Events

Groundswell Youth Muralists — with Esteban del Valle and Jose de Jesus Rodriguez — Address Mass Incarceration on Brownsville Mural

September 2, 2014

We were introduced to Esteban del Valle’s remarkable talents a number of years back at 5Pointz. We’ve since seen his deftly crafted artwork in Bushwick, the Lower East Side, Red Hook, Welling Court and recently at the 21st Precinct Art Exhibit. And in addition to forging his own artwork, Esteban has been sharing his skills and vision with youth this past summer in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Last week, the mural created by 17 young men in Groundswell’s Summer Leadership Institute, along with Esteban and his assistant artist, Jose de Jesus Rodriguez, was officially unveiled. Located at 417 Junius Street on the wall of the Food Bazaar Supermaket, it represents the best possible model for public art. At the mural’s dedication ceremony, I had the opportunity to find out from Esteban a bit more about this particular project, P. I. C. T. U. R. E. S Prison Industrial Complex: Tyranny Undermining Rights, Education and Society.

This mural is quite amazing. When did you begin working on it?

We began on July 2^nd.

Can you tell us something about the process?

We spent the first two weeks researching the issue, discussing the justice system and designing our representation of it. The final four weeks were devoted to painting the mural.

Why this topic?

It’s of particular relevance to this community. We see this mural as a way to raise awareness and provoke discussion about the subject of the prison industrial complex. Some of the youth involved in this all-male Making His’tory mural team have had first-hand experience with the way the justice system functions.

How have the young muralists responded to this project?

The response has been great. We’ve had many intense discussions and we can all walk away with a sense of accomplishment.

What has this experience been like for you, personally?

It was very exciting. And it was great for all of us to see an idea executed into a reality.

Have you any personal message?

With these tools (pen and paint brush in hand), you can change your life and your community.

Elijah Barrington, one of the project’s participants, added the following to our conversation: We sweated every day to get this wall to look the way we wanted it to. I felt focused and happy, and I learned so much. I’m already looking forward to the next project.

Brief interview and photos by Lois Stavsky

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At the NYC Graffiti Hall of Fame with Topaz, Scratch, Ligisd, Hops, Bver, Wiz Art & Queen Andrea and on the Street with Tats Cru, Crash. Nick Walker and more

August 31, 2014

Yesterday at noon, the 14th edition of the NYC Graffiti Hall of Fame, presented by Joey TDS and James Top, was officially launched inside the famed East Harlem schoolyard on 106th Street and Park Avenue. Here is a small sampling of what went down during the early afternoon:

Bver

And earlier in the week, Tats Cru — with Crash and Nick Walker — fashioned a huge mural outside the school yard. Here are some close-ups:

The 14th edition of the NYC Graffiti Hall of Fame continues today from noon to 8pm.

Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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21st Precinct Art Exhibit to Open Tonight with Esteban Del Valle, Sheryo and the Yok, N. Carlos Jay, Nepo, Chris Soria, RAE, Ghost, GIZ and Duel, Pixote, Lorenzo Masnah APC and more

August 16, 2014

Curated by Robert Aloia, along with VNA Magazine, Beau, Todd Masters, NY St. Gallery and Suzuki Capital LLC, 21^st Precinct opens this evening at the former space of the 21^st Precinct at 327 East 22^nd Street. Reminiscent of this past winter’s Surplus Candy – although on a much larger scale – dozens of artists have transformed five stories into an expressive, inventive canvas charged with unfettered energy. What follows is a small sampling of close-ups from larger installations:

Sheryo and the Yok

Nepo

Ghost, GIZ and Duel with a message

Pixote

Lorenzo Masnah, APC

Presented by Outlaw Arts, Savior Elmundo and Pesu, the exhibit opens this evening at 6pm. It will be open again tomorrow from 1-6pm and next Saturday and Sunday 1-6pm.

Photo of Nepo by Lois Stavsky; all others by Sara C. Mozeson

Note: Keep posted to the StreetArtNYC Facebook page for more images from this landmark exhibit.

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004 East Coast Tour in Bushwick with Graffiti Artists: Abstrk, Miss Reds, Ewok, Duel, Ticoe, Jick, Aloy & more

August 11, 2014

Last weekend, the walls in Bushwick on Moore and White Streets became the canvas for Miami-based oo4’s East Coast tour. Here is a sampling of what was seen:

Miss Reds at work and more

Aloy

First photo is of Abstrk and Miss Reds. All action photos by Tara Murray; all others by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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The Legendary John Matos aka Crash — on the Streets, on Exhibit and on Ferrari Cars

July 24, 2014

The legendary Bronx-based graffiti artist John Matos aka Crash has been busy these days — with work on the streets, on exhibit and on Ferrari cars. Here’s a sampling:

At work on the Lower East Side last month for the Lisa Project

Recently-completed mural up in the Bronx for TAG Public Arts Project

At opening of Broken English at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery

With spray paint on canvas in Broken English at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery, Wrapped in My Own Existence

On exhibit in City as Canvas at the Museum of the City of New York, acrylic on canvas, 1986

For the Crash Ferrari Art Project, a collaborative venture with Joe “MAC” of Martino Auto Concepts and the Dorian Grey Gallery, on exhibit beginning today, July 24, through July 28 at Art Southampton

Photos: 1, 3 and 5 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; photo 2 by Lois Stavsky; photo 4 courtesy of the artist and photos 6-8, courtesy Bettina Cataldi

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Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip-Hop Continues through 7.26 at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise in the West Village

July 21, 2014

On exhibit through this week at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise in the West Village is Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip-Hop. Among its many highlights are: memorabilia featuring personal narratives and archives of hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa; hip-hop party flyers and clothing designed by the late Buddy Esquire; original cells from the animated sequences of Charlie Ahearn’s film Wild Style and prints of Joe Conzo’s photographs of the early days of hip hop.

Here is a sampling of what greeted us when we visited this past Tuesday:

On the exterior of Gavin Brown’s Enterprise

U.K.- based Paul Insect‘s portrait of Afrika Bambaataa

And inside the gallery — noted DJ, producer and poet Rich Medina going though the bins of duplicates from Afrika Bambaataa‘s record collection

Close-up from installation of Buddy Esquire‘s clothing and flyer designs

Afrika Bambaataa fashioned from Bambaataa’s records by Paul Insect and Bäst

Selections from Joe Conzo’s’s seminal Born in the Bronx

Joe Conzo and Charlie Ahearn

The pioneering MC and hip-hop historian Grandmaster Caz

And legendary b-boy Crazy Legs

With Charlie Ahearn

Exhibited by Boo-Hooray and curated by Johan Kugelberg, Born in the Bronx is an extraordinary tribute to hip-hop’s early days and its everlasting influence. And if you can get over there tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon — between 1-3pm — you will be treated to a Born In The Bronx Hot Platter Lunch DJ Session with DJ Jazzy Jay and DJ Rockin Rob. The gallery is located at 620 Greenwich Street at the corner of Leroy Street in the Village.

Photos 1-4, 7, 8 & 10 by Lois Stavsky; 5, 6 & 9 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; photo 1 features mural by Keo X-men

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gallery nine5 to Host “Group Ink” Block Party This Evening with Tats Cru, Vor138, Bisco Smith, Shiro, Ket and Rubin415

July 17, 2014

gallery nine5 will host a block party this evening — from 6-8pm — to celebrate the transformation of its gallery walls into a vibrant, magical public sphere. Here are a few recently captured images:

Vor138‘s completed piece with TATS CRU on the left and Bisco Smith to the right

Vor138

Shiro at work

And her completed piece

Ket — who has been transforming his original piece with political references and names of victims of violence and war; it’s certain to look different this evening from the close-up captured here!

And the always-wonderful Rubin415 at work on Monday

gallery nine5 is located at 24 Spring Street, and if you can’t make it this evening, you can check out the site-specific exhibit through July 30.

Photos: 1-4 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 5-6 by Lois Stavsky

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“No Longer Empty” Brings “If You Build It” to Sugar Hill, Harlem with Rául Ayala, Moses Ros-Suárez, Carlos Mare, Radcliffe Bailey, Scherezade García, Brendan Jamison & Mark Revels and more

July 12, 2014

Presented by No Longer Empty in partnership with Broadway Housing Communities, If You Build It features a range of artwork in different media by more than twenty local, national, and international artists. Located at 155^th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue in Sugar Hill on a site designed by architect David Adjaye, the exhibit — along with an impressive array of events and programs — continues through August 10. Here is a sampling of the artworks that can be seen on the site’s grounds and in future apartments:

Rául Ayala, A Blaze of Glory

Moses Ros-Suárez, seated on sculpture he fashioned — one of four structural models of bridges

Carlos Mare aka Mare139, 8th FreeStyle Archityper

Radcliffe Bailey, From the Cabinet: Fire Music — fashioned with recycled piano keys

Scherezade García, Cathedral/Catedral, made up of stacked inner tubes/life savers ‘dipped’ in gold paint “so as to resemble a temporary alter or monument to immigrants and their aspirations”

Brendan Jamison and Mark Revels, Sugar Metropolis — composed with half a million sugar cubes

The exhibit is open Thursday–Friday 3–7pm & Saturday–Sunday 1–6pm & Wednesday by appointment.

Photo of Rául Ayala by Lois Stavsky; all others by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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TATS CRU, KET and Bisco Smith Begin SoHo-Based gallery nine5’s Transformation in GROUP INK

July 1, 2014

The transformation of SoHo-based gallery nine5’s walls from “a private space into a public sphere” has begun with expressive murals — from the playful to the political — by TATS CRU, Ket and Bisco Smith. Here’s a sampling of what’s been happening:

TATS CRU‘s BG183 at work to the right of Bio and Nicer

Ket installs dozens of newspaper articles illustrating human sufferings, largely the result of wars

And paints over them

With quote from historian and social activist Howard Zinn

And Bisco Smith — in from the West Coast — graces the wall with his distinct aesthetic

The public is invited to observe, explore and join the conversation as Vor138, Shiro and Rubin415 contribute to the further transitory makeover of gallery nine5. Keep posted to StreetArtNYC for updates and, if you are in town, be sure to check out the opening reception on July 17, 6-8pm. gallery nine5 is located at 24 Spring Street in SoHo.

Action photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson; others by Lois Stavsky

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Ad Hoc Art’s Fifth Annual Welling Court Mural Project — Part II: Cern, R. Robot, KR One, Ryan Seslow & Cake, Mr. Prvrt and See One

June 23, 2014

Following are a few more images from Ad Hoc Art’‘s wonderful Fifth Annual Welling Court Mural Project, along with a brief interview with its director, Garrison Buxton.

Can you tell us something about the birth of the Welling Court Mural Project? When and how did it all begin?

Jonathan Ellis, a Welling Court resident, came up with the idea for the project over five years ago. He had his wife, Georgiana, were looking to improve their block. We were introduced through a mutual friend who suggested they contact me.

What was the first mural to go up? And when was the first festival held?

While visiting from Poland in 2009, M-City painted Welling Court’s first mural. The first festival was held in June 2009.

What was the community’s response to it?

The response was wonderful. The entire community participated and loved it. Just about everyone prepared food to share and loved how the artists transformed their neighborhood.

And now five years later, it’s even more wonderful than ever.

Yes, when we first began, 44 artists participated. This year there are over twice as many, including members of the community. We’ve continued to keep it grassroots.