Street Artists

The RAW Project at Wynwood’s Eneida M. Hartner Elementary School: Jules Muck, Mr. June, Zed1, Kevin Ledo, Shepard Fairey, Paola Delfin, Case Macclaim, Jarvis Landry & Kai Aspire

January 23, 2017

Back in 2014, the RAW Project transformed Wynwood’s Jose De Diego Middle School’s stark walls into a vibrant, sumptious outdoor gallery. During last month’s Art Basel, a team of artists — from across the globe — brought beauty and intrigue to the walls of Wynwood’s Eneida M. Hartner Elementary School. Pictured above is Jules Muck at work. Here are several more images captured on site by travel and street photographer Karin du Maire.

Mr. June at work

Zed1

Paolo Delfin

Kevin Ledo — on left — with Shepard Fairey (w/assistants) and Paolo Delfin at work earlier on

Case Maclaim at work

RAW Project curator Robert Skran posing with Miami Dolphins’ Jarvis Landry aka Juice and Kai Aspire in front Kai’s and Jarvis’s collaborative artwork

All photos by Karin du Maire

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A Visit to GAMA, a Creative Urban Arts Space, in Mexico City

January 8, 2017

While in Mexico City several weeks ago, I had the chance to visit GAMA, a distinctly impressive artists’ space and gallery in Colonia Hipódromo, and speak to its founder, Daniel Martinez and his partner, Kas Chudleigh.

This is such a wonderful space with so much positive energy. Can you tell us a bit about GAMA? There are quite a few people here. Who are you?

We are a group of artists that seek to nurture each other and others by collaborating, offering workshops, showcasing our work and providing opportunities for creatives.

How long have you been in this particular space? It is ideal.

We’ve been here on the ground floor of Comitán 10, Hipódromo since June 30^th.

How would you describe GAMA‘s mission?

With a particular focus on street art and urban art, we work with a diverse group of graphic designers, illustrators, photographers and muralists. We perceive the GAMA space as an education and resource center that offers a wide range of events, talks and exhibits, along with opportunities to collaborate with brands.

Can you give us some examples of the workshops offered here?

Upcoming workshops include: watercolor painting with Diego Andrad; working with 3-D in the gif format with Chacalall, and designing illustrations with Yolka Mx.

You’ve also curated outdoor murals. I visited the one painted by Werc and Gera Luz earlier today. When did you first become interested in street art?

In 2005 — over 10 years ago — I started creating stickers and wheatpastes. I also began following online what was happening throughout the globe, and then I spent time in Berlin and Barcelona, where I saw so much amazing art on public spaces.

What would you say is your greatest challenge at this point?

The major one is attaining the support we need to maintain the space.

What’s ahead? Any particular projects — besides all the wonderful things happening here?

We’d like to produce a series of documentaries about some of the artists we work with. We are especially interested in the creative process. What motivates and inspires artists? We’re also interested in establishing alliances with different cultural projects in Mexico and connecting to more emerging artists.

It all sounds great! How can folks contact you if they would like to visit or become involved?

They can contact us at contacto@gamacrea.com. They can also follow us on Instagram and on Facebook.

Images

1. Toxicómano

2. Root Rises

3. Yolka Mx

4. Werc and Gera Luz

5. Gleo

Photos and interview by 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 for Android devices here.

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Speaking with Street Art Chilango Founders: Jenaro de Rosenzweig & Alejandro Revilla

January 3, 2017

While in Mexico City last month, I had the opportunity to meet up with Jenaro de Rosenzweig and Alejandro Revilla, founders of the hugely popular Street Art Chilango.

Just what is Street Art Chilango?

It is a company dedicated to promoting street art. Three divisions have evolved: 1. Social networking on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat; 2. Private and group tours that focus on street art in the city’s center and 3. Securing mural commissions for artists, many of whom are our friends, in both public and private spaces.

When was Street Art Chilango launched?

We launched it on March 7, 2013.

How did you and Alex meet? And how did you end up collaborating?

We met in Barcelona several years ago, and discovered — almost at once — that we shared a love for street art. I then went on my own to Berlin where I hung out with street artists and often ended up starting to paint at 3am in the morning! When I returned to Mexico, my ex- girlfriend suggested that I learn about the street art here in my own city. And so after taking photos, I decided to start a Facebook fan page and Alex — who had returned earlier to Mexico City — installed an API to search for the hashtag #streetartchilango on Instagram. That’s how it all began!

And what about the tours? What spurred you to start offering tours?

Since so few people seemed to know about the amazing street art here in Mexico City, sharing it with others seemed like the logical next step. And once we began offering tours, we then set up our office here in the center of town.

What about commissions? When and how did that start?

In October of that year, we were approached by a book publishing company, and so our first joint project was launched.

And since that first year? Who have some of your clients been?

We’ve done murals and live painting for restaurants, hotels, businesses and a range of companies from Starbucks to Facebook.

What would you say are some of your challenges?

Continually striving to be the best we can be despite distractions and staying true to the spirit of street art when dealing with commercial enterprises.

You two have worked together now for over three years. What would you say is the key to your successful collaboration?

We are both passionate about street art, but our experiences and backgrounds are different. I studied Electrical Engineering and Finance, and Alex has a strong background in Social Media. And so we bring different strengths to Street Art Chilango.

How can folks best contact you?

They can drop us an email at : contacto@streetartchilango.com

Images

1. Jenaro‘s famed colorful dog

2. One of Jenaro‘s signature Star Wars works

3. & 4. Commissioned murals painted by Street Art Chilango artists

5. A rotating outdoor canvas curated by Street Art Chilango, this one painted by IOU

Photos and interview by Lois Stavsky

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Meeting of Styles in Mexico City: Apitatan, Diego Zelaya, Musa71, Cyfione, Main Rodriguez, YuzuRabia, Astro and Shane Hello

December 31, 2016

Among the most exuberant walls in Mexico City are those painted by both local and international artists during the city’s Meeting of Styles festival. I first discovered them on a tour with Street Art Chilango, and then I kept on returning to them. Above is the work of Ecuadorian artist Apitatan. Here are several more:

Mexican painter Diego Zelaya

Barcelona-based writer Musa 71

Tucson-based Cyfione

Main Rodriguez

Mexican artist YuzuRabia

French artists Astro and Shane Hello

Photos by Lois Stavsky; special thanks to Caro for identifying so many of the artists as I was posting Mexico City’s street art on Instagram earlier this month.

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 Azcapotzalco, Mexico City: Tellaeche, Diana Bama, Pyska, Sego and More Mural Art

December 30, 2016

Shortly after I arrived in Mexico City earlier this month, I met up with the wonderfully knowledgeable Soylo. Passionate about the art that surfaces in public spaces — and always eager to explore and share insights into the minds that inspire it — he has been photographing graffiti and street art in his city since 2007. Among the artworks he introduced me to are a series of murals painted by Mexican artists for the project Memoria. Curated by Colectivo C, they surfaced last year in Azcapotzalco, an industrial district in the northwestern part of Mexico City. The mural pictured above is by Tellaeche, who had painted here in NYC at the Bushwick Collective. Here are several more murals inspired by the notion of Memory:

Diana Bama

To be identified

Pyska

Simply signed 7z00, a reference to the 43 missing Mexican students

And Sego who had painted earlier in East Harlem

Special thanks, again, to Soylo for introducing me to artworks I never would have found on my own!

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Vibrant Public Art In Crystal City, Virginia: Mas Paz, Juan Pineda, Jahru, Miss Chelove, Kelly Towles, Ethan Kerber & SatOne

December 26, 2016

An urban neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, Crystal City is less than three miles away from DC’s Smithsonian Museums. Thanks to its active BID, it boasts a thriving public art scene, featuring a wide variety of works in a range of styles — many painted by local DC artists. And for us street art aficionados, there is much to love. What follows is a sampling:

DC-based artists Mas Paz and Juan Pineda

Annapolis, MD-based Jeff Huntington aka Jahru

DC-based Cita Sadeli aka Miss Chelove

DC-based Kelly Towles

San Francisco-based metal artist Ethan Kerber

Munich, Germany-based SatOne

Photo credits: 1, 5 & 6 Lois Stavsky; 2-4 & 7 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 for Android devices here.

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DISTRICT WALLS: Abstract Mural Art in DC by Robert Proch, Reka, Waone, Jessie and Katey, Remi Rough, Above & Jason Woodside

December 23, 2016

In early fall, Blind Whino x Art Whino brought 10 internationally acclaimed street artists to Washington DC. A melding of abstraction, fine art, graffiti and street art, their murals further enhance DC’s thriving visual landscape. Pictured above is a huge segment of a mural painted by the Polish artist, Robert Proch. Here are several more captured on our recent visit to DC:

Berlin-based Australian artist Reka, segment of huge mural

Ukranian artist Waone of Interesni Kazki

Baltimore-based Jessie and Katey

UK-based Remi Rough

Berlin-based Above, close-up

NYC-based Jason Woodside

Photo credits: 1 & 7 Lois Stavsky; 2-6 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 for Android devices here.

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iwillnot on the DC Street Sticker EXPO 3.0 at the FridgeDC

December 21, 2016

Currently on view at the FridgeDC is DC Street Sticker EXPO 3.0, an extraordinary ode to street art stickers. Curated by iwillnot and hosted and sponsored by the Fridge Gallery, it features over 100,000 striking stickers. They’re all here: handsome handstyles, curious characters, political posits and social statements. While in DC, I had the opportunity to speak to iwillnot.

When did you first become involved in the sticker art culture? And what attracted you to it?

It was about ten years ago. I liked the way I could easily transport stickers in my pockets and get them up quickly on the streets.

And what was it about the streets that appealed to you?

Getting my name and message across in a public space.

This is the third sticker art exhibit that you’ve curated at the FridgeDC. What inspired you to bring it indoors?

My son was born five years ago. I no longer had the time to hit the streets. Nor could I take the legal risks. DC’s laws are harsh. One can get fined $1,000.00 and be sentenced to 3o days in jail just for getting a slap up.

Gee… And with Trump here, the penalties could get even harsher. How does this current exhibit differ from the previous two that you curated?

This is the first one that covers the entire gallery. There’s been more involvement, and — with a six-week run — it will be the longest-running sticker expo that I’ve curated.

What were some of the challenges involved in curating such a huge exhibit?

It’s quite costly. Getting something like this together is expensive. And it demands endless hours of work, including time spent training volunteers.

How were you able to collect so many stickers? There are tens of thousands here!

When I first started posting my stickers online, Skam reached out to me to trade stickers. I’ve been trading with artists all over the world ever since. Every participant in the expo gets a return pack from me. It takes months to get them mailed out… but a trade is a trade. After years of trading with artists I have hundreds of thousands of stickers.

And how do you keep track of them?

I document each and every entry. I tag each one and acknowledge receiving it.

That must be some task!

It’s a year-round lifestyle.

How has the response been to this show? The opening was packed with folks of all ages!

The reaction has been great. People seem to have discovered an untapped passion for this art form. All year round, I’m asked about the “next sticker expo.”

How can folks see the exhibit?

It continues through New Years Eve at the FridgeDC, 516 1/2 8th Street SE, and is open Thursday-Saturday 1–8pm & Sunday 1-5pm.

Great! I’m already looking forward to next year’s!

Note: Among the many artists featured in the above close-ups are: Skam, Beas, Klozr, Jamie XV, Ed Gein, iwillnot Hugh Brisman, Sarah Jamison, Sladge & Konjak, 2front, Psyco, Nikolay Milushev, da_weiss, 702er, P Lust, Zas, Chris RWK, nite owl, Feln One,…(more to come!)

Photo credits: 1 Tara Murray; 2 – 6 Lois Stavsky; interview by Lois Stavsky

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At Urban Evolution in Baltimore with: Syko Roxx, Emo, Spot, 4sakn, Meca, Grope, Veer One, Tiper, Torch Fuego & dlordink

December 16, 2016

While in Baltimore last month, we had the opportunity to visit Urban Evolution, a first-rate gym that is also a graffiti lover’s wonderland. Pictured above is by Newark-based Syko Roxx. What follows are several more pieces — many by NJ-based writers — that have made their way onto the walls of Urban Evolution:

NJ-based Emo

NYC-based Spot, KMS

NJ-based 4sakn

Baltimore-based Meca with fragment of piece by Grope above it

NJ-based Veer One

NJ-based Tiper

NJ-based Torch Fuego

And Baltimore-based dlordink

Note: Urban Evolution is located at 6801 Eastern Avenue in Baltimore, MD

Photo credits: 1-3, 5, 6, 8 & 9 Lois Stavsky; 4 & 7 Tara Murray

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DAIN Solo Exhibit Continues at Fat Free Art on the Lower East Side

December 14, 2016

Showcasing established artists, as well as emerging ones, Fat Free Art recently opened in an elegantly gritty space on the corner of Allen and Delancey on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. A dazzling solo exhibit presenting new works by the ever-ingenious Dain has inaugurated the space. Here is a sampling: