Brooklyn

Singapore native Sheryo and Aussie’s the Yok are back in New York City.  And that is a cause for celebration! After gracing Long Island City’s 5Pointz with their wondrous whacky characters, they got busy at the Bushwick Collective.

At 5Pointz

Sheryo and the Yok

Sheryo at the Bushwick Collective on Friday afternoon

Sheryo

Sheryo and the Yok in the early stages of the Bushwick Collective wall

Sheryo and the Yok

The Yok back at the Bushwick Collective on Saturday

The Yok

Sheryo back at work on Saturday

Sheryo

The cast of characters — as of late Saturday

Sheryo and the Yok

Photos by Tara Murray

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Fueled by their love of art and their passion to promote the art they love, Brian Jerkface and Iman Johnson are busy curating some of NYC’s coolest art events. On a recent visit to their current art show at NoBar at 608 Nostrand Ave. in Brooklyn, we had the opportunity learn a bit about the two talented young men and their upcoming projects.

Phetus

How did this all begin?

Brian: We both love street art and we wanted to share our love with others in alternative settings. It’s great fun, and it’s also a way to help artists, particularly those who work in public spaces, make a living.  Only by selling their art can they continue to pursue their passion.

Do you have a formal art education?

Iman: I attended Cooper Union. My degree is in architecture.

Brian: I studied painting and graphic design at the School of Visual Arts.

Have you any favorite artists?

Iman: My all-time favorite artist is the British painter Francis Bacon.  I also love Lebbeus Woods, a conceptual architect, who was one of my teachers at Cooper Union.  And I love what See One is doing on the streets.

Brian: I love the Cubist style of the Spanish painter Juan Gris. He’s a definite influence on my work. Among those artists who work on the streets, I have many favorites. Among them are: NoseGo, Phetus and Bishop.

Jerkface

What attracted you to street art and graffiti?

Brian:  I grew up listening to hip-hop, and I fell in love with graffiti. When I was about 16, I picked up a spray-can.  I was also into skateboarding.

Iman: Yes, it was the entire culture that drew us in.

What do you see as the future of street art?

Brian:  As it continues to make its mark in both sanctioned and unsanctioned spaces, I see it as getting better and better all the time.

Iman:  Yes, it seems to be in an ideal place right now. While becoming more acceptable, it’s still on the edge and is almost certain to remain so. Most of it will continue to push against authority.

Your current art exhibit here at NoBar is wonderful.  What is the appeal of this particular setting?

Brian:  It’s a wonderful spot, and the neighborhood is easily accessible.  We love the mix of people it attracts, and it is street art-friendly. It allows us to feature live painting at our openings – something we both love.

What’s ahead?  Any other exhibits coming up at NoBar?

Brian:  Yes. Cosbe will be painting live here for our next exhibit on Friday, March 29.  And Deps is among the artists we are featuring in our show opening April 26.

Art-show-@-NoBar

That sounds great! What about other venues? Anything else coming up elsewhere?

Brian:  We are in the process of curating a skate deck exhibit featuring dozens of artists – including Bishop,  Phetus and Col Wallnuts – that will open on April 20th at the Loom Gallery on Flushing Avenue in Bushwick.

Iman:  And we have a number of events coming up in Studio J, our Long Island City space – including a group show, a solo show by Phetus and a kids’ class in street art.

Wow! So much happening! How do you get the word out?

Brian: We get the news of our events out on Instagram and Facebook. We also hand out flyers.

Good luck! We are looking forward to your next event!

Photo of Phetus close-up by Lois Stavsky; Jerkface images courtesy of  POPUP X NYC

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We are thrilled that both Dasic Fernandez and Rubin415 are back in town. Earlier this month, they were joined by Madrid’s Okuda as they fashioned  intriguingly captivating murals on White Street in Bushwick.

Chilean artist Dasic Fernandez at work

Dasic

Dasic Fernandez and Okuda

Dasic and Okuda

 Okuda at work

Okuda

Okuda

Okuda

Swedish artist Rubin415 at work

Rubin415

Rubin415

Rubin415

 Photos by Lenny Collado, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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We discovered Federico Massa’s wondrous artwork this past fall on the streets of Bushwick, and we became instant fans. We recently had the chance to speak with him in his Brooklyn studio.

"Federico Massa"

 When did you first start hitting the streets?

Back in 1997. I was 16 years old and living in Milan.  But even earlier, I was writing my name, Fede, all over my house — to my mother’s dismay.

We’ve noticed that you sign your work “Cruz.”  Why “Cruz?”

It is derived from Santa Cruz, one of the most popular skateboard brands.  I was inspired by the skateboard culture back home in Milan. I grew up with it.

Do you have a formal art education?

I studied set design at Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan. I graduated in 2006.

When did you first come to New York City?  And why?

Three years ago. I wanted more of an international experience as an artist.

"Federico Massa"

We have seen your work in Bushwick. Where else have you gotten up here in NYC?

Two years ago, I painted a mural in Williamsburg on Hope and Marcy. I had an exhibit at the nearby Graphite Gallery at the time.

How does the experience of painting in the streets here compare to that in Milan?

It was much easier for me to paint in Milan. Here I need to get permission to paint, or I could face serious penalties.  It is much more casual in Milan.

Did you do anything particularly risky back in Milan?

The riskiest thing I ever did was painting on moving trains. I learned how to run fast!  I loved the adrenaline rush!

Any favorite surfaces?  

No. Nothing in particular. I look for a surface that inspires me. Back in Milan, I loved pasting huge painted papers onto plywood panels on the streets. It was my way of reinventing them.

"Federico Massa graffiti"

What inspires you to continue to work on the streets?

I like sharing my work with lots of different people, and it’s great when people stop and talk to me.

Great! We’ve loved watching you at work, and we’re so glad you’re sharing your art with us here in NYC.  Do you always paint alone? Have you worked with any crews?

I created canvases and installations with The Bag Art Factory collective – a group of artists, including painters, sculptors, and set designers — in Milan.  For eight years we collaborated on a variety of projects and constantly organized exhibitions of our works. I’ve also collaborated and exhibited with Biokip, a group that fuses visual art and electronic music.

What about branding? Any thoughts about it?

I have no problem with; it depends on the project. A number of years back, I customized bags, graffiti-style, for Mark Jacobs. I loved getting paid to do what I love most to do!

"Federico Massa graffiti"

What is your main source of income these days?

I do set design. It is the perfect job for me, because I like to work with all kinds of materials.  

How do you feel about the move of street art into galleries?

I think it’s fine. Just about every artist who works on the streets would like to show in a gallery.  

Any thoughts on the graffiti/street art divide?

Lettering is the art of graffiti. Street art was born from graffiti. Street art has simply taken graffiti to the next level. The graffiti writers feel they are the original ones to claim the streets. And they are.

"Federico Massa graffiti"

How have graffiti writers responded to your street art?

They like and respect it.

We’ve noticed Latin American influences in your art work. Tell us something about that.

The Mexican aesthetic has had a huge influence on my art. It continues to inspire me.

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

I think it is great. It is the best way for one to find artists and for artists to get noticed.

"Federico Massa" What’s ahead?

I’m open to all kinds of collaborations. I like to work with different materials and ideas. I’ve collaborated with poets and sculptors, and I look forward to more such collaborations.  I’m also always seeking huge walls. They inspire me!

Great! We are looking forward to seeing more of your murals on our streets here in New York City.

Photos by Dani Mozeson, Stefano Ortega (final image) and courtesy of the artist

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Artists from across the globe, along with some of our favorite local artists, have been busy this past month gracing Brooklyn’s most elegant, evolving canvas – Bushwick Five Points. Here are some pieces that have recently surfaced:

Brooklyn-based artists See One and Hellbent

"See one and Hellbent street art"

Hellbent, close-up

"Hellbent street art"

 Italian artist Pixel Pancho

"Pixel Pancho street art"

 

Italian artist Never2501

"Never2501 street art"

"Never2501 street art"

 Cuban artist Shie Moreno

"Shie Moreno street art mural"

Australian artist Reka

"Reka street art"

"Reka street art"

Photos by Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Bushwick’s walls continue to boast a wide range of bold graffiti styles. This past weekend, Yes1, Demote and Chicago-based writer Sege One joined 4Burners’ Owns and Logek gracing Bushwick’s streets with color and vibrancy. The following images were captured yesterday:

Yes1

"Yes1 graffiti"

Demote pays tribute to the late Australian graffiti writer POTS

Demote graffiti

Owns

"Owns"

Sege One — in from Chicago

Logek

"logek graffiti"

Photos by Lenny Collado

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Speaking with Joel Bergner

November 14, 2012

"Joel Bergner street art"

Nomadic artist and educator Joel Bergner aka joelB is best known for his expressive, brightly-hued murals that focus on issues of social justice. Currently based in Brooklyn, he has recently graced Bushwick with two huge vibrant murals.

When did you first begin creating art?

I was always into art as a kid, but I got more seriously into it when I was 16. I was going through hard times, and I was stressed out about a lot of things. Among them was becoming a father at such a young age and suddenly having so much adult responsibility. Art was an outlet for me. I used to stay up all night drawing and painting.

Have you a formal art education?

No, I took a few art classes in college, but I couldn’t get into creating art in an academic environment. Maybe I just didn’t have the right teachers. So I focused on developing my style on my own.

When did you first start hitting walls?

When I was a teen, I was a graffiti fan and dabbled a little in bombing and tagging, but I wasn’t so good at graf lettering…so I gravitated toward painting more figurative styles.

"Joel Bergner street art"

What inspired you to create murals?

I lived for many years in Latino neighborhoods in Chicago and San Francisco, where murals are a popular form of expression — from classic Mexican murals to graffiti to various street art styles. I soaked it all in and got inspired by all these movements. I wanted to share my work with a much broader audience than is possible from the gallery scene, which caters to a small and often privileged group, so painting on the street was my natural direction. 

Where did your early murals surface?

The first one I did was actually indoors — in a cafe in Chicago. But in my early 20’s, I was living in the Mission District in San Francisco and I painted a series of pieces there on the street.

Had these murals any particular themes — as the ones we’ve seen here in Bushwick are rich with multi-cultural references?

I’ve always been interested in different cultures, exploring social issues and giving voice to marginalized communities, who participate in many of my public art projects and workshops in the US and abroad. I work with street children, incarcerated youth, the disabled and young people from shantytowns and slum areas through my Action Ashé! art and education project.

What do you suppose draws you to these issues?

Well, even when I was young, I always clicked with people who society doesn’t value. I took on jobs working with the mentally ill and the homeless and counseling troubled adolescents — not just because I wanted to be a “do-gooder,” but because I really enjoyed them and connected with them — and this has continued in my art and my community work as I’ve gotten older. I now spend part of every year living and working in the City of God (Cidade de Deus), a poor community in Rio de Janeiro where I run youth public art projects. These experiences open your eyes to so many injustices and allows you to see the value in places and people whose beauty is rarely recognized.

"Joel Berglin in Bushwick"

What is the intent of your art?

I think the best art moves people on many levels — emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. That’s my goal for my personal art. And for my collaborative pieces with street children and other groups, I have the added goal of giving them the opportunity to express their humanity to a society that usually ignores them.

In what other countries have you painted?

I’ve painted in Brazil, Cuba, Poland, Cape Verde (in West Africa), El Salvador and Peru.

Any favorites?

Probably Brazil and Cuba, where I’ve spent the most time. I strongly connect to the people and cultures.

How has your relationship been with graffiti artists and street artists – who share public spaces with you?

It’s been positive; there’s a sense of mutual respect. I think when people respect each other’s work, all those labels fall by the wayside—graffiti, street art, mural art, public art. At the end of the day, what matters is if a piece is good or not. I see my art as a combination of many styles and artistic traditions, so I don’t let myself be boxed in by choosing any specific one to define my work.

Joel Bergner

Have you any favorite artists who currently work in the public sphere?

Many…I like Os Gemeos, Saner, Sex aka El Niño de las Pinturas, JR, Swoon, Retna, Pose2 and How & Nosm and a million others.

What about traditional muralists? Any favorites?

I definitely like “Los Tres Grandes” from Mexico: Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Jose Clemente Orozco, as well as many who have followed in their footsteps like Juana Alicia and Susan Cervantes in California.

You mentioned before that you find the gallery world “elitist.” Would you be open to exhibiting your work in galleries?

I’d be open to it if it were the right situation where I had the freedom to take it in a unique and provocative direction. As I’ve gotten older, I realize that it doesn’t have to be elitist just because it’s indoors. But my main work will always be on the streets.

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

I love it. I get to see what other artists are doing and share my work with others who might not otherwise see it.

"Joel Bergner street art"

What’s next?

I’m heading to Mexico in a couple days for my next project, and then I’m off to Nairobi, Kenya for a project that we just finished raising money for on Kickstarter.

Could you tell us something about it?

The Kibera Walls for Peace project will use public art to encourage unity and cooperation among ethnic and political groups ahead of the presidential election scheduled for March, 2013. Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums, was strongly affected by the violence and political turmoil that engulfed Kenya after the last election. Preventing a repeat of this crisis is the project’s main objective. I will be working with the community- based youth organization Kibera Hamlets and 30 local youth to study peace-building and public art, culminating in the creation of five public murals in high-profile locations around Kibera, all aimed at easing tensions between different ethnic and political groups and encouraging peace. We will be filming the experience for a documentary. I’m very interested in making documentaries of my projects, including one I organized in Rio de Janeiro called “Street Art with Street Kids.”

Wow! That sounds fabulous. Good luck!

Thanks!

Photos by Dani Mozeson, Sara Mozeson and Lois Stavsky

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"Judith Supine street art"

A number of years back, Judith Supine’s distinct aesthetic language was an integral part of New York City’s visual landscape. His intriguing, surreal collages — fusing a motley range of found images — surfaced regularly on New York City walls.  But then they, largely, weathered away and eventually vanished.  We did get to see Supine’s work in various gallery spaces, including the Jonathan LeVine Gallery, but we missed his presence on the streets. 

At Jonathan LeVine

And so it was a delightful surprise to see his seductive work back on the streets, some in collaboration with West Coast artist Jesse Hazelip:

"Judith Supine and Jesse Hazelip"

"Judith Supine and Jesse Hazelip"

Photos by Lois Stavsky

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Close to a dozen masters of styles and letters — representing both the East and West coasts — hit the walls in Bushwick this past weekend. Here are a few images:

Queens-based Hoacs

"Hocas graffiti" More after the jump!

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Some wonderful walls have recently surfaced in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Here is a sampling:

Belgian artist Roa

"Roa street art"

"Roa street art" More after the jump!

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