Walls

Speaking with Dasic Fernández

November 29, 2013

Chilean artist Dasic Fernández has been captivating us with his sumptuous styles since we first met him up in the Bronx, while painting a bus in collaboration with Cekis. We recently caught up with him in Newburgh, New York, where he’d been busy at work transforming the city’s visual landscape.

When and where did you first get up?

I was 13 when I started tagging in Rancagua, Chile.

What inspired you?

The hip-hop scene! Graffiti was part of the movement. And I knew how to draw – so that was my way into it.

Have you any early graffiti memories?

Nothing specific! Just hanging out late with my best friend and bombing.

What percentage of the time is devoted to your art?

One hundred percent! If I’m not doing it, I’m thinking about it or dreaming about it.

Any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

Everything I’ve learned about painting on the streets and appropriating space I learned from graffiti. I never felt any tension between street artists and graffiti writers. I still use the same fat cap to paint as did to tag.

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

I respect it only when artists have had long courses in the streets first and continue painting in the streets once they’ve shown their work in galleries.

Have you exhibited in a gallery?

I had my first solo exhibit in Santiago, Chile in 2009.

Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?

I’d rather work by myself. I feel more comfortable, and I can take my time.

How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all of this?

I don’t use it much. I feel like graffiti belongs on the streets. At first, I didn’t even photograph any of my works. But when a graffiti book came out that didn’t include any of my work, I decided that I had to.

Do you have a formal arts education?

I studied architecture back in Chile, but I quit less than a year before earning my degree.

What is your ideal working environment

The streets. That’s where I feel most comfortable. It is my natural environment. I love connecting with people while I’m painting outside. It makes me happy.

Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetics?

The mural culture in South America and Chile’s political murals, which are poetic and graphic. And I have also been influenced by hip-hop culture.

Do you work with sketch-in-hand or do you just let it flow?

When I’m commissioned to do a wall, I generally have to have a sketch. But other times, I’ll simply photograph the wall before I paint it

Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?

Never! Sometimes I’m close to being satisfied, but I’m never completely satisfied. I’m far too critical.

How have your work evolved throughout the years?

I paint on a bigger scale and I use more colors.

Any feelings about photographers?

They used to bother me, but now they don’t. I still don’t like, though, when they upload photos of unfinished pieces.

Why do you suppose the art world has been so reluctant to embrace street art and graffiti?

Because it’s the most powerful graphic movement out there.

Where have you painted?

I’ve painted throughout Chile and in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru and in Canada. And in the US, I’ve painted in Chicago, Texas, Michigan, and New York.

Have you any preferred spots or surfaces?

I like when a wall has context to spare, so that it can assume an identity through a mural.

What’s ahead for you?

Many personal projects with different timelines. I’m working now on completing a series of commissioned walls and canvases. I’m then planning to return to Chile and work on a book featuring my artwork. Then – more walls and an art festival that I’m organizing in New York and probably a solo exhibit. Basically I’ll keep flowing, painting and traveling. And there’s more!

Interview by Lois Stavsky with Tara Murray; photos 1. with Okuda and Rubin in Bushwick by Lois Stavsky; 2. in Bushwick by Tara Murray; 3. with Rubin in the Bronx by Tara Murray; 4. in Newburgh school by Lois Stavsky; 5 & 6. in Newburgh, NY by Lois Stavsky 7. with Logek in the Bronx by Tara Murray.

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Dariel MTZ on Bushwick’s New York Street Gallery

November 9, 2013

The founder of New York Street Gallery, a collective of international artists working together in NYC, Dariel MTZ is committed to providing outdoor canvases to a global network of street art and graffiti artists.

Tell us a bit about New York Street Gallery.

I started this project with my girlfriend, Daniela Croci aka Zoe, in January, 2013. We wanted to provide a platform for street artists to collaborate with those artists who may have never used the streets as a canvas.

How did it all begin?

We started by painting the exterior walls of my father’s tire shop in Bushwick. The response was so positive that we expanded to other walls, including some in Williamsburg.

Who are some of the artists involved in your project?

Among the many talents are: Nepo, Don Rimx, Iena Cruz, Vato, Alex Seel, Pixel Pancho, LNY, Guillermo Perez III, David Rothman and Kike Seba.

How has this project impacted you personally?

This project was an invitation to the culture. It has given me the opportunity to learn first-hand about street art and graffiti.

What about Zoe? What is her role?

She is the official filmmaker of this project. She has documented all that has happened so far.

What’s ahead?

This coming Friday, November 15, we will be showcasing the works of a group of extraordinarily talented artists at The Well on 272 Meserole Street in Bushwick.

Where would you like to see your project in five years?

I’d like to see us manage a gallery space, organize festivals and provide opportunities for artists to do big productions. It’s all about creating opportunities for the artists. You can follow us on Intagram @nystgallery.

Good luck! It all sounds great.

Interview by Lenny Collado; photos of Nepo, Pixel Pancho and LNY by Tara Murray

Editor’s note: Our blog will be on vacation through Monday, November 25. You can follow us on Facebook and on Google+. And be sure to keep posted to The Aqueduct Murals. Organized by the always-wonderful Joe Iurato, this meeting of street art and horse racing features an amazing array of artists including Logan Hicks, Chris Stain, Zed1, Faith47 and Rubin 415. It opens to the public at noon on Saturday, November 23 followed by a reception from 6-10pm, with an opportunity to meet the artists, along with the jockeys and trainers of New York racing. Lois Stavsky

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Speaking with NEPO

November 7, 2013

We are thrilled that Puerto Rican native Nepo has brought his superb skills to us here in NYC, delighting us with his wondrous characters, sensuous styles and bold colors. He’s been busy in Bushwick these days, where he will be painting live and exhibiting his work with New York Street Gallery next Friday, November 15th.

When and where did you first get up?

I began bombing and tagging my name back in 1996 in Puerto Rico. I was 16.

What inspired you to start writing?

At first I didn’t write. I used to help my friend Ensa with his fills when he did pieces. I also served as his look out. Eventually I started tagging. And Ensa was the one who gave me the name Nepo. It was kind of a joke, but it stuck.

Had you any preferred surfaces back then?

No. It was location that mattered. We focused on getting a spot where as many people as possible would see the work. Surface didn’t matter. Although, I’ll say, I do love shutters. They present a challenge I enjoy.

Do you paint with any crews? Or do you paint alone?

Both. I get up by myself and I also paint with El Coro and NST – both here and in Puerto Rico.

Have you exhibited your work?

I have. In Puerto Rico, I contributed to Carry On, a collective that went on to tour in Boston and in Oakland. I had two solo shows back home, and I’m working on an upcoming one here. I’m also now preparing for a group show with Bushwick’s New York Street Gallery.

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

Artists need to make money. In Puerto Rico, there are underground art galleries that support graffiti and really show love for it. I haven’t felt that here in NYC.

How does your family feel about what you do?

My mother and father didn’t get it for a long time. They thought it was crazy that I was spending so much time and money without getting paid. But then after they attended some of my shows and read about me in the news, they knew that I was progressing as an artist. And they grew to appreciate it.

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

I’m almost always working on a canvas, flyer, T-shirt, print, painting or wall. It may not yet be 100%, but I hope it will soon be.

Have you earned any money from your artwork?

I have. I designed a sign for the Well Project that brought me some money. And I will soon begin working for the Roberto Clemente Center, painting outdoors with five other artists.

Any thoughts on the graffiti/street art divide?

I have tremendous respect for graffiti and I identify with it. But these days I’m more of a street artist or muralist. I like doing legal walls because I can take my time. There is a divide, though, even though many street artists started as graffiti writers.

Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with?

I’d like to do something with Os Gemeos. And if they were still alive, I’d work with Diego Rivera and Basquiat. Ha-ha!

Do you have a formal arts education?

Yes. I studied art with a focus on traditional graphics, silkscreen, etching and printing.

Are there any particular cultures you would say have influenced your aesthetics?

The many bright colors that I use and the animals I reference are influenced by Puerto Rican culture.

Do you work with a sketch in hand or do you work free hand?

For murals, yes, I use sketches, especially for proportions.

Are you generally satisfied with a completed work?

Yes. When I have given my all to a particular project, the quality is there.

When you look back at what you’ve done in the last two years, is there anything you would have done differently?

I’d have done bigger work, larger scale murals and more of them. Here in NYC, I’ve done four and that’s not enough.

How has your art evolved throughout the years?

Initially, I began with paint brushes. But because I love to learn and expand, I moved on to spray paint and became obsessed. I continue to enjoy learning new spray paint techniques.

What was the riskiest thing you’ve done as a graffiti writer?

Ha-ha! I actually tagged the door of a Senator’s house in Puerto Rico. My friends and I were drunk, and we decided to tag it at four in the morning. Since we didn’t have our cameras with us, we ran home to get them. But by the time we returned, someone was already power-washing the tags off the building.

How do you feel about the photographers and bloggers on the scene?

We need them. Their job takes time and love. It’s not just about the artists; it’s also about the people who share their love for what we do with others.

What’s ahead?

I’m part of the first New York Street Gallery group exhibit that will take place next Friday, November 15, at 272 Messerole Street on Bushwick Place.

Interview by Lenny Collado; Photo 1 in Bushwick by Tara Murray; photo 2 at 5Pointz by Dani Reyes Mozeson; all others courtesy of Nepo

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Speaking with Zed1

October 29, 2013

With his wondrous skills, Italian artist Zed1 has been enhancing the walls of our city. His signature characters have recently surfaced in Brooklyn and at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens. Earlier this month, we stopped by Williamsburg’s Bottleneck Gallery, where he was painting, and had the chance to speak to him.

When and where did you first get up?

Back in ’93 in Tuscany. I was 16. I started the way just about every graffiti artists does – with tags and letters.

What inspired you?

A friend showed me photos of graffiti walls in the U.S. that he had discovered in a book store. And then when I began hitting walls, it seemed like the perfect way for me to express myself.

What is the riskiest thing you did?

Painting on moving trains.

Why were you willing to that that risk?

I love making people happy by bringing trains to life. I also like the adrenalin rush that comes with painting trains.

Have you ever been arrested?

I was stopped only once. But the police liked what I was doing and let it go. The whole attitude towards graffiti is different back home and the police are different. They are more relaxed.

Do you work with a sketch-in-hand or do you just let it flow?

I like the freedom that comes with working without a sketch. But if the wall that I’m doing is especially challenging, I usually bring a sketch with me.

Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?

No. It always seems incomplete to me. It never feels finished.

How has your work evolved through the years?

It has evolved tremendously. I started off as a graffiti writer, but now I am more of a muralist. Also, I am much more concerned with the concept behind the work than I used to be. And I’m intent on communicating with the public.

Could you tell us something about your second-skin work – the pieces you create that evolve into something different with time?

I came up with the idea about two years ago when I created an animal with the head of a man that peels away to reveal another face. I love giving folks the opportunity to interact with my work and play with my art. And there’s a message here: We all see things differently. We each have our own perspective. And if you want to understand another person’s way of perceiving the world, you must change heads.

That certainly makes sense! Do you prefer working legally or illegally?

I like both. Working illegally give me more freedom, but working in a sanctioned space gives me more time.

Have you exhibited your work in a gallery setting?

I much prefer to paint on the streets. It is far more democratic. I don’t like most galleries, and I don’t paint to get the attention of gallerists. I’d rather paint on a public wall than on a canvas. That way I can share my work with everyone, not just the elite. But I am beginning to show my work in galleries that respect my vision.

Have you a formal art education?

No. I studied graphic design, but I was never a good student.

How do your parents feel about what you do?

They don’t understand. My mother tries to, but my father has an entirely different notion of “success” that’s tied in with material things.

Do you make money from your art? What is the main source of your income?

I earn money by doing commissions and I sell art. Art is my life.

Is there much of a graffiti/street art divide back home?

Not as much as here, and the lines continue to blur. Festivals invite both graffiti writers and street artists, and many writers include characters in their pieces. But there is some tension, as far fewer people understand graffiti. Street art is far more accessible to most folks.

Have you painted in other countries – besides Italy and the US?

I’ve painted in Denmark, Romania, Norway, Spain, the UK and Brazil.

Have you any favorite places to paint?

I especially like to paint in poor, run-down neighborhoods. I like interacting with the people who live in them, and I like enhancing their spaces.

Any favorite arists?

Particular favorites include: Blu, Banksy and Os Gemeos.

How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all this?

It is very important. It has given birth to many careers.

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

I can’t speak for other artists. But my role is to communicate with people by bringing beauty into their lives and raising issues they might not – on their own — think about.

What’s ahead?

More travel. I love painting in different countries. And more artworks and videos illustrating my second skin concept.

Interview by Lois Stavsky; photos 1,2, & 3 Zed1 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn by Tara Murray; photo 4 at Welling Court and photo 5 at Bottleneck Gallery by Lois Stavsky; photo 6 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn by Dani Reyes Mozeson, and final photo in Greenpoint, Brooklyn by Tara Murray

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Swoon and Groundwell Youth Grace Famed Bowery Wall with Elegant Hurricane Sandy-Themed Mural

October 28, 2013

Working together with Groundswell teens who had been affected by Hurricane Sandy, Swoon has been busy gracing the famed wall at Bowery and Houston with an elegant Sandy-themed mural. The mural’s official unveiling takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, October 29^th. Here are some images of the work in progress:

Neenee

Another close-up

Groundswell youth at work

The mural as seen on Thursday

Photos 4 and 5 by Tara Murray; all others by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Curious Characters on NYC Streets, Part II: Buff Monster, Nathan Mellott, Nepo, Craig Anthony Miller, KingBee and more

October 25, 2013

A range of curious characters have found a home on the streets of NYC. This is the second of our occasional series:

Buff Monster in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Nathan Mellott in the East Village

Nepo in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Craig Anthony Miller aka CAM in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

KingBee in the East Village

One of the 13 Portals in the East Village

Photos of Buff Monster and Nepo by Tara Murray; of Nathan Mellott and KingBee by Daniel Reyes Mozeson; of Craig Anthony Miller and Portal by Lois Stavsky

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Guys on Walls, Part IV: Banksy, Peat Wollaeger, Icy and Sot, Dr. Revolt, Manny Vega and Owen Dippie

October 22, 2013

This is the fourth in an occasional series featuring images of males who surface on NYC public spaces:

Banksy on Manhattan’s Lower East Side

Peat Wollaeger at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens

Icy and Sot in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Dr. Revolt in the East Village

Manny Vega in East Harlem

Owen Dippie in Bushwick

Photo of Banksy by Lenny Collado; of Peat Wollaeger and Manny Vega by Lois Stavsky; of Icy and Sot and Owen Dippie by Tara Murray; of Dr. Revolt by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Faces in NYC Public Spaces, Part V: GATS, Dasic, Lamour Supreme, Lee Trice, Judith Supine, Meres, Skullphone, Raquel Eschinique & Epic Uno

October 11, 2013

This is the fifth in an ongoing series featuring the range of faces that surface daily in NYC’s open spaces:

West Coast – based GATS at the Bushwick Collective

Dasic in Bushwick

Lamour Supreme and Lee Trice in Bushwick, close-up of huge mural

Judith Supine in Williamsburg

Meres at 5Pointz

Skullphone in the East Village

Ecuadorian artist Raquel Eschinique at 5Pointz

Epic Uno in Long Island City

Photos of GATS, Lamour Supreme & Lee Trice collab, Judith Supine, Meres, Skullphone and Epic Uno by Dani Reyes Mozeson; photo of Dasic by Tara Murray; photo of Raquel Eschinique by Lois Stavsky

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Wise2: Holding It Down in Kenya

October 9, 2013

A pioneer of graffiti art in Kenya, Wise2 fashions intricate African patterns, tribal masks and ancient writing systems — particularly Sanskrit — onto huge walls. With an increasing global presence, he recently brought his skills to Bushwick, Brooklyn, where we met up:

When and where did you first get up?

About ten years ago, I started tagging my name in my neighborhood in Nairobi, Kenya. I got started the way most writers do — with basic lettering.

What introduced you to the graffiti culture?

The movie Style Wars.

Have you ever been arrested for graffiti?

I was close to being arrested. But in Nairobi you can bribe your way out.

What is the attitude of your family towards what you do?

They’re cool.

What percentage of your time is devoted to art?

All of it. I especially love street art, and if I am not painting, I am researching and checking out other artists and their art.

What is your main source of income?

I earn money from commissions. I have a bunch of corporate clients that keep my art moving.

How do you feel about the link between the corporate world and the street art world?

I don’t mind working for corporations, as long as my clients respect my creativity and allow me to express myself without any hindrances.

Is there much of a street art/graffiti divide back in Kenya?

No. There are just a few of us and we respect each other.

Have you any thoughts as to why the art world is hesitant to accept graffiti and street art as legitimate art forms?

We street artists are the most dangerous folks out there. We mix with everybody, not just the elite. We cross classes and cultures. And if we get into the art world, we’ll destroy it…in a good sense!

Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?

Both. I love to collaborate, but these days I prefer working alone because I want to continue to develop and cultivate my own creativity.

Do you have a formal art education?

No, I’m self-taught. I studied Philosophy and Law.

What inspires you these days?

Ancient civilizations, hieroglyphics and Arabic writing.

Have you any favorite artists?

Retna. He is one amazing artist. I love what he does.

Are there any specific cultures that influence your work?

I’m influenced by a lot of ancient cultures. But I am mainly interested in establishing a strong cultural base of my own. I don’t want to emulate other cultures, but rather learn from them — so that they can help my body of work grow gradually.

Do you work with a sketch-in-hand, or do you just let it flow?

I often work with a sketch in hand, but I don’t follow it exactly.

Are you generally satisfied with your finished product?

Often I love it. Other times I think I could have done better.

Have you exhibited your work in a gallery setting?

I haven’t yet. The street is my primary gallery, the largest and best gallery any artist could have. But I’m open to the idea of exhibiting my work in a formal gallery setting.

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

It is to inspire. And it is a very crucial role. An artist has a huge responsibility. What he puts out there reflects on his character and on his society.

How do you feel about the role of the photographer and blogger in the street art scene?

Their roles are pivotal when it comes to street art; we need more bloggers and photographers.

What’s ahead?

Traveling and painting, researching, and, eventually, exposing my work in galleries, as well.

What do you think of New York City?

I love it. The whole world is here. In the past few weeks, I’ve met folks from everywhere.

Interviewed by Lois Stavsky; photo 1 at the Bushwick Collective by Dani Mozeson; photo 2 courtesy of the artist; photo 3 with Joel Bergner in Bushwick by Tara Murray; photo 4 close-up from collaborative wall in Bushwick by Lois Stavsky

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Jersey City’s Burgeoning Street Art Scene: Pixel Pancho, LNY, MOR, Dulk, NoseGo, Mr. Mustart, Serringe, Distort, Then One, Ekundayo & more

October 7, 2013

Just over the river — about ten minutes away from Manhattan — a street art scene is flourishing in Jersey City. Here’s a sampling of what was seen yesterday:

Italian artist Pixel Pancho paints in celebration of the 23rd Annual Jersey City Artists Studio Tour

LNY