Street Artists

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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en-masse-mural-art-close-up-pilsen-chicago

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

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Belgian artist Roa

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The late Brooks Golden

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Chicago-based JC Rivera

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Chicago-based Joseph “Sentrock” Perez

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Chicago-based Ruben Aguirre  with neighborhood artist Miguel A. Del Real

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Chicago native Rodrigo Mireles aka RM Solo

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Chicago-based Rahmaan Statik

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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 Chicagodowntown 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

Retna

 Chicago-based Pose

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Italian artist Never 2501

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Columbia College Chicago alumnus Heidi Unkefer

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French artist Kashink

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Brooklyn-based Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

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LA-based Cleon Peterson

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Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Space-invader-street-art-Installation-NYC

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

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Lou Reed in the East Village

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In the East Village with the Lisa Project

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Andy Warhol in the East Village with the Lisa Project

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Michelangelo on the Lower East Side with the Lisa Project

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In Crown Heights

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Leonardo on the Lower East Side

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In the Village

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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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fathima-Mohiuddin-aka-fats-live-art-nyu-Abu-Dhabi

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.

Fathima Mohiuddin aka Fats 

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Steffi Bow in action

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Steffi Bow, completed mural

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SyaOne in action

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SyaOne, completed mural

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Enforce1 at work

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Enforce1, completed mural

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Just1 at work

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Just1, completed mural

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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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Connecting artists and businesses, the 100 Gates public art project continues to transform dozens of metal store shutters on the Lower East Side and in Chinatown into intriguing outdoor canvases.  What follows are just a few:

Mas Paz, X Cubicle, 25 Essex Street

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Damien Mitchell, Michele Olivieri, 118 Orchard Street

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Billy the Artist, Michele Olivieri, 88 Delancey Street

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Ida Noelle, The Sill @ 84 Hester Street

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Abigail Kaage, Zest, 249 Broome Street

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Claw Money & Miss 17Red Mango, 145 Allen Street

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Faust and Shantell Martin, Lowline Lab/EDC Warehouse, 140 Essex Street

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Jessica DeutchLucky Jack’s, 129 Orchard Street

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Buff MonsterBondy Export Corp, 40 Canal Street

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Founded by NYC artist and professional skater Billy Rohan, this public art project is managed by Natalie Raben, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Lower East Side Business Improvement District. If you own a business on the Lower East Side and would like to become involved with 100 Gates, check this out.

Photos: 1, 2, 5-9 Tara Murray; 3, 4 Lois Stavsky

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Last month, West Coast-based Kai Aspire was avidly gracing NYC streets with his earnest artworks. I had the opportunity to meet up with him then and pose a few questions:

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When and where did you first get up on a public surface?

I was 15 years old, and it was in LA.

What inspired you at the time?

My dad was a heavy smoker, and I was concerned about his health. The first work of art I created was to get his attention, and it did!

Bushwick summer

Did you have any preferred surfaces back then?

The electrical boxes in LA were ideal!

Were you ever arrested?

Just as I was leaving a spot in Beverly Hills, a cop pulled a gun on me. He then handcuffed me and lay me on the floor. Six back-up cops came and made me remove everything that I put up. But they didn’t arrest me. They told me – somewhat apologetically — that they liked what I was doing!

How does your family feel about what you are doing?

They love it!  My mom gets a little scared sometimes. But she wants me to be happy, and she knows that what I am doing makes me happy.

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What percentage of your time is devoted to your art these days?

Just about all of it!

 Any other passions?

Surfing and soccer.

How do you feel about the movement of graffiti and street art into galleries?

It’s fine, so long as we don’t lose our touch with the streets. But my focus is on bringing the beauty of galleries onto the streets. That is why I pay so much attention to how my works are framed.

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What about the corporate world? Any feelings about working with it?

I try to avoid it.

Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?

It’s easier for me to work by myself, as I have a distinct vision as to how I want to present my artwork.

Have any particular cultures influenced your aesthetic?

My father’s French and growing up, I read French comics. And my mother’s Mexican heritage has most likely influenced the relief-work that I do. I love working with my hands.

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What is the riskiest thing you ever did?

Trying to get my message of reconciliation – love instead of hate — out in Hebron amidst gunshots, while hiding from the police. I was lucky to get out alive.

Yes! Hebron is definitely one of the world’s most conflict-ridden places. You’ve recently begun a world tour. Where else are you headed?

In addition to Hebron, I’ve been to Paris and Tel Aviv. Other stops include: West Palm Beach, Miami, LA, San Francisco, Bogota, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and Brazil.

That’s quite ambitious! How do you feel about the role of the Internet in this scene?

It’s certainly interesting. It seems to blur the line between marketing and art, as it can give an artist a lot of exposure.

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Have you a formal art education?

I studied for one year at CalArts, the California Institute of the Arts, and then I learned the more practical aspects of art at ENSBA, Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

What inspires you these days?

Everyday life.

You obviously have a message you are interested in transmitting. 

Yes. Much of my work is a comment on our misplaced values.

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How has your work evolved in the past few years?

The process is more complex, and I use less sarcasm in getting my message across.

What do you see as the role of the artist in society?

To bring beauty to the world as he or she critiques it in a loving way.

That sounds good! Best of luck with your travels!

Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky; Photo 2 by Lois Stavsky; all others courtesy of the artist.

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Last month, I had the opportunity to meet up with the young, wonderfully talented Danish artist Andreas Welin while he was painting in Bed-Stuy during his recent visit to NYC.

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When and where did you first hit the streets?

I was 18 when I first painted on the streets. It was in my native Sønderborg, a small town in Southern Denmark.

What inspired you to hit the streets?

I was inspired by the art and graffiti that I saw on the streets. And L:Ron, a first generation Danish writer and rapper, helped me get into the graffiti scene.

Any early memories that stand out?

When I was 13 years old, I came upon a parking lot filled with all kinds of graffiti styles. I was amazed!

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When you began painting, did you paint on your own? Or were you with a crew?

For four years, I painted with the SBP Sonderbronx Punks graffiti crew.

What about these days? Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?

I love collaborating, but I’d rather be commissioned to paint on my own.

Any particularly risky moments?

Bombing is always risky.

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How does your family feel about what you are doing?

They love it! My mom is a designer and my father was an artist. Both my parents are supportive.

What percentage of your time is devoted to art?

My mind is always on art. But I paint publicly three to four times a week.

Is art the main source of your income?

Yes…the money I earn from commissions.

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How do you feel about the movement of graffiti and street art into galleries and museums?

I think it’s cool. It motivates us artists to further develop our skills, and it gives us exposure.

Why do you suppose graffiti is more respected as an art form in Europe than here in the U.S.?

I think that the European writers have had many more opportunities to develop their skills and take them to another level. Unlike here, there are legal walls and trains in just about every town.

How you feel about the role of the Internet in this scene?

It’s great!  It’s an extra advertisement for me, and what I see often inspires me.

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Do you have a formal arts education?

I studied Fine Arts for one year.

Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?

I’ve been influenced by the hip-hop culture and by the art I’ve seen while visiting other cities and galleries.

What are some of the other cities you’ve painted in – besides your native town and NYC?

Among the cities I’ve painted in are: Berlin, Lisbon, Toronto, Eindhoven, Roskilde and Copenhagen.

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Are you generally satisfied with your work?

I’m usually pretty happy with it. I don’t want to be too satisfied!

How has your artwork evolved in the past few years?

It’s evolved quite a bit.  It used to be cartoony. These days my style tends to be more realistic.

What do you see as the role of the artist in society?

It is to beautify a space, while giving people something new to think about.

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What’s ahead?

I’m not sure, but I know that I will be painting. And I’d like to return to the NYC and, perhaps, intern with a company like Colossal Media. I want to be able to paint outdoors and support myself as a painter.

Note:  photos 1, 2, 5-7 in NYC; 3 in Denmark and 4 collab with Mek in Trenton, NJ

Photos: 1 & 5 Lois Stavsky; 2 Tara Murray; 3, 4 & 7 courtesy of the artist; interview by Lois Stavsky

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stikman-maybe he always looks the same

Featured in Woodward Gallery’s current exhibit Potentia Triumalong with works by Thomas Buildmore and Terence Netter, are over two dozen variations of our beloved stikman.  Representing an extraordinary range of imaginative styles and genres fashioned from sundry materials — many recycled — the artworks remain on display through December 22.

 One of many on paper, Mixed media 

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Collage on paper series, with Terence Netter on left and Thomas Buildmore on right rear

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Small Concrete Painting, Mixed media

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Bird Garden Shelter, Mixed media

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Stiks, Stone, Metal, Mixed media

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A larger segment of the huge installation in the rear room

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Woodward Gallery is located at 133 Eldridge Street between Broome and Delancey Streets. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm; Sunday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm and by appointment.

First image: Maybe He Always Looks the Same. but It’s Us that See Him Differently, Close-up, Mixed media

Photo credits: 1-6 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 7 John Woodward

Note: Check here for more of stikman now on view at Woodward Gallery — as captured by Kendall Whitehouse.

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doseart-steff-bow-mural-art-dubai

An urban celebration of art, music and food, Street Nights features some of Dubai’s most active muralists painting live. The following images were captured last week while visiting the Walk At JBR, an inviting outdoor promenade along the beach.

Ramy Elzaghawy at work

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Edge Nation crew member at work

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Jonny Revs, work in progress

"Jonny Revs"

Has One

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First image features Steffi Bow and Dose Art

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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