Including such contemporaries as Lady Aiko (top left)

And next Saturday, December 20, 12pm – 6pm, you will have the opportunity to take home one of Henry Chalfant’s graffiti train prints as City Lore will be offering Chalfant’s train photographs from the Moving Murals exhibit with each membership purchased. Membership begins at $35. Hot cider and a variety of gifts by local NYC artists will also be available for sale at the City Lore Store.

Final photo courtesy of City Lore; photos of Henry Chalfant’s installation by Lois Stavsky; of Martha Cooper’s by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Hi-ARTS Presents JR’s Inside Out Mi Gente / Oyáte kiŋ Photo Art Project — opening this evening in East Harlem

November 14, 2014

Opening this evening from 6-9pm at the Hi-Arts Gallery on 304 East 100^th Street is JR’s Inside Out Mi Gente/ Oyáte kiŋ Art Project — focusing on and uniting two communities: NYC’s East Harlem and South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. Here are a few images captured yesterday while visiting the exhibit, curated by Carlos Mare:

Closer-up

And more

And outside with murals by Alice Mizrachi and Part One

Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Inside the Studio: Live Art with Craig Anthony Miller and Laolu Senbanjo at the pdn PhotoPlus Expo

November 1, 2014

Amidst the cameras, printers and sundry photography gear at this year’s pdn PhotoPlus Expo, we discovered DUMBO’s Craig Anthony Miller aka CAM at work, along with the Nigerian artist and musician, Laolu Senbanjo. Here are a few more images that we captured yesterday at the remarkable installation, Inside the Studio, presented by Nikon at the Javits Center.

Another image of Craig Anthony Miller aka CAM at work

Laolu Senbanjo at work

Collaborative artwork by Craig Anthony Miller aka CAM and Laolu Senbanjo

And a huge fragment of another collaborative piece

The pdn PhotoPlus Expo continues through today, Saturday.

Photos 1, 2, and 3 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 4 and 5 by Lois Stavsky

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FIT Students and Alumni Take to the Street with Chalk

October 31, 2014

Earlier this week, FIT students and alumni took to sharing their skills with the public outside FIT’s buildings on Seventh Avenue between 27 and 28 Streets. Here’s a sampling of what went down:

Angel Garcia with Darien Merriett at work to his left

Jhowee Chiang — work in progress — to the right of unidentified artist at work

Victor Saint-Hilaire, close-up

Daisy Ruiz

Anita Stevens Rundles

Chase Michaelis — segment — to the left of artists to be identified

Meagan Meli to the left of artists at work

Photos by FIT alumnus Dani Reyes Mozeson

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STREET MURALS at Bushwick’s Be Electric with Chris & Veng RWK, Nicole Salgar & Chuck Berrett, Fumero, Raquel Echanique, Magda Love, Sonni, Joseph Meloy, Cern, Esteban del Valle and more

October 25, 2014

With new murals outside and an array of artworks inside, Be Electric Studios on 1298 Willoughby Avenue is the site of a new exhibit featuring over 20 street muralists. Here are a few images captured hours before it opened last night.

Chris & Veng RWK and Nicole Salgar & Chuck Berrett

Nicholai Khan at work, Fumero, Raquel Echanique, Chris & Veng RWK and Nicole Salgar & Chuck Berrett

Magda Love at work

Sonni

Joseph Meloy

Cernesto

And Esteban del Valle adding some finishing touches to his indoor mural

Curated by Kevin Michael, the exhibit continues through Monday, 12 – 11pm.

Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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WK Interact Pop-Up Exhibit Celebrates Book Release of WK/ACT4 and 25 Years of Art

October 23, 2014

A pop-up exhibit — celebrating the release of WK‘s fourth book WK/ACT4 (DRAGO) and the launch of his partnership with KLINIK — opened on Tuesday evening at The Garage in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. A huge range of work — from mixed-media installations to huge murals — is featured. Here’s a sampling:

Close-up from huge mural featuring locations and images of WK‘s works in NYC public spaces

And the book

The exhibit continues until Wednesday at 22 Little West 12th Street. It remains open from 12 – 6pm.

Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Team LowBrow vs Team Supreme in Secret Walls Battle for the LISA Project’s Second Anniversary Party

October 21, 2014

This past Saturday, the LISA Project celebrated its second anniversary party with a spirited Secret Walls battle in the now-famous parking lot on Little Italy’s Mulberry Street. Team Lowbrow’s Bishop 203, Mastro, Zimad, and Steiner competed against Team Supreme’s Lamour Supreme, Jeremyville, Boy Kong, and Nick Gazin. Here are a few images:

Bishop 203 and Zimad (R)