In a Tribeca loft that became known as the “Battle Station,” the legendary graffiti artist and hip hop MC Rammellzee began in the 70’s to create his own mythology. Known as “Gothic Futurism,” it was a world that he would continue to develop — often with objects he found on the streets — for 30 years. The most comprehensive collection of Rammellzee’s works to-date is on view through February 3 at the Children’s Museum of the Arts at 103 Charlton Street in the South Village. Among the items included in the RAMMELLZEE Galaxseum are: large-scale paintings, figurines, Rammellzee’s legendary letter racers and full-body life-sized costumes. Here are a few more images that we captured while visiting last week:
Figurine, close-up
Letter-racers representing letters of the alphabet — transformed into war machines — seeking to “break free”
Letter-racer, close-up
Life-sized costumed figure
Close-up from a second life-sized costumed figure
Curated by Prescott Trudeau, The RAMMELLZEE Galaxseum at CMA is certainly as appealing to us adults as it is to children!
Photos by Lenny Collado and Lois Stavsky
Committed to the transformative power of art, the members of the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative create works that reflect a strong political and social consciousness. Currently on exhibit at Munch Gallery at 245 Broome Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side is Sowing the Seeds of Love, the first Justseeds group exhibition in New York City. Over 20 Justseeds members have created new pieces specifically for this exhibit that continues through December 23. Many of these artists have also participated in public art projects. Here is a sampling of what is on view at Munch Gallery:
Chris Stain, Occupy
Roger Peet, Great Auks
Colin Matthes, Personal Continuous Evacuation Dwelling
Meredith Stern, Mutual Aid
Josh MacPhee, Even the Worms Must Produce
Photos by Lenny Collado, Sara Mozeson & Lois Stavsky
Iranian artists Icy and Sot have been busy. In addition to gracing the exterior of the First Street trailer last weekend for the Centre-Fuge Art Project, they have been leaving their mark on the streets of Manhattan’s fashionable SoHo neighborhood and transforming walls at Brooklyn’s Nu Hotel into vibrant canvasses.
In SoHo
John Lennon
And opening tonight — NUANCE presented by the Couch Sessions and the Nu Hotel, 85 Smith Street in Brooklyn
Photos by Lenny Collado
With their universal concepts, playful imagery and distinct visual rhythms, Keith Haring’s works continue to seduce folks of all ages from across the globe. Opening this Sunday, December 2, from 1-5pm at Mana Contemporary’s huge first-floor gallery, Keith Haring showcases a collection of seldom-seen Haring pieces on a range of surfaces. Here is a brief preview:
Untitled, 1983, Acrylic on leather
Dog, 1986, painted plywood with silkscreen
Close-up
Untitled, 1982, marker on wood
And of particular interest to us New York City street art lovers are oversized metal panels originally spray-painted in 1984 on the FDR Drive
Organized by 99 Cents Fine Art, New York, the exhibit also features several of Keith Haring’s subway drawings. Mana Contemporary is located at 888 Newark Avenue, in Jersey City — just a short ride from Manhattan.
Photos by Lenny Collado and Lois Stavsky
Long acclaimed for his iconic graffiti, infectious images, and skilled graphic design, Cycle continues to gain recognition and respect in the fine art world. His current solo exhibit at Weldon Arts, CYCLE: Myth, Science, and Color, features a range of work from bold, cartoony images to fanciful, conceptual narratives — all attesting to Cycle’s versatility and talent. Here’s a small sampling:
And here is Cycle on the streets:
On River Avenue in the Bronx
Spotted on van
At Welling Court in Astoria, Queens — alongside Lady Pink and Free 5 — in 2011
Photos by Lenny Collado, Dani Mozeson and Lois Stavsky
