Graffiti

BG183

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

BG183

BG183

"Tats Cru"

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

Ket

And paints over them 

Ket

With quote from historian and social activist Howard Zinn

Ket

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

"Bisco Smith"

"Bisco Smith"

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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Marka27

Both on the streets and in their studios, Marka27, Don Rimx & Ian Kuali`i fashion extraordinarily rich tantalizing images. An intriguing selection of their largely character-driven mixed-media paintings, prints and more were presented by M27 Designs in the remarkable one-night pop-up exhibit TR3SPASS at the Dumbo Spot this past Friday evening. Here’s a small sampling:

Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez

Marka27-character

Marka27

Ian Kuali`i

Ian Kuali`i

Ian

David “Don Rimx” Sepulveda

Don-Rimx-character-art-Trespass

"Don Rimx"

Photos of artwork by Sara C. Mozeson and Lois Stavsky

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"Rime aka Jersey Joe"

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:

Poser

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.

Li Hill

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.

"LNY and Mata Ruda"

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!

Sp.One

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.

"Sean Lugo"

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.

Enoe

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

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Zeso and Justone-graffiti-Inwood

One of Upper Manhattan’s gems is the wall on 207th Street and 10th Avenue, directly off the 207th 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 Zeso1port — 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

"Crane graffiti"

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

Zeso-graffiti-and-Import

1port

Import

Just WF

"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

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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.

Cern

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.

R-Robot-street-art-welling-court-nyc

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.

KR1

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.

ryan-seslow-and-cake-street-art-welling-court-nyc

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.

Mr. PRVRT

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

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

see-one-street-art-welling-court-nyc

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

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Sen-One-graffiti-Time-Out-New-York

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

senone-graffiti-artist

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

graffiti-on-train-George-SEN-1-Morillo

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

Sen-One-NYC-subway-train-on-canvas

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

George-sen-One-Morilla-NYC-subway-graffiti

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

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

"El Sol 25"

CK1 in NYC

CK1

Alice Mizrachi in Tehran

"Alice Mizrachi"

 

NYC-to-Tehran-Tehran-to-NYC

Mad in NYC

Mad

LNY in Tehran

LNY

FRZ in NYC

"FRZ-2"

Images courtesy of Icy and Sot 

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"Keith Haring"

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:

Keith-Haring

"Keith Haring"

"Keith Haring"

"keith haring"

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

Photos of images by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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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

Basquiat

Untitled, oil painstick on paper, 1981

Basquiat

Portrait of Herb and Lenore, acrylic on paper, 1983

Basquiat

Untitled, acrylic and oil paintstick on paper, 1982

Basquiat

Untitled, graphite and colored pencil on paper, 1985

Basquiat

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. 

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Rezor

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

Rez

Sebs

Sebs

Owns

Owns

Slom

Slom

Slash and Jerms

"Slash and Jerms"

Jerms aka DJ JS-1

Jerms

Poet

Poet

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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