Walls

Speaking with Bisco Smith

August 25, 2013

Currently based in both LA and NYC, Bisco Smith is celebrated for his graffiti on walls, as well as for his audio and visual work within hip-hop culture. WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, a recent collection of this talented artist’s works, is on view at Low Brow Artique, 143 Central Avenue in Bushwick, through September 7^th. We spoke with Bisco soon after his hugely successful opening:

When and why did you start getting up?

I was about 12 or 13 years old when I started writing.

Any particular inspirations at the time?

I grew up skateboarding, and we were all into writing. Just about everyone in my school had a black book. We also avidly followed Chino’s Graf Flix section in the Source. This was sometime in the mid-90’s.

What was your preferred surface – back then?

Abandoned buildings. I grew up spending day after day inside of a huge dead factory. We could paint anything and everything in there.

Any early graffiti memories that stand out?

The first time I got taken down to the train tracks, a party got broken up by the police and on our escape, we ended up under a bridge filled with burners.

What is the riskiest thing you ever did?

Train tunnels and some less-than-solid rooftops. I remember getting caught between two trains, coming on opposite sides, while I was standing between two third rails. That experience will make you appreciate life all over again.

Why were you willing to take that risk?

I ask myself the same question now.

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

Just about all of it. Both visual arts and music.

Do you have a day job? What is the main source of your income these days?

I work as a graphic designer and I mentor kids. I have a strong moral compass, and just about 98% of the work that I do is for the right cause. I’m involved with various community-based organizations including ARTS By the People, based in New York and New Jersey.

Have you any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

Graffiti has a code, street rules, that “street art” doesn’t have – and that’s one of the reasons for the tensions between the two. But I don’t think there’s enough respect on either side.

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

I think it’s great when people can make a living doing what they love – and also impact others.

Would you rather work alone or collaborate with others?

When I’m working on walls, I prefer to collaborate. More often than not, I paint with my friends and crew mates: Leias, Bishop203 or Meres

Is there anyone in particular with whom you would like to collaborate?

Jackson Pollock – if he were alive.

Any favorite graff artists?

Ces. Since Videograf 8 dropped, that whole 90’s era in the Bronx really was my favorite.

Do you have a formal art education?

Yes. I studied communication design at Pratt.

Was it worthwhile?

Very much so. It taught me a trade. There’s work in graphic design.

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

Both positive and negative. I love the connections and opportunities, but miss when style was localized

What inspires you these days?

Lately, I have been heavy on instagram and tumblr checking out other artists, working artists.

Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?

Hip-hop culture for sure.

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

I let it flow.

Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?

For the most part, but in the end — for me — it’s more about the day and the moment. The end result is a bonus.

How has your work evolved through the years?

Although I continue to work on the streets, I no longer need its framework to create. I think my artwork is more focused these days – especially if I know it’s headed to a gallery.

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

Balance out the mundane, as well as make people think.

What about the role of the photographer? The blogger?

It is important to document what’s out there and happening. I think its essential to any movement.

Any thoughts about sanctioned vs. unsanctioned art?

I like them both. I think both are needed and both allow for their own outcomes and impacts.

The Europeans seem to appreciate and respect graffiti far more than we do here in the States? Any thoughts about that?

If it doesn’t make money here, society seems to not appreciate it.

What’s ahead?

More visual explorations, socially engaged work, and gallery exhibits.

Interview by Lois Stavsky. Photos: 1. Bisco on exterior of Low Brow Artique, photo by Lois Stavsky; 2. & 3. Bisco in WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, photos courtesy of the artist; 4. Bisco, Meres, Bishop203 & Leias at 5Pointz, photo by Lois Stavsky; 5. Bisco & Leias on exterior of Low Brow Artique, photo by Tara Murray and 6. Bisco in Watts, photo courtesy of the artist

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Curious Characters on NYC Streets: Zio Ziegler, Sheryo, JC, Lamour Supreme, Reme821, Sinned, QRST & Mr. Penfold

August 21, 2013

A range of curious characters have found a home on the streets of NYC. Here are a few in the first of our series featuring some of our favorite ones:

Zio Ziegler in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Sheryo in the East Village

JC at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens

Lamour Supreme in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Reme821 in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Sinned at Welling Court in Astoria, Queens

QRST at the Bushwick Collective

Mr. Penfold at the Bushwick Collective

Photos by Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Speaking with Ever

August 18, 2013

A masterful muralist and inspiring thinker, Argentinian artist Nicolás Romero aka Ever has graced countless cities throughout the globe with his wondrous vision. Earlier this summer, he stopped off in NYC, where he painted on a rooftop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. That’s where I caught up with him.

When did you first start getting up?

I was 16 and into hip-hop. The first time I got up was with two friends in our school’s bathroom. We thought we were so cool. Then whenever I took my dog for a walk, I did throw-ups around my neighborhood.

So your neighborhood was your main canvas back then?

Mostly for bombing, but it made me nervous.

When did you become serious about it?

When I met Jaz and other members of DSR. They were professionals. They took street art and public art seriously. I started to share a studio with Jaz and began to think of myself as an artist. In 2003, I started making portraits.

How did your parents feel about what you were doing?

My parents encouraged me. When I was seven, they introduced me to Van Gogh and Goya. I became obsessed with Van Gogh because he cut off his ear. I had a problem with my ear, so I identified with him. When I was thirteen, I began taking art classes outside of school.

Did you continue to study art formally?

I studied architecture at the university for a few months, but it wasn’t for me.

Who are your inspirations? Any particularly artists?

I have many. I’m inspired by Mexican muralists — the way their art reflects the people and their social consciousness. I’m also inspired by such artists as Van Gogh, Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon.

What is your main source of income these days?

Half my income is from commissions and the other half is from sales.

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

It’s okay. I’d rather sell my work in galleries than do commission pieces for corporations.

Have you had any negative experiences while getting up on the streets?

The mural that I did in Lima, Peru was censured. I was accused of glorifying Communism. The image on the mural was changed, and it is no longer mine.

You’ve painted in so many cities. Have you a favorite one?

Paris. There is an openness there.

Any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

I don’t see it.

How has your art evolved since you began painting murals?

I’ve become more abstract and I’ve begun to think of the body as “just a dress to use on Earth.” My portraits no longer have eyes. And I’ve begun to use religious symbols obsessively in my work, even though I don’t believe in a traditional God. My work has also become more socially conscious.

What inspired that?

Before 2009, I was apolitical. But in 2009, I lived in Paris, and I began to think of art as the means to inspire societal change. The revolution must start here — on the walls.

Interview by Lois Stavsky. Photos of Brooklyn rooftop and Baltimore mural by Lois Stavsky. Final image of wall in Santurce, Puerto Rico — which I caught only at the beginning — courtesy of the artist.

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Kids on Walls — Part II: Chris Stain, Alice Pasquini, James Rubio, Sonni, Icy and Sot, El Niño De Las Pinturas, Fumero and Lisete Alcalde

August 15, 2013

This is the second in a series of occasional posts featuring images of children that surface on NYC public spaces:

Chris Stain at the Bushwick Collective

Alice Pasquini, close-up from huge mural at the Bushwick Collective

James Rubio in the East Village

Sonni at the Bushwick Collective

Icy and Sot, close-up from huge mural in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

El Niño De Las Pinturas, close-up from huge mural at 5Pointz in Long Island City

Fumero in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Lisete Alcalde at the Bushwick Collective

Photos by Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky, except for Lisete Alcalde, courtesy of the artist

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Speaking with Priscila De Carvalho

August 6, 2013

An award-winning multidisciplinary artist, Brazilian native Priscila De Carvalho currently lives and works in NYC. We recently caught up with her in the Bronx, where she was working with local teens on a mural to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

When and where did you do your first public mural?

In Puebla, Mexico a few years ago.

Are there any particular cultures that influence you aesthetic?

The street art culture and urban life, in general. I used to skateboard and surf back in Brazil.

Your work is not only beautiful; it also intellectually engages us. Does it have a particular message or theme?

Most of my work relates to the economic and socio-political issues surrounding the out-of-control urbanization of slum dwellers. I juxtapose my observations about sub-cultural communities with other contemporary issues such as climate change and pollution

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

I usually have a basic sketch design layout. But it doesn’t always go accordingly.

Do you generally work alone? How do you feel about collaborating with other artists?

Yes, most of the time I work alone or with some assistants. I enjoy working alone, but there’s also the communication and camaraderie — so important among artists — that only collaboration can bring.

What percentage of your time is devoted to your artwork?

At this point of my career, it’s a full time job. It’s not just the creative end of it. There’s also the administrative part. And gallery exhibits demand a huge amount of work…lots of business work, including networking.

Any other passions?

Music. I studied piano for six years, but I just didn’t have what it demands.

As a muralist who works in sanctioned spaces, what are your thoughts about graffiti?

I’m highly inspired by graffiti — its energy and vitality.

Any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

Graffiti has its distinct history and techniques. It has evolved from tagging into a complex art form. Many street artists started as graffiti artists. Street art and graffiti are connected.

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

It can turn art into a commodity. But it must remain an option, as every artist has to earn a living.

Where have you exhibited?

I’ve exhibited in Spain, London, Paris, Berlin, Nepal and Mexico. I had my first solo exhibition at The Jersey City Museum in 2009.

What’s the riskiest thing you’ve done as an artist?

In Nepal, I had to climb a 30-foot bamboo structure with no scaffolding. I was tied to a harness, and it was hard for me to visualize what I was painting. But it one of the most rewarding work/travel experiences I’ve had.

Do you have a formal arts education?

No. I studied painting/sculpture informally for a few years before I started with my studio practice.

What’s ahead?

Some permanent public art projects and more exhibitions.

Interview by Lenny Collado; first photo by Lois Stavsky; all other images are courtesy of the artist.

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Faces in NYC Public Spaces, Part IV: Alice Mizrachi, How & Nosm, ND’A, Cern & Lee Quiñones, Carlos Pinto, Paul Richard and ECB

August 4, 2013

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

Alice Mizrachi aka AM at the Bushwick Collective

How and Nosm, close-up in the South Bronx

ND’A in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Cern and Lee Quiñones in Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Carlos Pinto in Flatbush, Brooklyn

Paul Richard in the East Village — on the pavement

ECB on the Lower East Side

Photos by Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Speaking with Esteban del Valle

August 1, 2013

Currently based in Brooklyn, Chicago native Esteban del Valle is an interdisciplinary artist whose public artworks have surfaced in NYC, as well as in Chicago, IL, San Antonio, TX, and Kansas City, MO. We first came upon his extraordinary work at 5Pointz in Long Island City, Queens.

When and where did first get up?

I was in junior high school back in Chicago when I did my first tag on a school bench. I was soon hitting the back of K-Mart and piecing under nearby bridges.

What inspired you to hit the streets? Have you any early graffiti memories?

I was in sixth grade when I saw a legal wall in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village that was all graffiti. I thought, “Wow! I want to do something like that!”

Back in Chicago, did you paint alone or were you part of a crew?

Both. Just about all the guys I went to school with were into hip-hop. We called ourselves FYM (Free Your Mind).

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

120%

Is art, then, the main source of your income?

Yes, I sell studio work. I do commissions and I work for Groundswell, an organization that engages youth in creating community murals.

How does your family feel about what you are doing?

They’re fine as long as what I do is legal.

Any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

I love both. But what I especially love about street art is that it inspires people to take to the streets to do more than just their names.

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

It’s fine. Artists need to make a living from their work. But once it’s in a gallery, it isn’t “street art” any more.

Why do you suppose graffiti is held in higher esteem in Europe than it is here in the States?

For the same reason public intellectuals are valued in Europe. There’s a greater appreciation of culture, in general. And the Europeans have different notions of public space.

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

It’s great. It makes art accessible to so many.

Have you a formal art education?

I have a BFA in Art History and Painting from Southern Illinois University and a Masters Degree in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design.

What inspires you these days?

Innovative music and performance art are my main inspirations. The Mars Volta and Geo Wyeth come to mind.

Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?

Hip-hop and Chicago’s rich mural culture.

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

I don’t like to work from sketches. I’d rather sketch on a wall. But much of what I do has to be pre-approved, and so I need to have a basic drawing of what I plan to paint.

Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?

Yes. I push it until I feel satisfied.

How has your work evolved through the years?

I’ve begun to develop my own language. I’m more experimental and I’m more about moving to do what challenges me.

Any favorite artists?

Many. Among them are: Carrie Moyer, Haig Aivazian, Jayson Musson, Trenton Doyle Hancock and Dave McKenzie.

What about those who work in public spaces?

Os Gemeos and Poser aka Pose MSK are among my favorites.

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

To challenge and to contribute to the collective thought.

What’s ahead?

More art. More income from art. More traveling and, generally, doing what I want to do.

Interview by Lois Stavsky. All photos courtesy of the artist, except the first one at 5Pointz by Lois Stavsky

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It’s Happening at 5Pointz: Rimx & Nepo, Kid Lew, Jasper, Demer, Rain & Kasso, Nok Crew, Serrano, Mas Paz, Rimx & Cortes and Zeso

July 26, 2013

The walls at 5Pointz continue to showcase some of the most vibrant public art in NYC — or anywhere. Here’s a sampling of some artwork that has recently surfaced:

Puerto Rican artists Rimx and Nepo

Queens-based Kid Lew’s tribute to Trayvon Martin

Jasper — in from Queensland, Australia

New Jersey-based graff masters Demer, Rain and Kasso

The Parisian Nok Crew

Serrano, Mas Paz, Rimx and Cortes fashion letters “PROC” for the Artist Process, a 5Pointz annual project coordinated by Marthalicia Matarrita

Close-up from huge mural by French TD4 member, Zeso

Photos by Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray & Lois Stavsky; image of Ked Lew’s mural courtesy of the artist

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Speaking with Miss 163

July 24, 2013

A graduate of Cooper Union and a Fulbright scholar, Bronx native Sharon de la Cruz aka Miss 163 is a passionate artist and activist. Her first solo exhibit, Wild Thing, can be seen through August 11th at bOb’s at 235 Eldridge Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Her most recent public mural surfaced last month on Boone Avenue in the Bronx.

When and where did you start getting up?

I was 17 and living in Florida. Life was dull. My mom bought me my first spray can and told me I could paint a landscape on the back fence.

How did that turn out?

It was terrible. I hated the way it looked. I was instantly discouraged and started bombing.

What, then, inspired you to start painting in public spaces?

During my junior year in college, I went to Amsterdam. I saw amazing — different — graff there, and I began to think of graffiti as art.

It seems that Europeans, in general, tend to respect graffiti as an art form far more than we do here in the States. Why do you suppose this is so?

Here — from early on — it was regarded as a symbol of chaos and vandalism.

We’ve seen your artwork in Brooklyn, in the Bronx and at 5Pointz. Where else have you gotten up?

I’ve painted all over Lima, Peru.

Did you paint alone in Lima or were you with a crew?

I painted with Maripussy Crew. There were six of us – five graffiti artists and one rapper. It was wonderful!

What is the riskiest thing you’ve done?

Painting way up high in Lima while standing on a rickety, wobbling ladder. It was not a good feeling!

Do you prefer to work on legal walls or on unsanctioned spaces?

I try to achieve a balance. It depends on the setting. But legal walls don’t have to be done in a rush and in the dark. And that’s an advantage.

Any thoughts about the movement of street art and graffiti into galleries?

It’s a different experience than painting on the streets. But I’d expect it to feel different. And that’s okay!

You designed a limited edition perfume bottle for Calvin Klein’s CK One Shock Street Edition For Her. How do you feel about the merchandizing or branding of graffiti?

It’s okay. In the past, it helped me pay off loans.

What percentage of your time is devoted to art?

When I’m not doing it, I’m thinking about it.

Any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

I think it’s silly. And as graffiti continues to evolve, the lines between the two continue to blur.

Why do you suppose the “art world” remains reluctant to accept graffiti as a legitimate art form?

Because it’s participatory, political and immediate, it is seen as a threat.

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

I love it. One of my early inspirations was the Art Crimes web site.

Have you a formal art education?

Yes, I studied at LaGuardia High School, Dreyfoos School of The Arts and at Cooper Union.

Was your formal art education useful?

Absolutely. It encouraged me to evolve and explore. There’s nothing like being around people who believe in you and feel excited about what you are doing.

What inspires you these days?

I’m inspired by animation, cartoon characters and color. In terms of themes, I’m concerned with “sister strength.” Raising and answering the question, “What does it mean to be a strong woman?”

Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?

Brazilian, Peruvian and Old School Graffiti