On view this evening from 7-11pm at 17 Frost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is October Surprise. Curated by Jason Mamarella, aka d.w. krsna, it features works by some of our favorite artists who are active both on the streets and in their studios. Here’s a brief sampling:
Jason Mamarella, aka d.w. krsna, close-up (look carefully!)
And here’s a close-up from WC Bevan — who works with ink he creates on paper recycled from abandoned spaces
Photos of artworks by Lois Stavsky
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Based in Córdoba, Argentina, Elian fashions mesmerizing abstract compositions on huge walls. In late summer, Los Muros Hablan brought Elian and his sumptuous style to the South Bronx. While he was here in NYC, we had the opportunity to meet up.
When and where did you first get up?
Ten years ago. I was 15 when I started tagging and bombing in Córdoba.
What inspired you at the time?
My friends were doing it, and so I tried it. I’m dyslexic, and I had always struggled with writing. But with a spray can in hand, it felt right. It was the first time I ever felt at home writing.
How does your family feel about what you’re doing?
Everyone is supportive. My mother bought me my first spray can.
What percentage of your time is devoted to art?
All of it.
Do you have a formal art education?
I studied graphic design. But I don’t like “institutions.”
Do you work with a sketch in hand, or just let it flow?
I always work with a sketch in hand.
Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?
Yes.
How has your art evolved through the years?
It evolved from 3d graffiti to flat images. One can go only so far with graffiti.
When you look back at what you did two years ago, how do you feel about it?
It was too limited. There wasn’t enough concept behind it.
What other cities have you painted in besides those in Argentina?
I’ve painted in Berlin, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Santiago and Lima. And in the U. S. in Miami, Atlanta, and here in New York City.
Have you a favorite city?
Lima. I loved the food and the people.
What is the riskiest thing you ever did?
Painting trains, climbing heights and living every day.
What inspires you these days?
City life. Everything I see. The garbage, broken pavement…NYC is amazing!
Are there any particular cultures or movements that have influenced your aesthetic?
Pop-art, Russian constructivism, neo-plasticism, minimalism.
Have you any favorite artists?
Among my favorite artists who paint in public spaces are MOMO, Jaz, and El Tono. Other artists I love include Sol LeWitt, Mondrian and Pablo Siquier.
How do you feel about the role of the Internet in this movement?
It’s a necessary tool, as it allows us to see what others are doing, and it gives me an opportunity to get my work out to a larger audience.
What do you see as the role of the artist in society?
I think of the artist as a cultural engine, an agent for change. The artist initiates a dialogue between the city’s walls and its inhabitants.
How do you feel about the role of the photographer and blogger in all this?
I like it. It creates additional opportunities for artists to reach people. It is necessary for our culture.
How does the street art culture here in NYC differ from the one back home in Buenos Aires
Back home, you generally don’t need permission to paint. People are grateful to you for sharing your talents with them. Here everything is a business. Back home, people are more interested in ideas.
How do you feel about the movement of street art to galleries and museums?
I’m not sure how I feel. My gallery is the city. And it is the most democratic place for me to share my work.
What’s ahead?
Working hard at my craft, engaging in huge public projects and giving back to the community.
Interview by Lois Stavsky; photos courtesy of the artist
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It’s been busy up on Boone Avenue near the Sheridan Expressway in the Bronx these past few days. Here are a few images captured yesterday during its current transformation:
Cern and Lady Fever at work
Fernando Romero aka Ski at work
Skeme, Reme at work and Chris RWK
All photos by Tara Murray. Part II to follow.
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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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Based in Argentina where he shares a studio with artists Jaz and Ever, Pastel recently participated in the urban arts festival, Los Muros Hablan, here in NYC. His splendid mural in the South Bronx is representative of his distinct aesthetic, which fuses his passions and talents for architecture, painting and muralism. I had the opportunity to speak to him briefly last month before he returned to his native Buenos Aires.
When did you first get up in a public space?
When I was 14 or 15, I began tagging in my Buenos Aires neighborhood with markers that I made from tampons and tar. But then when I broke my knee playing soccer and I could no longer dream of playing professionally, I began painting walls. That was in 2002.
Have you a formal art education?
I studied architecture at the University of Buenos Aires.
But you aren’t working primarily as an architect these days; are you?
No, I don’t like the structure of business, and I don’t see the need for more construction in cities. There are too many buildings already.
What percentage of your time is devoted to art?
Almost all of my time. About 20% is devoted to architecture, but I would like to devote 100% of it to my own art.
What is the riskiest thing you ever did?
Living my life as an artist. In Argentina, it’s way expensive and uncertain.
I suppose that’s the life of an artist anywhere! How does your family feel about what you’re doing now?
At the beginning they didn’t understand it; now they love it.
Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others?
I like both, and they’re both different experiences. I especially love collaborating with Elian. We just look at each other, and we know! A real symbiosis. Our styles are different, but we can fuse them to create one image. Two paintings become one.
What is your ideal working environment?
I grew up in the city, and I love it, but I probably prefer being away from the city. Maybe in a tropical space.
Do you work with a sketch, or do you just let it flow?
I begin with a sketch and progress to a watercolor. I then paint on a canvas and finally on a wall. I try to use the wall as the final stage of a study.
Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?
I try to be, but I’m never quite. There are always things to improve.
How has your work evolved through the years?
It’s changed radically. It’s far more conceptual these days with a philosophical mix. I need to have a concept behind the painting. I don’t paint just to paint. I need the work to tell something
How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all this?
It’s the new Jesus. You need to trust in somebody or something.
What about the photographers and bloggers?
I love them. They’re essential. We need them.
Is there much of a graffiti/street art divide in Buenos Aires?
They are two different worlds, but we all get along.
What’s ahead?
More painting, more new projects and loving more and more what I do.
Interview by Lois Stavsky; first photo of Pastel in the South Bronx by Lois Stavsky; following two photos of Pastel in Buenos Aires and final two of Pastel in Atlanta, Georgia, courtesy of the artist.
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Among the six remarkable exhibits opening this Sunday, September 29, at Jersey City’s wondrous cultural venue, Mana Contemporary, is an outdoor installation of Carole Feuerman’s extraordinary lifelike sculptures. Included is the debut of her newest work — a sculpture of Olympic gold medalist Lauren Perdue floating in a pool.
Close-up of Olympic gold medalist Lauren Perdue
And here’s a sampling of Carole Feuerman’s other sculptures — all part of a series of swimmers and bathers — displayed on Mana Contemporary’s exterior grounds:
Grande Catalina, 2005-2011
Survival of Serena, 2012
Monumental Shower, 2010
Quan, 2012
And greeting us as we enter the grounds of Mana Contemporary is The Golden Mean, a 16-foot male diver as he readies to do a back dive.
Also opening Sunday of particular interest to those of us who love public art is POP CULTURE: SELECTIONS FROM THE FREDERICK R. WEISMAN ART FOUNDATION. Among the artists featured with a strong presence on the streets are: John Matos aka Crash, Retna, Keith Haring and LA2. Located at 888 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, Mana Contemporary is a short ride from downtown Manhattan. This Sunday shuttle buses to Mana Contemporary are available every half hour starting at 12:30 pm from Milk Gallery at 450 West 15th Street.
All photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson
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It’s been a busy past few days on East First Street in the East Village, as eight artists have been refashioning the now-famous trailer just outside the First Street Green Park. Here are a few images captured from Centre-fuge Public Art Project‘s tenth cycle:
Brooklyn-based brothers Willow and Swil
Los Angeles-based artist CS-Navarrete at work
Amanda Hurn aka Miishab at work
Brooklyn-based artists Nicole Salgar and Chuck Berrett at work
And their completed piece
Australia-native Damien Mitchell at work
And his completed piece
The prolific Long Island-based Phetus at work
Photos of CS-Navarette at work, image 2; Nicole Salgar & Chuck Berrett’s completed piece and Damien Mitchell’s completed work by Dani Reyes Mozeson; photos of Willow & Swil; Nicole Salgar & Chuck Berrett at work, Damien Mitchell at work and Phetus at work by Tara Murray; photos of CS-Navarrete at work, image 1 and Miishab at work by City-as-School intern Kali Norris
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From quirky sculptures to vibrant murals, the Manhattan’s High Line and its immediate environs have it all. Here’s a sampling of what we captured this past week:
London-based Gilbert & George, Waking
NYC-based George Condo, Liquor Store Attendant
NYC-based Jordan Betten, Lady Luck
Lady Luck, close-up
Brazilian muralist Eduardo Kobra — as seen from the High Line, looking as fresh as when it was first painted last year
Nigerian artist El Anatsui, Broken Bridge II, captured via Instagram at night
And off the High Line — François-Xavier Lalanne, Sheep Station with JR and José Parlá collaboration in background
Photos of Gilbert & George, George Condo, Kobra and Sheep Station by Dani Mozeson; photos of Jordan Betten by Tara Murray and of El Anatsui by Lois Stavsky
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Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to interview one of our favorite people, Bishop203. A first-rate artist who’s been hitting a range of surfaces from abandoned factories, freight trains and walls to black books and canvases for years, Bishop203 is now the owner of Low Brow Artique, a superb space at 143 Central Avenue in Bushwick.
When did you first conceive of opening a business?
It was something that had been in the back of my mind for quite awhile. But growing up, I’d always wanted to be an art teacher.
So – what happened?
I hated school, and I failed all of my art classes. Actually, I failed just about all of my classes. And when my friends went on to college, I stayed behind for two more years and then graduated to painting freight trains.
And how did Low-Brow Artique – one of our favorite spaces – come to be?
About a year and a half ago – soon after my father died – I thought to myself, “I’m not doing anything much with my life, so why not open a business related to what I love?” But I didn’t have a business plan or anything. At first, I thought I would open an art supply store, but I wasn’t sure I had enough knowledge to do so at that point. And so I decided to focus on graffiti supplies, as I knew enough about hooligans to run a business catering to fellow hooligans.
What made you decide to set up shop in Bushwick?
I felt there was a need for it here. There was no other outlet for graff supplies in my neighborhood, and with Joe Ficalora, the curator of the Bushwick Collective, making so many walls available to artists coming here from all over the world, the local aerosol art scene was booming.
We notice you have just about every brand of spray paint here at really good prices. There are also markers, pens, black books, a variety of hand-printed and home-made goods, and t-shirts. What else is available?
Canvases, wood panels, screen print supplies, Liquitex paints, Krink and much more. I’m also about to start stocking Montana 94.
And your gallery has become one of the most popular graffiti/street art venues in NYC. Tell us something about that.
I love it. It gives me the opportunity to showcase my favorite art. And it was especially wonderful for me to recently feature my dear buddy Bisc’s work. Bisc and I go back years, and his show was my most successful one. It was epic.
What are some of your goals for Low Brow? Where would you like to see it go?
I love teaching the young bucks of the next generation. I can see myself giving formal classes here. And I want to help up-and-coming artists achieve their dream by exhibiting their work.. That, perhaps, may be my greatest legacy.
How do folks find out about your space?
It’s word-of-mouth. The graffiti world is small, and everyone wants to be up on the latest news.
And what about your artwork? We see it regularly at 5Pointz and in this part of town. What’s happening with it?
Well, for the most part, it’s taken a back seat to what’s happening here at Low Brow. But I’m ready to step up my game, especially when it gets too cold for much to be happening on the streets. And just this week, I was delighted to have a print released by my fellow hooligan, Bisc, who in collaboration with his partner at Daylight Curfew, has begun a monthly print series.
What do you see as the future of graffiti and street art?
I see it as just getting bigger and bigger. Just check out what’s been happening down the block.
Interview by Lois Stavsky with Tara Murray; photos by Lois Stavsky; print image courtesy of Daylight Curfew
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This is the third in a series featuring images of New York City’s doors that sport everything from tags and stickers to sophisticated images.
Judith Supine in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
ASVP in NoLita
Bishop in Nolita
Craig Anthony Miller aka CAM in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
The Yok in Williamsburg
One of 13 Portals on the Lower East Side
Gaia in Long Island City, Queens
Jordan Betten in Chelsea
Photos of Judith Supine and 13 Portals by Dani Mozeson; ASVP, Bishop and the Yok by Tara Murray; CAM by Lois Stavsky
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