New York City

Patrick-Verel-Graffiti-Murals

In his highly acclaimed book Graffiti Murals: Exploring the Impacts of Street Art, free-lance writer and photographer Patrick Verel presents six case studies, along with dozens of photographs, exploring the role of sanctioned graffiti murals and street art in the urban environment. I recently met up with him and had the opportunity to ask him a few questions:

What spurred your interest in this topic?

I was always into graffiti.  I have a short attention span, and I love being surprised! Cities stimulate me and graffiti is part of that stimulation.

How did this initial interest evolve into a book?

I never thought I’d actually write a book. It developed from the thesis that I wrote when I was enrolled in Fordam University’s Urban Studies Master’s Program.

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You focus on six cases from the South Bronx to Trenton, New Jersey. How did you connect to all of the folks whom you interviewed?

I sent out lots of emails after poking around the Internet.  And I made some of the connections via my Flickr contacts — like the photographer Luna Park, who hooked me up with Robots Will Kill.

What were some of the obstacles you encountered while doing your research?

Getting people to talk to me and synthesizing all of the information.

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You seem to have accomplished that quite well! What — would you say – was the mission of your book?

To change the way so many people think about graffiti. To introduce them to the positive benefits of graffiti murals in enhancing the urban environment.

Are there any particular factors that assure the success of these interventions?

So much depends upon the owner of the space and his relationship with the artists. That owner must be able to trust the artists to do what they want.  And a successful collaboration demands money, effort and time.

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Were there any unexpected outcomes following the publication of the book?

Yes! I received a positive response from City Government, and I connected to Natalie Raben of the Lower East Side BID and the 100 GATES Program.

Have you noticed any changes in the graffiti/street art since you wrote your book?

There seem to be more projects, like the Bushwick Collective and the Welling Court Mural Project, that give artists legal opportunities to paint outdoors.

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Published by Schiffer Publishing, Graffiti Murals: Exploring the Impacts of Street Art, is available online and in most bookstores.

Interview by Lois Stavsky

Photos of murals by Patrick Verel

1. Book cover, Lank completes mural he painted with Delve, Luv1 and Casso in Jersey City

2. Wallnuts mural in Gowanus with Dos, Chester, Muse, Been3 and Werc

3. 5Pointz in LIC with Meres, Zimad and more

4. Robots Will Kill in Bushwick with Chris, Veng, Peeta, Never & ECB

5. Taste, Mek, Evak, Sno Reo & Zoe at TerraCycle in Trenton, NJ

Note: Our highly acclaimed Street Art NYC App is now available here at Google Play for Android devices.

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This is the 17th in an occasional series of posts featuring images of girls — and women — who grace NYC public spaces:

Swoon in Red Hook

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JR in the East Village

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Gabriel Pitcher in Bushwick

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Panmela Castro with Opni in the Bronx

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Ramiro Davaro with JMZ Walls in Bushwick

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 Anthony Lister in Bushwick

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Close-up of Lister’s ballerina

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 Photo credits: 1 & 2 Tara Murray; 3-5 Lois Stavsky, and 6 & 7 Dani Reyes Mozeson

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On a mission to find public art in my Manhattan neighborhood, I hit Riverside Park yesterday afternoon. Here’s a sampling of what I found walking among the snow drifts — overlooking the Hudson River — from 72nd Street down to 59th Street:

Sukyung KimFlow 1 – Cascade

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Kate Jansyn, Fragment of an Angel

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Paola Morales, Thrive

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Lee Apt, Jubilation

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Jubiliation, in its entirety from another angle

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Ken Shih, Can Love Pervade Space? close-up of huge installation

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Accidental art

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Note: Images 1-6  — of the Model to Monument Program (M2M) — represent a collaboration between the Art Students League of New York and New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

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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Okudua-street-art-on-Lafayette-David Sharabani-in-NYC

A huge fan of Lord K2’s photography and his outstanding book, Street Art Santiago, I was delighted to discover that Lord K2 has also been photographing NYC’s street art and graffiti.  During his most recent stopover in NYC, I had the opportunity to speak to him.

Why NYC?

Because it is the epicenter of it all.  It is where graffiti was born, and where the best artists from across the globe come to paint.

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Any distinct standouts?

Os Gemeos immediately comes to mind. But just about every artist who has painted on the famed Bowery wall is extraordinary. And the L.I.S.A Project, too, has brought so many first-rate artists to Manhattan.  My initial focus was just Manhattan because the borough attracts so many outstanding artists.

But you had begun to photograph beyond Manhattan.

Yes. I decided that I did not want to limit myself. And among the sites I’ve photographed outside of Manhattan are the Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria, Queens and the Bushwick Collective in Brooklyn.

David-Sharabani-At-Welling Court Mural Project

Many of your photos are in black and white. Why is that?

Too much color in a book can oversaturate the senses. And when I capture the artists in action, I find that limiting the image to black and white often creates a more satisfying overall portrait.

Any particular inspirations among the photographers out there?

I was definitely inspired by Martha Cooper’s work. And the late Garry Winogrand’s photos of Manhattan have influenced my approach to street photography.

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How have the artists you’ve photographed responded to you?

They’ve all been welcoming and warm.

How long have you been working on this project?

I began two years ago  Taking my time allows me to photograph the new art works that arise which, in turn, allows me to curate from a larger selection.

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You spent a considerable amount of time in South America. What are some of the most striking differences between the street art scene here in NYC and what you experienced there?

I found that in South America the artists generally paint for the love of it. And making a living out of art is a bigger challenge in South America than it is here. In NYC, financial considerations come more into play, as many of the artists have more opportunities to get the attention of gallerists and collectors.  Also, in South America lines are blurred between what is legal and what is illegal. There’s a general leniency towards unsanctioned art, while here in NYC painting illegally is quite problematic.

Icy-and-Sot

Absolutely! And accessing legal walls can be quite challenging! When can we expect to see you back in NYC?

I plan to return in the summer.

That sounds great! The walls are waiting for you!

Interview by Lois Stavsky; all photos Lord K2

Images: 1. Okuda  2. Buff Monster  3. SweetCrimes  4 .Geobany  5. GumShoe & 6. Icy and Sot

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"Dee Dee"

Opening this evening at 2 Rivington Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and continuing through Sunday is The Day Is My Enemy, street artist Dee Dee‘s first solo exhibit. Presented by Montreal-based Station 16, it features an intriguing array of distinctly curious collaged works. When I stopped by last night, I had the opportunity to speak to Adam Vieira and Emily Robertson of Station 16.

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Just who is Dee Dee?

She is quite mysterious! But word is that the secretive artist is based in New York City and that she is Japanese.

Interesting! How did you discover her?

We first heard about her from Dain, whose work we’d exhibited at Station 16.

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Yes! They share a similar aesthetic! What is it about Dee Dee‘s work that appeals to you?

We love that she creates her art from scraps of posters and assorted papers that she finds on the streets. And we like that she consistently gets up in a variety of spots. We are thrilled to be back in NYC to present her work in this space.

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Can you tell us something about the concept behind The Day Is My Enemy?

Yes! It is Halloween-based, as it highlights themes of deception and destruction. The works on exhibit explore the contradictions and discrepancies between our private and public selves.

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What can visitors to the opening reception expect — in addition to viewing first-hand all of this intriguing art?

There will be themed hostesses, lighting to complement the mood, a soundscape designed by Dee Dee and more!

It sounds great! Good luck!

Note: The Day Is My Enemy opens this evening from 6-9pm at 2 Rivington Street off the Bowery.

Interview and photos 1-4 by Lois Stavsky

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dorothy-gale-street-art-centre-fuge-public-art-project

Earlier this summer, the Centre-fuge Public Art Project once again transformed the now-famed trailer on East First Street off First Avenue, bringing color and intrigue to Manhattan’s East Village.

D. Gale at work

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Vince Ballentine

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 Smurfo 

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HissXX

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Pawn

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Kingbee

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Wide view with PawnKingbee and Ramiro Davaro

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Photos: 1, 3-6 & 8 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2 & 7 Tara Murray

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"Klone"

On view through June 20th at Garis & Hahn at 263 Bowery is Topography of a Daydream, a solo exhibition of works by the Tel-Aviv based artist Klone. A huge fan of Klone’s distinct aesthetic since I first saw his works on the streets of Tel Aviv several years ago, I was captivated by his new drawings, sculptures, animations and site-specific murals featured in his first solo exhibit in NYC.

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With his mythical creatures, Klone explores his childhood memories of emigration from the Ukraine to Tel Aviv, taking us along with him on his journey.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me, Ink on paper

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Close-up

Klone

Installation, various media

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 klone-saggital-slice

Ways to Hide, Paper, metal, wire and paint

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Newly painted in Red Hook, Brooklyn

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In Tel Aviv, as seen this past fall 

"Klone street art"

Photos credits: 1 & 4 City-As-School intern Diana Davidova; 3, 5, 6 & 9 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 7 & 8 Lois Stavsky

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After spending five months in London, Pyramid Oracle is back for a bit in NYC.  Opening today at 6pm at City Bird Gallery is Return, a five-day show featuring work he developed in the UK. We met up with the artist yesterday, as he was getting ready for this evening’s exhibit.

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Your works began surfacing here on NYC streets about two years ago. We were struck at once by their haunting, somewhat melancholy, beauty. What is the inspiration behind these works?

I’m inspired by the people, places and things I’ve experienced. I try to capture wisdom from the great mysteries, while depicting our existence in a sort of subliminal lull. I’ve been particularly inspired by the Native Americans I’ve met in Montana and New Mexico.

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When and where did you begin sharing your work in public spaces? 

I started around 2008 doing work throughout the Midwest.  My work first started getting recognized primarily in Chicago. 

What motivated you to get up on the streets?

I was hanging around train riders, graff artists and vagabonds. I was doing most of my work while traveling and spending so much time on the street that it seemed like the natural thing to do.

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Where – besides NYC, Chicago and London – have you gotten up?

Minneapolis, Baltimore, Philly, Portland, and Miami. And in Iowa — Cedar Rapids, Iowa city, Ames, Fort Dodge and Des Moines.  

Just who is Pyramid Oracle?

Pyramid Oracle represents the body of work that I am developing. It is constantly evolving.

pyramid-oracle-in-gallery-nyc

Who are some of your influences?

Among the artists whose works have resonated the most with me through the years are: Gaia, SwoonMata Ruda, LNY and OverUnder.

What would you like folks to come away with after seeing your work? Have you a message to convey?

It is open to interpretation, while its primary purpose is to facilitate a means of reflection and illumination.

Pyramid-Oracle-Return

Return opens this evening at 6pm at City Bird Gallery and remains on exhibit through Sunday. The gallery is located at 191 Henry Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Interview by City-as-School intern Diana Davidova with Lois Stavsky; photos 1-3 Lois Stavsky; 4 Diana Davidova

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This is the ninth post in an occasional series featuring the diverse range of artwork on NYC shutters:

Claw Money

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Fumero

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Daze

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Iena Cruz

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Plasma Slug

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Madsteez

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Armas Carino

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Margot Bird

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JR

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Photos: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 & 9 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 3 Tara Murray; 5 & 8 Lois Stavsky

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