Nic 707‘s InstaFame Phantom Art continues to share a range of art — from tags by legendary writers to works by global artists — with NYC subway riders. Here are some images captured on a recent ride from East Tremont in the Bronx to Brighton Beach in Brooklyn.
Veteran UK graffiti writer, Pulse
Bogota native Praxis
The legendary TAKI 183
Graffiti pioneer Skeme of Style Wars fame
Mulit-media artist Michael Cuomo
Photos by Lois Stavsky
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Founded by John Matos aka Crash and Robert Kantor and directed by Anna Matos, WallWorks NY is a wonderful new gallery space at 39 Bruckner Boulevard in the South Bronx. While visiting its current — and final — unofficial exhibit, Open Gallery, we had the opportunity to speak to Anna.
When did WallWorks NY open?
We had our first “unofficial” opening exhibition, First Taste, on September 12. Its focus was on promoting street art and graffiti as a viable art form within galleries and museums. Among the many local and international artists whose works were featured were: Daze, Futura, Nick Walker, Stash and TATS CRU members: Bio, Nicer and BG 183. This was followed by Point. Focus. Click. featuring photos – that had never been exhibited before — by such photographers as Henry Chalfant, Martha Cooper, Joe Conzo, David Gonzalez, Lisa Kahane, Francisco Reyes II and Ricky Flores.
This current exhibit, Open Gallery, introduces us to many new artists.
Yes. It’s our final show before our official opening next month. Along with works by emerging local artists in Open Gallery, are artworks in various media by artists from around the country – many of whom had never exhibited their works in a gallery setting before.
How have these “unofficial” openings gone?
The response has been great. And the success that we’ve achieved so far is more than we could have imagined!
Why did you choose to open a gallery in the South Bronx?
Why not the South Bronx? Its history is so rich, and hopefully we will encourage people to visit it.
What is WallWork’s NY’s mission?
In the experimental and explorative vein of Fashion MODA, we want to exhibit new and exciting work from both emerging and established artists.
How did this space come to be?
My father, Crash, had dreamed for a long time of opening a gallery, and I loved the idea of directing one. On our trips into the city, we repeatedly passed this empty space on Bruckner Boulevard – that we saw as a potential site for a gallery. After discussing it with an art dealer in Paris last summer, my father said, “Let’s do it!” And then a partnership with entrepreneur Robert Kantor made it possible for my father to realize his dream.
What experiences and skills do you bring to your position as gallery director?
I grew up around art. As a child, I regularly accompanied by father to his studio – where I would sit and draw. For a long time, in fact, I thought I would be an artist. But as a senior in high school, I discovered that I was more interested in the concepts behind the art than in creating art. I then majored in Art History with a double minor of Philosophy and Black Studies at Fairfield University, and after graduating from college, I studied Art Business at FIT. And in addition to several internships, including one as Special Project Manager the Jonathan LeVine Gallery, I served as a liaison for my father, assisting him in everything from creating a strong social media presence to installing and selling art. I see myself as someone who is committed to each artist’s personal development and financial success — as well as to the success of the gallery.
What’s ahead?
Our official launch takes place on next Saturday, January 10, with Ikonoklasts, featuring never-before-seen works by three legendary NYC artists: A-One, Dondi White and Rammallzee. Following Ikonoklasts will be our first solo show featuring works on canvas by Nicer of TATS CRU.
That sounds wonderful! We are looking forward!
Interview conducted by City-as-School intern Zachariah Messaoud and edited by Lois Stavsky; photos by Lois Stavsky
Photos
1. TATS CRU
2. Anna Matos, gallery director
3. Such Styles
4. Buz163
5. Funqest
Note: Open Gallery continues until January 7 at 39 Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx.
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With Sheryo and the Yok completing the missing letter — S — , the B-U-S-H-W-I-C-K mural at the Bushwick Collective is now complete. Here are some images:
Sexer at work after completing the letter ‘B.’ Letter ‘U’ by David Louf aka June1 to its right
Sheryo and the Yok, the letter ‘S’
Dasic Fernandez at work on the letter ‘H’
Billy Mode at work on the letter ‘W’
Eelco ’Virus’ Van den Berg, the letter ‘I’, with Bushwick Collective founder and curator Joe Ficalora to its right
John Matos aka Crash, the letter ‘C’
Zimad at work on the final letter, ‘K’
With some additions
Photo credits: 1, 4 & 7 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2, 3, 5, 6 & 8 by Lois Stavsky
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A visit to the South Bronx neighborhood of Hunts Point this past Monday led to the discovery of some of its recently-surfaced graffiti murals. Here is a sampling:
All photos by Tara Murray
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Co-owned by artists Sarah Wang and Shaina Yang, City Bird is a creative space recently launched on the Lower East Side. While visiting its current exhibit Natural High yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak to Shaina Yang and find out a bit about the gallery and its mission.
I love the eclectic mix of art in this exhibit. Can you tell us something about City Bird’s mission?
We see ourselves as a unique space in which we are free to unleash our creativity in a playful manner. There is no one to tell us what to create or how to create it. It is up to us — the artists!
When was City Bird born?
Our inaugural exhibit opened on November 7. It was curated by the Under1roof Project.
Many of the artists on exhibit – such as Kingbee, Wizard Skull and Dek 2DX— are also active on the streets. How did you meet each other?
Many of us know each other from the collective, Con Artist, and many of Con Artist’s members also get up on the streets. Lady Millard’s Under1roof Project also brought us together in a collaborative manner. Basically, it was friends and friends of friends!
I’d imagine that renting and maintaining a space like this on the Lower East Side could be expensive. How do you raise the money to do this?
When there are no exhibits here, we rent out the space to pop-up shows, poetry readings and a range of creative events.
What’s ahead?
A mix of imaginative exhibits featuring work by a range of artists, including street artists. We are already booked through the spring. You are in for some surprises!
City Bird is located at 191 Henry Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Images:
1. Pablo Power
2. Chris Mendoza, close-up
3. Lady Millard, close-up
4. Kingbee
5. Wizard Skull
6, Dek 2DX
First image courtesy of the gallery; all others photographed by Lois Stavsky
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A graffiti writer and b-boy back in the 70’s, California-based Doze Green crafts extraordinary artwork that exudes all the energy, exuberance and irreverence of the New York City streets that were once his. Out of Nowhere, his current exhibit and fifth solo show at Jonathan LeVine, continues through Saturday at 557C West 23rd Street. Here are a few more images:
Set with Osirian Strap (Penis Envy), mixed media on canvas
Napoleon Bonefart, mixed media on wood
H Thrice, mixed-media on canvas
The Initiate, mixed media on canvas
The Jonathan LeVine Gallery is open from 11am to 6pm.
Photos of images by Dani Reyes Mozeson; first image is Prophet in the Desert, mixed-media on canvas
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Earlier this fall, the Dodworth Street Mural art project began a wondrous transformation of the area on and around Dodworth Street between Bushwick Avenue and Broadway. Here are just a few of the murals that have surfaced:
Eelco ’Virus’ Van den Berg, Rocko and Vera Times
Miss Zukie and Lexi Bella
Col Wallnuts, Marthalicia, BK, Damien Mitchell & Edob LOV3
Photo credits: 1, 3 – 5 Lois Stavsky; 2 & 6 Dani Reyes Mozeson
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Moving Murals: Henry Chalfant & Martha Cooper’s All-City Graffiti Archive, a mosaic of 850 wall images of subway graffiti photographed by Chalfant — along with a series of Martha Cooper’s artist portraits — continues through this Thursday, December 18 at 4pm. A homage to the boundless creativity of the graffiti artists whose talents and passions paved the way to the global street art movement, Moving Murals is the first exhibit to grace the City Lore Gallery at 56 East 1st Street.
Another close-up from Henry Chalfant collage, featuring the legendary Iz the Wiz
Martha Cooper’s portraits
Including such contemporaries as Lady Aiko (top left)
And next Saturday, December 20, 12pm – 6pm, you will have the opportunity to take home one of Henry Chalfant’s graffiti train prints as City Lore will be offering Chalfant’s train photographs from the Moving Murals exhibit with each membership purchased. Membership begins at $35. Hot cider and a variety of gifts by local NYC artists will also be available for sale at the City Lore Store.
Final photo courtesy of City Lore; photos of Henry Chalfant’s installation by Lois Stavsky; of Martha Cooper’s by Dani Reyes Mozeson
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Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, Genea Barnes began exhibiting her artful photography in 2005. Her current work has taken her into the streets of over 50 cities where she has photographed hundreds of ghost bikes.
When and where did you begin photographing ghost bikes?
I saw my first ghost bike in Brooklyn in May 2010. It struck me. It felt like someone had punched me in the chest. That was the first ghost bike I photographed. I’ve since traveled to over 50 cities photographing them.
Why — do you suppose — you became so committed to this project?
I feel a special connection to these bikes. I am taken by their intense beauty. Their impact was — and still is — tremendous on me. They remind us of lives that were lost and they remind us to keep safe. I knew, at once, that I wanted not only to photograph them, but to share my findings with others.
Have you any particular message you would like your photos to convey?
I am frustrated by people’s lack of spatial awareness. A ghost bike represents the most grievous outcome of this. A ghost bike, like much of street art, is a way to call people out. We must all start paying closer attention to our surroundings.
Why a book?
I had always hoped that my art would make a difference…that it would raise awareness. And after my first exhibit of ghost bike images, I knew that it could. Not everyone will attend an exhibit, but anyone can check out a book and, hopefully, be moved by it. We are so distracted by technology that we often forget to pay attention to our surroundings. And the outcome of that can be fatal.
You can find out more about Genea’s remarkable photography project here and help fund her book at her Kickstarter here.
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Earlier this fall, the wonderfully talented multi-media artist Michael Alan released a book of selected drawings and writings. With the limited edition just about sold out, Michael offers some insights into it all.
Why did you decide to publish this book?
I am tired of artistic control. The government. The police. Most outlets for publication. I am also tired of solo shows in New York. Super stress to basically make some dumb money and hear people talk about beer. So came the idea of the book. My work is too intricate for the web. It needs to be in your hand. People need to slow down. That’s what books do. They slow you down. I also wanted my friends and fans who can’t — or don’t want to — buy a painting to be able to own a handmade affordable piece. The book is a work of art. And I’ve been sick. In case something happens to me, I don’t want anyone rewriting my mind.
How did you decide what to include?
Kristen Collins chose the works. She is a lovely, brilliant artist who made this possible. She is passion.
What are your personal favorites and why?
They are all my favorites. My work is about change. Energy. Life. These differ every day. That’s why I work in multiple styles.
How have folks responded to the book?
The response has been great. It’s attracted a range of fans – from as far as Australia. We had only gotten the word out on Facebook and Instagram, and we are almost sold out. This will be the first blog to cover it.
If you are interested in owning a signed copy of the book, you can contact the artist at artisticrevolution@gmail.com.
All images © Michael Alan
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