On our recent visit to Jersey City this past Friday, Gregory D. Edgell aka the Green Villain gave us a tour of some of Jersey City’s newest murals, including some wonderful ones that he curated. Here’s a sampling of those:
All photos by Lois Stavsky, except for Kem5, courtesy of Greg.
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A motley crew of characters, conceived by Argentine American artist Ramiro Davaro, can be found not only on the streets of Brooklyn, but — for the next few days — his Manimal Friends remains on exhibit at Williamsburg’s Cotton Candy Machine. Here are some more of his characters that have surfaced on the streets:
For Juicy Art Fest
On Scholes and Waterbury, 2013
Close-up, on Waterbury and Meserole, 2014
Outside the Cotton Candy Machine
And inside the Cotton Candy Machine — one of many, Pen and Ink, Acrylic Paint on Paper
Also on sale at the Cotton Candy Machine are signed copies of Ramiro’s colorfully illustrated new book Manimal Friends. Located at 235 South 1st Street (between Roebling and Havemeyer), Cotton Candy Machine is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 8pm.
Photos 1, 3, 5 and 6 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2 and 4 by Lois Stavsky
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For years, the former aerosol art Mecca 5Pointz was the site of a 9/11 commemorative wall that surfaced anew each September 11. This year, thanks to the efforts of Marie Cecile Flageul, the annual mural found a new home — on the corner of Bedford Avenue and Bergen Street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Fashioned by Meres, See TF, Remiks, Sloke, Spin, Danielle Mastrion and Lexi Bella, the mural pays special tribute to noted hip-hop historian and photographer Joe Conzo for his extraordinary efforts as a NYFD firefighter on Ground Zero. Here are a few more scenes captured yesterday:
Close-up featuring Joe Conzo, painted by See TF
Danielle Mastrion at work
And giving Spin a hand here
Meres at work
And drawing his iconic lightbulb for Cydney, a local student and his newest fan
Photos 1, 3, 5-7 by Lois Stavsky; photos 2 and 4 by City-as-School intern Tyler Dean Flores
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This is the eighth in a series of occasional posts featuring the range of faces that surface in NYC open spaces:
Dasic in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Rimx and Ricardo Cabret — in progress for NY Street Gallery — on the patio outside Exit Room NY, in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Long-running ECB in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Jordan Betten in Midtown Manhattan
Alice Mizrachi in Bushwick playground
Long-running Chris Soria — created with Groundswell youth — in Red Hook, Brooklyn
FoxxFace for the LISA Project in Little Italy, Manhattan
Sexer for the TAG Public Arts Project in the Bronx
Photos: Dasic, Jordan Betten and Chris Soria by Dani Reyes Mozeson; all others by Lois Stavsky
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Promoting the Ink Master Rivals show on Spike TV, two tattooed arms have made their way onto a huge billboard on Broadway between 51st and 52nd Streets. Featured on the right side of the billboard are several eerie, brightly-hued characters fashioned by Lamour Supreme — as pictured above:
Lamour Supreme, close-ups
And the left side of the billboard showcases a crew of Sheryo and the Yok‘s delightfully zany characters:
It’s great to see work by some of our favorite artists so prominently displayed!
Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson
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We were introduced to Esteban del Valle’s remarkable talents a number of years back at 5Pointz. We’ve since seen his deftly crafted artwork in Bushwick, the Lower East Side, Red Hook, Welling Court and recently at the 21st Precinct Art Exhibit. And in addition to forging his own artwork, Esteban has been sharing his skills and vision with youth this past summer in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Last week, the mural created by 17 young men in Groundswell’s Summer Leadership Institute, along with Esteban and his assistant artist, Jose de Jesus Rodriguez, was officially unveiled. Located at 417 Junius Street on the wall of the Food Bazaar Supermaket, it represents the best possible model for public art. At the mural’s dedication ceremony, I had the opportunity to find out from Esteban a bit more about this particular project, P. I. C. T. U. R. E. S Prison Industrial Complex: Tyranny Undermining Rights, Education and Society.
This mural is quite amazing. When did you begin working on it?
We began on July 2nd.
Can you tell us something about the process?
We spent the first two weeks researching the issue, discussing the justice system and designing our representation of it. The final four weeks were devoted to painting the mural.
Why this topic?
It’s of particular relevance to this community. We see this mural as a way to raise awareness and provoke discussion about the subject of the prison industrial complex. Some of the youth involved in this all-male Making His’tory mural team have had first-hand experience with the way the justice system functions.
How have the young muralists responded to this project?
The response has been great. We’ve had many intense discussions and we can all walk away with a sense of accomplishment.
What has this experience been like for you, personally?
It was very exciting. And it was great for all of us to see an idea executed into a reality.
Have you any personal message?
With these tools (pen and paint brush in hand), you can change your life and your community.
Elijah Barrington, one of the project’s participants, added the following to our conversation: We sweated every day to get this wall to look the way we wanted it to. I felt focused and happy, and I learned so much. I’m already looking forward to the next project.
Brief interview and photos by Lois Stavsky
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Yesterday at noon, the 14th edition of the NYC Graffiti Hall of Fame, presented by Joey TDS and James Top, was officially launched inside the famed East Harlem schoolyard on 106th Street and Park Avenue. Here is a small sampling of what went down during the early afternoon:
Bver
And earlier in the week, Tats Cru — with Crash and Nick Walker — fashioned a huge mural outside the school yard. Here are some close-ups:
The 14th edition of the NYC Graffiti Hall of Fame continues today from noon to 8pm.
Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson
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Under the curatorial direction of Tag Public Arts Project founder, SinXero, the walls on and off the 6 line in the South Central section of the Bronx have become one of the borough’s visual highlights. Loved by both local residents and passersby, these murals, in fact, are now incorporated into an official tour of the Bronx. Here is a small sampling of what can be seen:
Marthalicia Matarrita and Raquel Echanique
Marthalicia Matarrita, close-up
See TF
Daek William — in from Australia
Zimad — close-up
Keep posted to our Facebook page for many more Tag Public Arts Project images and check here for piece painted by the legendary John Matos aka Crash.
Photos by Lois Stavsky
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Bronx-based Sienide aka Sien is one of NYC’s most versatile artists. His delightful compositions — in a range of styles from masterful graffiti writing to soulful portraits — continue to grace public spaces throughout the boroughs. I recently had the opportunity to interview him:
When did you first get up?
I started tagging and bombing on the Grand Concourse in 1981 with my older brother. I was living at 176th street and Morris Ave. I did my first piece in 1985 with my then-bombing partner SEPH. Jean13 was also there, and he helped me shape up my letters. Ironically, my first piece was also a legal commission.
What was your preferred surface back then?
I really wanted to get into the yards. But I couldn’t, so I hit trailers instead. There was a great lot over in Castle Hill, where we painted and made a tree-house to store our supplies.
What inspired you to get up?
Everybody around me was writing.
Did you paint alone or with crews?
Both. In 1986 IZ the Wiz put me down with TMB after he saw my black book. Since, I’ve painted with the best of the best: OTB, FX, KD, GOD (Bronx) and GOD (Brooklyn), MTA, Ind’s, Ex-Vandals, XMEN, and TATS CRU
What about these days? Do you paint only legally?
Oh, yes! I’m too old to play around, and I want to get paid for what I do. I also want to paint in peace.
How did your family feel about what you were doing back in the day?
They weren’t happy. When I was arrested for motion tagging with my cousin on the 6 train, my uncle — who was my dad at the time — told me that no one would ever hire me because I defaced public property.
What percentage of your time is devoted to art?
At least 85% of it.
What is your main source of income these days?
It’s all art-related. I sell my work, earn commissions for painting murals and I also teach.
Have you any thoughts about the street art and graffiti divide?
I love them both. I have forever been trying to marry them.
How do you feel about the movement of graffiti and street art into galleries?
I think it’s cool. I love to see my stuff hanging on walls, and when someone asks me to be in a show, I feel honored.
What about the corporate world? How do you feel about its engagement with graffiti and street art?
I have no problem with it. If the corporate bank writes me a check, I’ll cash it.
Is there anyone in particular you would like to collaborate with?
I would like to collaborate more with Eric Orr.
How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all of this?
The Internet is useful. It works for me.
Do you have a formal art education?
Yes I have a Masters Degree in Illustration from FIT.
Did this degree benefit you?
Yes, I now know my worth.
How would you describe your ideal working environment?
Outdoors, Florida-type weather and a generous paint sponsor.
What inspires you these days?
I’m inspired by the life I live and by the students I teach.
Are there any particular cultures that have influenced you?
The human culture.
Do you work with a sketch in hand or just let it flow?
I work with a rough sketch, but I never have colors in it. This prevents me from becoming a slave to my reference, and it allows my creative mojo to experiment freely.
Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?
Never.
How has your work evolved through the years?
My work keeps evolving and changing because I allow myself to experiment. I don’t like being stuck in one particular mode. That bores me.
What do you see as the role of the artist in society?
To give back… to share a gift that we artists have with others.
How do you feel about the photographers in the scene?
I think they’re helpful, but they should share any profits they make with the artists whose works they photograph.
What’s ahead?
I hope to be still doing what I’m doing while advancing my skills. I hope never to lose my passion.
Interview by Lois Stavsky; photos 1, 2 and 8 (collaboration with Kid Lew) by Sienide; 3, 4 and 7 (on canvas) by Lois Stavsky; 5 (collaboration with Eric Orr) and 6 by Lenny Collado
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