Since its inception in 2009, Wynwood Walls has served as a rotating canvas for a stunning array of street art and graffiti murals painted by outstanding artists from across the globe. Here is a sampling of what I captured last week:
Another segment from huge mural painted by Valencia, Spain natives Pichi & Avo
Chilean artist Inti
Puerto Rico-based Alexis Diaz
French-Tunisian artist El Seed
German artist Case Maclaim, close-up
NYC-based Logan Hicks, close-up
Photos by Lois Stavsky
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In collaboration with the Mana Urban Arts Project, the Bushwick Collective transformed Wynwood’s former RC Cola Factory into a Mecca of first-rate street art and graffiti. During Miami Art Week, celebrated artists from across the globe painted alongside local Miami and NYC-based artists. Here are a few more images from among the dozens of murals I saw last week while visiting Wynwood:
London-based James Cochran aka Jimmy C
London-based Shok1
NYC-based Giz RIS
NYC-based Lady Aiko
Dutch artist David Louf aka Mr June
Miami-based Hoxxoh
West Coast-based Christina Angelina
First image is a close-up from a huge mural by David Sepulveda aka Rimx
Photos by Lois Stavsky
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A stylistically diverse series of portraits of musicians — ranging from Beethoven to David Bowie, RIP — can be found on NW 22nd and 1st Avenue in Wynwood. Curated by Tristan Eaton for Space 52, this mural project was presented by B&A during Art Basel Miami. Here are a few more of the beautifully executed portraits:
West Coast-based Esao Andrews does Bob Dylan
West Coast-based Richard Henderson AKA Hauser does Ralf Hutter of Kraftwerk
West Coast-based Drew Merritt does George Harrison
West Coast-based David Flores does David Bowie
West Coast-based Cyrcle does Beethoven
New Zealand-based Askew One does Billie Holiday
Opening image: Project curator Tristan Eaton’s portrait of Afrika Bambaataa
Photos by Lois Stavsky
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A collective of artists based primarily in Harlem, HART has become an active force in the uptown arts scene. While visiting its space, I had the opportunity to speak to one of its founders, Kristy McCarthy aka D Gale.
Can you tell us something about HART’s mission?
Our mission is to use art as a tool to engage, educate and empower the members of our Harlem community. We are especially interested in beautifying abandoned and neglected spaces.
When was the Harlem Art Collective first born? And was anyone – besides you – involved in its conception?
It officially began last February. Gia Gutierrez and I had talked about starting some sort of Harlem-based artist organization. But as she didn’t have enough free time at that point to devote to launching it, Harold Baines and I organized the first few meetings with about 10 other artists and community members.
How did you get the word out? And how many artists are currently involved?
We initially got the word out mostly via emails and through our personal networks. About 40 artists currently participate.
Here at HART’s base, you provide space for local artists to live and free studio space for artists to create. In addition, you rent out two of the bedrooms to folks who are in NYC for short periods of time. How did you come upon such an amazing 5-bedroom space in the heart of East Harlem?
We found out about it from the building’s landlord. And its size and location made it a perfect match for our needs.
Among your projects is the always-engaging Guerilla Gallery on 116th Street off 2nd Avenue. It has introduced us to many new artists, and it also showcases art by some of our all-time favorite ones. What other projects have you initiated?
We have partnered with other community organizations — such as the East Harlem Block Nursery, Concrete Safaris and the Manatí Community Garden — to paint murals at block parties and community events. We worked with Urban Innovations to paint and install little free libraries in community gardens around Harlem, and we have hosted free art workshops at the HART house.
How can an artist join your collective?
We hold meetings twice a month. Anyone interested in attending and finding out more about HART can contact us via our Facebook page. We are also going to start a monthly newsletter this spring and, hopefully, add a community calendar to the Guerilla Gallery.
What’s ahead?
We are working on organizing a spring show that will feature artists from the collective and from the neighborhood. We are also working on starting other Guerrilla Galleries on abandoned construction walls around Harlem. And we are planning to paint more murals that directly involve the community. We have, also, recently formed a women’s caucus within the collective to organize projects specifically dedicated to women’s issues and female empowerment.
That sounds great! Good luck with it all. We are looking forward!
Images:
1. El Nino de las Pinturas, inside the Hart House
2. Lexi Bella, Danielle Mastrion and Kristy McCarthy in East Harlem
3. Kristy McCarthy in East Harlem
4. The Guerrilla Gallery in East Harlem, as seen earlier this year
5. Steve Perez, Zerk Oer and Bio,Tats Cru at the Guerrilla Gallery in East Harlem, as seen this past week on massive wall spelling out E-L B-A-R-R-I-O
Photo credits: 1 & 4 Tara Murray; 2, 3 & 5 Lois Stavsky
Interview by Lois Stavsky
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Meres, Jerms, Topaz, See TF, Python and Demer made their way — several weeks back — to First Street Green, where they painted an ode to the historic East Village/Lower East Side neighborhood. Here are a few more images:
The huge mural was painted in collaboration with the Centrefuge Public Art Project and First Street Green. The art park is located at 33 East First Street on the site of — what was once — a derelict building.
Note: First image features Topaz, Meres One and See TF
Photos: 1 & 2 Tara Murray; 3 Dani Reyes Mozeson and 4 & 5 Lois Stavsky
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Since 2011, over 10 million Syrians have been uprooted from their homes. Another Day Lost, a mixed-media installation by Syrian UK-based artist Issam Kourbaj, offers a powerful look into the crisis crippling his homeland.
Inspired by the aerial imagery of the refugee camps in the Jordanian desert, the artist fashioned his installation — reflecting on the lives of refugees living in tents — from waste materials, such as medicine packaging and discarded books.
Each day of the installation, another match is lit and then blown out to mark one more day of Syria’s devastation.
U.S. residents visiting the site are invited to compose and electronically submit a letter to their elected representatives encouraging them to support increasing the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the U.S.
On the grounds of Trinity Church — at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street in Lower Manhattan — Another Day Lost can be viewed through January 5th.
Note: This post was written in collaboration with Kristin L. Wolfe.
Photo credits: 1, 3 & 4 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2 & 5 Kristin L. Wolfe
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A predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Chicago’s West Side, Pilsen hosts an incredible range of public artworks. Following the train tracks along 16th Street, we came upon Mexican-themed murals alongside dozens of pieces by graffiti writers and street artists. Here are a few more images from this outdoor gallery, an initiative of the Chicago Urban Art Society:
Chicago native Max Sansing
Belgian artist Roa
The late Brooks Golden
Chicago-based JC Rivera
Chicago-based Joseph “Sentrock” Perez
Chicago-based Ruben Aguirre with neighborhood artist Miguel A. Del Real
Chicago native Rodrigo Mireles aka RM Solo
Chicago-based Rahmaan Statik
Note: The first image features Montreal-based En Masse.
Photos: 1-3; 5-9 Sara C Mozeson; 4 Lois Stavsky
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An initiative of Columbia College Chicago, downtown Chicago’s Wabash Arts Corridor is home to over a dozen huge public artworks by a range of local, national and international artists. Here are a few of the murals along South Wabash Avenue that I saw this past week while visiting Chicago:
LA native Retna, close-up
Chicago-based Pose
Italian artist Never 2501
Columbia College Chicago alumnus Heidi Unkefer
French artist Kashink
Brooklyn-based Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
LA-based Cleon Peterson
Photos by Lois Stavsky
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For several weeks this fall, Invader was here in NYC installing dozens of his ingenious tile mosaics throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Among them were several NYC icons, along with a range of images and characters representing popular culture. Here are a few of our favorites:
Joey Ramone at the Bushwick Collective
Lou Reed in the East Village
In the East Village with the Lisa Project
Andy Warhol in the East Village with the Lisa Project
Michelangelo on the Lower East Side with the Lisa Project
In Crown Heights
Leonardo on the Lower East Side
In the Village
Note: This blog will be on vacation through December 27th. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
All photos by Tara Murray
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Earlier this month, five UAE-based street artists: Fathima Mohiuddin aka Fats, Gary Yong aka Enforce1, Justin MacMahon aka JustOne, Steffi Bow and SyaOne participated in NYU Abu Dhabi’s first Live Painting Event. Students, faculty members, staff and visitors were also invited to share their visions and talents with the NYU Abu Dhabi community . Curated by Houda Lazrak, an M.A. Candidate in Museum Studies at NYU, the Live Painting Event began at noon on December 7 and continued through 7pm.
Steffi Bow in action
Steffi Bow, completed mural
SyaOne in action
SyaOne, completed mural
Enforce1 at work
Enforce1, completed mural
Just1 at work
Just1, completed mural
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRf_RB2H3M4&feature=youtu.be
Photos 1-3, 5, 6, 8-10 Michelle Loibner; 4 & 7 Houda Lazrak
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