Among the intriguing images that recently surfaced on the once-abandoned East Village trailer, curated by the Centre-fuge Public Art Project, is Balu‘s rendition of Ex-Vandal Flint Gennari’s photo of old school writer, Flip One. This past Sunday several legendary writers graced the trailer with their tags.
Balu captured at work earlier this month
Nic 707 — to the right of Al Diaz aka Bomb 1 tag
Nic 707, Snake 1, Coco 144, Rocky 184 and Flint
All photos by bytegirl
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Back in 2012, Chicago-native Shawn Bullen brought his wonderful talents to Bushwick. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to meet up with the gifted artist who has just returned to NYC after spending several years in San Francisco.
When and where did you first get up in a public space?
When I was 17, I got hold of some Mean Streak markers and started tagging the mailboxes in my Chicago neighborhood.
What inspired you to get up?
My friends were doing it, and it seemed like a fun thing to do. I didn’t really think about what I was doing, and I certainly didn’t take it seriously. I also wasn’t very good at it!
Do you remember when you first became aware of graffiti?
There was a graffiti wall in New Hyde Park that I used to pass almost every day. But I didn’t quite get it! I thought, “Why would anyone write something that nobody else could read or understand?”
Once you began getting up, did you ever get arrested?
I was arrested twice. The first time, I had climbed on top of a nearby fruit and vegetable stand to write my name. I was caught on camera, and I ended up having to turn myself in. Ironically it led to my first paid gig as the owner of the space offered me $200 to paint his truck.
What was the riskiest thing you ever did back then?
My friend and I would crawl across train tracks lined with live wires through dangerous neighborhoods.
Why did you do that?
To get to rooftop walls that we liked along the Green line.
How did your family react to all this?
My mom was hot happy that I was breaking the law, but she was always confident that what I was doing would lead to something.
Do you have a formal art education?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing! But, yes, I studied Photography throughout high school. And then I studied Photography and Drawing at Columbia College in Chicago before transferring to NSCAD, the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. But I didn’t graduate. I left after two years.
Why was that?
I noticed that most of the graduates were working in coffee shops. Few had jobs related to art. I had also felt that I had learned enough.
How you feel about the role of the Internet and social media in this scene?
I think the Internet is a beautiful tool that allows us to share our work with others. It is difficult, though, to keep up with social media, and I know that I need to focus more on my Instagram account. I can get lazy!
Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?
Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, I was exposed early on to the hip-hop culture. Undoubtedly, it has influenced my aesthetic. And when I paint, I almost always listen to hip-hop – Kenye West, Jay Z, Drake…
Have you any favorite artists?
So many! To name a few…Kehinde Wiley, Chuck Close, Basquiat, Aryz, the Etam Crew, and – of course – Michelangelo hasn’t been topped yet!
That’s quite a diverse group! Do you prefer working alone or would you rather collaborate with others?
From ages 17-22, 90% of what I painted was with my crew, the IDC Art House, but these days I feel more and more that I like making my own decisions.
Do you generally work with a sketch-in-hand or do you just let it flow?
It depends. I love to freestyle. It is so much fun. But for commissions I often have to present a sketch first.
Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?
It’s never as good as I’d imagined it to be, but since I can’t spend years on it, I’m generally proud of myself.
Have you exhibited in galleries? Any thoughts about street artists and graffiti writers showing in gallery settings?
Yes, I’ve exhibited in several shows, both solo and group. I don’t have a problem with street artists exhibiting in galleries. All artists need as much exposure and financial support as they can get. And I have only respect for artists who have moved onto the fine art world.
What about the corporate world? Any thoughts about that?
I have mixed feelings about it. Clearly not all corporations are evil. And, yes, I’ve worked with corporations. Corporate gigs, in fact, make it possible for me to survive as an artist. And why shouldn’t corporations support artists?
And do you work full-time as an artist?
Yes! From age 18 on, I was either teaching art or doing art.
What inspires you these days?
I’m interested in exploring people’s ideas as to how we can save the world. I’m intent on uncovering solutions to problems that affect us all.
How has your artwork evolved in the past few years?
I think much more about concepts, and I continue to paint on a larger and larger scale.
What do you see as the role of the artist in society?
It’s up to each artist to decide his or her role. I see my role as making life better. I want use my art to make people feel better. I would love to change someone’s life with my painting!
What’s ahead?
I want to paint! I’d like to create at least one piece of public art in every country in the world. And I’d love NYC to be my home base!
Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky; photos courtesy of Shawn Bullen, SHAWNBULLEN1@GMAIL.COM
Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.
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Brimming with color and intrigue, the artworks that surface in Little Haiti — largely by local artists — are among Miami’s most seductive. Here are a few more:
Also by Luis Valle
Photos by Lois Stavsky
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An incredible variety of faces — representing a range of styles, techniques and sensibilities — make their way onto Miami’s walls. Here’s a small sampling of what has surfaced in Wynwood:
PichiAvo. a larger segment of huge mural in Wynwood Walls
Miles Toland, close-up
Christina Angelina aka Starfightera and Fanakapan, close-up
Kevin Ledo and Fin DAC, close-up
Photo credits: 1 & 2 Sara C. Mozeson; 3-7 Lois Stavsky
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As the line between street art and public art continues to blur, we find ourselves increasingly intrigued by the range of public art that surfaces in NYC parks. What follows is a sampling of what we’ve captured these past few months in Battery Park.
German sculptor Fritz Koenig, the Sphere, the sole surviving artwork from the grounds of the original World Trade Center
Ned Smyth, The Upper Room, close-up
British artist Tony Cragg, Resonating Bodies (one of two bronze sculptures resembling giant musical instruments)
Jim Dine, The Ape & Cat (at the Dance)
Constance Mallinson, Souvenir (fragment) for the Cool Globes traveling exhibition
Nancy L Steinmeyer First We Scream, Then We Are for the Cool Globes traveling exhibition
Photo credits: 1-5 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 6 Tara Murray
Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available here for Android devices.
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Opening this evening from 6-9pm at World Trade Gallery is Off the Wall, an exhibit featuring artwork by some of our favorite artists. We recently had the opportunity to speak to its curator, Joshua B. Geyer.
What is the concept behind this exhibit?
I wanted to showcase in a gallery setting artworks by a diverse group of high-caliber artists who work in public spaces, as well as in their studios. My current job is just a few blocks away from the Top to Bottom Mural Project on 21st Street. I pass it every day, and I love it. I thought it would be a great idea to feature those artists, as they are among the best anywhere.
When did you first begin working on Off the Wall?
I first found out about the availability of the space three weeks ago. One of my friends who works in World Trade Gallery offered me the opportunity to curate an exhibit beginning in mid-March.
What was your greatest challenge in getting this together in such a short timespan?
My greatest challenge was selecting the artists. There was so much talent to choose from. Close to 50 outstanding artists have painted in the Top to Bottom Mural Project. I also wanted to take into consideration the input I was given from the team — James P Quinn and Geoff Kuffner — who implemented the project.
Do you feel that you have accomplished your mission?
Yes! The artworks in Off the Wall are representative of the diverse range of outstanding pieces that have surfaced at 43-01 21st Street in LIC since this past September. And this space couldn’t be more ideal!
We love your flyer. Did you design it?
It was a collaborative venture between See One and me. The photo is mine and the actual design is See One’s.
What’s ahead?
I’d love to build a relationship with World Trade Gallery, and I look forward to curating more exhibits featuring artists whose works are seen on our streets.
Images
1. Icy and Sot, close-up
2. Erasmo and Case Maclaim
3. See One
4. Daze
Photo credits: 1, 3 & 4 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2 Lois Stavsky
Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available here for Android devices.
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Based in Brooklyn, Misha Tyutyunik aka MDOT is an accomplished painter, muralist and illustrator. His recent venture, fashioned along with a team of Groundswell youth, looms large at 11 Howard Street in SoHo. Earlier this week, we visited his studio and had the opportunity to speak to him.
When and where did you first make your mark on the streets?
Back in 1999, Wisher 914 and I hit up the water tower in Mohegan Lake in North Westchester where we grew up. But my outdoor work is largely commissioned murals. I painted my first one for SoBro in the Bronx in 2006. My most recent one is a collaboration with Groundswell youth at 11 Howard Street in SoHo, the site of Aby Rosen’s latest hotel venture.
You’re also a prolific painter of smaller works – from works on paper to paintings on huge canvases. Have you exhibited your works in gallery settings?
Yes! I’ve exhibited throughout NYC in a range of spaces from CATM in Chelsea and Tambaran on the Upper East Side to a variety of alternative venues.
Do you have a formal arts education? And was it worthwhile?
Yes, I have a BFA in Design and Illustration from Pratt. And, yes, as I learned how to problem solve through creative means.
Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?
I spent my first seven years in the Ukraine, and was definitely influenced by social realism. Other influences include: graffiti in its heyday; Japanese prints; abstract expressionism; traditional mural painting and German expressionism.
What about artists? Any particular influences?
Among the many artists whose aesthetic has influenced me are: Diego Rivera, Klimt and Egon Schiele.
Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?
I used to prefer working alone, but lately I’ve become more open to collaboration. I recently collaborated with Chris Soria.
If you could collaborate with any artist – alive or deceased – with whom would you collaborate?
Picasso – all day every day – and Max Ernst.
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
They love it! None of them are artists, but they all love what I am doing!
What percentage of your time is devoted to art?
Pretty much all of it.
Is art the main source of your income?
Yes, the money I earn from commissions, along with income from teaching mural-making and art sales. I’ve also begun working on fashion design.
How you feel about the role of the Internet in this scene?
It’s everything! Without the Internet I’d be nowhere.
Are you generally satisfied with your finished work?
I think so. But the question is: Is anything ever really finished?
How has your artwork evolved in the past few years?
By leaps and bounds! I’m much more comfortable than I used to be with different styles. My visual language has become more confident.
As your work on the streets is largely commissioned murals, have you run into any conflicts with street artists or graffiti writers?
On occasion. While painting a commissioned wall down in DC, for example, I was approached by graffiti writers who told me that the wall was theirs. When I explained to them what I was doing and they saw my work in progress, they came around.
What do you see as the role of the artist in society?
I see my role as to reflect on our times, while bringing a strong aesthetic sensibility back into a largely conceptual realm.
What’s ahead?
Everything! Taking over the art world!
That’s quite ambitious! Are there any particular projects we can look forward to?
I am currently painting an anti-gun violence mural in conjunction with BRIC, and I will soon begin working on a mural with Groundswell youth at Stapleton in Staten Island. And opening tonight and continuing through March 31 is The Internal Muse, a selection of my new paintings at Melet Mercantile at 84 Wooster Street in SoHo.
It all sounds great! Congratulations!
Interview conducted by Lois Stavsky with Tara Murray
Photo credits: 1 & 2 courtesy Lindsey Brown McLravy | SLATE PR; 3, 5 & 6 Lois Stavsky; 4 Tara Murray
Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available here for Android devices.
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We recently had the opportunity to meet up with Apostrophe founders and curators — Sei and Ki Smith — and find out a bit about their plans for 2016:
Just what is Apostrophe?
Apostrophe began as a gallery and performance space in Bushwick in 2012, and it has since evolved into a series of pop-up exhibits and events. As a collective, it is designed to offer exposure to artists while sparking a creative energy that can be experienced by everyone. Our last exhibit, Subway Show, took place at the Kosciusko Street stop on the J train. The subway passengers, along with anyone else who came by, were treated to art, music, a comedic performance and refreshments!
What about its name, Apostrophe?
Our concept came before the name. The name was inspired by the title of Frank Zappa’s eighteenth album Apostrophe’. It suggests an inclusive fusion of energies.
What is Apostrophe’s current mission?
The mission of our current project Base 12 is to highlight the art of twelve talented artists in a dozen diverse, unconventional settings, while making their art accessible to folks who might not otherwise see it. When art is shown exclusively in gallery settings, its audience can be limited.
What kinds of alternative settings are you referring to?
Of the nine upcoming pop-up shows here in NYC, three will take place on subway platforms, three in museums and three in parks. They will all engage passersby in non-traditional ways. Details will be announced the day of the event via Instagram and Facebook.
That sounds great! How did you select the artists?
Some had participated in exhibits in our former Bushwick space; others we met through friends. And some we discovered through our open call for submissions. We’ve all gotten to know one another, and we all work well together. Once a month we come together, and we critique each other’s artworks. We love not only the works of the artists we are showing, but their energy, as well!
Do you both have a formal art education?
We both went to art school, but neither of us finished. We grew up, though, in a family of artists and have always engaged in art-related projects here and abroad.
What’s ahead?
In addition to what will be happening here in NYC, we are planning three exhibits and events abroad: at Alan Istanbul in Turkey; at corretger5 in Barcelona, and at a gallery space — to be announced — in London.
It’s all very exciting! Lots of luck! We will definitely keep posted to your Instagram.
Interview by Lois Stavsky with Houda Lazrak
Photo credits: 1 Lois Stavsky; 2-4 courtesy of Apostrophe; 5 Tara Murray
3 James A Reyes, My Shorty
4 Sei Smith, Half Portrait No. 5
5 James Rubio, Black Flowers, close-up of public art work
Apostrophe’s Base 12 will also feature the works of Caslon Bevington, Ryan Bock, Morell Cutler, Alana Dee Haynes, Kolter Hodgson, Charlie Hudson, The Love Child, Julia Powers and Bruno Smith
Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.
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In his highly acclaimed book Graffiti Murals: Exploring the Impacts of Street Art, free-lance writer and photographer Patrick Verel presents six case studies, along with dozens of photographs, exploring the role of sanctioned graffiti murals and street art in the urban environment. I recently met up with him and had the opportunity to ask him a few questions:
What spurred your interest in this topic?
I was always into graffiti. I have a short attention span, and I love being surprised! Cities stimulate me and graffiti is part of that stimulation.
How did this initial interest evolve into a book?
I never thought I’d actually write a book. It developed from the thesis that I wrote when I was enrolled in Fordam University’s Urban Studies Master’s Program.
You focus on six cases from the South Bronx to Trenton, New Jersey. How did you connect to all of the folks whom you interviewed?
I sent out lots of emails after poking around the Internet. And I made some of the connections via my Flickr contacts — like the photographer Luna Park, who hooked me up with Robots Will Kill.
What were some of the obstacles you encountered while doing your research?
Getting people to talk to me and synthesizing all of the information.
You seem to have accomplished that quite well! What — would you say – was the mission of your book?
To change the way so many people think about graffiti. To introduce them to the positive benefits of graffiti murals in enhancing the urban environment.
Are there any particular factors that assure the success of these interventions?
So much depends upon the owner of the space and his relationship with the artists. That owner must be able to trust the artists to do what they want. And a successful collaboration demands money, effort and time.
Were there any unexpected outcomes following the publication of the book?
Yes! I received a positive response from City Government, and I connected to Natalie Raben of the Lower East Side BID and the 100 GATES Program.
Have you noticed any changes in the graffiti/street art since you wrote your book?
There seem to be more projects, like the Bushwick Collective and the Welling Court Mural Project, that give artists legal opportunities to paint outdoors.
Published by Schiffer Publishing, Graffiti Murals: Exploring the Impacts of Street Art, is available online and in most bookstores.
Interview by Lois Stavsky
Photos of murals by Patrick Verel
1. Book cover, Lank completes mural he painted with Delve, Luv1 and Casso in Jersey City
2. Wallnuts mural in Gowanus with Dos, Chester, Muse, Been3 and Werc
3. 5Pointz in LIC with Meres, Zimad and more
4. Robots Will Kill in Bushwick with Chris, Veng, Peeta, Never & ECB
5. Taste, Mek, Evak, Sno Reo & Zoe at TerraCycle in Trenton, NJ
Note: Our highly acclaimed Street Art NYC App is now available here at Google Play for Android devices.
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This is the ninth in a series of occasional posts featuring images of children that have surfaced on NYC public spaces:
Also by Ernest Zacharevic with Martha Cooper, huge segment of mural at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center — with the Bushwick Collective
Icy & Sot in Bushwick
Priscila De Carvalho in Bushwick
Joe Iurato and Logan Hicks, as seen at the Bushwick Collective awhile back.
Anthony Lister with the the Bushwick Collective
Photo Credits: 1, 2 & 4 Tara Murray; 3, 5 & 6 Lois Stavsky
Note: The highly acclaimed Street Art NYC App is now available here at Google Play for Android devices.
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