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POPUP X NYC Brings Visual Treats to Brooklyn’s NoBar

March 20, 2013

Fueled by their love of art and their passion to promote the art they love, Brian Jerkface and Iman Johnson are busy curating some of NYC’s coolest art events. On a recent visit to their current art show at NoBar at 608 Nostrand Ave. in Brooklyn, we had the opportunity learn a bit about the two talented young men and their upcoming projects.

How did this all begin?

Brian: We both love street art and we wanted to share our love with others in alternative settings. It’s great fun, and it’s also a way to help artists, particularly those who work in public spaces, make a living. Only by selling their art can they continue to pursue their passion.

Do you have a formal art education?

Iman: I attended Cooper Union. My degree is in architecture.

Brian: I studied painting and graphic design at the School of Visual Arts.

Have you any favorite artists?

Iman: My all-time favorite artist is the British painter Francis Bacon. I also love Lebbeus Woods, a conceptual architect, who was one of my teachers at Cooper Union. And I love what See One is doing on the streets.

Brian: I love the Cubist style of the Spanish painter Juan Gris. He’s a definite influence on my work. Among those artists who work on the streets, I have many favorites. Among them are: NoseGo, Phetus and Bishop.

What attracted you to street art and graffiti?

Brian: I grew up listening to hip-hop, and I fell in love with graffiti. When I was about 16, I picked up a spray-can. I was also into skateboarding.

Iman: Yes, it was the entire culture that drew us in.

What do you see as the future of street art?

Brian: As it continues to make its mark in both sanctioned and unsanctioned spaces, I see it as getting better and better all the time.

Iman: Yes, it seems to be in an ideal place right now. While becoming more acceptable, it’s still on the edge and is almost certain to remain so. Most of it will continue to push against authority.

Your current art exhibit here at NoBar is wonderful. What is the appeal of this particular setting?

Brian: It’s a wonderful spot, and the neighborhood is easily accessible. We love the mix of people it attracts, and it is street art-friendly. It allows us to feature live painting at our openings – something we both love.

What’s ahead? Any other exhibits coming up at NoBar?

Brian: Yes. Cosbe will be painting live here for our next exhibit on Friday, March 29. And Deps is among the artists we are featuring in our show opening April 26.

That sounds great! What about other venues? Anything else coming up elsewhere?

Brian: We are in the process of curating a skate deck exhibit featuring dozens of artists – including Bishop, Phetus and Col Wallnuts – that will open on April 20^th at the Loom Gallery on Flushing Avenue in Bushwick.

Iman: And we have a number of events coming up in Studio J, our Long Island City space – including a group show, a solo show by Phetus and a kids’ class in street art.

Wow! So much happening! How do you get the word out?

Brian: We get the news of our events out on Instagram and Facebook. We also hand out flyers.

Good luck! We are looking forward to your next event!

Photo of Phetus close-up by Lois Stavsky; Jerkface images courtesy of POPUP X NYC

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Con Artist Gallery Celebrates Sticker Art in SLAP: Adhesives and Egos, a DIY Sticker Exhibition

March 15, 2013

Featuring a wondrous array of sticker art from first-rate handstyles to images of alluring women, SLAP: Adhesives and Egos, a DIY Sticker Exhibition opened this past Wednesday evening at Con Artist Gallery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Here are some images from the exhibit that continues through April 3 at 119 Ludlow Street.

Lady Millard

Luv1

Choice Royce

Lady Aiko

WKST

Shaina

Klops

Amongst Thieves

Serp

And from Wednesday evening’s opening party

Check us out on Facebook next week for more sticker images from the exhibit.

Photos by Dani Mozeson & Lois Stavsky

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LNY Is Back in Manhattan

March 13, 2013

We love having LNY back in our borough. We’ve missed him. And thanks to Keith Schweitzer and FAB, he’s back! Here are a few images captured form the wondrous wall that he recently fashioned on East Second Street.

LNY in action

The morning after

Close-up with recycled trash bags!

And this past weekend was a special treat for us LNY fans, as his artwork could be seen at the Fountain Art Fair, as well. Here’s a sampling of images — all fashioned on recycled materials:

Photos by Tara Murray

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Bronx-native Michael Cuomo Recycles Urban Refuse into Masks and Engages the Public

March 6, 2013

Working with discarded objects he finds on the streets, Bronx-native Michael Cuomo has been busily creating an alternate universe. Central to his cosmos are dozens of masks that he displays in a range of public spaces, engaging curious passersby of all ages. We joined Michael this past Sunday up near Yankee Stadium.

You do magical things with what others have discarded. When did it all begin?

The idea of working with found objects came to me after I took a three-hour class in “drawing with wire” at Bronx Community College back in 2006. I made my first masks with wire. And as I’d always been drawn to objects that others deem useless, I began to search for these objects and gradually incorporate them into my masks.

You certainly have some strange objects integrated into these masks – from car parts to broken toys to old hats. How do you manage to get hold of such a variety?

I find most of them on the streets, and recently friends and neighbors have begun giving me “donations.”

When recycling these materials into masks, do you work with a defined concept of the final product?

Never. It’s an organic process. When the mask is finished, it tells me so. I have dozens of sketchbooks and constantly draw, but I don’t consciously work from my sketches.

What engages you about recycling and working with found objects?

It reminds me that we are all one on this planet. The objects that I find help connect me with others – their original owners and our anscestors. I also feel that by recycling I am – in some small way – helping our planet.

Why have you decided to share your masks with the public out here on the streets?

It’s the best way for me to connect with the people. My art is “for the people” and “by the people.” When strangers see my art and engage with it, they break the monotony of their daily lives. I also like the dialog that it spurs.

Where have you displayed your masks?

I’ve shared them in quite a few public spaces. On 110th Street in East Harlem…in front of the Hayden Planetarium on the Upper West Side…on the 6 train.

What about galleries?

I’ve exhibited them at NYU, Gallery 69, at the Longwood Art Gallery up here in the Bronx, and I have a show coming up later this spring in New Rochelle.

How does your family feel about what you are doing?

They like it, but I can’t say they embrace it!

What do you see as the role of the artist in society?

I see the artist’s role as a transformative one. Art enlightens. My art is an extension of the hip-hop movement that was born here in the Bronx. It is all about empowerment and change.

What’s ahead?

My artworks will continue to evolve and — eventually — will travel the world.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Centre-Fuge Public Art Project — Cycle 7 Complete with: Matthew Denton Burrows, Hellbent, Joe Iurato, Nicholai Khan, Joseph Meloy & Yuki

March 1, 2013

We returned this week to one of our favorite East Village spots — East First Street off First Avenue — where a once-abandoned trailer now boasts a range of crisp, expressive images. With Cycle 7 now complete, this is what we captured:

Matthew Denton Burrows

Hellbent

Joe Iurato

Joseph Meloy and Nicholai Khan

Yuki

The current installation will remain through May. Submissions for Cycle 8 are due by April 1 and can be submitted to Centrefuge@gmail.com, Images of Cycle 7 in progress can be seen here.

Photos by Dani Mozeson & Tara Murray

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In Transit: Nic 707 Is Back on Track

February 25, 2013

Born in Argentina and raised in the Bronx, veteran graffiti artist Nic 707 is once again riding the trains. Curious about the force behind the transient graff galleries that have been surfacing on NYC subways, we posed some questions to Nic.

When did you first start getting up?

It was back in 1973.

Wow! So you were at the beginning of it all. What inspired you at the time?

My first hero at the time was Checker 170, the King of the 4 Line. And I saw what guys like Tracy 168, Rub 5 and Pnut 2 were doing.

What train lines did you hit back then?

Mostly the 4, 5, 2, the D and the old CC trains. But I also hit the 7 and the 1 lines.

Did you work with any crews?

Lots. Among them was MGA – with Set 149, Padre, Stone High. When I was 16, I started OTB and was its first president. Presidents that followed included Noc 167, Ban 2 and the current one, Cope 2.

Were you ever arrested?

Let’s just say I was held against my will a couple of times. Life was more adventurous back then.

What is the riskiest thing you ever did?

Probably jumping off the trains when they were moving. I could’ve gotten killed. Some writers did. I also remember when I had to ride on the top of a train to escape some cops, surf to the next station and leap to the roof and lie there for two hours until the coast was clear.

How did your family respond to what you were doing?

They never supported me. When I was 19, I returned from summer camp to discover that my mother had destroyed everything I had ever created. That ended my early stint as a graffiti artist. Luckily, I found my way back to it about seven years ago.

What were you doing all those years you were away from it? And what brought you back to it?

I was doing lots of things – mostly stand-up comedy and other things that I shouldn’t have been doing. But I finally realized how much I missed my graffiti days.

I’ve recently seen your work on walls here in the Bronx and up in Inwood. I also saw it on exhibit at Gallery 69 in Tribeca. Have you exhibited anywhere else?

I took part in an exhibit at NYU and at a number of smaller private spaces.

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

I applaud it. It pushes writers to continually refine their styles, and I think it’s great that they can make some money from their talents. I also like the idea of graffiti reaching folks who frequent galleries.

Why do you suppose graffiti seems to garner more respect in Europe than it does here – where it was born?

You’re never a hero in your hometown. And NYC is filled with too many haters.

Who are some of your other favorite graff artists these days?

There are many. Meres, T-Kid 170, King Bee, Sonic, and Serve 1 are among them.

Do you have a formal art education?

No. But I attended DeWitt Clinton High School – along with dozens of other writers. It was the best art education I could get.

Tell us something about your current project.

I came up with the concept in 2008 for “InstaFame Phantom Art.” It’s about creating moving art galleries – back on the subways where graffiti had its first and strongest impact. It’s about bringing people’s art to the people. Who really wants to read a Budweiser ad twenty times?

And how have folks reacted to it?

They love it!

And what about the “InstaFame” part?

Yeah. I want to be famous. Doesn’t everybody?

I’m not sure! What do you see as the role of the artist in society?

To inspire others to dream and to follow their dreams.

How do you see yourself in five years?

I’d like to have my own graffiti reality television show.

Good luck! It sounds like fun! And in the meantime we’re looking forward to seeing more of your InstaFame Phantom Art galleries riding our trains.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Centre-Fuge Public Art Project — Cycle 7 in Progress

February 14, 2013

East First Street near First Avenue in the East Village/Lower East Side is the place to be this week as the Centre-fuge Public Art Project begins its second year of transforming a once-abandoned trailer into a showcase of urban art. These images of works-in-progress were captured yesterday:

NYC native Joseph Meloy at work on his distinct post-graffiti style that he labels Vandal Expressionism

Queens-based Nicholai Khan fashions a school bus as tribute to NYC’s striking school bus drivers

Brooklyn-based Hellbent with his enchanting geometric rhythms

Peeking into Hellbents’s black book

Graphic artist Matthew Denton Burrows conceives an intriguing character

Hellbent and Matthew Denton Burrows side by side

Japanese painter and muralist Yuki brings her graceful aesthetic to the scene

The wonderfully talented Joe Iurato will be on board tomorrow. StreetArtNYC will feature images of the completed trailer next week.

The Centre-Fuge Public Art Project was conceived in 2011 by First Street residents Pebbles Russell and Jonathan Neville in memory of their friend, Mike Hamm.

Photos by Tara Murray

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NYC Shutters – Part IV: Ben Eine, Sweet Toof, Muck123 & UFO, Darkclouds, Deeker & Flying Fortress, How & Nosm, Carlos Pinto, Beau and Pixote

February 12, 2013

This is the fourth in an occasional series of artwork on NYC shutters by both local artists and those visiting from abroad:

England’s Ben Eine and Sweet Toof — as seen in the snow this past Sunday in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Sweet Toof of the London-based Burning Candy Crew at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens

Muck123 and UFO on Manhattan’s Lower East Side

Darkclouds, Deeker & Flying Fortress at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens

How and Nosm on East 14th Street in Manhattan

How and Nosm at Hunts Point in the Bronx

Carlos Pinto does Bob Marley in Flatbush, Brooklyn

Beau on Manhattan’s Lower East Side

And — Pixote bringing stylish Brazilian writing to the streets of NYC

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

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Speaking with Juan Carlos Pinto

February 6, 2013

Best-known for his diverse works fashioned from a range of salvaged material and found objects, Guatemalan native Juan Carlos Pinto continues to transform the landscape of his Flatbush, Brooklyn environs. His remarkable portraits crafted from bits and pieces of Metro cards are currently on exhibit at Le Salon d’Art on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. You can meet Carlos at the opening party on February 14 at 90 Stanton Street from 7-10pm.

You’ve been living in NYC for over ten years now. What first brought you here?

New York City has a magnetic attraction to a street art enamorado.

What made you decide to call Brooklyn home?

Brooklyn is the Paris of 100 some years ago.

You also spent considerable time on the Lower East Side when you first arrived.

Yes. My second home away from home was the Lower East Side/East Village, as I found work with the guys — a wonderful crew that supports art — at “The Crooked Tree,” a creperie at 110 St. Marks.

Do you have a formal art education?

No, but I do have degree in Industrial Design that I earned at URL, Landívar in Guatemala.

What inspires you to get your work out on the streets?

It is the most powerful means for me to get my message across. And art is more powerful than machetes and swords.

And have you a specific message?

I’m against corporations and waste. My approach is largely ecological. And when I work on the streets, I engage the community in my projects. Art is not the privilege of the rich. That is the museum attitude. And I offer a challenge to it.

Tell us something about your work on exhibit at La Salon d’Art. When did you start working with Metro cards?

It started as a means of protest in 2002 when the MTA announced that it was planning to raise the fare. It is also a statement about recycling.

Have you ever been arrested for the work you’ve put up on the streets here?

A good thief never gets caught.

Have you shown your work at galleries?

I generally don’t like the gallery attitude, but, yes, I have shown my work in galleries. Both Frankie Velez and Paul Cabezas include me in shows that they curate.

How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all of this?

The Internet can teach you everything that an art school can teach you. A formal art education in an established art school is a waste of time and money.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Don Rimx, Meres One of 5Pointz, Ken Hiratskua and Jim Power, who was also a personal mentor.

What is the attitude of your family and friends towards what you do?

They are all involved in what I do. My son is with me just about all the time that he isn’t in school.

What is the source of your income?

I sell art, receive grants and do commissions. I am a recipient of a grant from the Brooklyn Arts Council. Everything I do is art. Being an artist is a full time gig. It’s like being gay; you can’t turn it on or off.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I hope I’m alive. I live day by day.

Photos by Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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