This is the ninth in a series of occasional posts featuring the range of faces that surface on NYC open spaces:
James Bullough at the Bushwick Collective
Alan Aine in Bedford-Stuyvesant
Vexta in the East Village
Zimad at the Bushwick Collective
Anser in Bushwick
Sam Kirk in Williamsburg
Rafael de los Santos aka Poteleche in Williamsburg
Photo credits: 1 & 3. Tara Murray; 2, 4, 6 & 7 Lois Stavsky; 5. Dani Reyes Mozeson
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This is the sixth in a series of occasional posts featuring the range of curious characters that have made their way onto NYC open spaces:
French artist André in Downtown Manhattan
Bradley Theodore in SoHo
French artist Kashink in Bushwick
Dasic and Spanish artist Spok Briller at the Bushwick Collective
Nick Kuszyk aka RRobots in Williamsburg
See One at the Bushwick Collective
Puerto Rican artists Nepo and Son in Bushwick for this past summer’s Juicy Art Fest
Photos: 1, 2, 5-7 & 9 Lois Stavsky; 3 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 4 & 8 Tara Murray
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For the past several wintry months, fiber artist Naomi RAG has been beautifying East Harlem with her splendid yarn bombing. Yesterday, I spoke briefly to Naomi.
When did you first begin to grace public streets with your talents?
The first time I yarnbombed was four years ago back in Cambridge, England.
What inspired you to do so at the time?
Via social media, I had heard about International Yarnbombing Day, and I loved the idea of bringing color and beauty to our urban landscape.
Where else have you yarnbombed?
Liverpool’s Crosby District — where I was staying for a bit — and here in East Harlem, where I’ve lived for the past year.
What is your impression of your new neighborhood?
I just love it! I especially love its diversity. It is quite similar to the London Borough of Hackney.
How have folks here responded to your pieces here in East Harlem?
All the feedback has been positive. And it’s the positive reactions that motivate me to keep at it.
What’s ahead?
My goal is to create one new piece a month to share here in the public sphere.
That sounds great! We are looking forward!
Photos 1-3, Lois Stavsky; 4 & 5, Dani Reyes Mozeson
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Fusing ancient Arabic scripts with modern Western strokes, Moroccan native Rocko has fashioned a distinct aesthetic that has been increasingly making its way onto NYC walls. We were delighted to have the chance to meet up with him this past weekend.
When did you first get up?
Back in Morocco in 1997. I was the first one to bomb in Meknès. It was something that I had always wanted to do. I was a b-boy, and graffiti was always an essential aspect of that culture. I’d also painted for the pioneering hip-hop crew, Dogs, known these days as H-Kayne.
What about here in NYC?
Here in NYC I only work on legal spaces. There’s too much at risk here!
What was your first piece here?
Three years ago I did my first piece for the Pita Palace on Montrose and Bushwick.
What was the experience like?
I loved it. I particularly love the interaction with the passersby as I’m painting.
What kinds of surfaces do you prefer?
As I generally paint with brushes, I need smooth surfaces. I also look for spots with no trees of cars blocking the view.
How have folks responded to your particular aesthetic – a fusion of Arabic calligraphy and graffiti?
The response was been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. I am constantly asked to design tattoos featuring my particular calligraffiti.
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
They love it. Everyone is supportive.
What percentage of your day is devoted to your art?
About 40%.
What is your main source of income?
I work as a director of a senior center in Bushwick.
What are some of your other interests?
Cycling. I race for the Brooklyn Arches.
Any thoughts on the graffiti/ street art divide?
I feel that it’s reached a turning point in recent weeks. I expect there will be less of a division from now on.
How do you feel about the movement of graffiti and street art into galleries? Have you shown your work in galleries?
I’m fine with it. It’s just a different context. Yes, I’ve shown my work in a number of spaces in Brooklyn.
What about the corporate world? Any thoughts about that?
I don’t mess with it!
Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?
I often work alone, but I’ve collaborated with a number of artists including Zimer, Eelco and N Carlos J.
Is there anyone in particular you would like to collaborate with?
I love what Sek3 is doing. I would like to collaborate with him.
When I first saw your work, I confused you with Retna. Does that happen often?
Yes! But I’ve been doing it for 34 years. It’s my culture!
How do you feel about the role of the Internet in this scene?
I think it’s very important. It introduces us to so much.
Do you have a formal arts education?
No, I never went to art school. I’m self-taught. I began doing Arabic calligraphy when I was four years old with a wooden pencil!
How would you describe your ideal working environment?
Just me in my studio. But working on public walls is more fun!
What inspires you these days?
Everything I see around me!
Are there any particular cultures you feel influenced your aesthetic?
Arabic.
Do you work with a sketch in your hand or do you let it flow?
Never! I freestyle.
How has your work evolved in the past few years?
It’s gotten better. Sharing my work in public spaces pushes me to work harder at my craft.
What do you see as the role of the artist in society?
The artist has a huge responsibility to his or her community – to enhance it in a respectful manner.
How do you feel about the photographers and bloggers in this scene?
They are very important!
What do you see as the future of street art?
It will just keep on growing and evolving.
And what about you? What’s ahead?
More walls, more collabs and more exhibits. I will also continue to curate the Dodworth Mural Project that I launched last year.
That sounds wonderful! We are looking forward!
Interview by Lois Stavsky with Houda Lazrak; first photo courtesy of the artist; all others by Lois Stavsky; photo 2 is a collaborative with Zimer; 5 with Eelco and Vera Times; 6 with N Carlos J and 7 with Eelco
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The Centre-fuge Public Art Project continues its mission to transform the Department of Transportation trailer on First Street and First Avenue into a vibrant open-air gallery. These past few wintry weeks, its 16th cycle has brought an infectious energy to an otherwise cold and stark site. Here are a few close-ups:
Moody at work in mid-December — at the beginning of the current cycle
Joshua David McKenney at work
And to the right of Pidgin Doll — Marthalicia Matarrita, Michael DeNicola, Basil and Lexi Bella
Foxx Faces, Raquel Echanique and Marthalicia Matarrita
Vernon O’Meally, Lelex and Fade, AA Mobb
Arbiter, Miss Zukie, Foxx Faces, BK and Sest2
Pebbles Russell, who co-founded the Centre-fuge Public Art Project in 2012, reports that Cycle 16 will remain in effect for a few more weeks. If you would like to participate in future cycles of this project, send a sketch, along with reference images to other works, to centrefuge@gmail.com.
Final photo by Lois Stavsky; all others by Dani Reyes Mozeson
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While in Miami this past week, I had the opportunity to visit the grounds of the Jose De Diego Middle School. On the edge of Wynwood, its students are among the city’s most economically disadvantaged. Over 600 youngsters, who had been deprived of an arts education due to insufficient funding, now attend a school that is also a wondrous outdoor museum. Curious about it all, I spoke to Don Rimx, one of the many artists who had participated in the school’s amazing transformation.
How did you become involved in this extraordinary project?
Soon after I moved to Miami, I met Robert Skran of WynwoodMap.com, a site that documents the public art that surfaces in Wynwood. A few months later, he invited me to participate in this particular project, the RAW Project, in partnership with the Wynwood Arts District Association.
What was the goal of this project? Did it have a particular mission?
One goal, of course, was to transform a drab, blank concrete canvas into a vibrant outdoor gallery. It was also conceived as a means to raise funds to enable the school to restore its arts program that had been lost to budget cuts.
When did the actual painting begin?
We began in November and most of the murals were completed by early December.
How did the students respond to the entire process?
They loved it. They were fascinated. They loved watching us paint, and they kept on asking us questions.
What kinds of questions did they ask you?
Questions like: Why are you painting this? Where did your idea come from? How do you do this? How long will it take you to finish it? Why are you painting sticks?
Back in December when Art Basel was in town, the school’s makeover attracted so many street art aficionados and art lovers. What’s happening these days?
The entire community loves the murals. The art on these walls have brought us all closer together. When I pass by, I often see teachers taking students on tours of the murals. The kids are always interested in learning something new about them and about the artists. And because so many of the artists traveled to their school from across the globe, there is so much to learn!
This really is fabulous! It would be wonderful if the Jose De Diego Middle School could serve as a model to other schools — on all grade levels — everywhere!
The murals pictured above are just a small sampling of what can be seen on the walls of the Jose De Diego Middle School:
1. Brazilian artist Rafael Sliks
2. Australian born, Berlin-based Reka
3. Puerto Rican artist Bikismo
4. French artist MTO (left) and Mexican artist Paola Delfín
5. Norwegian stencil artist Martin Whatson
6. West Coast-based Madsteez (left) and Miami-based Axel Void
7. Puerto Rican artist Don Rimx currently based in Miami — with son, Kye, standing on bottom right. (I’d asked him to take me to his favorite mural!)
8. Miami-based Peruvian artist Diana Contreras
9. Miami-based the Hox
Photos and post by Lois Stavsky
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Here are a few of the works reflecting a range of political and social issues that have surfaced on NYC streets:
Bikismo in Williamsburg
Gilf! in NoLita
#Dysturb in Manhattan
LMNOPI in Bushwick
Luis Rosenfeld at work in SoHo
Sophia Dawson, lead artist, in the East Village
Hunt Rodriguez in SoHo — in response to the Charlie Hebdo attack
Photo credits: 1, 3, 4 & 7 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2. Lois Stavsky; 5. Lenny Collado aka BKLenny & 6. Tara Murray
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Often showcasing artworks by diverse street artists – from DALeast to Ludo to Meres – the wall outside rag & bone has also featured various artists who don’t generally share their visions in public spaces. For the past several weeks we have been treated to a selection of pages from the journals of Rainer Judd, the daughter of the late artist Donald Judd,
Close-up from “Sunlight on the Iguanas.” Book no. 6, Black Leather Silver Corner, 1987- 1989 — as seen last week
“The idea was to see books on the wall, changing pages,” Rainer explains. “I’ve been filling journal books since I was 11. On November 16, 2014, I brought Swiss bags full of these books to photographer Henry Leutwyler and Javas Lehn. With a focus on the graphic quality of them as objects I could see them differently. For me, journals are a place of dialogue with myself, a testing ground for ideas, a pal, a repository for the stuff of the highway of my heart. This is a small window into a deep archive.”
Here are some pages from Rainer Judd‘s journal that surfaced in December
Then earlier this month
And through the end of this month, you can check out the final piece now outside rag & bone on Elizabeth Street off 73 East Houston.
Photos 1-3 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 4 courtesy rag & bone’s Houston Wall Project and 5 by Lois Stavsky
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After six weeks of polishing a five-foot–tall marble cube to perfection back in 1982, German sculptor Ewerdt Hilgemann rolled it down a steep slope. He liked what he saw, as its mangled, contorted forms represented “the ultimate beauty of creation.” And since 1985, Hilgemann has been forging sculptures using a unique vacuum process, which “implodes” geometric shapes causing the material to deform according to natural laws.
At once tough and sensuous, a series of Hilgemann’s seven stainless steel sculptures surfaced on the streets of our city this past summer. We were mesmerized! Opening tomorrow at Mana Contemporary is Panta Rhei, an exhibit featuring six of Hilgeman’s sculptures installed outside the Mana Glass Gallery and inside the building’s lobby.
Cube Flower, as seen in early fall on Park Avenue
Dancers, close-up, as seen in early fall on Park Avenue
And at Mana Contemporary, as seen yesterday in the icy snow
The artist
And his wondrous smaller works as viewed indoors at Mana
Also opening tomorrow at Mana Contemporary are: Making Art Dance, curated by Jeffrey Deitch; John Newsom: Rogue Arena and David Levinthal: Hitler Moves East.
The opening events are free and open to the public. You can RSVP here for free transportation from NYC. Shuttle service to and from the event will be provided every half hour starting at 12:30 PM from Milk Studios (450 W. 15th Street) and returning every half hour from Mana starting at 2 PM.
Photos: 1-5 and 7 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 6 by Lois Stavsky
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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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