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It’s Been Busy at the Bushwick Collective — and It Will Get Even Busier at Sunday’s Block Party!

May 30, 2013

During the past few weeks, over a dozen first-rate artists have been busy gracing the walls of the Bushwick Collective with an extraordinary array of images. Here is a sampling of what’s been happening:

Brooklyn-based Beau Stanton at work

Zimad signs his piece

Sexer‘s completed masterpiece

Brett Flanigan and Cannon Dill — in from the West Coast

Col Wallnuts collaborates with Toofly

Brendon Rogers at work during his stopover in NYC

Creepy — in from Australia; segment of larger mural

Melbourne’s Facter at work

Brooklyn-based Sonni

And we can expect even more great art — along with: guest food trucks, Miami Food Machine, Mike N’ Willies and Hibachi Heaven; a beer tent, sponsored by Corona Familiar, Bodega Wine Bar, Pearls Social and Billy Club, Mesa Azteca and Codigo Music, LLC; several bands, including Wild Yaks, Dead Sexy Shelia, Big Volcano, Cardboard, Dian’s Coffee, Grand Resor and ShiShi and DJ Jah Star of Ninjasonik — at this Sunday’s block party celebrating the Bushwick Collective’s first anniversary. Bushwick Collective curator Joe Ficalora reports that among those artists painting live are: Franck Duval — in from Paris — on Flushing Avenue and Scott; Beau Stanton on Troutman between St. Nicholas and Cypress and Zimad and Sexer inside the beer tent, along with some surprise guests! Art, jewelry, clothing and more will be available from local merchants, and Limited Edition Bushwick Collective tee-shirts will be for sale. The official sponsor of this year’s event — held from 11am – 8pm at St. Nicholas Ave. and Troutman St. — is NOOKLYN.COM

Photos by Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Yoav Litvin on his Street Art Passions and Pursuits

May 27, 2013

While not conducting his post-doctoral research on Brain and Behavior at The Rockefeller University, Jerusalem native Yoav Litvin can be found on our city streets pursuing his passion for street art. We recently met up for a chat.

What spurred your interest in public art?

As a result of an injury, there wasn’t much I could do other than walk around. So that’s what I did. And once I began to notice street art, I couldn’t stop taking photos of it. I also appreciate the risks artists take when putting up pieces; it’s a rush I can relate to. And I admire the artists’ generosity in taking these risks to share their vision with the public.

What is it about street art that continues to so engage you?

I love its beauty and humor. I appreciate its aesthetic and the way it challenges convention. It is a beautiful, non-violent way to raise issues in the public sphere. And as a political person, I am drawn to the confrontational nature of much of it.

What do you see as the role of the photographer in today’s street art movement?

Because of the transient nature of public art, I see it as essential. The image is important, but so is its context and appropriate accreditation to the artist. And documentation of NYC’s street art trends is especially essential as this city is the world’s cultural Mecca.

Tell us a bit about your current project.

I’ve been working for over a year now on a book that profiles 46 of the most prolific urban artists working in NYC. It will feature images and interviews, along with some exciting supplements.

Have you any favorite artists whose works you’ve seen here in NYC?

There are too many to list. I love them all for different reasons.

How do you keep up with the current scene?

In addition to documenting what I see and speaking to artists, I follow popular street art blogs such as StreetArtNYC, Brooklyn Street Art and Vandalog. I also check Instagram daily for new images that surface not only on NYC streets, but across the globe. And I try to attend gallery openings as often as possible.

We certainly look forward to reading your book. Tell us more about its current progress. How close it is to publication?

I’ve finally completed the stage of collecting texts and images, and am currently working together with a first-rate designer. I am now seeking a publisher.

Yoav can be contacted at yoavlitvin@gmail.com

Featured photos are in the following sequence:

1) Dain. Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

2) Alice Mizrachi and Cope2. Boone Avenue, The Bronx.

3) Never Satisfied. Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

4) gilf! Grattan Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn.

5) Jilly Ballistic. Astor Place 6 Train station, Manhattan.

6) Enzo and Nio. Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

7) ND’A and Elle Deadsex. Jefferson Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn.

All photos by Yoav Litvin.

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Gorey and Paris’s PAL Crew on Lower East Side Streets and at Klughaus with Sunday Closing Party

May 17, 2013

The French NYC-based artist GOREY and Paris’s prolific PAL Crew, consisting of HORFE, CONY, TOMEK, SAEYO, MOSA, ESSO and SKUB, have brought their expressive aesthetic to the streets of the Lower East Side and to Klughaus’s pop-up location at 154 Stanton Street. A closing reception for the exhibit PALINGENESIS — that showcases the artists’ rebirth as evolving fine artists — will be held this Sunday, May 19 from 2-6pm.

On the streets — at Suffolk and Stanton

Close-up from huge mural on Attorney and Delancey

Gorey in the gallery

Photos from the streets by Lois Stavsky; image of Gorey in the gallery courtesy of Klughaus

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From Five Continents to 5Pointz: Onur, Wes21, Kkade, Semor, Vova Zomb, Toofly, eL Seed, Jaye, Meres, Funk, Zert, Stain, MiesOne & Article

May 16, 2013

Since 5Pointz began its 11th season earlier this month, its walls have served as a canvas for artists visiting NYC from across the globe. Here’s a sampling of what has surfaced in the past two weeks:

Onur, Wes21, Kkade from Switzerland and Semor from Germany

Semor and KKade

Vova Zomb from Moscow

Ecuadorian artist Toofly

French Tunisian artist eL Seed, Jaye from Paris and Meres

Funk from Montreal

Australian artists Zert and Stain

Indonesian artist MiesOne

Article from Houston, Texas

Photos by Lenny Collado, Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray & Lois Stavsky

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See One on Miru

May 8, 2013

For the past few years, See One’s dragon, Miru, has surfaced throughout NYC – on murals, on wheatpastes and on stickers. He even made an appearance this past fall at the Centre-fuge Public Art Project in the East Village. Now Miru is featured in See One’s first zine, Dragon Life. We recently had the opportunity to meet up with See One and find out a bit about the talented artist’s endearing creature.

Just who is Miru? And where does he live? Tell us something about him.

He is a small blue dragon that feeds on stars. In dragon years, he’s about three hundred years old. His current home is a two-family tree house with a separate entrance not far from here – on the Lower East Side.

Gee, he certainly gets around! When was Miru conceived?

He first surfaced in my sketchbook in 2005. I was riding the train from my home in Queens to my job in SoHo and drawing – as I almost always did on these travels. I thought about him for a while, but never did anything with him. And then about three years ago, I began wheat-pasting him onto walls.

How did you come up with the name Miru?

I typed the name “See” into a Japanese online translator and that’s what came up. It sounded weird and cool enough to work. He couldn’t have an ordinary name.

What inspired you to create a zine?

I love zines! I always thought that they were cool. So, one Saturday morning, I decided that I would create my own featuring Miru. A week later, three issues were completed, and the first one was just released.

What’s ahead for Miru?

A stop motion music video collabo with Motion Graff was just released a few weeks ago. It’s great to see Miru animated! Next, I’m working on a web-comic. I hope to release that by June 2013. After that, who knows? This guy is crafty!

See One’s zine, Dragon Life, featuring Miru, is available here.

Photo of See One painting Miru for Centre-fuge Public Art Project by Tara Murray; close-up of 2012 Bushwick mural with Miru & 2ESAE by Lois Stavsky

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Centre-fuge Public Art Project: Cycle 8 “Influx in Flux,” with Cruz, Elle, Mor, ND’A, Demer, Claw Money, Yuri Velez, Ray Smith, Sofia Maldonado, Cre8tive YouTH*ink & more

May 7, 2013

In partnership with the New Museum’s Ideas City Festival, Centre-fuge’s Cycle 8, Influx in Flux, expanded to include additional containers on East 1st Street, along with wide panels inside the First Street Green Park. Here are a few images captured this past week:

Italian artist Federico Massa aka Cruz at work

Brooklyn-based Elle at work

Brooklyn native Mor at work

Brooklyn-based ND’A

Simply signed “Exit”

Veteran graffiti master Demer at work

The legendary Claw Money at work

NYC-based painter and musician Yuri Velez at work

Noted painter and sculptor Ray Smith

Puerto Rican native Sofia Maldonado at work

The young, talented members of Cre8tive YouTH*ink at work

Recently cited in TimeOut New York as one of NYC’s Top Spots for Street Art, the Centre-fuge Public Art Project, under the curatorial vision of Pebbles Russell and Jonathan Neville, is committed to transforming transitional spaces and construction sites in New York City into public works of art. To assist the Centre-fuge Public Art Project with funds needed to continue and expand their project, check out its Indiegogo campaign.

Keep posted to our Facebook page for additional images of artwork by Sheryo, The Yok, Cram Concepts and more.

Photos by Lenny Collado, Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray & Lois Stavsky

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6X6: A Group Art Exhibition @ Harlem’s Heath Gallery with Royce Bannon, TMNK, BlusterOne, Jenevieve, Joseph Meloy & more

May 5, 2013

A diverse range of work from dozens of artists is currently on view at Heath, a gem of a gallery housed in a landmark townhouse at 24 West 120th Street in Harlem. Among the artworks — all 6 inches by 6 inches — are many by artists who also share their works in public spaces. Here is a sampling:

Harlem-based artist and curator Royce Bannon — whose iconic monsters can be found just about everywhere in NYC

NYC-based TMNK who maintains an active presence both on NYC streets and galleries world-wide

Lower East Side-based graphic designer and painter BlusterOne

One of Jenevieve’s intriguing urban landscapes

And another cityscape — this one by the prolific Joseph Meloy

Curated by Mike McManus, the exhibit continues through May 10.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Busy in Bushwick: Curve, Wane, Ensue, Vizie, Jick, Mast and Rime

April 29, 2013

Several first-rate writers have been busy in Bushwick this past week. Here are a few images:

Versatile style master Curve

Veteran NYC writer Wane COD

NYC-based Enue COD

West Coast-based Vizie MSK

Jick in action

Mast in action

West Coast legend Rime MSK

Keep posted to our Facebook page for many more first-rate graff pieces that have recently surfaced in Bushwick.

Photos by Lenny Collado and Lois Stavsky

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At Home at the Bushwick Collective: Rimx, Billy Mode & Chris Stain, Mata Ruda, Patch Whisky, Fumero, Nard Star, Trek Matthews and Ishmael

April 23, 2013

The walls at the Bushwick Collective continue to showcase a range of masterful artistic expressions. In addition to the wonderful mural featured here earlier by Sheryo & the Yok, an astonishing variety of new works — by local, national and international artists — have found a home here. A sampling follows:

Puerto Rico-native David RIMX Sepulveda

Baltimore-based Billy Mode at work earlier in the month

The final mural by Billy Mode and Chris Stain

Baltimore-based artist Mata Ruda at work

South Carolina-based Patch Whisky

The prolific Fumero

South Africa-based Nard Star

Atlanta-based Trek Matthews

South Carolina-based Ishmael

Keep posted to our Facebook page for the latest news on the Bushwick Collective and for photos of Gaia’s new piece.

Photos by Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Zees Recycles Stained Glass and Mirror Fragments into 3-D Graffiti Art

April 21, 2013

A self-described “graffiti glass artist,” Zees speaks about his past ventures and his current project.

When did you first get into graffiti?

A little over ten years ago. I was about 10 when I started tagging War. But I needed to change names a few times to avoid the law. Eventually I found Zees.

What got you into it?

I grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, and I always saw graffiti on the highways when we drove anywhere. I liked what I saw.

Who are some of your favorite writers – the ones who inspire you?

The Italian writer, Zin aka Bes, Sen2, Dr. Sex and PK Kid.

Have you any memorable experiences from your early writing days?

I was in sixth grade when I got arrested for writing on a huge sprinkler house in a golf course on Essex County property. It was the first time I ever went on a “graffiti mission!”

What is the riskiest thing you ever did? And why?

Hanging at the end of a cliff on a two-inch platform about 400-500 feet in the air. It’s a prime spot off a highway. That’s why!

How did your mom take all this?

She didn’t like it – but these days she’s really happy with what I’m doing.

Could you tell us a bit about what you are doing these days?

I recycle pieces of mirrors, stained glass and assorted found materials into 3-D graffiti pieces.

That must be quite a process! How do you manage to find such an abundance of mirror and stained glass remnants?

They’re the leftover pieces that surface regularly from my uncle’s business, the Artique Glass Studio, in Glen Rock, New Jersey.

Wow! I’m glad they are getting put to such good use! Have you studied art on a formal level?

No. I’m self-taught. I’ve always been doing art of some kind as long as I can remember. But nothing has been as addictive as graffiti.

How do you feel about the movement of graffiti into galleries?

I think it’s great. Graffiti is a compulsive activity, and it gives us writers something to strive for. It offers talented graffiti writers the chance to get the recognition they deserve.

Any thoughts about the role of the Internet in all this?

I love it. I get to see what everyone else is doing.

How do you spend your time when you are not involved in your current project?

Skateboarding, making music and building stained-glass reptile cages.

What’s ahead?

I’d like to continue what I’m doing – mastering the techniques and producing high-quality work. I look forward, too, to seeing my work in galleries.

Zee’s first solo exhibit opens tomorrow evening, April 23, from 7-10pm at Sapphire Lounge, 249 Eldridge Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Photos by Dani Mozeson and Lois Stavsky

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