August 2009

NUART 09 UPdate: Leon Reid IV lecture on Personal Timeline from Graff to “Street Art” to “Public Art”

August 31, 2009

David Cho is featured Artist on cover of Nuart 09 Publication

GRAFF -> STREET ART -> PUBLIC ART

The first images out of our Sister City Stavanger’s Nuart Festival are starting to come in, and they start off with Part I of Leon Reid IV‘s talk which has just been posted.  Artists and historians like to listen to Reid because he takes the time to give full context to his experience as a person and an artist, and he begins to expand the concept of art in the public sphere beyond simply legal and illegal, but how it’s existence is part of a public discourse that continues to evolve.

Stay tooned for behind the scenes fun and official talks with Chris Stain, Logan Hicks, and Brad Downey as part of the Nuart 09 Education Program currently under way.

The Nuart official publication is nearly wrapped and the cover features a piece by inimitable David Choe.

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Images of the Week 08.30.09

Images of the Week 08.30.09

August 30, 2009 , , , ,

ur Weekly Interview with the Street

Black and White against blue backdrop
Summer Geometric Abstraction (photo Jaime Rojo)

C215
C215 with an OverUnder flyby (photo Jaime Rojo)

Deekers
Who holds the key to this Tainted Lovebox? (Deeker) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Sacer as interpreted by Deitch
Sacer as interpreted by Deitch (photo Jaime Rojo)

Gats and Gaia
Gats and Gaia (photo Jaime Rojo)

Double Cows Gaia
Double Cows (Gaia) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Haculla
Reminds me of that classic Dead Kennedy’s song (Haculla) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Haculla does Operah
Haculla has raunchy time with Britney and does Oprah the following Thursday (photo Jaime Rojo)

I Love NY
I Do Too!  (I Love NY)  (photo Jaime Rojo)

Ink
I Wanna Rock-n-Roll All Night!  (Ink) (photo Jaime Rojo)

King Kess
If you say so…. (King Kess) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Momo
(Momo) (photo Jaime Rojo)

NohJ Coley pays tribute tot he late Dash Snow
NohJColey pays tribute to the late Dash Snow (photo Jaime Rojo)

OHM
And if that’s not enough, I’ve gotta take the kids back-to-school shopping! (OHM) (photo Jaime Rojo)

OHM
The Lion King on Crack (OHM) (photo Jaime Rojo)

OHM
OHM (photo Jaime Rojo)

OHM
Do you know the way to Rockefeller Center?  I got cut-off from my tour group during a rainstorm in 1998 (OHM) (photo Jaime Rojo)

OHM
OHM (photo Jaime Rojo)

OHM
OHM (photo Jaime Rojo)

OHM
OHM (photo Jaime Rojo)

Pink lipstick on a Red Nose Pit Bull
Pink lipstick on a Red Nose Pit Bull (Tazmat Red Nose) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Bishop 203
I see you and my heart takes flight… (Bishop203) (photo Jaime Rojo)

C215
Welcome to the entrance, now tell me the secret word, you fool, and kiss me!  (C215) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Celso
(Celso) (photo Jaime Rojo)

General Howe
Battle of Bushwick! (General Howe) (photo Jaime Rojo)

General Howe
Guarding the Graffiti Kingdom (General Howe) (photo Jaime Rojo)

General Howe
Halt!  Don’t move.  Hand over that Snickers Bar before we call in the rest of the troops. (General Howe) (photo Jaime Rojo)

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Street Signals 08.29.09

August 29, 2009

Skewville Unveils New Website

After being in development for 13 years, Droo says the new Skewville site is ready to roll!

Actually, that’s not how long it took to build the site – just it’s content.  This roll-through left-right scroller is a quick primer for the uninitiated on the history and accomplishments of Skewville and the multiple projects they have embarked on over the last decade plus.

Or, as Ad and Droo say, “If you don’t know – now you know.”

All the round the whirl
All the round the whirl with Skewville irony

From launching galleries to launching thousands of pairs of their wooden dogs over wires around the globe, to offering shows to their peers and participating in shows internationally, and always adding their smart-aleck commentary about the street art “scene” to the discussion, these brothers have piled a sizeable stack of HYPE.

Complexity and mastery comes with practice. Blah Blah Blah
Complexity and mastery comes with practice. Blah Blah Blah

This must be the place. Skewville actually was a physical location and a lifestyle for the middle class and unfamous.
This must be the place. Skewville actually was a physical location and a lifestyle for the middle class and unfamous.

No strangers to sarcasm, the brothers have conceived and built a number of contraptions to get their message out.
No strangers to sarcasm, the brothers have conceived and built a number of contraptions to get their message out.

Currently the Skewville Corporation is participating in Nuart, a festival in Stavanger, Norway that celebrates the contributions of Brooklyn Street Artists.

See the New Site HERE
See the Gallery Factory Fresh HERE
Brooklyn Street Artists at Nuart Festival Sept 10 – Oct 11
Check the Tubeness below to see a piece that MTV Brasil did – After the first minute in Portuguese, Ad DeVille pretty much takes the show!


Vandalog’s RJ Hard at Work on “The Thousands”

His first “Pop-Up” is taking shape this November in London

The Thousands

An open and sincere voice in the street art blog world, RJ Rushmore is a stone cold street art lover.  Albeit still in his teens, this guy posesses a maturity and modesty that many of his peers may not develop for another 10 years. More significant; his industry is matching the size of his dreams.

This time the dream is a “Pop-Up” show featuring the big names in street art today, exposing a larger audience to the genre that has captured the imagination of the youth culture.

RJ has been planning the show for many months methodically and feels secure about it’s ultimate success but he is very aware that he is taking a big leap to undertake this labor of love, where most of the work won’t even be for sale.

So far the 40 pieces in the show are from most of the big names in street art – Adam Neate, Banksy, Barry McGee, Jenny Holzer, Bast, Swoon, Kaws, Os Gemeos, Shepard Fairey, Herakut, Blek le Rat and others.

People are jumping into “The Thousands” every day as word spreads, and RJ’s been sorting out the details that come along with this kind of show – Artists, Collectors, Permissions, Love.  In addition he’s working on a companion coffee table book to be published by Drago in November with photos and bios and a few guest contributors like Gaia and Panik.

His first exhibition includes some of the better known names and he’s looking forward to doing a future show with more emerging artists, but he’s smart to limit the scope the first time out. “The purpose of my efforts is to bring street art to the attention of a wider art community, and the best way to do that is to take the very best street artists’ artwork instead of all the emerging artists that I might love and think are promising”, says Mr. Rushmore.

The Thousands will be open from November 18th through the 22nd of November at Village Underground in London. Keep up on the details at the blog for “The Thousands” HERE

Vandalog is his street art blog

AD HOC Forms Alliance with Eastern District

Curating a Quick Show that Opens Today!

Eastern District, a 400sf gallery opened for about a year in Bushwick is looking to extend it’s reach by asking street art veteran gallerists Allison and Garrison Buxton to curate a new show in the ED space next door.  Most people know that Ad Hoc Art recently announced it’s downsizing it’s square footage due in their 49 Bogart space and stories of ED’s impending closure have been swirling around also.

Well, this is how neighbors do it in Brooklyn: by reaching out and working together. If either one of these parties had been the snooty white-box types, it never would have worked. But this is an arts community that knows that the resulting strength is greater with two.  When asked by ED to partner on shows, Ad Hoc Art happily and quickly accepted the invitation to curate and bring their peeps too.  Now they are looking at ways to bring more great shows to ED. That’s very good news for the nascent Bushwick gallery scene, not to mention the artists who get to show there.

And that brings us to today.  Garrison says, “AHA & ED have a Bushwick-focused show opening specifically highlighting very local talent from the hood where it all started.” Included are AHA/Bushwick favorites like like Destroy and Rebuild, LogikOne, Michael Allen, Molly Crabapple, Pagan, and Robert Steel”

Ad Hoc Art’s is now planning a fall exhibition featuring the work of Joe Vaux and Gilbert Oh to open in November at Eastern District and more shows planned into the winter, such as veteren British/French street artist Jef Aerosol in January.  For now, it sounds like the Ad Hoc extravganza and shenanigans will continue!

Prepare for exciting art extravaganzas and shenanigans in the present and continuing into the near future, for Bushwick and beyond.

And of course the current show at Ad Hoc:

Chris Stain, Armsrock, and Ezra Li on Display till September 6th.

SuperDraw Keeps Developing – Now it’s an Iphone App

Remember BSA’s Projekt Projektor last year at the Dumbo Festival, full of new projectionists stretching the definition of Street Art?  Remember the projectionists at the end of our Street Crush Show in February?

Then you’ll remember Josh Ott, or SuperDraw.  Dude developed an interactive interface for people to project their own art through a project with their iPhones, and at our shows he eagerly transferred it to your phone for free so you could slap your work all over the Manhattan Bridge.

True, GRL keeps setting some of the standards, but we firmly believe that the future of street art may be vibrating in your front pocket right now.  There is a whole crop of projectionists and video and multimedia artists that are sharpening their skillz for that Brave New Street Art World as we chase the wheat-pasters.

SuperDraw

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Yous Guys Doin’ Anything Fun This Weekend?

August 28, 2009

Yeah man, my boys and I are gonna get out of the city and go camping up in the woods on a lake or somethin’.  Hiking, swimming, head-banging like wild cavemen to imaginary metal classics while fanning the camp-fire with a boat oar….

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Stavanger Norway Celebrates Brooklyn Street Art! The NuArt Festival

Stavanger Norway Celebrates Brooklyn Street Art! The NuArt Festival

August 27, 2009
The Nuart Festival runs

The Nuart Festival runs September 10 – October 9, 2009

EXCLUSIVE BROOKLYN SPECIAL! NUART-NUYORK

Stavanger Norway meet Brooklyn New York.

Some of the worlds leading street artists are flying for a week or two to Norway to participate in a street art festival that celebrates the Brooklyn Street Art with many of the same artists you’ll find right here. Leon Reid arrived yesterday, Chris Stain tomorrow, both to prepare to hold workshops with creatives and Norway National TV’s main cultural program “Safari” will be interviewing and following Swoon on the streets.

The roster includes;
SWOON, DAVID CHOE, BEN WOLF, JUDITH SUPINE, BRAD DOWNEY, LEON REID, GRAFFITI RESEARCH LAB, LOGAN HICKS, CHRIS STAIN, SKEWVILLE

As you know, New York is a city of immigrants, and the first Norwegians launched for New York 184 years ago and established their largest colony in the BK – creating a neighborhood of 200K plus people speaking Norwegian in bars, stores, and streets of Brooklyn.

The Nuart festival calls back the Brooklyn Flava by importing some of the greats from the streets of Brooklyn to exhibit, teach, and revel citiwide with panel debates, talks, film screenings, and fundraising.  It’s all BROOKLYN, all the time.

Over the next few weeks BSA will keep in touch with events in our Sista City, Stavanger and get you some insight into the cool stuff that happens there for the Nuart Festival.

Know Hope straightens out a line of tears.

Previous Nuart festival artist Know Hope straightens out a line of tears.

Stencil work from D*Face

Stencil work from D*Face

Chris Stain on the wall at NuArt

Chris Stain on the wall at NuArt

Heracut at Nuart

Herakut at Nuart

Nuart Festival

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DickChicken Continues to Fly the Streets

August 26, 2009 ,

Not to rattle your cage or anything…

Frankly, we don’t know either, so don’t ask what on earth this is about.  But there are more pieces around the hood with this DickChicken feller multiplying the original joke into new adaptations.

Cover the world with DickChicken

Covering the world with DickChicken

Pop Art? Op Art?
Pop Art? Op Art?

Would you like flat or sparkling with your meal?
And would you like flat or sparkling with your meal?

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Bishop203 and Laura Lee at HiChristina Gallery All Week: Get your Artfreak on!

Bishop203 and Laura Lee at HiChristina Gallery All Week: Get your Artfreak on!

August 25, 2009 ,

Writers, Cartoonists, Nude Figure Drawing, Puppets, and Battlestar Galactica

– you wouldn’t think those things have much in common – although Puppetry of the Penis kind of ties many of them together, now that I think of it.

Opening tonight at HiChristina, a small but densely packed show with LauraLee and Bishop203 will entertain those A.D.D.-addled button-punching phone-surfing multi-tasking Millenials and GenY Early-Adopters who have infiltrated large swaths of previously normal neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Many Bangels Swirling around in this new canvas by Bishop203 (photo Jaime Rojo)

Many Bangels Swirling around in this new canvas by Bishop203 (photo Jaime Rojo)

HiChristina is a lively gallery run by Christina Ewald and Fritz Donnelly, two fun-loving arts fans who run a performance space/community space/gallery – all with a flair for ironic fashion statement.  The space on the main drag of Grand Street (with marquee by LauraLee Gulledge), straddles Williamsburg and Bushwick and has no shortage of entertaining and quirky ideas for you if you care to partake in their mayhem.  Transplanted from Orchard Street in moneyed Manhattan, HiChristina won’t indulge in any white-box fluffery.

Starting tonight, by way of engaging minds and making people laugh, they are featuring five different themed events from Tuesday to Sunday that welcome and embrace.  Briefly here is a list of the events (more at bottom) -and of course you’ll also see the work of LauraLee and Bishop203;

Tues 8/25: Writers & Cartoonists Show n Tell

Wed 8/26: Nude Figure Drawing

Thurs 8/27: Open Mic: Puppet Edition

Fri 8/28: (Fake) Art Therapy Night

Sun 8/30: Frak Earth: An Evening of Battlestar Galactica

Each evening there is a very small suggested donation so if you are looking for Therapy or Geeking out – you’ll be able to enjoy it. (Check links at the bottom)

Bengels by Bishop203 (photo Jaime Rojo)

Bengels by Bishop203 (photo Jaime Rojo)

First we talked to Bishop203, who will be showing a number of new canvasses featuring his Bengel character.

Brooklyn Street Art: Tell us about the HiChristina Gallery.
Bishop203: I met the “HiChristina” crew last year through my good friend Karat. They had a space in the Lower East Side but moved to Brooklyn last March. They are some crazy and amazing folks. Always doing some silly event that will end up making you laugh until your cheeks hurt.

(Bishop203) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

(Bishop203) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Who is this little wizardy guy that you create?
Bishop203: I made this character to represent me on canvas. I call them “Bangels” (Bishops’ Angels). I made them big-headed lanky guys with empty hearts; although when I put them on the streets I consider them to be more of Brooklyn’s Angels.  Hopefully making someone smile as they walk by (or pry them off the wall).

(Bishop203) (photo Jaime Rojo)

(Bishop203) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: When do you find time to create these pieces that are at the show?
Bishop203: I do most of my canvases and design work at my job. I work what most people would consider a crappy third shift job in an apt. building working front desk. I love it because it gives me the freedom to play and paint. It’s like scheduled studio time that I get paid for!

(Bishop203) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

(Bishop203) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Looks like every night this week has a bonafide theme. What night will be the most fun for you – Nude Figure Drawing or Fake Therapy Night?
Bishop203: Damn. Good question. I am actually really looking foward to the puppet show. Though the fake art therapy sounds pretty amazing.

Mid-installation, LauraLee has about 20 more to install (photo Jaime Rojo)

Mid-installation, LauraLee has about 40 more to go (photo Jaime Rojo)

LauraLee is a prolific artist and illustrator who will show about 100 of her drawings, paintings, renderings.  Stylistically she ranges from children’s book illustrations to the New Yorker, depending on the project and her mood.  She also does a bit of street art.

Brooklyn Street Art: You have a great variety of styles that you work in – do they reflect your mood or your interests?

LauraLee: With each new drawing idea I have I try to utilize whichever style will suit it best, hence there is a lot of variation.  For example, I like diffusing serious topics by drawing them whimsically. Or I’ll take sappy material and simplify it so I can tone it down.  Or I’ll just let myself experiment and play with technique after I’ve nailed down the basic composition.

Installing the show (photo Jaime Rojo)

Installing the show (photo Jaime Rojo)

Drawing in different styles keeps me on my toes and forces me to always be trying new things.  (I suppose I have a fear of falling into a rut!) And I’m very much influenced by the stimuli I’m encounter from day to day, whether it’s an art show or a scenic project or a graphic novel I’m reading.  I encourage myself to incorporate as many new techniques into my visual vocabulary as possible.

Brooklyn Street Art: Is it true you have a graphic novel coming soon?

LauraLee: I am indeed working on a graphic novel!  I’m writing and drawing a 190 page debut graphic novel for Abrams, specifically with their young adult division.  It’ll take me the next year to draw and it will come out in Spring 2011. It’s called “Page by Paige” and it’s about a redheaded girl from Virginia who moves to New York and wants t become an artist…autobiographical to say the least!  It will blend images of reality with the imaginary much like the introspective drawings I’ve become known for.

Silhoetted rooftops by LauraLee (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Silhoetted rooftops by LauraLee (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: And you design Christmas windows for Macy’s too?

LauraLee: I am a Christmas elf!  I am a scenic painter for a design firm that creates a variety of holiday window displays around New York and beyond. We have fabulous designers that work with Macy’s to design the windows themselves, and then a whole studio of artisans such as myself that actually bring their designs to life.  (Carpenters, sculptors, props, animators, etc)  This will be my third season as the Macy’s scenic painter, and I’m thrilled!  This years’ design is great. There is lots of airbrushing and glitter!

LauraLee’s Blog

Bishop203’s Site

THE WEEK’s EVENTS at HiChristina

Tuesday August 25th:  Writers (& Cartoonists) Show N Tell
8:00pm; $5 suggested donation, BYOB
**Check out this event on Facebook**

Wednesday, August 26th:  (Nude) Figure Drawing
8:00pm; $10 suggested donation,  BYOB
**Check out this event on Facebook**

Thursday August 27th: Open Mic: Puppet Edition!
9:00pm: $5 suggested donation, BYOB (and P)
**Check out this event on Facebook**

Friday, August 28th: (Fake) Art Therapy Night
9:00pm: $5 suggested donation, BYOB
**Check out this event on Facebook**

Sunday, August 30: Frak Earth: an evening of Battlestar Galactica
6:00p; $5 suggested donation BYOB (scotch is also encouraged)
**Check out this event on Facebook**

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Images of the Week 08.23.09

Images of the Week 08.23.09

August 23, 2009 , , ,

Our Weekly Interview with the Street

Double Bast
Double Mickey Bast (photo Jaime Rojo)

Cake
Pondering beneath the ivy (Cake) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Celso

Then she gave me a blank stare over her bare shoulder, and I knew the afternoon escapade was on. (Celso) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Hot Red and Sexy Celso
Red Hot and Sexy (Celso) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Celso and Matt Siren
Celso and Matt Siren Freakshow  (photo Jaime Rojo)

Imminent Disaster
Fresh new Imminent Disaster (photo Jaime Rojo)

A Galaxy of Stars Chris Stain Bill Mode VengRWK
A Galaxy of Stars (Chris Stain, Billy Mode, VengRWK) (photo Jaime Rojo)

More Stars Flying Fortress Veng Chris RWK Know Hope Flying Fortress, Veng(RWK), Chris(RWK), Know Hope (photo Jaime Rojo)

Watch your Step Matt Siren!
Matt Siren and the ghost girl watch your step (photo Jaime Rojo)

Matt Siren
Escape from New York!  Or Don’t! (Matt Siren) (photo Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey
Portrait of Dash Snow (NohJColey) (photo Jaime Rojo)

NohJColey
“Crabs in a Bucket” self portrait (NohJColey) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Revs Sese
Revs, Sese (photo Jaime Rojo)

Veng Serenades a cranky monster Royce Bannon VengRWK
The musician serenades a couple of cranky monsters (Royce Bannon, VengRWK)

Shepard Fairey
Insert clever caption here. (Shepard Fairey) (photo Jaime Rojo)

The Dude Company
Dude working in front of The Dude Company (photo Jaime Rojo)

Veng RWK
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (VengRWK)  (photo Jaime Rojo)

VengRWK Royce Bannon Abby Goodman Werds
VengRWK, Royce Bannon, Abby Goodman, Werds (photo Jaime Rojo)

Zork Chop
Really, it’s $500? Yikes! (Zork Chop) (photo Jaime Rojo)

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DON PABLO PEDRO: Shocking Blue in Bushwick

DON PABLO PEDRO: Shocking Blue in Bushwick

August 22, 2009 , , ,

Don Pablo Pedro

Don Pablo Pedro and his blue friend (photo Jaime Rojo)

 

Having recently lost a testicle, Don Pablo Pedro sure has balls.

He might tell you that himself, or you could just go to his first solo show at English Kills Gallery in Bushwick that closes tomorrow.  They’ll be having a “Closing Barbecue” and gallery owner Chris Harding advises you to bring your own meat. Whether to eat it before of after viewing the “One-Ball Show” is a very good question.

Dream or nightmare? (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington) 

Dream or nightmare? (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

 

Speaking of barbecues, it’s a good thing the mighty Church of England or the Vatican don’t chase down artists for heresy or blasphemy anymore, because our poor young Pablo would be roasting over an open pit right about now. Witness the scroll canvasses with gaping vaginas in the middle of bellies and foreheads, a four-armed chanteuse sucking her own turgid finger, a man giving birth to a screaming baby out of his rectum, and gender bending not seen since the bathroom at Don Hill’s.  Simultaneously riveting and repulsing, after seeing this bevy of multi-colored psycho-sexual torment, I felt guilty and sickened and a little bit turned on.

Do they cover this in Lamaze Class? (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Do they cover this in Lamaze Class? (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

 

His name is Don Pablo. And he is a warm person who speaks freely, if mischievously, and if there is torment, you wouldn’t know it. With long hair, bushy beard, nail polish, and a knockout fashion designer girlfriend, Don Pablo looks part Jesus of Nazareth, part Devendra Banhart.

She was quite a dish (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

She was quite a dish (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

 

And now he’s done a big blue multi-breasted piece on a wall – so that is pretty much all it takes to get on this blog.  As a painter, the dude’s no slouch either – taking it slowly and methodically with careful rendering and attention to detail.  On a sunny afternoon last week we finally saw the gallery show (Opened Aug. 1), and saw DPP in action.

Sometimes it's hard to get a head, other times 

Sometimes it’s hard to get a head in this city (photo Steven P. Harrington)

 

And you complain about YOUR family (photo Steven P. Harrington)

And you complain about YOUR family (photo Steven P. Harrington)

 

Brooklyn Street Art: So, for how long have you been painting?

Don Pablo Pedro: My father handed me a brush as soon as I came out of my mothers vagina.

Don Pablo Pedro

Don Pablo Pedro at work (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Your gallery show features creatures that are very human, yet have multiple variations of genitalia, as well as clever locations for them.

Don Pablo Pedro: Yes they do.

Don Pablo Pedro

Don Pablo Pedro (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: You recently had a very serious medical crisis. How did that affect you personally and how has it affected your work?

Don Pablo Pedro: I’m lighter now only having one testicle and faster and more efficient.

Don Pablo Pedro

A bit of a challenge to work with the building’s topography (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Are scrolls easy to store?

Don Pablo Pedro: Very easy that’s why I love them.

Don Pablo Pedro

Toe Detail (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Have you ventured out of the studio to do much street art?

Don Pablo Pedro: Not much lately but maybe more soon.

Don Pablo Pedro

Don Pablo Pedro (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Whose this blue friend on the wall?

Don Pablo Pedro: My dream girl .

Don Pablo Pedro and Chris Stain

Chris Stain, Don Pablo Pedro, FKDL (photo Jaime Rojo)

Sorry, couldn’t resist… set design by Justin Mikal Davis by the way.

English Kills Gallery

Pedro Products

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New Gallery: Pandemic opens Saturday in Brooklyn

New Gallery: Pandemic opens Saturday in Brooklyn

August 21, 2009 , , ,
Some work in progress on the gallery floor from Keely (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Some work in progress on the gallery floor from Keely (photo Steven P. Harrington)

NYC’s unemployment rate is nearing 10% (higher than the national average by a point), the heat index in the City this week was as high as the crowd at Glasslands, we’re losing Arts programs in the schools left and right, Ad Hoc is shutting down their main gallery space, and Jennifer Anniston was thrown into the trunk of a car.

Who would believe in this topsy-turvey New York that a GALLERY celebrating Street Art is actually OPENING?  You read it right. It’s called Pandemic (explanation below) and its on the South Side of Williamsburg Brooklyn in a space that used be the DollHaus, a Gothic-themed and deliberately disturbing gallery with Kewpies on skewers and mutilated cyborg dolls with Lydia-Lunch eyes. Even though it’s a little off of the main Williamsburg drag, it’s just a block from the first artist/hipster outpost “Diner”, and two blocks from the favorite place for Wall Street big-bellies to take guests for a daring trip across the river for steak on their corporate card , “Peter Lugers“

A bright "Welcome!" from 3 of Celso's ladies (photo Steven P. Harrington)

A bright “Welcome!” from 3 of Celso’s ladies (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Now the newly painted space has a fresh air of possibility that washes over you when greeted by the sunny owner of Pandemic, Keely Brandon, an artist and friend of the street art scene for some time.  This week we stopped by during the installation and the gleaming walls, new lighting, and shiny floors bespoke a world full of possibilities.  Saturday night the small gallery will host a group show of work by no less than 14 street artists, an impressive show of strength for the Grand Opening.

Brooklyn Street Art: A new gallery!  How did you hook this up?
Keely: It kinda just fell into my lap, I was apartment hunting and was offered a storefront instead. At the time it was a jewelry store. I started thinking about how awesome it would actually be to have a gallery space that I could run my own way. Free to display the art and merchandise of myself and other artists I respect. So I just went for it.

Always willing to lend a paw around the gallery! (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Always willing to lend a paw around the gallery! (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Is “Pandemic” referring to something in particular, or just a general feeling of dread?
Keely: It’s the concept of a creating a worldwide epidemic, but in a positive way! expanding the global consciousness of our breed of art.

Stikman is mapping out the inner route (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Stikman is mapping out the inner route (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Have you ever had a gallery before?
Keely: Nope

Brooklyn Street Art: How did you chose the artists that are involved with this show?
Keely: I chose a group of prolific street artists who’s artwork and dedication I really admire. Many have worked together before on projects, and create an awesome looking show.

I've got an eye on the underwater world (Keely) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Fresh from the East River! (Keely) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: This place used to be a gallery for baby dolls dressed in gothic garb – babies with black lipstick and white eyes, etc.  You find any heads rolling around in the closet?
Keely: Ha.. yea actually when i first moved in there i could have sworn the basement was haunted! No heads, but a lot of fuschia to paint over!

A box fer all yer stuff (Deekers) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

A box fer all yer stuff (R. Deeker) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Are you following a particular theme for this show, or is it mainly a group show?

Keely: No real theme… The name of the show is pandemic 37 – which is basically the gallery address. The show is just a grand intoduction to the place..

That IS Cheap! (photo Steven P. Harrington)

That IS Cheap! (artist Gay Sex) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Outside of the artists in the new show, what art excites you the most?
Keely: hmmm.. I like alot of different things.. strange 70’s artwork. Peter Max, Marushka, and other obscure wall hangings. I love old illustrations in wildlife books, deep sea creature photographs and dinosaur everything. Anything with gnarly teeth!

Brooklyn Street Art: You ever have dinner at Diner? Muffins at Marlowes? Porterhouse at Peter Lugers?
Keely: Dinner at Diner once, muffins at Marlowe… never. As for Peter Luger… I’m a vegetarian and I’m not rich!

You KNOW what time it is! (Royce Bannon) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

You KNOW what time it is! (Royce Bannon) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

One of the more entertaining pieces in the show is the working clock on the face of one of two monsters by Royce Bannon.  Royce explains the new development”

BSA: What made you make a clock?
Royce: I made a clock because I like functional art.  It looks cool and tells the time too.

BSA: What new skill did you use to install it?

Royce: No new skills were used in the making of the clock just the same old skills

BSA: What room of an apartment would it be more appropriate for?
Royce: Probably the kitchen.


BSA: Is it Monster Time?
Royce: It’s always monster time

From here to INFINITY (photo Steven P. Harrington)

From here to INFINITY (photo Steven P. Harrington)

In addition to celebrating the opening of the new gallery, everyone will be celebrating the new Street Art Blog by celebrated photographers Rebecca Fuller and Luna Park.

Their exciting new endeavor, The Street Spot, will feature many of the images of the street that fans have faithfully followed for the last few years.  Besides being avid documentarians of the ever-evolving street art and graff scene in NY, Park and Fuller have a deep reservoir of knowledge and stories to draw upon.

TheStreetSpot.com will surely add to the richness of this vibrant scene for all the fans of the wacky world of street art.  The AfterParty is where we’ll raise a glass to these fine individuals and their dream.

So that’s TWO great openings in one night!  Things are LOOKING UP!

Familiar names in a new location

Familiar names in a new gallery, Bixby, Buildmore, Celso, DarkClouds, infinity, Judith Supine, Keely, Kngee, Matt Siren, R. Deeker, Royce Bannon, Stikman, Skewville, Wrona

Pandemic Gallery

37 Broadway Between Kent and Wythe

Brooklyn (South Williamsburg)

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MBP Urban Arts Fest at Castle Braid

August 20, 2009 , ,

BrooklynStreetArt.com Blog is proud to be the Official Blog of the first MBP Urban Arts Fest!

The 2 PART, 1 DAY Urban Arts Festival goes from 1PM-2AM. Come celebrate and participate in the thriving urban art community MBP has advocated since it’s inception. With LIVE PAINTING, skateboard demos and contests, music and DJs, photography and art installations and plenty of art and books for sale, there will be something for everyone!

We will be taking over and transforming the entire lower-half of Castle Braid (114 Troutman Street, Myrtle Ave/Bwy JMZ Train) in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

PART 1

The day’s first part runs from 1PM-9PM and is open to all ages.

PART 2

9PM-2AM is 21 and over, featuring free beer and a dance party.

Art for Progress is the Non-Profit you gotta know;
an organization dedicated to supporting rising multi-discipline arts in New York City.

What to expect:

• Gallery-style art installations
• Live graffiti exhibitions & public graffiti wall sponsored by Montana Colors
• Live entertainment, DJs, dance & musical performances
• Skate park & sponsored game of S.K.A.T.E hosted by Substance Skateboards
• First 500 guests receive a FREE in-person signed copy of Talk Balk: The Bubble Project by Ji Lee
• Special Guest Signings
• All Ages Arts & Crafts: postal sticker tagging how-to; design your own “Umberto” character from Dutch artisit/illustrator Tijn Snoodijk; make-your-own recycled material tote bags with Bags for the People, design your own canvas laptop case from AIAIAI and more!
• Local & International Artist Showcases & Tables
• Unveiling of exclusive OBEY x PEEL poster by Shephard Fairey for Peel Magazine (authors of MBP’s PEEL: The Art of the Sticker)
• Shopping (MBP bookstore & Local Artists’ offerings)
• Food & Drinks (Brooklyn Brewery, Hoegaarden, Food Trucks)
• Gift Bags & Prizes – with bags from Bags for the People, goodies from Mimobots, Cafe Bustelo, Zoo York, AIAIAI and more!

ARTISTS/SPECIAL GUESTS
• Martha Cooper, Going Postal
• Remo Camerota, Graffiti Japan
• Ji Lee, Talk Back: The Bubble Project
• Luz A. Martín, Textura: Valencia Street Art
• Artists from ORBIT Gallery (featured in upcoming EdgyCute book: Joe Scarano, Angie Mason, Michael Caines, Chris Uminga, Motomich Nakamura, BECCA, Emma Overman, Robbie Busch; and Frank Sheehan)
• Special Guest Curator Mighty Tanaka (with art from: avone, JMR, Hellbent, Alexandra Pacula, Peter Halasz, Mike Schreiber, AVOID PI, FARO, Royce Bannon, BLOKE, Mari Keeler, John Breiner, Skewville)
• Tijn Snoodijk of Shop Around – Netherlands
• RobotsWillKill (featured in Going Postal & PEEL: The Art of the Sticker)
• Project Super Friends
• Royce Bannon (featured in Going Postal)
• Chris Stain (featured in Going Postal)
• Destroy & Rebuild
• Cosbe (featured in Going Postal)
• CR
• Abe Lincoln Jr.
• Indigo & Mania
• El Celso
• Chalk drawings by Ellis Gallagher

PERFORMANCES
Hosted by: iLLspokinN
Termanology
Cormega
DJ Statik Selektah
DJ GSUS187
Krts (Powerstrip Circus)
Hot 97’s DJ Juanyto
Guest DJ Jason Mizell (son of Jam Master Jay)
Outabodies
Michael Brian
True2Life
Ad Lawless
Goodomens
Greenberet Team
Quan
Spokinn Movement
William B. Johnson’s Drumadics

SHOWCASES/VENDORS (list in progress)
Sabrina Beram
Abztract
Fresthetic
Owen Jones & Billy Hahn
Peter Moschel Johnson
Jemmanimals & John Bent
Natasha Quam/L’Ange Atelier
Dawn of Man Productions
Katie Jean Hopkins
Stephanie Paz
Alessandro Echevarria
Spost Love
iinex grafik
Andrea Grannum-Mosley
Gully Klassics

ADMISSION: $15 cash at the door, $10 in advance – come & go the whole day. Buy your tickets here!

A GIGANTIC thank you goes out to Kevy Paige Catering, who will be feeding our artists and performers gourmet-style as they work throughout the day!

OFFICIAL BLOG: BrooklynStreetArt.com

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Bishop203 and LauraLee at HiChristina Gallery One Week Only

August 20, 2009

Writers, Cartoonists, Nude Figure Drawing, Puppets, and Battlestar Galactica

– you wouldn’t think those things have much in common – although Puppetry of the Penis kind of ties many of them together, now that I think of it.  See the interview HERE

THE WEEK’s EVENTS at HiChristinaTuesday August 25th:  Writers (& Cartoonists) Show N Tell8:00pm; $5 suggested donation, BYOB**Check out this event on Facebook**

Wednesday, August 26th:  (Nude) Figure Drawing
8:00pm; $10 suggested donation,  BYOB
**Check out this event on Facebook**

Thursday August 27th: Open Mic: Puppet Edition!
9:00pm: $5 suggested donation, BYOB (and P)
**Check out this event on Facebook**

Friday, August 28th: (Fake) Art Therapy Night
9:00pm: $5 suggested donation, BYOB
**Check out this event on Facebook**

Sunday, August 30: Frak Earth: an evening of Battlestar Galactica
6:00p; $5 suggested donation BYOB (scotch is also encouraged)
**Check out this event on Facebook**

Tuesday Through Sunday at HiChristina, a small but densely packed show with LauraLee and Bishop203 will entertain those A.D.D.-addled button-punching phone-surfing multi-tasking Millenials and GenY Early-Adopters who have infiltrated large swaths of previously normal neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Many Bangels Swirling around in this new canvas by Bishop203 (photo Jaime Rojo)
Many Bangels Swirling around in this new canvas by Bishop203 (photo Jaime Rojo)

Bengels by Bishop203 (photo Jaime Rojo)

(Bishop203) (photo Jaime Rojo)
(Bishop203) (photo Jaime Rojo)

(Bishop203) (photo Steven P. Harrington)
(Bishop203) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Mid-installation, LauraLee has about 20 more to install (photo Jaime Rojo)

Mid-installation, LauraLee has about 40 more to go (photo Jaime Rojo)

Installing the show (photo Jaime Rojo)
Installing the show (photo Jaime Rojo)


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Silhoetted rooftops by LauraLee (photo Steven P. Harrington)
Silhoetted rooftops by LauraLee (photo Steven P. Harrington)

LauraLee’s Blog

Bishop203’s Site

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Featured Video | Martin Wong’s “Houston Street”

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