This is the third in an occasional series of images of girls — and women — who grace New York City’s walls:
Nick Walker in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District
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NYC
A self-described artist, designer and entrepreneur, Toofly is best-known for her signature character that has made its way onto walls across the globe, as well as onto a range of fashion items. We had the opportunity to meet up with Toofly this past week and ask her a few questions.
Your alluring character has been surfacing all around town. We’ve recently seen her in Williamsburg, at Welling Court, at 5Pointz and even on a Lower East Side rooftop. Can you tell us something about her?
She’s kind of like my alter ego. An outlet where I can express my emotion and ideas. She was once tough and with an attitude, but she has mellowed down over the years. And, like me, she is continually evolving.
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For the third consecutive year, dozens of talented artists graced the walls of the Welling Court neighborhood of Astoria, Queens with a diverse range of images. We visited several times this past week beginning with the day before the Welling Court Mural Project, organized by Ad Hoc Art, held its official opening. On our most recent visit, we had the chance to observe and speak to neighborhood residents – all of whom expressed tremendous pride in their neighborhood’s visual landscape (and curiosity, as well, about the artists). Here are a few images whose progress we observed:
New Jersey-based Joe Iurato aka .01
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Noted São Paulo muralist Eduardo Kobra has been the talk of the town here as he has been transforming Chelsea’s visual landscape. Characterized by an impressive range of depth and realism, Kobra’s brightly hued murals pay homage to NYC’s history.
As viewed from the High Line, this piece was inspired by Alfred Eisenstaedt’s iconic photo, V-J Day in Times Square:
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Some artists are working alone; others are hitting the walls collaboratively. And while many are long-term NYC residents, quite a few are just passing through. Together, they are transforming Bushwick’s visual landscape. Here are a few images we caught this past week:
Flying Fortress and Most in from Germany and Austrian artist Nychos with NYC’s Chris and Veng of the Robots Will Kill collective
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Notoriously difficult canvases, NYC shutters continue to attract both global and local artists. Here are a few current ones:
Bristol native Nick Walker in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District
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Yesterday was a busy day in Bushwick, as artists from across the globe, along with locals, transformed the visual landscape of some of the neighborhood’s key spots. Here are a few images captured in the late afternoon:
Australian artists Dabs & Myla
Brooklyn-based designer Matt Dobbs
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Born in 1983 outside of Paris, JR has achieved worldwide recognition for his enormous photographs of everyday people that have been pasted on a range of surfaces all over the world. Among JR’s numerous awards and grants is his recent “Inside Out Project,” which has turned the walls of New York City into an open-air photo gallery. This past weekend, JR was busy over at the High Line in Chelsea pasting his huge portrait in tribute to the Lakota people, an original Native American tribe.
Photos by Joshua Geyer
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We’re great fans of your wondrous characters that have found a home on the walls of our city. Who are these characters? Are they inspired by folks you know?
No. They’re straight from my head. They’re kind of a mix-up, I suppose, of different comic characters inspired by a range of sources from Marvel comics to Warner Bros cartoons.
When did you first start getting up in the streets?
About two summers ago. OverUnder got me into it. We started painting together, and he sort of encouraged me to start putting up work. I was drawn to it right away and got hooked.
Does the ephemeral nature of it bother you?
No. It actually helps me develop my work at a faster pace. There are just so many ways your work can get destroyed. Instead of getting frustrated, I try instead to not treat each piece as a precious object, and that frees me up to work more. If I was to get too worked up about everything that didn’t last, I’d be depressed all the time.
Have you any favorite spots?
Not really. I almost never make a piece with a spot in mind. Coney Island, the Bronx and Philly are all spots I’d like to do more work in.
Any fears when you’re getting up?
I tend to move around a lot, so when I’m up high I’m always a little concerned that I’m going to do something stupid like walk off a ledge.
Have you ever been arrested?
I did end up spending one night in jail. I got chewed out by the Sergeant at the Bed-Stuy precinct who said ridiculous crap – like, “How would you like it if I tagged all over you!?” The whole thing was kind of ridiculous.
I guess they just don’t get it! When did you first come to NYC?
I was actually born here. But I grew up mainly in Portland, Oregon. Then six years ago, I came to NYC for the summer. And I never left. I just feel like this city is more to my pace than the West Coast. I’m much more productive here.
We’re certainly glad you stayed! Have you any favorite artists?
Some of my favorite comic artists are Robert Crumb, Jack Kirby and the Hernandez Bros.
What about printmakers? Any favorites?
Quite a few. Ben Shahn and Saul Steinberg come to mind. I like anything with a heavy line that is a bit sloppy. It makes the work more relatable to me.
You’re quite a prolific painter. Have you had a formal art education?
Well, I recently went back to school to finish up my undergraduate degree. I was about half way done, and figured I should probably finish it up.
Do you feel it has had a positive impact on your artwork?
I have mixed feelings about it. In a lot of ways school sort of slows the creative process down. I’m definitely making more work now that I’m back in the real world.
Have you exhibited your work in any galleries?
I was in a three-man show at Pandemic Gallery a while back. It was with my friends, Labrona and OverUnder. It was stressful for me because I spent a long time worried that I was going to look like a fool. Those other guys are really solid, and I didn’t want to be the weak link. In the end it came together, but I remember thinking after it was done that I didn’t want to do that ever again! I’m beginning to think it’d be cool to try it again at some point, though.
How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all of this?
Without it, I wouldn’t know who anyone is!
What’s ahead?
I’d love to travel and paint some walls in other cities. Maybe even go to other parts of the world. But locally, this is a good time of year to just knock on doors and see who’ll let you paint the side of their building!
Good luck! We sure hope those doors open!
Photos by Tara Murray & Street Art NYC
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Dain’s intriguing portraits have been part of NYC’s visual landscape for years. Curious about the man behind these beguiling images, we posed a few questions to the Brooklyn-based artist:
We are mesmerized by your portraits that seem to recurrently surface throughout NYC. We just love them. Who are these figures –mostly females — that greet us just about daily?
Thank you for your kind words. They are faces of eyes that speak to me.
Tell us something about the process of creating them.
I usually take the face of a woman and a match it to the body of a man. I mix in collage, spray paint, bright colors and some graff.
What about the dripping eye? We’re not sure what it represents.
I’d rather not say.
And why have you chosen to post your portraits in public spaces?
Unlike many of the massive murals that seem to be popping up like car ads, I still smile when I stumble upon a rusty old door way in the back alley of Chinatown and see some art.
When did you first start getting up?
I started by doing graffiti in grade school.
You are obviously taking risks, as the “authorities” haven’t been too kind these days to those artists who continue to use the streets as a canvas — especially when their work hasn’t been sanctioned. Any thoughts about that?
Not really. I’m adding beauty. I’m also selective about where I put up my work.
Have you a formal art education?
No. If that works for you, you got my blessings.
How do you feel about exhibiting your work in galleries? Your work looks fabulous on just about any surface in any venue.
Thank you again…you are kind I really enjoy bringing a taste of the streets to the galleries.
What’s ahead?
I’m working on a few projects, and I have a couple of shows coming up at the end of this year/early next year…hitting more streets!
Great! We’re looking forward.
Photos by Street Art NYC; all images from NYC streets, except for final one, which is from Leo Kesting Gallery, 2010
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