The Centrefuge Public Art Project made its way to Staten Island this past spring, bringing color and intrigue to Wave Street off Bay, a short walk from the ferry. Among the works are these:
ChrisRWK and Kwue Molly
And great news — especially for us Manhattanites — is that the Centrefuge Public Art Project‘s 17th cycle of murals is currently underway on the trailer at First Street and First Avenue.
First photo is of image by Erin Kelli
Photos: 1, 3-6 Lois Stavsky; 2 Tara Murray
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Always a showcase for NYC — mostly veteran — writers, the always-rotating walls off the 1 train on 207th Street and 210th Street increasingly host artists from abroad. Here is a sampling of what was sighted this past week:
London-based Trans1
London-based Noir
NYC-based veteran writer Ree
Bronx-based veteran writer Rocky184
Veteran writer Keon1, mgs gnd
Legendary Bronx-native T-Kid
Photos 1-5 and 7 by Lois Stavsky; 6 courtesy of Keon1
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In tune with its mission of Art for All, Sing for Hope has recently brought 50 artfully designed pianos to a range of public spaces throughout the boroughs. Here are a few:
Marc Evan, Transcendental Resonance, Furman Street & Old Fulton Street, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Jessica Browne-White, Reflection/Transformation, close-up, Water Street & Anchorage Place, under the Dumbo archway
Keith Haring Foundation, Untitled, 62nd Street and Columbus Avenue, Lincoln Center
Jose Aurelio Baez, New York Street Music, 7802 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights
Franck de las Mercedes, Post No Bills, Astor Place
Through Sunday, June 21, the pianos will remain on view throughout the five boroughs and will continue to host impromptu concerts. After Sunday, Sing for Hope will donate them to NYC schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations in need.
Photos: 1 & 3 City-As-School intern Diana Davidova; 2 Lois Stavsky; 4-8 Tara Murray
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The following post is by Houda Lazrak, a contributor to StreetArtNYC and an M.A. candidate in Museum Studies at NYU.
Founded in 2010, Underdogs is a Lisbon-based gallery and cultural platform that offers unprecedented visibility to public art in Portugal’s capital city. Here are a few images I captured while on the tour offered by Underdogs, an integral part of its public art program:
Portuguese artist Vhils and Italian artist Pixel Pancho
Brazilian twins Os Gemeos; Italian artist Blu on detail on right
Polish artist Sainer of the Etam Cru
Brazilian artist Nunca
West Coast-based Cyrcle, segment of larger mural
NYC-based European artists How & Nosm, large segment of huge mural
All photos by Houda Lazrak
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Curated by Ad Hoc Art, the Welling Court Mural Project is once again bringing a wonderfully diverse array of public art to Welling Court and its neighboring blocks in Astoria, Queens. Here is a sampling of what’s been happening as artists ready for today’s official launch:
RRobots and Evan Cairo to his right
The 6th Annual Welling Court Mural Project officially opens with a block party today, Saturday, June 13, at 30th Ave & 12th Street from 12-8PM.
Note: First image is of Icy & Sot.
All photos by Tara Murray.
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While attending last Friday’s reception for the Art.Write.Now.2015 National Exhibition featuring the winners of the The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, I was introduced to the wonderfully talented Bushwick-based Scholastic alumnus Timothy Hyunsoo Lee. Earlier this week we visited his studio.
When and how did Scholastic first identify and award your talents?
I was a student at Hunter High School back in 2006 when I received my first Scholastic Award on a regional level. I had been participating in Hunter’s after-school art program and was encouraged to submit my art to Scholastic’s annual contest. Then in 2008 I was given a national award from Scholastic for my portfolio.
Since then, you’ve won many other awards and fellowships — including the VSA Emerging Young Artist Award from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the International Emerging Artist Award in Dubai. You’ve also participated in several solo and group exhibitions here and abroad. At what point did you decide to devote yourself to art?
When I first began attending Wesleyan University, I assumed that I would become a doctor. But during my junior year, I decided that I wanted my pursuit of art to be more than just a hobby. It had become my passion. And so I graduated Wesleyan with a double major: a B.A. in Neuroscience & Behavior and Studio Art.
I can see that. Your visual art definitely reflects your background in science.
Yes, I’d say that my work represents a fusion of the artistic and the scientific in its representation of my struggles with my identity as a Korean-American — and the anxiety that its expectations incurred.
Upon graduating from college with your double major, what direction did your passion then take?
I rented a studio in Williamsburg and I taught art for two years.
Now with a studio in Bushwick, you devote yourself full-time to creating your own art. What moved you in that direction?
The turning-point was my 2013 week-long art experience, known as the Art.Write.Now.POP-UP!, a short-term residency that took place in the front window of The Scholastic Store in SoHo.
What was that like?
It was the first time I had ever engaged the public while creating art, and it was amazing. I was used to spending up to 12-13 hours on end working alone in my studio. It was an incredible feeling to see such a diverse group of passersby stop to look at my art and respond to it. I was overwhelmed by their engagement. Knowing just how much my art could impact others moved me to want to create my own art full-time.
What’s ahead?
In September I will be exhibiting in Istanbul, and I am preparing for a second solo show at the Sabrina Amrani Gallery, the Madrid-based gallery that represents me. I’m also looking forward to sharing my vision with the public on an open space somewhere here in NYC.
That would be great!
Note: Through tomorrow, Saturday, June 13th, you can check out Timothy’s work in the group show a curious blindness at the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery at Columbia University.
Photo credits: First image is courtesy of the artist; 2 Tara Murray; 3 & 4 Lois Stavsky and 5 Timothy Lee
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Conceived and curated by Lady K Fever, A Timeline of Handstyles: Signatures from the 1960’s to Present Day, presents an extraordinary array of writers’ signatures spanning three generations. While visiting the space — across from the Old Bronx Borough Courthouse — I had the opportunity to speak to Lady K.
I love this! There is so much history here. What prompted you to organize this?
When I first hit the streets, I did so as a tagger. And the first book I ever read on this culture, The Faith of Graffiti, alerted me to the significance of the tag. On a more personal level, this wall is also my way of paying homage to the old school writers who were so supportive of me when I first moved to NYC.
This wall serves as a canvas for early legends, as well as for some of the new artists on the scene. How did you get the word out?
I spoke to a number of writers from different generations, and asked them to invite others.
What were some of the challenges you faced in curating this?
Figuring out the logistics of it all, engaging younger writers, and dealing with the inevitable politics.
Were there any particular surprises?
Folks rumored to be dead suddenly surfaced! Seeing Swan 3 was, perhaps, the biggest surprise! What a pleasure that was! And I was surprised — and delighted — that so many folks were willing to travel here from afar to tag this wall.
What’s next?
I’d love to curate a huge warehouse and engage far more people.
The mural will remain on view through the end of this month — with a special public viewing on Sunday, June 28, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Note: Special thanks to Delicioso Coco Helado for providing the space and supporting the project.
Photos: 1-7 Lois Stavsky; 8 & 9 Lady K Fever
Note: Photo 2 features Charmin 65 and Swan 3; photo 3 Stella Isabella; photo 4 Nicholai Khan; photo 5 Dun One; photo 6 Meek; photo 7 Broham380
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The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, celebrates the talents and visions of teens in grades 7-12 from across the country. The Art.Write.Now.2015 National Exhibition — on view through Sunday at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at the Parsons School of Design and at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery — features an extraordinary array of works in a range of media by the 2015 Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners. Among these works are many with a distinct urban sensibility. Here is a small sampling of these:
Jose Valejo, Age 17, Sign 3
Tanner Rhines, Age 19, Black and White Condention Part 2, segment of larger piece
Elijah Maura, Age 17, Initiation
Amanda Amador, Age 16, Creepy, Beany Babies
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Alumni Council member and award-winning photographer Antonio Pulgarin speaks at this past Friday’s opening reception at Parsons
This coming Friday — from 10 am to 1:30 pm — both exhibition locations will host a Student Showcase featuring a range of activities from Art Portfolio Talks to an Art-Making Workshop. The Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at the Parsons School of Design is located at 66 5th Avenue in the Village, and the Pratt Manhattan Gallery is nearby at 44 West 14th Street. Exhibits and events are free and open to the public.
NoteL First image: Jesus Hilario, Age 17, No
Photos: 1, 3 & 6 Lois Stavsky; 2 Dani Reyes Mozeson and 4 & 5 Tara Murray
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The following post is by Houda Lazrak, a contributor to StreetArtNYC and an M.A. candidate in Museum Studies at NYU.
In coordination with the street art festival JIDAR Toiles de Rue, the recently opened Museum Mohamed VI of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, Morocco is currently hosting the exhibit Main Street. Curated by Nicolas Couturieux, it features original artworks and installations from a range of celebrated local and international artists.
Also by C215 from France who drew his inspiration from the people of Morocco
German native Case Maclaim
French artist Tilt — inspired by a Moroccan motorcycle
New York-based Ron English
Moroccan artist Simo Mouhim
Toulouse, France native Miss Van
The exhibit continues through December in the museum’s lower level.
All photos by Houda Lazrak
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The following post is by Houda Lazrak, a contributor to StreetArtNYC and an M.A. candidate in Museum Studies at NYU.
Beginning on May 15th, the city of Rabat hosted JIDAR Toiles de Rue, the largest street art festival in Morocco to date. For nine days, over ten artists from across the globe — along with several local artists — endowed the historic city with marvelous, energetic large-scale murals. Launched by the non-profit organization Le Boulevard, JIDAR Toiles de Rue is Morocco’s premiere festival of this calibre and promises other fantastic walls to follow. Here are some of the images that I captured:
Chilean artist Inti
Spanish artist Cisco
Moroccan artist Kalamour, close-up
Argentine artist Jaz
Brooklyn-based Maya Hayuk
Moroccan artist Simo Mouhim
France-based artist Zepha, close-up
All photos by Houda Lazrak
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