All posts tagged: BSA Images Of The Week

BSA Images Of The Week: 07.19.20

July 19, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week. The weather has been beautiful in NYC and the organic art popping up on the streets is still forcefully advocating for social and political solutions amidst great upheaval, even while…

Police groups want to paint a ‘Blue Lives Matter’ street mural in New York City, Federal officers are using unmarked cars to arrest Portland protesters, Trump Administration Strips CDC of Control of Coronavirus Data, Governor Cuomo Announces $1.5 Million for ‘Feeding New York State’ to Assist Food Insecure New Yorkers and State’s Farmers, 5.4 million have lost health insurance , Biden will not support Medicare for All and Liz Cheney joins forces with Nancy Pelosi to ensure taxes go to fund endless war in Afghanistan after 19 years.

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Adam Fujita, Almost Over Keep Smiling, Billie Barnacles, Black Lives Matter, Bosko, Detor, Downtown DaVinci, Eric Haze, Fumero, Insurgo, Marco Santini, Marina Zumi, Praxis VGZ, Sara Lynne Leo, and Who is Dirk.

“I consider this mural a gift to New York City and a gift to the world,” says Eric Haze of this design he created in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests in our city and across many others. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Unidentified Artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)

July For Art . #blacklivesmatter (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Don’t talk about it…. Be about it ! ” Detor . Bosko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Praxis for The L.I.S.A. Project NYC (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Who Is Dirk . Insurgo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Marco Santini for The Bushwick Collective (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Almost Over Keep Smiling (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Almost Over Keep Smiling. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The New York street artist who works under the moniker “Almost Over Keep Smiling” reinterprets slightly this Boston warning poster telling anybody who was black in a “free” state like Massachusetts or New York to stay away from the police because the federal government had passed a law empowering people to capture them and return them to slavery.

From Wikipedia: The Fugitive Slave Act or Fugitive Slave Law was passed by the United States Congress on September 18, 1850,^[1] as part of the Compromise of 1850 between Southern slave-holding interests and Northern Free-Soilers.

The Act was one of the most controversial elements of the 1850 compromise and heightened Northern fears of a “slave power conspiracy”. It required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate. Abolitionists nicknamed it the “Bloodhound Bill,” for the dogs that were used to track down runaway slaves.^[2]

The Act contributed to the growing polarization of the country over the issue of slavery, and is considered one of the causes of the Civil War.

The original appearance of a poster in Boston looked like this.

Untitled. Central Park, NYC. July 2020 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 07-12-20

July 12, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week.

The writing is on the wall, literally, throughout the street art and graffiti scene right now, and you’re forgiven if it is confusing. We’re confused. We’re also clear on a few things.

The silent storm of Covid-19 has battered our doors and now is simply caving in the roof. The open rift between races and our legacy of disenfranchisement of our own is on parade. The one party system disguised as two stands by; quietly and deliberately offering no big ideas or massive structural programs to backstop the economic collapse either, content simply to hand out the contents of all the cupboards to friends.

The prediction from the first piece below doesn’t sound like the prophetic future shock of Gil Scott Heron as it did when he released it. Rather, its a given. While social media is still relatively unregulated, that is.

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Amir Diop99, Melvin Q, Michaelangelo, Mustafina, and Pedro Oyarbide.

Unidentified artist. Mustafina (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pedro Oyarbide for Overall Murals. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overall Murals. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 06.21.20

June 21, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week and welcome to summer in NYC here on its 2nd day. Also Happy Father’s Day in the US.

Juneteenth. White Fragility. Defund the Police. How to Be an Antiracist. All of these new terms and phrases erupting on the main stage of the public lexicon today speak to a fundamental disgust with the system that’s been in effect. As uncomfortable as it may be, our better selves know that the conversations and changes that have started are vitally necessary to have if we ever want to move forward as a society.

Right now in New York people are marching, protesting, drinking on the street, setting off fireworks, and holding doors open for one another with a new sensitivity thanks to internal bruising. We also see people disregarding safety precautions in the spread of Covid-19, and honking their car horns more often.

All of this is against a backdrop of Americans being unceremoniously slid into poverty and unheard of unemployment, with nary a mention in the national media and near silence from both national parties. It’s good to know that the LGBTQ can’t get fired for being LGBTQ, and children of undocumented immigrants born here will be protected under DACA. Unfortunately there are no jobs!

But on the streets, the messages and the energy and the defiance and determination and the comedy are all there, running on the hot pavement.

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Almost Over Keep Smiling, Cash4, Chris Tuorto, C0rn Queen, Crisp, KAWS, Menacersa, Nico, Skewville, Smells, and Tag Street Art.

Chris Tuorto #blacklivesmatter (photo © Jaime Rojo)

#TAG in Tel-Aviv. #blacklivesmatter (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mena-Ceresa. #blacklivesmatter (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Williamsburg, Brooklyn. June 2020. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 06.14.20

June 14, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week.

It’s great to see that artists on the streets are actually reaching out to help passersby with enthralling words of encouragement these days – the signs and messages we’re seeing are sentiments such as “We will persevere!” and “No Fear. Keep Going!”

Perhaps it is the vacuum of support that has been created by the Divider in Chief – as well as the acquiescent one-party corporate Demoblicans who all haven’t the slightest desire to lead or actually support you in these times of crisis for millions.

And to this we add our voice; Hang in there people! You got this! We are going to pull through this stronger and more united, despite the disinformation war that is arrayed before us. Today people are once again taking to the streets around the world in a populist fervor not seen since the ’60s when Baby Boomers hadn’t abandoned their principles yet. What a pendulum we swing on!

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Buff Monster, Dan Witz, Gianni Lee, Mtitya Pisliak, Praxi, Skewville, and Techno Deco.

A Brooklyn Gen Z hippie invokes grandpa’s favorite band, the Grateful Dead, to suggest that the way to solve racism is to get racists high. blacklivesmatter (photo © Jaime Rojo)

No Justice. No Peace. Defund the Police. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Stop Gaslighting” J Kos (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Somehow, through every civic or societal chapter, Marilyn Monroe reappears in New York. Artist is called Almost Over Keep Smiling (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Even skeletons wear masks for safety. Gianni Lee (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“No Fear. Keep Going” Mitya Pisliak (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“We will persevere!” Buff Monster (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Skewville still kicking around. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Astoria, Queens. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week 06.07.20 / Dispatch From Isolation # 77

June 7, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week.

The revolution has begun.

When a socio-political-economic nexus is forged with such historically contentious factors, it only takes a spark. If you are wondering who will win, merely look at history, as past is prologue. Sorry, we won’t be spoilers.

Historically sky-high unemployment in an economy headed for depression, a somnolent political-corporate class standing listlessly by to watch as you are lowered deep into the well, an unprecedented heist of the US cupboard in broad daylight, the flames of social inequity fanned by a muscular and shiny fascism. What’s not to like?

In one irony (among many) New York City is opening tomorrow. Except for the curfew at 8pm. It’s also boarding up. Just as graffiti and street art were effectively scrubbed from Manhattan, the city offers artists and poets thousands and thousands of brand new plywood canvasses. It’s a jubilee!

Just not a debt jubilee.

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Captain Eyeliner, Niko Alexander, Cadex Herrera, Greta McLain, Xena Goldman, Pablo Helm Hernandez, Dusty Rebel, No Sleep, Pajtim Osmanaj, Russian Doll NYC, and Soul Thundre.

#blacklivesmatter NYC (photo © Jaime Rojo)

June is Pride Month and photographer Dusty Rebel is marking the occasion with a photo essay “Out In The Streets” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

June is Pride Month and photographer Dusty Rebel is marking the occasion with a photo essay “Out In The Streets” Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The public mural painted by artists Niko Alexander, Cadex Herrera, Greta McLain, Xena Goldman, Pablo Helm Hernandez was projected on a screen Thursday during the entire memorial for George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Pajtim Osmanaj. Revolution is in the air in New York and Paitin Osman adapts Eugène Delacroix and places a medical worker in the role of Marianne in **Liberty Leading the People** (*La Liberté guidant le peuple*
[la libɛʁte ɡidɑ̃ lə pœpl]) (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Street art doesn’t always have to be illegal, as we know. This textual mark-making leads directly to The White House on 16th Street. With painters hired by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, they didn’t announce it nor explain it until it was obvious. According to Emily Badger (@emilymbadger) on Twitter “When I asked them what they were doing, several city workers casually said ‘just paintin’ the streets,’ as if there were nothing else to say.”

Soul Thundre / Consumer Art (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Manhattan. NYC. June 2020 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.31.20 / Dispatch From Isolation # 70

May 31, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week.

The streets are alive with street art and pointed political protest. NYC citizens are joining the cities and communities across the country who are demonstrating furiously over the newest examples of systemic, latent, and explicit racism and police brutality that have characterized our society for so long. Of course it’s just one fire that has been waiting to spark as economic conditions run parallel with social inequity. In the face of sky-high unemployment, unpaid rents, increasing food insecurity, a “rescue” program that gave the store to the rich, and the ever-growing gap between hyper-rich and the chronically poor/ newly poor, the summer here looks like it could be torrid.

We won’t need or see a large number of street art festivals for a while. This show of politically/socially inspired artworks and text messages is probably just warming up on the streets and you can imagine that artists won’t find it appealing to be sitting on panels and pontificating about the genesis of mark-making, the original roots of punk anarchy, or how they are incorporating being woke or inter-sectionalism into their “street practice”. The creative class, however you define it, has suffered a huge blow and many are out of work, and patience. Based on what we have been witnessing here these past few weeks, you may predict that the more aesthetically inclined will seize the opportunity to make art for the city, on the city.

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring 1UP Crew, Adam Fujita, Almost Over Keep Smiling, Billy Barnacles, Combo-CK, Denis Ouch, Indecline, Jason Naylor, Lunge Box, Matt Siren, Mr. Toll, and Woof Original.

A literal manifestation of conversations on the street. This campaign addressing the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement is answered with spray painted x’s and attempts to rip down the posters. Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A very pink Superman has a roll of toilet paper on his chest. Denis Ouch (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Should patriarchy in the Catholic church be replaced by matriarchy? Is it a matter of empowerment for women to assume the highest positions of power in religious orders? Or have those establishments become discredited too much already? The French street artist Combo CK wheatpasted these holy women in Brooklyn. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Who you lookin’ at? Mr. Toll, surely you aren’t saying that Brooklyn is ugly, are you? (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Spring 2020. Queens, NY. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.24.20 / Dispatch From Isolation # 63

May 24, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week! Happy Memorial Day Weekend in the US. Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2020 to all our friends celebrating it, wherever you are. Wash you hands, practice social distancing, don’t fight with people over small things. It’s not worth it.

This week we have some new art from the streets that appears purposeful and dense with meaning – not beating around the bush these days. Maybe there is too much at stake, and artists know it too.

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Caryn Cast, Cheer Up, City Kitty, Dylan Egon, Gane , Glare Rakn, Hearts NY, Praxis, and Sara Lynne-Leo.

Sidebusted Sara Lynne-Leo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Flash on top. Gane on the bottom. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. SOHO, NY. 05.2020 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.17.20 / Dispatch From Isolation # 56

May 17, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Times are tough but so are you.

Such a New York sentiment and at the heart of it we believe in our fellow New Yorkers and people in general to pull through this series of cavalcading catastrophes that are befalling us as many of our would-be leaders stand by and watch.

“Times are tough..” – It’s also a new piece this week on BSA Images of the Week from Captain Eyeliner. Let’s look for common ground, fundamental fairness and a common dream – without being tricked into fighting each other.

Meanwhile here’s some of the genius and humorous works this week on New York streets (and one from Tel Aviv), as we nurse our wounds and mourn our dead, and praise our nurses – and so many others. Hang tough people!

Here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Adam Fujita, Almost Over Keep Smiling, Billy Barnacles, Captain Eyeliner, CRKSNK, Lunge Box, Maya Hayuk, Merk, No Sleep, Praxis, Quasar, Sac Six, Tag, and You Go Girl!

SOHO, NYC. May 2020 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.10.20 / Dispatch From Isolation # 49

May 10, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Happy Mother’s Day in the US and in Mexico too.

We praise the work and the love that mothers around the world are giving today and every day, with gratitude and recognition for their shaping of our global society. Salute to all the mothers! Without them, it goes without saying, we’d be nowhere.

So here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Cake$, DG, Diez, GCG, HOACS, PREZ, Roachi, and Tag.

#TAG with commentary on one Mark Zuckerberg and the use of Pokemon to fully map and trace and predict our behaviors, and of course drive sales. In Tel Aviv. (photo © #TAG)

“This Space is Not for Advertisements.” AJ in Chihuahua, Mexico with commentary on walls free of advertisements. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

AJ in Chihuahua, Mexico with commentary on walls free of advertisements…and immigration. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

AJ in Chihuahua, Mexico with commentary on walls free of advertisements and immigration. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Tribute to Jason DG. We don’t know who painted “Jason” (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Tribute to DG by PREZ. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Don’t Believe The Hype…in Wynwood… (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Unidentified artist…please help…(photo © Jaime Rojo)

GGC in Chihuahua, Mexico. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Diez in Chihuahua, Mexico. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Unidentified artists in Chihuahua, Mexico…please help…(photo © Jaime Rojo)

In da dog house in Wynwood…(photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cake$ Stencils in Bethlehem. (photo © Cake$)

“Today people all over the world are wearing the keffiyeh to offer support to Palestinians in their struggle for freedom,” says Street Artists Cake$, who sends us this new piece he did near the separation wall. He says he considers the wall to be a symbol of oppression – but worries more now that Coronovirus has hit the region as well – so he depicts Jesus with a face covering. “Because of the pandemic, this stencil is also a caution sign for locals that you need to cover your face to protect yourself and others. A new study and computer model provide fresh evidence for a simple solution to help us emerge from this nightmarish lockdown. The formula? Always social distance in public and, most importantly, wear a mask, scarf or bandana.”

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.03.20 / Dispatch From Isolation # 42

May 3, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

The Majority of lawmakers in Congress are millionaires.

Nancy Pelosi? She’s worth $115 million. Mitch McConnell? $34 million – his wife Elaine Chow has $30 million.

Republicans or Democrats – it doesn’t matter. The median is just over a million. Just like you, right?

Most of the people “reporting” on them are also millionaires.

Rachel Maddow gets $7 million a year. Sean Hannity makes $40 million a year. Anderson Cooper $12 million a year. Joe Scarborough $8 million a year. Even Erin Burnett, who started her professional career as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs GS, has a net worth of $13 million.

“Right” wing or “Left” wing, it doesn’t matter – these “news” reporters are millionaires looking at the world through your eyes, right?

We’re all in this together, right?

Maybe this is why there are few positive news stories or policy debates or discussions or “Special Investigation” programs about student debt forgiveness, housing issues, workers rights, unions, Medicare for All, rent strikes, a guaranteed Basic Universal Income on the main networks and news sites. There are NO grand, sweeping financial/job/infrastructure solutions for everyday people that are being proposed, or being reported. There are more people out of work and without a safety net than any time in your life, and there are no big solutions to this?

Huh.

In other news, we’re still quarantining inside. 18,610 people are dead from Covid 19 in New York. That is 6 times as many as we lost on 9/11 – Please send us your pics of art in the streets! We love to hear from you. Spread love!

So here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Ines, JJ Veronis, King Baby, One-Tooth, Moe, Pollyn, Praxis-VGZ, and Woe.

One Tooth and friends (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Please help with this writer’s ID (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA Images Of The Week: 04.26.20 / Dispatch From Isolation # 35

April 26, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week and Ramadan Mubarak for all our Muslim brothers and sisters this week. We all know that we have to keep a safe distance and wash our hands, even during holy days – science is science whether its Jesus or Mohammed or Timothy Leary whom you worship.

As you quarantine in place and find that your financial hardships are hovering, you may wonder why your government is not jumping into action to keep us all afloat – for one thing, they are on vacation until May 4. They rapidly have spent 3 trillion to bolster select industries and wealthy individuals, yet we have 26 million out of work, many people waiting in line for food. For you and the people in line for food, the national leader of the Democrats says “Let them eat chocolate ice cream” at 12$ a pint. Trump recommends you may want to inject yourself with light or bleach. Top economist Joseph Stiglitz says: US coronavirus response is like ‘third world’ country .

Overall this pandemic is disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable around the world. If you are okay, please share what you have. This week we recommend The International Rescue Committee.

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others

Call 911
Visit the Disaster Distress Helpline, call 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746
Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224
Call National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was a U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe following the devastation of World War II. We need a Marshall Plan for everyday people right now and the next year. Instead, we have a circus.

In other news, we’re still quarantining inside so we thought you would enjoy these cool instant classics shot in Miami recently. Please send us your art in the streets! We love to hear from you. Spread love!

So here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring Bubblegum, Carolina, Dicesar Love, Friks84, Inphiltrate, Jodi Cox, Joshila Dhaby, Le Doers Club, Outrank Brand, Oz Fua, Ric Azevedo, Roger Peet, Smogeone, The Suited Racer, Toosphexy, Tomer Linaje, and Toysnobs.

Print maker Roger Peet @toosphexy for Justseeds.org

BSA Images Of The Week: 04.19.20 / Dispatch From Isolation # 28

April 19, 2020 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Where is the People’s Bailout? Why has the bailout that was promised to small businesses already run out? Why is congress on vacation? Why is Biden staring up at the wall like he’s concentrating on a dead spider? The people are dying, running out of food, the economy is dying, businesses are dying. The Post Office, starved and bad-mouthed for years by the capitalists who want to kill it, is finally dying. Do we realize which direction the US is being dragged by the oligarchs and their one party corporate Republicrat-Demoblicans?

We need Universal Basic Income!

Where is Medicare for All!

Main Street Debt Jubilee!

In other fun news, we’re still quarantining. Please send us your art in the streets! We love to hear from you. Spread love!

So here’s our weekly interview with the streets, this week featuring MeresOne, Shepard Fairey, Banksy, and other unknown artists.

Well, tomorrow is 4/20 after all. For difficult times…Unidentified artist. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Shepard Fairey produced a series of new poster graphics honoring our heroes. (photo @obeygiant Instagram)

Trump Titanic. Unidentified artist of this social media meme

Banksy, with his typical sense of humor and levity, came out from isolation to share with us his visual metaphor that accurately illustrates one of the many ways in which isolation affects humans…photos were taken directly from the artist’s Instagram account. (photos @Banksy)

Untitled. Brooklyn, NY. Spring 2020 (photo @ Jaime Rojo)

Breaking Glass, Street Art Icons, and Wynwood Walls at 15
January 9, 2025
Wynwood Walls marked its 15th anniversary during Miami Art Week 2024, drawing artists and fans who packed into Jessica Goldman …Read More »
Mantra Revitalizes Miami with Stunning Rooftop Mural
January 7, 2025
Only a year ago, we were in Miami witnessing how a graffiti tower featuring over a hundred international writers and …Read More »
BSA Images Of The Week: 01.05.25
January 5, 2025
Only the richest, most aromatic coffee seems to linger in the breezes of Miami, where even winter days can carry …Read More »
“Architecture, Sculpture,…Vandalism? ELFO’s Provocative List
January 2, 2025
“ArchitectureSculpturePaintingMusicPoetryDancePerformingVandalism” At first glance, these forms diverge, yet the broader realm of the arts and culture cannot deny that street …Read More »
Happy New Year 2025 From BSA
January 1, 2025
Our very best wishes to all, especially loyal BSA readers and fans, for a happy and healthy new year! May …Read More »
Photos of 2024 on BSA – #1: Odisy in Belfast and a Year of Possibilities
December 31, 2024
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family …Read More »
Photos of 2024 on BSA – #2: Veks Van Hillik and his “Salmon of Knowledge” in Belfast
December 30, 2024
We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family …Read More »