Events

East meets West, and calligraphy meets graffiti at the Leila Heller Gallery in Calligraffiti: 1984-2013. And this past Thursday’s panel discussion, moderated by Leila Heller, provided an intimate glimpse into the disparate worlds that initially converged in a gallery setting in the exhibit that Ms. Heller and Jeffrey Deitch curated 30 years ago. After Leila Heller began the talk by sharing her personal and professional history, the five participants — Ayad Alkadhi, eL SeedFab Five FreddyLA2 and Rostarr presented their distinct experiences and observations.  Following are a selection of images from the exhibit and from Thursday’s panel discussion.

South Korean native Rostarr

Rostarr

Rostarr shares a bit of his history

Rostarr

Paris-based eL Seed

eL-Seed

eL Seed to the left of Fab Five Freddy who spoke of his early determination to get graffiti the recognition it deserved

El Seed and Fab Five Freddy

NYC-based LA2, whose tag has been part of the Lower East Side’s visual landscape for over 35 years

LA2

And an early collaboration with Keith Haring

Keith Haring and LA2

The exhibit continues through October 5th at the Leila Heller Gallery, 568 West 25th Street.

Photos and reportage by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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KR.ONE

While graffiti is largely identified with hip-hop, for Louie “KR.ONE” Gasparro graffiti has been synonymous with rock and roll. “Art transcends any fixed style stereotypes,” comments Louie, in reference to his two greatest passions: graffiti and rock music.

KR.ONE

Tomorrow evening the Queens-based master hand-stylist – whose artworks have been featured this past spring in Christian P. Acker’s Flip the Script Book Release and Art Show at Reed Space and in a solo exhibit at 5Pointz — celebrates his love of art and music and his talents for creating them both.

WOODSIDE ART MUSIC

Along with showcasing new works on paper and canvas, Louie will perform in a musical ensemble with several of his musician friends.

“Celebrating creativity,” Louie explains, “is a celebration of life.”

Photos courtesy of the artist

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From August 19 – August 25, Los Muros Hablan, an international urban arts festival, gave a voice to silent, empty walls in East Harlem and the South Bronx. Presented by La Repuesta, a leading Puerto Rican cultural space, Los Muros Hablan NYC, featured a wonderfully eclectic group of global artists.

Axel Void, 201 East 103rd Street in East Harlem

Axel Void

Pastel, 138 Street & Grand Concourse in the South Bronx — close-up from huge mural captured via instagram

Pastel

Celso Gonzalez and Roberto Biaggi, 54 East 116th Street in East Harlem

Celso Gonzales and Roberto Biaggi

Viajero, 2022 Third Avenue in East Harlem

Viajero

Viajerto

Rimx,154 East 100th Street, as seen in progress last week

Rimx

Betsy Casañas, 1664 Park Avenue in East Harlem

Betsy Casanas

LNY, 195 East 100th Street in East Harlem

LNY

Jufe, 2018 Third Avenue in East Harlem

Jufe

Elian138 Street & Grand Concourse in the South Bronx

Elian

Photos by Dani Mozeson & Lois Stavsky; keep posted to our Facebook page for more images of the completed murals from this week-long Los Muros Hablan NYC event presented in collaboration with Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito and El Museo del Barrio.

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Dozens of new pieces surfaced this past weekend in “The Final Edition” at East Harlem’s Graffiti Hall of Fame on 106th Street & Park Avenue. Here’s a sampling from the event presented by James Top Productions and Joey TDS:

Brazilian writer AK47

AK47

Pose 2 and Czech writer Chemis

Pose 2 and Chemis

HopsOne

Hops One

Scratch and Shock

Scratch and Shock

Part One

Part One

Kingbee and Tony 164

KingBee and Tony164

Slave

Slave

Jesus Saves

Jesus Saves

Tomb. Wizart, Mad1, & Had2

Tomb. Wizart, Mad1, Had2

Jerms

Jerms

Rain

Rain

 Photos by Lois Stavsky

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For over 30 years East Harlem’s Graffiti Hall of Fame has been home to hundreds of stylish masterpieces.  This past weekend, generations of fans and writers came together — once again — at 106th and Park to celebrate the extraordinary art movement that began here and continues to impact the world. Here is a selection of images captured at the event:

1983 Wild Style mural by Zephyr, Revolt and Sharp recreated by KingBee and Vase1

Wild Style

Hef and Per1

Hef and Per1

Rain and Demer

rain and demur

Muse, Wallnuts

Muse

Kais

Kais

The Cone

The Cones

Craze, Reo, Page3 and Eazy

caze-rio-page3-Eazy-graffiti-NYC

Nic 707 and Tony 164

Nic 707 and Tony 164

One of many talented break dancers

dancer

In front of the main mural celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film Wild Style

graffti-hall-of-fame-nyc

Final photo courtesy of Scott Richardson; other photos by Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Armed with spray paint, paintbrushes, markers, pencils and assorted implements, a diverse group of artists have transformed the ground level of the Marina at Pier 57 into a mesmerizing medley of styles, shapes, colors and concepts. Here’s a sampling of what we recently captured on the “magic carpet” under 36 suspended shipping containers:

Iranian stencil artist IcySinned painting, top left

Icy and Sinned

Icy’s brother and partner Sot 

Sot

Daniel Patrick at work with words

Daniel Patrick

Queens-based artist Sinned, close-up

Sinned

Painter Bruce Wall at work on piece in collaboration with Josh Miller

Bruce Wall

Bruce Wall

 Garrison Buxton of Ad Hoc Art

Garrison- Buxton-art-Pier-57

NYC-based RJ Raizk

RJ Raizk

RJ Raizk

Brooklyn-based Subtexture

Subtexture

Not pictured are works by Depoe, Rrobots and In Pursuit of Magic.

Commissioned by YoungWoo & Associates, the completed artworks can be seen at the Marina at Pier 57 at West 15th Street within Hudson River Park through July.

Photos by Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Last month, Girls on Top aka GOT, UK’s all female crew established in 2000, visited NYC.  Along with some of NYC’s finest female graffiti artists, they hit up a huge wall on Boone Avenue in the Bronx on one of the rainiest days of the season. Here are some images captured this past week from the historic My Thuggy Pony All-Girlz Jam.

Manchester-based graffiti artist and educator Chock and founder of G.O.T

Chock

London-based active G.O.T. member Pixie

Pixie

Bronx-based artist, educator and leader Miss 163

Miss 163

 Queens-native visual artist Abby — with 1980’s graffiti roots

Abby

Passionate Bronx-based graffiti artist and jam facilitator Erotica 67

Erotica

NYC-based designer and graffiti writer extraordinaire, Queen Andrea

Queen Andrea

And Neks

Neks

A range of art works by members of G.O.T can be seen and purchased through this weekend at an exhibit curated by Jessica Pabon at bOb Gallery at 235 Eldridge Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Here are two of the many on view:

Syrup

Syrup

Lyns, Da Crew, 2013

G.O.T Crew

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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The corner of Myrtle Avenue and Spencer Street in Brooklyn’s historic Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood is now home to two huge distinct murals. The works of Brooklyn-resident Joshua Gabriel, they exude a soulfully mystical aura. We spoke yesterday to the artist about these distinct works.

Joshua Gabriel

We’ve been captivated by these walls since you began fashioning them awhile back. How did they happen — at such a well-traveled intersection?

The owners of International Stone Collections, a custom stone artisan shop at 703 Myrtle Avenue, had placed an ad on Craigslist seeking an artist to create a “textural mural.”  I wasn’t exactly sure what a textural mural was, but I brought it my portfolio, and I was hired.

Wow! Had you worked on the streets before?

I had gotten some stickers and posters up — mainly promoting my music events — but, no, I never painted a public mural before.

What was the experience like?

At first, I was somewhat self-conscious. I had some anxiety about working in public. The entire process is definitely more challenging than working in a private space.  But then I came to love it. I loved the engagement of the passersby.

Joshua Gabriel

What was that like?

In the past year, since I began these murals, hundreds of folks have stopped to talk to me. The Hasidim — whose presence seems to be increasing in the neighborhood — ask questions like, “Are you allowed to do this?”… “Do you make a living from this?” The local teens love it and ask me to do their tattoo for them. Artists speak to me about the process. And long-time local residents keep thanking me! Everyone has been respectful.

What’s going on here?

The murals weave together patterns and images from nature — such as the ripples in water, the textures of leaves, the shapes of clouds with figurative elements, including a giant lion’s head, a sea of eyes, and a pair of ancient Egyptian heads. It’s my subconscious at work!

Have you a particular message or theme that you wish to convey?

The corner of Myrtle Avenue and Spencer Street is the intersection connecting three diverse communities. Pratt art students, born and bred Bed-Stuy residents and members of Williamsburg’s Hasidic populace all meet here. The theme of my work is that all of us — despite our differences  — are interconnected.

Joshua Gabriel

There’s quite a bit of mixed-media here. What materials did you use?

I used exterior paint, spray paint and over 100 metallic paint markers.

There are lots of shades of blues and metallics here. Can you tell us something about your choice of colors?

The wall had originally been painted dark blue, and I liked the way it looked. I decided to repaint in a similar color, and I chose to work with metallics because I love the way they pop out.

Joshua Gabriel

Did you work with a sketch-in-hand?

I don’t work with sketches, but I do use photo references. And I always have notes with me. The actual process, though, is spontaneous.

Have you any influences? Or artists who particularly inspired you?

Alex Gray is a definite inspiration. Others include Keith Haring and my mother, Rochelle Marcus Dinken.

Joshua Gabriel

Are you satisfied with the results of these murals — your first public artworks?

Yes. I’m quite critical of my works, but the reaction has been so positive. And they do look cool!

You can view the murals and meet Joshua Gabriel at a reception to be held this Thursday, June 27, 5-8pm at 703 Myrtle Avenue.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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The Welling Court Mural Project officially launched its fourth year yesterday with a wide array of wonderful walls fashioned by a remarkable range of artists.  Here are a few of the dozens that continue to alter the visual landscape of this Queens community:

Icy and Sot — wall in progress

icy-and-sot-mural-art-at-welling-court

Korel and Honexl Xi

Korel and Honexl Xi

Christopher Cardinale at work

Chris-cardinale-paints-at-welling-court

R. Nicholas Kuszyk

R-Nicholas-Kuszyk

Vexta at work

Vexta

Cern

 

Cern

LMNOP

LMNOP-paints-at-welling-court

Queen Andrea

Queen Andrea

You can help fund Ad Hoc’s wonderful work in collaborating with members of the Welling Court community and the dozens of artists who made this project possible by making a donation here.

 Photos by Tara Murray

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One of NYC’s most spirited public art events celebrates its fourth year tomorrow with a huge block party at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens. For the past week, dozens of artists have been busy at work for this dynamic project, curated by Ad Hoc Art. Following is a glimpse of what we saw earlier this week:

Billy Mode and Chris Stain

Billy Mode and Chris Stain

Toofly at work with Fumero to the left

Fumero and Toofly

Lady Pink at work

Lady Pink

 Alice Mizrachi  and Olek

Alice Mizrachi and Olek

 The Royal Kingbee at work

KingBee

Logik One at work

Logik one

Dan Witz

Dan Witz

Dennis McNett, close-up

Denis McNett

Keep posted to our Facebook page for many more images in the week ahead.

Photos by Tara Murray

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