Graffiti

Something’s Brewing Over the Hudson: In Jersey City with Rime, Post, Li Hill, Sean Lugo, SP.One, Mata Ruda, LNY, Enoe and more to come

June 27, 2014

On my recent visit to Jersey City, Gregory D. Edgell aka the Green Villain gave me a tour of some of the city’s first-rate graffiti murals, including a number of recent ones that he had facilitated. Upon further exploration, I came upon some amazing street art walls. What follows are samples of both and a brief conversation with Greg:

What brought you to Jersey City? And when did you first come here?

I moved here in 2009. My best friend – at the time – had moved into a huge warehouse that seemed like the ideal venue for artistic expression. And that’s what brought me here.

What changes have you observed since moving here?

Jersey City is increasingly attracting more artists and is slowly developing a street art culture, but there are still far too many blank walls.

Where do you think it’s all going?

Jersey City has the potential to be just as creative as any neighborhood in NYC. It could even be more so, as it’s not as expensive. Within the next five years, this will happen!

Mana Contemporary has certainly enhanced Jersey City with its studios, exhibition spaces and more. And soon it will be launching the Mana Museum of Urban Arts, the world’s first permanent space dedicated to street art and graffiti. Any thoughts about that?

I think it’s amazing and particularly wonderful for the global street art and graffiti community, as Mana Contemporary has the backing to create a first-rate educational platform for this art form.

And what’s ahead for you?

I am currently facilitating a series of murals by some first-rate artists. Among them are: Sheryo & the Yok, Rubin, Jerkface, Mr. Mustart and Distort & Then One.

That sounds great! We’re looking forward to seeing them — as Jersey City is just minutes away from Manhattan!

Interview and photos by Lois Stavsky

1. Rime aka Jersey Joe

2. Post

3. Li Hill

4. Mata Ruda and LNY

5. Sean Lugo

6. SP.One

7. Enoe

{ 1 comment }

Up in Inwood with Crane, Zeso, 1port and Just WF

June 26, 2014

One of Upper Manhattan’s gems is the wall on 207^th Street and 10^th Avenue, directly off the 207^th Street stop on the 1 line. Under the direction of South Bronx native Crane, who works up in Inwood, its murals are always changing and always worth checking out. This past Monday, Crane was joined by Zeso, 1port — in from France — and Just WF aka Just One. Here are some more images captured that day:

Crane at work early in the evening — after a day of work

1port at work adding his touch to Zeso,’s mural

1port

Just WF

A source of pride to local businesses and residents, this wall is one of three in Inwood under Crane’s curatorial management.

Photos 1 and 3 by City-as-School intern Travis Hicks; photos 2, 4, and 5 by Lois Stavsky

{ 1 comment }

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.

How far in advance do you begin organizing each year’s festival?

We usually start in February, but we want to begin planning earlier.

What would you say is your greatest challenge?

The mere organization and the delegation of the different responsibilities.

The vibe here is wonderful. What a great model you are for other communities!

Yes! It’s about the power of art to create positive social change.

Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson and Lois Stavsky

1. Cern

2. R. Nicholas Kuszyk aka R. Robot

3. Louie “KR.ONE” Gasparro

4. Ryan Seslow and Jennifer Caviola aka Cake

5. Mr. Prvrt

6. See One

{ 1 comment }

Legendary Writer George “SEN One” Morillo Pays Tribute to Upper West Side’s 80’s Graff on Cover Design for Time Out New York

June 20, 2014

Born and raised on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, George “SEN One” Morillo first got up in his neighborhood in 1980. Soon afterwards, he began painting subway trains on Manhattan’s No. 1 line and became a member of IBM (Incredible Bombing Masters), one of NYC’s most celebrated graffiti crews. When asked to design an original cover for Time Out New York, SEN One painted a tribute to that era.

In his studio with painting on canvas

And here’s a sampling of some more of SEN One’s tributes to that era:

To Kill A Red Bird, 2012, a recreation of a piece done on a NYC wall back in 1985

My First Love, 2012, based on the first train SEN One ever did with “POKE” and Joey aka “TEL” in 1982

If you are interested in viewing and purchasing some of SEN One’s artwork, he is conducting an Open House at his art studio through the end of this month. For further information, you can contact the artist at ArawakMedia@gmail.com.

Images courtesy of Time Out New York and the artist

Icy and Sot Take NYC to Tehran and Bring Tehran to NYC

June 11, 2014

Opening Friday evening are two concurrent exhibits curated by Icy and Sot. Artworks of 35 NYC street artists will be on exhibit in Tehran, while we New Yorkers will be treated to a gallery show of 10 Iranian artists at 58 South Sixth Street in Brooklyn through Monday. Here is a sampling from this groundbreaking cultural exchange:

El Sol 25 in Tehran

CK1 in NYC

Alice Mizrachi in Tehran

Mad in NYC

LNY in Tehran

FRZ in NYC

Images courtesy of Icy and Sot

{ 0 comments }

Keith Haring Continues at Chelsea’s Gladstone Gallery through June 14

June 9, 2014

An exhibition of huge works painted by Keith Haring in the 80’s remains on view through Saturday, June 14 at Gladstone Gallery. While all are characteristic of Haring’s boldly, playful aesthetic, some exude a dark social and political sensibility — referencing such themes as the AIDS crisis (pictured above), greed and economic inequality. Here’s a sampling:

The gallery is located at 515 West 24th Street in Chesea, Manhattan.

Photos of images by Dani Reyes Mozeson

{ 0 comments }

Jean-Michel Basquiat at Acquavella Galleries through June 13

June 3, 2014

On exhibit through June 13 at Acquavella Galleries on Manhattan’s Upper East Side is an exhibit of 22 works on paper and two paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat. From the collection of Herbert and Lenore Schorr, who recognized and valued Basquiat’s talents early on, many of these have never been exhibited before. Here’s a sampling:

Untitled, acrylic marker, paper collage, oil paintstick, and crayon on paper, 1981

Untitled, oil painstick on paper, 1981

Portrait of Herb and Lenore, acrylic on paper, 1983

Untitled, acrylic and oil paintstick on paper, 1982

Untitled, graphite and colored pencil on paper, 1985

Jean-Michel Basquiat Drawing: Work from the Schorr Family Collection was curated by Fred Hoffman who co-curated Basquiat’s 2005 retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum. None of the artworks in the exhibit are for sale. “It is strictly educational,” Lenore Schorr is quoted as saying earlier this year in the New York Times. Acquavella Galleries is located at 18 East 79th Street.

Photos of images by Dani Reyes Mozeson; all images The Schorr Family Colletion © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat / ADAGP, Paris / ARS, New York 2014.

{ 0 comments }

Jamming at the Junction, Part I: East New York Graffiti Walls with Rezor, Sebs, Owns, Slom, Slash, Jerms and Poet

May 26, 2014

Some of NYC’s most exuberant graffiti walls can be found right off the MTA Broadway-Junction station in East New York, Brooklyn. This is Part I of a two-part post of what greets us there:

Rezor

Sebs

Owns

Slom

Slash and Jerms

Jerms aka DJ JS-1

Poet

Photos by Lois Stavsky

{ 0 comments }

The Allies Bring Their Vision to Manhattan’s East Village with UK Artists Inkie, Elmo and more

May 24, 2014

Imagination in Space – a group of talented artists repurposing the use of city space as an alternative to traditional galleries – brought their vision to the East Village this past Tuesday. In partnership with London-based We Are Pop Up and NYC-based watchmaker Martenero, The Allies have launched their model of “borderless creativity” at 37 East First Street. Among the works featured are quite a few of interest to us street art aficionados. A small sampling follows:

UK graffiti pioneer Inkie

London-based Elmo Hood

Brooklyn-based Misha T

From the launch with noted culture critic Carlo McCormick in attendance (bottom, right)

And a close-up of the backyard — — transformed by Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture students — the setting of its daily morning yoga classes

Also on view and for sale are works by NYC-based photographer Joey L, illustrator Sam Spratt and multi-media artist Yazmany Arboleda, along with Martenero‘s customized automatic watches and selections from Heidi Gardner’s esoteric jewelry designs. Perceiving its space as an alternative to traditional galleries, The Allies aims to transform city spaces into pop-up galleries — more vibrant and accessible than traditional art-sales venues. You can visit the space through Tuesday at 37 East First Street.

Photos of Elmo and backyard by Dani Reyes Mozeson; all other courtesy of The Allies

{ 1 comment }

Sticker Social Club at “LIC Arts Open” this Weekend

May 17, 2014

Following its hugely successful presence in last week’s Fridge Art Fair, The Sticker Social Club was invited to participate in this weekend’s LIC Arts Open. During the opening reception this past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to speak to Cosbe, an active member of the the club, along with one of its newer members, Fling.

Tell us something about the beginnings of the club. When and how did the idea of a sticker club begin?

Cosbe: It began about two years ago. This Is Awkward and I were looking for a way to involve more people in what we were doing, and we wanted a place where we could all meet up. Also, that was the year that Red Bull sponsored me to exhibit at the Scope Art Fair. And I wanted to have some fun with my friends before heading down to Miami for Art Basel.

DB Burkeman, the author of Stickers: Stuck-Up Piece of Crap: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art, says that one aspect of the club that he loves is that “it’s like a swap club. Not everyone can draw!” And This Is Awkward, who loves “the idea of sharing, trading and creating art that can then go out to a broader public,” suggests that the Social Sticker Club “helps to facilitate our collective need to create.” What is the purpose of the club? Has it any one goal?

Cosbe: No, it doesn’t have any one specific purpose. It’s organic and always evolving.

Where do club members meet?

Cosbe: That varies. We’ve met at Governors Island, at Katz’s Deli, in Dumbo…

It was originally called the Secret Sticker Club? Why the name change?

Fling: The secret is out!

How did you find out about it, Fling?

Fling: I first met Cosbe and Wisher 914 when they were painting at Welling Court. We then ran into each other again at Comic Con.

What keeps you coming back?

Fling: I’ve met so many great people, and I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with artists such as Cosbe, CB 23, Roycer and Abe Lincoln, Jr.

About how many members does the club have?

Cosbe: Somewhere between 50-60.

What’s ahead?

Cosbe: More stickers, more shows and more interesting places to meet. We’re also working with Bomit to organize something on a large scale that involves other cities.

You guys have been quite a hit here in Long Island City – both at the Fridge Art Fair and at the launch of the LIC Arts Open. Your installation is amazing, and you’ve worked so hard. You are also so welcoming. Everyone is invited to create a sticker, share it and sell it. yungmoonshine, who met up with you guys at this space during the Fridge Art Fair last week, reports that she now has not only “a space and materials to make stickers,” but “also new friends to share materials and make stickers with.” What has this experience been like for the two of you?

Cosbe: It was more than I had expected. I’m grateful to StreetArtNYC for making it possible.

Fling: It’s been a great learning experience. I’ve learned so much – how to build walls, curate, install…

You can visit the Social Sticker Club today and tomorrow — from 12-6pm — at 525 46th Avenue off Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City.

Photos: 1. Kaijune by Rachel Fawn Alban; 2. SSC at “LIC Arts Open” reception by Rachel Fawn Alban; 3. Wisher 914 by Rachel Fawn Alban; 4. This Is Awkward by Lois Stavsky; 5. Fling by Lois Stavsky 6. Ryan Roi at LIC Arts Open reception by Lois Stavsky; 6. Abe Lincoln, Jr. by Lois Stavsky; 7. Baser collage by Lois Stavsky and 8. SSC at “LIC Arts Open” reception by Lois Stavsky

{ 1 comment }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →

Graffiti

Categories