All posts tagged: Art Basel

13 from 2013 : Brock Brake “Being In the Middle of Creativity”

13 from 2013 : Brock Brake “Being In the Middle of Creativity”

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Happy Holidays to all you stupendous and talented and charming BSA readers! We thank you from the bottom of our socks for your support this year. The best way we can think of to celebrate and commemorate the year as we finish it is to bring you 13 FROM 2013 – Just one favorite image from a Street Art or graffiti photographer that brings a story, a remembrance, an insight or a bit of inspiration to the person who took it. For the last 13 days they will share a gem with all of us as we collectively say goodbye and thank you to ’13.

December-21

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Photographer and periodic contributor to BSA, Brock Brake moved from Chicago to San Francisco to discover a new world a couple of years ago and he has been working with gallerists, art, and Street Artists of many kinds since then.

Brock looks at his photography as one part of a greater holistic practice that includes interacting with people and art and the scene itself. The image he captures is as much about the situation as it is the subject.

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Spencer Keeton Cunningham at work. Miami 2013. (photo © Brock Brake)

Being In the Middle of Creativity

~Brock Brake

Doing what I do as a photographer living in San Francisco and as an art handler at White Walls Gallery, I build a relationship with artists while documenting and helping with the development of their exhibitions.  It’s always a great feeling to start a new relationship and to revisit old ones with some of the most creative people in the world. It’s kind of a crazy thing to think about; I’ve placed myself right in the middle of the creative process and I enjoy sharing it with BSA.

My pictures are usually focused around the process of work being created.  Sometimes I find the process more interesting than the final piece itself.  I’m a photojournalist by experience so I take a large amount of images and try to select the best ones as if they were going out for print.  I enjoy all of the minor details, the problem solving that occurs, and the long conversations that are made in such a creative situation.  It’s therapeutic in a way.

There is more to it, more involvement, than just showing up with a camera and pressing the button.  I try to develop a sense of comfort between myself and the artist. Once you have the awkward first impressions out of the way and you start conversing, then everything becomes golden.  Sometimes I help paint walls or hang work.  The best is closely assisting in the creation of installations for their show, a lot of times working late into the night and taking photos along the way.

I have a unique perspective on how things are done and wanted to share these moments with you.  So thanks to everyone at Brooklyn Street Art and all the artist out there that have let me lend a hand and take some pictures.

 

Artist: Spencer Keeton Cunningham
Location: San Francisco, CA. 2013

 

 

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Check out our Brooklyn Street Art 2013 Images of the Year by Jaime Rojo here.

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Please note: All content including images and text are © BrooklynStreetArt.com, unless otherwise noted. We like sharing BSA content for non-commercial purposes as long as you credit the photographer(s) and BSA, include a link to the original article URL and do not remove the photographer’s name from the .jpg file. Otherwise, please refrain from re-posting. Thanks!

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Street Art Going Up Right Now in Miami – Process Pics from Mike Pearce

Miami is in full effect! Murals and cans and scissor lifts and beers and cameras are all going at once!  Street Art has never been so well represented in Miami’s Art Basel as it is this weekend – in fact it is impossible to follow it all unless you are an octopus.

Anthony Lister and Col in process in Miami (photo © Mike Pearce)

And opportunities are seized, while others are missed, and some are trampled underneath. Carlo McCormick writes in Paper Mag a pleasantly prickly on-point overview of the current events with an eye toward some of the sliminess. McCormick should know about the polluting  and homogenizing effect of commerce and hype on a scene born in the street, having witnessed and documented first-hand the explosion of graffiti in the NY Downtown scene during the 1980s as well as the market implosion that hurt so many artists in it’s wake. Perhaps that’s why his piece ends with the populist summation,

“It’s all good whatever side of the town you want to walk on, but to our view the art that is taking place with the 99% in mind rather than in whorish acquiescence to the 1% is infinitely more lively, vital and relevant. It may not be making much money (unlike many here we’re too polite to ask about sales), but believe it or not, that’s not the point of art. “

Read the full piece by Mr. McCormick at Paper by clicking here:

Meanwhile, the giant magnet Miami has attracted artists and their dreams and stories to paint walls today. New York photographer Mike Pearce shows BSA readers some murals in progress.

La Pandilla working carefully on their piece. (photo © Mike Pearce)

Augustine Kofie brings his vintage futurism. (photo © Mike Pearce)

See our interview : Augustine Kofie in Studio

TooFly from the streets of New York to Miami . (photo © Mike Pearce)

Shark Toof knocking out his piece. (photo © Mike Pearce)

Ben Eine seems to be trying to communicate a message here. (photo © Mike Pearce)

Pixel Pancho: Increible. (photo © Mike Pearce)

Myla tests a can of white while Mr Dabs works on his top hat. (photo © Mike Pearce)

 

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See more photos by Mike Pearce on his Flickr page here.

 

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Images Of The Week 02.13.11

Brooklyn-Street-Art-IMAGES-OF-THE-WEEK_05-2010This week Revok was in town and hit up a wall with Tats Cru; a new mural entitled “The Quiet Before the Storm”, providing the Lower East of Manhattan with some much need color. We also re-visited a couple of BSA favorites like the Shepard Fairey’s piece on the Cooper Square Hotel and a few WK Interacts scattered around LES. It’s great to see and photograph these pieces when imbued with February’s cold gray and blue light.

And now our weekly interview with the street, this week including Bio, BG183, GS, How & Nosm, Invader, Revok, Shark Toof, Shepard Fairey, Spazmat, Tats Cru, TMNK and WK Interact. Update. Thank you RJ at Vandalog for sending out the tweet abut the Mel Kadel (on the no loitering sign) sticker and helping our readers with the artist’s name.

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Revok and Tats Cru “The Quiet Before the Storm” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Revok and Tats Cru “The Quiet Before the Storm” Detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Revok and Tats Cru “The Quiet Before the Storm” Detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Revok and Tats Cru “The Quiet Before the Storm” Detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Shepard Fairey (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Shepard Fairey. Detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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TMNK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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A poppy colored veil for Spazmat so you can’t read lips while he’s on the phone. Wait, he doesn’t have lips. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Invader (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Minotaur Stencil (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Mel Kadel..You heard it! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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WK Interact (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Seems like people are in such a rush these days, doesn’t it? WK Interact (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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“For the last time, this is not 1C and I did not order a pizza!” Vintage WK Interact (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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“Forgive me Father for I….erm, uh, too late buddy.  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Home of the golden mustache ride! GS in Miami Art Basel 2010 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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This photo was shot mere seconds before Invader was eaten in Miami!  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Hallelujah! Visions of Retna Appear in NYC!

Fresh from his sold out show with Primary Flight at this year’s Miami Art Basel, LA-based Street Artist Retna brings his fine art “Hallelujah Tour” to  New York City for a solo show in SOHO this week.

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Retna mural with El Mac (detail). Miami Primary Flight 2009 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Retna has built a strong reputation for being not only an exceedingly talented artist but well regarded personally. His uniquely invented style of calligraphic letters, often done on massive walls, tell stories about the people that he encounters. Each one has made an impression on him and his life experiences.

Retna’s letter style, created and refined over the years is the product of his life as a graffiti artist as well as his interest in English calligraphy and Egyptian hieroglyphics. Retna often collaborates with El Mac, who paints the portraits while Retna tells their stories. According to accounts from the street, certain friends can read the messages as easily as those on a milk carton.

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Retna mural with El Mac (detail). Miami Primary Flight 2008 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Retna from his show “Silver Lining” at Miami Primary Flight 2010. Photo courtesy of Primary Flight. © Peter Vahan.

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Check out more great pics of the show by RJ at Vandalog.

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Images Of The Week 01.09.11 : From Miami With Love, Part 2

Images Of The Week 01.09.11 : From Miami With Love, Part 2

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Following up on Part 1 last Sunday, here are more amazing kick-arse photos from the various street artists who took over Wynwood in Miami last month.  This weeks interview on the streets of the Miami features work by Burning Candy, Clare Rojas,Dustin Spagnola, Fumero, Invade, Joe Iurato, Kid Acne, LMA Cru, Mark of the Beast, Michael DeFeo, Miguel Paredes, ML, Nunca, OverUnder, Shepard Fairey, Skewville, VyalOne, and 305=2011=131,Vincent Luca,Shadowman,Luciano 3.

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Shepard Fairey (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-clare-rojas-jaime-rojo-01-11Clare Rojas (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-clare-rojas-detail-jaime-rojo-01-11Clare Rojas Detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-305-2011-131-jaime-rojo-01-11305=2011=131. Detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-burning-candy-jaime-rojo-01-11Burning Candy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-burning-candy-kid-acne-jaime-rojo-01-11Burning Candy, Kid Acne and Skewville (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-fumero-jaime-rojo-01-11Fumero (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-invader-jaime-rojo-01-11Invader (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-joe-iurato-jaime-rojo-01-11Joe Iurato (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-lma-cru-jaime-rojo-01-11LMA Cru (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-mark-of-the-best-ishmael-jaime-rojo-01-11Mark Of The Beast Ishmael and Dustin Spagnola (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-miguel-paredes-jaime-rojo-01-11Miguel Paredes (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-miguel-paredes-detail-jaime-rojo-01-11Miguel Paredes. Detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-michael-defeo-jaime-rojo-01-11Michael Defeo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-ML-jaime-rojo-01-11Vincent Luca,Shadowman and Luciano 3 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-nunca-jaime-rojo-01-11Nunca (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-jaime-rojo-01-11Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-skewville-jaime-rojo-01-11Skewville (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-VyalOne-Mark-of-the-beast-jaime-rojo-01-11VyalOne and Dustin Spagnola (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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UR New York in Miami : Shooting Hoops at Art Basel

Brooklyn-Street-Art-UR_Backboard-New-York-Miami-Basketball-2010Backboard painted by UR New York for “The Art of Basketball” show opening tomorrow in Miami for Art Basel. (image courtesy the artists)

Brooklyn Street Artists 2ESAE and SKI, the duo known as UR New York, have arrived in Miami after a long drive from NYC for their big opening at Billi Kid’s “Art of Basketball” show December 2.  They started the 20+ hour trip Monday night and BSA spoke to them as they reached Jacksonville, Florida, emerging from the dark swamps of Georgia. They were excited to be only a few hours from their destination and to talk about the video they just finished for the show.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-UR_New-York-Miami-Basketball-2010The scene at the setup for tomorrow’s show. (image courtesy the artists)

“Basically, instead of doing a time-lapse process showing the backboard being created we figured we would give an inside look into the process of making it in our studio. There was a lot of thought that went into it, considering that this project really hit home to us,” says Mike Baca (AKA 2ESAE) as he describes the way the story unfolds.  In the video, both Baca and his art partner Fernando Romero (AKA SKI) lay down multiple layers of screens and paint to build their piece.

On the small screen below UR New York also play some hoops on a New York outdoor court – so emblematic of the buoyant and fleeting scene on the streets of Brooklyn in warmer months.  In fact, you can see the ball they used at the show. Maybe they’ll get a chance to use it in balmy Miami.

2ESAE and SKI would like to give a big shout out to HotMop Films for their vision, direction, editing, and production of this video.

For more information about The Art Of Basketball click here

To learn more about URNewYork and see more of their work click here

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CSM Presents: Dan Witz “With Art Works Illegal And Otherwise During Art Basel Miami 2010” (Miami, Fla)

Dan Witz
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Culture Shock Marketing (CSM) presents:

Dan Witz

The Acclaimed New York Street Artist’s

Exhibition and Book Signing

Cielo on the Bay

7935 East Drive

Harbor Island

North Bay Village, FL 33141

Exhibition: Dec 2nd – 5th, 2010, 11am – 6 pm

Book Signing: December 3rd, 6pm – 8pm

Free and Open to the Public with Free Shuttle Service

NEW YORK, November 30, 2010 – Culture Shock Marketing (CSM) is proud to present acclaimed New York street artist Dan Witz at the MIA | MI CIELO 2010 Fine Art Exposition in concurrence with Art Basel | Miami Beach. Dan will feature a retrospective selection of street art works, sign copies of his limited edition book “In Plain View: 30 Years of Artworks Illegal and Otherwise” and carry out some of his clandestine artistic illegality on the highways and byways of Miami. Signed copies of Witz’s 2011 “Hummingbirds” accordion calendar will be given out to the first 100 guests at the book signing event.

Admission is free and open to the public. Cocktails for the Friday evening book signing reception will be provided by 42BELOW Vodka. A Shuttle service will be provided by the City of North Bay Village with looping stops connecting the Wynwood Arts District, Design District, MIA | MI CIELO and NADA Art Fair throughout the four day expo.

More than just a documentation of Witz’s public artworks, “In Plain View” is a diary of three decades of thoughtful and emotional engagement with the ever evolving surfaces of New York City. Embracing a meticulously disciplined aesthetic inspired by the old masters, Witz has spent the last decades making easel paintings as well as street art, leaving various love letters in plain view on the doorstep of his beloved New York City. Dan Witz is in conversation with both the conventional and street worlds of art. His work is inclusive. It is obsessive. It is acknowledged as an original voice, an inspiration and a catalyst.

Besides obvious craftsmanship, the artwork of Dan Witz evinces a rigorous conceptual framework. This framework not only opens up a dialogue with graffiti and street art which dominate the urban environment but also allows for the retention of clear and open lines with the canon of art history.

About Dan Witz

Since receiving his BFA from Cooper Union, Dan Witz has received a grant from the NEA and two fellowships from the New York Foundation of the Arts. His first book, “The Birds of Manhattan,” was published by Skinny Books in 1983. Solo exhibitions include Semaphore Gallery NY (1985,1986), Clementine Gallery (1996), Stolen Space, London (2007); DFN Gallery NY (2003-5, 6, 7, 8, 10) and Carmichael Gallery, LA (2009). Group exhibitions include: Buying Time: Nourishing Excellence, Sotheby’s NY(2001); and Fifteen, NYFA Fellows at Deutsche Bank, NY (1999). Today Dan lives and works in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

More on Dan Witz and his work can be found at his website.

Parking: Cielo on the Bay has generously offered available parking spaces for guest of MIA | MI CIELO with limited spaces. Free street parking is provided by the City of North Bay Village on East Drive just South of the Cileo & Eloquence on the Bay. Additional parking spaces available at Eloquence, the development across from MIA | MI CIELO, for a discounted price.

MIA | MI CIELO will be presented on the 4th floor of the Cielo on the Bay luxury condominium, a high-end residential building. Located on Harbor Island just north of the Art Deco District and the Miami Beach Convention Center, MIA | MI CIELO will transform the Cielo into a destination for contemporary art, performances and events and allow the public, art collectors and enthusiasts visiting Miami to view the increasingly influential contemporary art scene up-close and personal.

Exhibition Hours: Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th, 11am – 6pm

Dan Witz Book Signing: Friday 3rd, 6pm – 8pm

Cielo Party: Saturday 4th, 7pm – 11pm

For further information on MIA | MI CIELO exhibiting artists and programming please visit www.miamicielo.com.

About CSM
Culture Shock Marketing (CSM) is a New York City-based 21st century media consultancy, focused on serving creative communities. CSM is a valuable strategic partner, energetic and in tune with the innovative markets where art and technology interact. CSM is recognized for strategic and creative approaches to marketing, brand development and positioning in local, digital and global markets. For further information, please visit www.cultureshockmarketing.com.

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Contraprojects and Primary Flight Present: Mural Wall by Ron English, Mr Jago, Thomas Thewes, Bask, Tes One and Tristan Eaton Plus TrustoCorp “TrustoLand” (Wynwood, Miami)

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ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF CONTRA PROJECTS

We are very proud to be involved in this new project from Tristan’s long time pal Thomas Thewes (amazing artist and owner of Detroit’s Cpop Gallery). To help Tom launch Contra Projects, Tristan and the Thunderdog team curated an exclusive group of artists and designed the Contra brand. There are many exciting projects lined up for 2011 with Contra – but first, they are making their debut at Primary Flight during Art Basel Miami 2010! Check out the info below…

Announcing the launch of CONTRA PROJECTS.

This year during Art Basel Miami 2010, Detroit artist Thomas Thewes Jr. of CPOP Gallery fame is launching a new art project featuring some of Street Art’s heavy weights from around the globe. The initiative titled ‘Contra Projects’ will launch at the 5 day Primary Flight mural project in the Wynwood District of Miami and features Ron English, Bask, James Marshall (Dalek), Tristan Eaton, Tes One, D*Face, Mr Jago, TrustoCorp and Thomas Thewes himself.

Contra Projects’ Primary Flight initiative will feature a variety of projects around Wynwood as listed below. Activities will take place from Thursday Dec. 2nd through Sunday Dec. 5th, from 12pm – 7pm

1. The Contra Tent – In the Courtyard of 297 NW 23rd. St. (Between NW 2nd Ave. & NW 5th Ave.) Wynwood.

The Contra Tent will be a lounge style tent with free refreshments (including limited edition Brisk Iced Tea cans designed by Tristan Eaton) as well as information on Contra Projects and their artists. The center piece of the tent will be a custom, fully functional, lowrider shopping cart by street art collective TrustoCorp.

2. Contra Mural – Wynwood in the center of Primary Flight

The Contra Projects mural will feature Ron English, Mr Jago, Thomas Thewes, Bask, Tes One and Tristan Eaton. Most Contra artists also have solo walls throughout Primary Flight, please check in at the Contra Projects tent for more information.

3. TrustoLand – In the Courtyard of 297 NW 23rd. St. (Between NW 2nd Ave. & NW 5th Ave.) Wynwood.

Trouble making street art group TrustoCorp takes it’s humorous slant on American Culture to new levels at Primary Flight Miami this year with the debut of ‘TRUSTOLAND’, a Coney Island style, outdoor installation of interactive, hand made and painted carnival games. Each game takes on American culture for better or worse with typical TrustoCorp sarcasm and satire. How participants play the games determine what prizes they win – yet just like Wall Street, even the losers win big. Highlights include ‘The TrustoCorp Immigration Office’ where contestants play for citizenship, the high-striker style ‘The Peace Keeper’ and ‘Drive-Thru Safari’ where players use an AK-47 BB Gun to shoot innocent burgers and hot dogs on the run. Prizes include limited edition, signed posters, badges and plush cheeseburgers!

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Winter Chill? Burn Your Art!

A few weeks ago Street Artist Celso and some of his friends decided to have an art show in Miami Beach during the much ballyhooed Art Basel show.

As a response to the aforementioned ballyhoo, and perhaps as a commentary about the romance with and commercialization of street art, the culmination of the “Art Burn” show was to light all of it on fire and grin mischievously. As an additional dystopian thrill for the assembled pyro-artiacts, a copy of Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was torched also, after memorizing of course.

Thanks to Hargo for the excellent atmospheric pics – and to learn more about the project check out fabulous Carolina Miranda at C-Monster.net

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With a fire extinguisher at the ready, and a gallon of water, and a beer (photo © Hargo)

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For fire-tagger Ellis G., this particular event was not too much of a stretch. (photo © Hargo)

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Debbie Harry has not been this hot since the 80’s (Billi Kid) (photo © Hargo)

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Kids plus fire equals good times. Where’s that bag of marshmallows? (photo © Hargo)

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Art radicals, pavement and fences …. now just add 5 tires to the fire and you’ve got yourself a G8 Summit!  (photo © Hargo)

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Skewville’s demand has gone up since some of their supply was burned (©Hargo)

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