Keith Haring

Melbourne-based Photographer Dean Sunshine on Street Art and Graffiti, Land of Sunshine, NYC, His Newly Released Book and more

February 1, 2015

With his keen eye and infinite passion, Melbourne-based photographer Dean Sunshine avidly documents the graffiti and street art he encounters in his hometown and beyond. His second, newly-released book, Street Art Now, is a first-rate chronicle of the art that has been surfacing — not only on the streets of Melbourne — but in other cities across the globe that Dean has recently visited. I met up with him when he was in NYC this past fall. Soon after, his stunning second book Street Art Now made its way into print.

Have you any early memories of Melbourne graffiti and street art? When did you begin to photograph it?

Graffiti and hip-hop sprouted in Melbourne in the 80’s with VHS copies of Style Wars being handed around, educating the kids here about these subcultures thriving in NYC. My first piece of graffiti art was a present for my 21^st birthday in the mid eighties — a basketball backboard spray painted by Merda and Ransom – two of the stars of the Melbourne scene. Decades later this piece still hangs at my home and many of the writers who are now mates are surprised and envious of this original piece. I started taking photos in the early 2000’s.

What motivated you to do so?

I loved snapping all this amazing art seen on the streets, but it was actually my partner at the time who told me I was a fool to have thousands of images on a hard drive that nobody else could enjoy. She said, “You should start a blog,” and the Land Of Sunshine was born.

How do you find the time while working at a day job to photograph so many great pieces of street art, blog regularly and publish two books?

I find time during my daily grind in the rag trade driving around to appointments across the suburbs of Melbourne visiting textile factories. On these travels I often stumble over graffiti and street art, and I pull over and take a quick shot. On the weekends I often hunt out abandoned factories, get down into the drains, and search new lane-ways — always on the lookout for new work.

Do any particular moments stand out in your street-art hunting expeditions?

There are so many highlights throughout my time documenting. I have met, hung out and I’ve been privileged to watch so many incredible artists in action including: ROA, Kid Zoom, Herakut, Hush, D*Face, Stormie Mills, Rone, Makatron, Adnate, Slicer, Li-Hill, Shida, Smug, WANE, Sofles, Kaff-eine, DEB, Heesco, Meggs, Reka, Phibs, Bailer, DVATE, Does, Twoone, Mysterious Al, Dscreet, Vexta, 2501, Faith47, DALeast, Pixel Pancho, Phlegm, Insa, Sirum, The Yok, Sheryo, Gaia, Alexis Diaz, Maya Hayuk, Crash, Daze and ELK. But the times I have spent with Futura, Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper stand out the most, as these three are the pioneers of this scene in which we find ourselves submerged. I got to take each of them around the streets and lanes of Melbourne, proudly showing them my favorite spots in my own hometown. Such absolute legends, all with a passion that has lasted decades. I wish I will be as passionate 25 years on!

What brought you to NYC?

I came to New York this past September to keep my wife company who was shooting fashion week. (Yes, she is also a photographer!) As she went uptown each morning to the shows, I got on my pushbike and rode all over, snapping as I went.

What other cities have you visited?

Over the last years, I’ve been lucky to have travelled to Los Angeles, Hawaii, Berlin, Paris, Italy, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Rio De Janeiro, and even Perth. It’s funny how these days it’s a priority when I’m on holidays to track down and snap all the local art I find. My recent book, Street Art Now, documents some of these findings.

What’s ahead?

Well, I am soon to become a father so my priorities will change — although I will probably be doing the same, just with the little guy on my back.

Congratulations! I am quite certain you will.

Note: You can check out some local coverage that Dean’s recent book, Street Art Now, received here, along with a guided tour of the Melbourne scene by Dean here.

Photos of above artworks in Street Art Now:

1. Vexta and Shida in Melbourne

3. WANE in Melbourne

4. ROA in Melbourne

5. Adnate in Melbourne

6. Seth GlobePainter, Shida and TwoOne in Melbourne

7. Pixel Pancho in Perth

8. Li-Hill and Kaff-eine in New York City

9. The Yok and Sheryo in Zicatela, Mexico

10. Keith Haring in Melbourne, 1984

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“East Village Alchemy” Continues through Sunday at Dorian Grey with: Keith Haring, Paolo Buggiani, Ken Hiratsuka and Scot Borofsky

December 3, 2014

Dorian Grey‘s current exhibit, East Village Alchemy, takes us on a magical foray through the East Village’s 1980’s street art scene presenting a range of artworks by four of its key practitioners. Here’s a sampling:

Keith Haring subway drawing, early 80’s

Paolo Buggiani, Performance Art, Unsuccessful Attack to the World Trade Center, 1983

Ken Hiratsuka, whose intricately-carved artworks have been part of our city’s visual landscape since the early 80’s

Scot Borofsky, whose symbol-based graphics graced the walls of the East Village in the 80’s

The Dorian Grey Gallery is located at 437 East 9th Street at Avenue A in Manhattan’s East Village..

Photos of artworks 2-6 on exhibit by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Eric Orr on Graffiti, Keith Haring, Hip-Hop, the South Bronx, Comic Art, the New York Comic Con and more

October 9, 2014

Legendary for his collaborative artwork with Keith Haring on the NYC subways, Bronx-based artist and designer Eric Orr also produced the first-ever hip-hop comic book. I recently had the opportunity to find out more about this multi-faceted artist who will be participating tomorrow – Friday – evening at the New York Comic Con panel discussion Hip-Hop and Comics: Cultures Combining, presented by Depth of Field.

You were one of the first graff artists to develop a distinct icon. Your “robot head” has since appeared on a wide range of surfaces – from T-shirts to record labels to international fine art exhibits. It has even made its way into Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses and catalogues. Can you tell us something about it?

It was inspired by the space age and the robotics era. I grew up in the age of Star Wars, Space Odyssey and the Robot Dance. And as tagging on walls and traditional graff didn’t do that much for me, my robot actually made it to the streets of the South Bronx where I grew up.

You may well be best-known for your collabs with Keith Haring that surfaced on the 6 Pelham Bay and the 4 and 5 NYC subways lines 30 years ago. You are, in fact, the only artist who ever collaborated with Keith in the subway system. How did you two first meet up?

Keith, it seems, had been eyeing my work for a while. But we actually met, by chance, one day at a Swatch watch completion. I was wearing my hand-painted robot head shirt when Keith Haring approached me and invited me to collaborate with him on a series of artworks on the black panel spaces of the NYC subway system.

And these became a legendary part of NYC’s subway history! You also played a huge role in the hip-hop scene back in the day, producing work for Afrika Bambaataa and such hip-hop artists as Jazzy Jay, along with the brand logo for the Strong City Record label. Can you tell us something about that? What exactly was the relationship between graffiti and hip-hop? And was there one?

Yes! The same energy from the streets of the South Bronx that created the graffiti there in the late 70’s created hip-hop. Writers would go straight from getting up in the streets to hanging out at park jams and clubs. And it was largely the graffiti artists who designed the flyers for the hip-hop events.

What about the relationship between hip-hop and comics? You produced the first-ever hip-hop comic and will be speaking about the two cultures at the tomorrow – Friday.

From the beginning graffiti artists, MC’s and break-dancers adapted elements from the comic book culture. Just about everything — from our names to our fantastical identities to the flyers we designed — had comic elements in it. But only someone from the inside could have produced an authentic hip-hop comic. My original “Maxwell Robot” strip ran in Rap Masters magazine.

Do you have a formal art education?

I studied art at the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League.

Was it worthwhile?

Yes, it inspired me to take my work to a commercial level.

How do you feel about the interplay between graffiti/street art and the commercial world?

I have mixed feelings. It’s great for me and others to get paid to do the things we love. But it’s also easy for artists to be exploited — if their art is used to market a product and they are not getting paid for their artwork or sharing in the company’s profits.

You’ve done workshops with kids in New Zealand – to which you originally traveled to create a design for Serato — and recently here up in the Bronx. Can you tell us something about that?

Having grown up in the South Bronx, I understand just how important it is for kids to have positive experiences that nurture their creativity in productive ways. My most recent venture was with Sienide, working with youth to design a mural on 172^nd Street and Southern Boulevard for the Children’s Aid Society’s.

What’s ahead?

Cornell University recently approached me about purchasing the original source material for Rappin’ Max Robot for its hip-hop collection of rare books and manuscripts. I am currently working on an a piece for an upcoming train show at Grand Central, scheduled to open on November 22. And tomorrow evening, I will be participating in the New York Comic Con panel discussion Hip-Hop and Comics: Cultures Combining.

Congratulations! It all sounds great!

Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky; all images courtesy of Eric Orr; final photo by Lois Stavsky

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Keith Haring Continues at Chelsea’s Gladstone Gallery through June 14

June 9, 2014

An exhibition of huge works painted by Keith Haring in the 80’s remains on view through Saturday, June 14 at Gladstone Gallery. While all are characteristic of Haring’s boldly, playful aesthetic, some exude a dark social and political sensibility — referencing such themes as the AIDS crisis (pictured above), greed and economic inequality. Here’s a sampling:

The gallery is located at 515 West 24th Street in Chesea, Manhattan.

Photos of images by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Speaking with Angel Ortiz aka LA2

February 3, 2014

Based on the Lower East Side, LA2 creates bold, brightly-colored energetic works on a range of surfaces. Befriended by the legendary Keith Haring as a young teen, LA2 is best-known for his distinct tag that has earned him accolades both on the streets and in galleries and museums world-wide. I recently had the opportunity to interview him:

When and where did you first start tagging up?

I was 10 when I first started tagging. The street was my canvas. I lived on the Lower East Side, and so those were the streets that I hit.

Who or what inspired you at the time?

I noticed kids at the Boys Club and in school tagging up. And I was inspired by Lee Quinones’s work that I saw on subway cars and on walls in my neighborhood.

Did you tag alone or did you work with crews back in the day?

It didn’t matter. I just wanted to tag up. I worked mostly alone, but I did get up with TNS (The Non Stoppers) and El 3 (RIP), who later died when he was electrocuted by the 3^rd rail.

You went on to collaborate with Keith Haring. How did you first meet Keith?

Keith was looking for me. He had seen my tag and wanted to find me. When Keith was working on a mural at Junior High School 22, Richie SOE came to my house and told me that Keith wants to meet me, and so I went over there.

How did Keith Haring’s work change after meeting you?

Before he met me, he was doing mostly simple characters. After we began working together, his work became more energetic. And soon after Rock Hudson announced that he had AIDS, Keith came out of the closet, and his artwork took on a more sexual tone.

What was it like collaborating with Keith?

It was great. I’ve always been fond of Keith as a person and as an artist. We travelled to Europe together, and Keith made sure that I was paid what was due me. I feel grateful to Keith, but not to the Keith Haring Foundation. But that’s another story.

Your artwork has been exhibited in galleries worldwide. How do you feel about the movement of graffiti and street art into galleries?

I think it’s great. It’s a win-win for both galleries and artists. We artists have to make money to keep doing what we’re doing.

Any thoughts about the graffiti-street art divide?

There’s less and less of a divide. After Keith Haring collaborated with me, the museums had no choice but to accept graffiti. This past year, I became the first writer to paint in the Children’s Museum of the East End in the Hamptons.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

They’re all dead. Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, and Basquiat were my favorites.

Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?

I generally work alone. But in addition to Keith Haring, I’ve collaborated with quite a few artists including Richard Hambleton, Kenny Scharf and my girlfriend’s daughter, Jasmin. And when Stik was in from London this past fall, I collaborated with him.

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

I think it’s great. Since my girlfriend, Ramona, created the website, we’ve received invitations from galleries overseas in such countries as Italy and Germany.

Do you have a formal art education?

No, I’m self-taught. I dropped out of Seward Park High School to travel with Keith Haring and help him establish his career.

What is the riskiest thing you ever did?

Just getting my tag up is risky. I’ve spent time in jail for that. Whenever I take my dog, Nico, for a walk, I tag when he pees. And I’ve gotten locked up for that, along with Nico. He’s gotten locked up, too!

What inspires your art?

It’s inspired by my emotions…the things I go through… my thoughts and feelings. Creating art is how I express myself.

Do you work with a sketch in hand?

Never, it’s all straight out of my head.

Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?

I’m always happy. I love them all.

How has your work evolved through the years?

It has gotten more detailed. There’s more line work and people tell me that it’s tighter.

What do you see as your role — as an artist — in society?

My particular role is to educate kids on how to express their creativity in a healthy way. They need to use the right materials and to cover their faces. I developed health problems (COPD) by not protecting myself when painting. I love lecturing kids and working with them. I will be doing a workshop with children this spring at the Angel Orensanz Center in conjunction with the Fridge Art Fair.

What do you see as the future of graffiti?

It’s going to become more and more valued as an art form.

The Europeans have always seemed to value it more than we have. Why do you suppose they are so much more receptive to graffiti than we here in the States are?

It’s because they appreciate art more, in general. It’s always been that way. And on a personal level, Paul Kostabi sold my art in Italy 20 years ago, gaining the attention and appreciation of Europeans.

What’s ahead for you?

Traveling, exhibiting both here and overseas, educating the youth and continuing to become healthier.

Editor’s note: A selection of LA2’s work in on exhibit at City as Canvas: Graffiti Art from the Martin Wong Collection at the Museum of the City of New York. Curated by Sean Corcoran, it opens tomorrow, February 4, and continues through August 24.

Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky; first two photos — of LA2 collaborating with Keith Haring and of LA2 tagging — originally published in Keith Haring, Rizzoli — courtesy of LA2; all other photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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LA2 at Leila Heller Gallery for Young Collectors Exhibition

January 4, 2014

For its second annual Young Collectors Exhibition, the Leila Heller Gallery is featuring an exuberant selection of works in a wide range of media by Angel Ortiz aka LA2 and LaROC. Befriended as a young teen by the late Keith Haring, the two clearly influenced one another. And in this exhibit, as in so much of LA2’s artwork, Keith Haring’s spirit is visibly alive. There is even an LA2 Pop-Up Shop dedicated solely to LA2’s objects, reminiscent of Keith Haring’s Pop Shop, a fixture for almost 20 years on Lafayette Street in lower Manhattan. Here are a few images from the exhibit that continues through Wednesday, January 8, at 568 West 25th Street in Chelsea.

Spring Flow

Heart Clock

Untitled

Tribal Mask

Guitars

And some personalized graffiti made available to guests on opening night

First and final photos captured on opening night by Dani Reyes Mozeson; all others by Lois Stavsky

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Leila Heller Gallery Hosts “Calligraffiti: 1984-2013” and Artist Talk

September 28, 2013

East meets West, and calligraphy meets graffiti at the Leila Heller Gallery in Calligraffiti: 1984-2013. And this past Thursday’s panel discussion, moderated by Leila Heller, provided an intimate glimpse into the disparate worlds that initially converged in a gallery setting in the exhibit that Ms. Heller and Jeffrey Deitch curated 30 years ago. After Leila Heller began the talk by sharing her personal and professional history, the five participants — Ayad Alkadhi, eL Seed, Fab Five Freddy, LA2 and Rostarr presented their distinct experiences and observations. Following are a selection of images from the exhibit and from Thursday’s panel discussion.

South Korean native Rostarr

Rostarr shares a bit of his history

Paris-based eL Seed

eL Seed to the left of Fab Five Freddy who spoke of his early determination to get graffiti the recognition it deserved

NYC-based LA2, whose tag has been part of the Lower East Side’s visual landscape for over 35 years

And an early collaboration with Keith Haring

The exhibit continues through October 5th at the Leila Heller Gallery, 568 West 25th Street.

Photos and reportage by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Seldom-seen Keith Haring artworks at Mana Contemporary

November 30, 2012

With their universal concepts, playful imagery and distinct visual rhythms, Keith Haring’s works continue to seduce folks of all ages from across the globe. Opening this Sunday, December 2, from 1-5pm at Mana Contemporary’s huge first-floor gallery, Keith Haring showcases a collection of seldom-seen Haring pieces on a range of surfaces. Here is a brief preview:

Untitled, 1983, Acrylic on leather

Dog, 1986, painted plywood with silkscreen

Close-up

Untitled, 1982, marker on wood

And of particular interest to us New York City street art lovers are oversized metal panels originally spray-painted in 1984 on the FDR Drive

Organized by 99 Cents Fine Art, New York, the exhibit also features several of Keith Haring’s subway drawings. Mana Contemporary is located at 888 Newark Avenue, in Jersey City — just a short ride from Manhattan.

Photos by Lenny Collado and Lois Stavsky

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