All posts tagged: California

The City of Angels AND Murals Considers a New Approach

December 8, 2011 Artists, California, Los Angeles, On the Street

“Original Art Murals comprise a unique medium of expression that serves the public interest.”

Shocking as that may sound, it is just one of the statements contained in a proposed new mural ordinance in Los Angeles. We don’t usually dip our toes into policy discussions regarding public art, preferring to concentrate on the art and the artist and where we’re headed from that perspective. But it has been a bit of high theater to see the machinations at work in a city prized for it’s history of public murals as official policy has wiped out perfectly legal community approved artworks and secured the rights of corporations to blight neighborhoods with billboard messages to buy goods and services.

”For months, the L.A. Department of City Planning has been teasing street artists with announcements of a new ordinance that would lift the current ban on all pre-approved murals on private property in Los Angeles,” says the LA Weekly Blog yesterday, as they take the council of the celebrated local graffiti artist Saber and his community arts activist buddy Daniel Lahoda, among others, to pound out an agreement that puts public art back in peoples hands. Without talking about vandalism, the current laws on the books actually prevent a property owner from commissioning artwork on their own buildings. The new policy will re-classify murals as “original works of art” as long as they are not shilling for a business. Also, puppies are cute. And boys like girls in short skirts. And the Pope is Catholic.

Below a selection of images from the murals in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles as part of the LA Freewalls Project spearheaded by Daniel Lahoda.

JR (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Shepard Fairey (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Swoon (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ROA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Saber and Augustine Kofie (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The Art of Paul Insect – 3 New Videos from Carlos Gonzalez

November 26, 2011 Artists

The Photographer Continues to Explore Storytelling With Video

Leading up to the Paul Insect exhibit over at Venice’s Post No Bills gallery, photographer Carlos Gonzalez continued to challenge his visual skills by creating a video to impart a visual narrative, a psychological grounding to the physical process of the artist preparing for the show. The discovery of what it takes to create the show and the prints that were to sold inspired Carlos to tell the story in a new way, using video more than he has before.

Careful observation of movement, pattern, subtleties of technique – all underlaid with a sophistication in audio selections – reveals a talent in the storyteller that keeps unfolding before our eyes even as he endeavors to tell us about Paul Insect the artist and the Ramon De Larosa, the print master. As De Larosa mans the 2oo year old machine to create pieces for the U.K. based artist, bobbing and rolling and pulling and pressing play out as dance over a bed of electronic music and mechanical beats, succinctly merging two centuries into one.

And in this newest video the screen printing process is explained in 80 seconds to the quick cuts and fluttering drum meter of a motor city inflected rockabilly beat as De Larosa gently applies rich patches of color to a new Insect portrait. It feels like we are all learning at one time – artist, master, videographer, observer.

Gregory Siff Across a Wall in Echo Park

November 7, 2011 Artists, California, Features, Los Angeles, On the Street

Brooklyn born artist and actor Gregory Siff continues in a casually deliberate way to be everywhere he can to garner your eyeballs. This weekend Carlos Gonzalez and his camera captured him stretching across a wall in LA as he prepares for his first solo show Friday at La Founderie, a huge raw warehouse in Echo Park with The Site UnScene. Attracted to primary colors and basic geometry, the sometimes Street Artist here explodes the grid, breathing a lot of space into his hand patterned designs. Looks like it was a beautiful sunny California day and thanks to Carlos for letting BSA readers have a look.

Gregory Siff (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

Instagram it! Gregory Siff (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

Gregory Siff (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

Click on the link below to learn about Gregory Siff’s solo show on 11.11.11:

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/2011/11/07/the-site-unscene-presents-g-gregory-siff-solo-show-los-angeles-ca/

Anthony Lister Talks to BSA : Analysis and Constant Consideration

September 29, 2011 Artists, Brooklyn, California, Features, Florida, Interview, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Miami, NYC, On the Street, San Francisco, Street Talker Interview, Venice Beach

“I’m like a hairdresser I guess.”

Painter Anthony Lister is also a Street Artist. His surreal pop and celebrity culture-infused abstractions are candy encrusted apples which may have something sharp inside. Many are figurative studies and wire frames bending wildly into characters who cavort and mock with blunt swipes of color, overlaid by costumed sexual role play… or is that a personal projection? Did I mention elegance, defiance, wit? Wait, there is so much here! Truth is, his work can be a cock-eyed psychological tempest, jarring to the head, strangely sweet.

Anthony Lister in Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A decade of discovery under his superhero belt, Mr. Lister continues to analyze and build his creative practice and it always includes work inside the gallery and outside on the street. He’s currently preparing for his solo show in Sydney called “Bogan Paradise” at Gallery A.S. At the same time he’s part of a group show with a gaggle of his Aussie expats on view at 941 Geary in San Francisco for “Young and Free”, including Kid Zoom, Dabs & Myla, Dmote, New2, Ben Frost, Meggs, Ha-Ha, Reka, Rone, Sofles and Vexta. Not to mention his participation in our show last month in Los Angeles at C.A.V.E. with Thinkspace, “Street Art Saved My Life : 39 New York Stories“.

The artist took some time recently to talk to Brooklyn Street Art about his practice;

Brooklyn Street Art: How much of one of your painted portraits is autobiographical? In other words, what portion of Mr. Lister is super hero, super model, furtive schoolboy, or Homer Simpson?
Anthony Lister: I don’t really think about myself when I paint. My figurative works are more like reflections of characteristics I absorb from real life day to day.

Brooklyn Street Art: If you were to wear colored glasses, which color do you think you would most likely screen the world through?
Anthony Lister: Pink, like John Lennon.

Anthony Lister in Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Francis Bacon said, “The creative process is a cocktail of instinct, skill, culture and a highly creative feverishness.” Would you drink that cocktail?
Anthony Lister: Nice words. I agree.

Brooklyn Street Art: What role does analysis play in your creative process when bringing a painting to fruition?
Anthony Lister: Analysis is the outcome of considered processing. Constant consideration is crucial.

Anthony Lister in Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: A big piece you did on Metropolitan in Brooklyn – you reworked that face a couple of times over a period of months, producing what appeared as a slowly morphing image. Were you covering up tags, or were you unhappy with the original, or maybe combating the effects of age with a little nip and tuck?
Anthony Lister: When I re-work street paintings I think of it like I am a hairdresser. When something is in the public it has a different existence to something living privately in a residence. I’m like a hairdresser I guess.

Brooklyn Street Art: You have spoken about your work as reality, or a reaction to realities. What realities are you depicting these days?
Anthony Lister: I just finished a body of work for a solo show in Sydney. This next body of work is about contemporary Australian culture. The exhibition is titled “Bogan Paradise.”

Anthony Lister in Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: When you consider the Street Art scene that evolved around Melbourne, how would you characterize its nature in a way that differentiates it from the work in other cities around the world?
Anthony Lister: No different. This whole street art thing has sprung up post the turn of the digital revolution so it is on the Internet quick and the artists who inspire others and the ones who are easily inspired are constantly swimming in the same aesthetic pools of consciousness. Not to mention that most of the prominent artists travel lots so it is easy to see work of the same artist in multiple cities around the world at the same time.

Anthony Lister in Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: The titles you give your gallery pieces are entertaining, instructive, illustrative. Do you ever want to place a placard near a piece you’ve done on the street – just to make sure the message gets across?
Anthony Lister: No. My street practice is less thoughtful and therefore needs less commentary.

Brooklyn Street Art: When is a painting complete?
Anthony Lister: When it tells me so.

Anthony Lister in Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister in Manhattan (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister in Miami for Primary Flight. Detail. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister in Los Angeles. LA FreeWalls (photo © Todd Mazer)

Anthony Lister in Los Angeles LA FreeWalls (photo © Todd Mazer)

Cry me a rainbow, Anthony Lister in Los Angeles. LA FreeWalls (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister in Venice Beach CA. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Anthony Lister in San Francisco for Young and Free at 941 Geary (photo © Andrius Lypia)

Want to see more work? Just “Lister” it.

www.anthonylister.com

Gilf! “Back Talk” Conversation

September 2, 2011 Artists

To introduce readers to some of the Street Artists in the show “Street Art Saved My Life: 39 New York Stories”, BSA asked a number of the artists to take part in “Back Talk” with one of our most trusted and underground and sweet sources for modern art, Juxtapoz.

Today we hear from Gilf!

One reason you make art: I make art to change people’s perspectives, and to bring awareness to major issues that face our whole planet. I also do it to make people smile. Street art is an amazing tool that allows me to speak to people with whom I wouldn’t get the chance in real life.

Gilf! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Read “Back Talk: A conversation with Gilf!” on Juxtapoz: http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/back-talk-a-conversation-with-gilf

Rene Gagnon “Back Talk” Conversation

September 1, 2011 Artists

Today we hear from Rene Gagnon.

The first record or CD you ever bought? The last album you downloaded?
“First has to be RUN DMC – with the Krush Groove jam. Eminem, ‘Relapse & Recovery.’ “

Rene Gagnon (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Read “Back Talk: A conversation with Rene Gagnon” on Juxtapoz: http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/back-talk-a-conversation-with-rene-gagnon

Mark Carvalho “Back Talk” Conversation

August 31, 2011 Artists

Today we hear from Mark Carvalho.

Something you want the world to know about you:
“I only sing two songs for karaoke; Lionel Richie’s ‘Hello’ and Tupac’s ‘How do you want it’.”

Mark Carlvalho (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Read “Back Talk: A conversation with Mark Carvalho” on Juxtapoz: http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/back-talk-a-conversation-with-mark-carvalho

Indigo “Back Talk” Conversation

August 30, 2011 Artists

Today we hear from Indigo.

Artists you admire:

“I admire everyone who has the courage to spend hours, weeks, months and years turning thoughts and feelings into things, then putting them out into the world for others to respond with love or hate or complete indifference. I admire anyone who has the integrity to create for themselves, first and foremost. I admire those who are constantly pushing themselves to try new ideas, use new mediums, reach out to new audiences and immerse themselves in uniquely challenging experiences. I admire everyone who has taken a leap of faith, fallen into dark and swirling waters and after what often seems like a lifetime of struggle, reached the sunshine on the other side – only to do it all over again.”

Indigo (photo © Victoria Potter)

Read “Back Talk: A conversation with Indigo” on Juxtapoz: http://www.juxtapoz.com/Features/back-talk-a-conversation-with-anthony-lister

Chris Stain Talks About Giving Them Hell

August 23, 2011 Artists

It’s always cool to learn about an artist’s process and the story behind his or her work. Street Artist Chris Stain shares with you here where he gained inspiration for his gallery piece called “Give ‘Em Hell”.

Give ‘Em Hell, by Chris Stain, currently on view at “Street Art Saved My Life : 39 New York Stories”. (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

“When I was a kid growing up in Baltimore we always played baseball and pretended we were Eddie Murray or Rick Dempsey when stepping up to bat. It wasn’t until later that I realized that a baseball bat could be used as an equalizer when the bigger kids thought it was a good idea to kick my ass for the fun of it.

This piece represents for me standing up for yourself and the things you believe in. The boy in the picture was originally photographed by Boogie. The background photos were taken by me during a trip to Baltimore. I hand cut the image out of rubylith and screen printed it onto an old table I used to work on. Then I hand colored it with thinned out spray paint and wood stain.”

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From our interview with Chris for Juxtapoz:

“Born in 1972 and raised in East Baltimore, Chris Stain is a New York-based, self taught stencil artist and print maker influenced by social realism, the plight of working people, and skateboarder culture. His straight-forward portraits in urban or industrial settings harken back to the Depression, when bankers and masters of industry declared war on the blue collar and poor. With blunt realism and everyday protagonists, Stain encourages passersby on the street to draw direct connections between social and economic conditions of then and today.”

Read Chris’s answers to the Back Talk questions on Juxtapoz here:

Opening Shots from “Street Art Saved My Life” in Los Angeles

August 17, 2011 Artists

Images from the Show

The show in Los Angeles last weekend was a lot of fun, with 500 people flowing through C.A.V.E. Gallery to see studio work by some of the artists on the streets of NYC. What impressed us the most was the number of conversations we saw taking place with two or three friends gathered around a piece and discussing it and really taking it in. Marsea Goldberg, owner of New Image Gallery told us, “This is Los Angeles, we take art seriously”, and judging by the enthusiasm and knowledgeable people we met at the opening, in the back patio, and on the street, many Angelinos are interested in street art from the east coast. After comments about the dense and layered quality of the show, the next most popular topic was, “When are you going to do an LA street art show in New York?” After we catch our breath. Thank you LA, and thank you all the artists who came out to make work on the walls.

Thank you also to photographer Carlos Gonzalez for shooting all the pieces in the show, which follows after this collage of opening night shots by Andrew Hosner from ThinkSpace, who was our partner with C.A.V.E. to make this show happen.

See a couple of links at the end of this posting for more pictures of the opening from Andrew Hosner and Karin Freda.

Adam Void (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

Anthony Lister (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

Broken Crow (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

C215 (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

Cake (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

Chris Stain (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

Clown Soldier (photo © Carlos Gonzalez)

If you want to see pics of opening night on Andrew Hosner’s Facebook Page please go here:

To see Karin Freda’s Flickr page of photos from the show please go here :http://www.flickr.com/photos/karinfreda/sets/72157627427952010/

TipToe “Back Talk” Conversation

August 16, 2011 Artists

To introduce readers to some of the Street Artists in the upcoming show “Street Art Saved My Life: 39 New York Stories”, BSA asked a number of the artists to take part in “Back Talk” with one of our most trusted and underground and sweet sources for modern art, Juxtapoz.

Today we hear from TipToe.

Something that annoys or frustrates you about people: “Obsessions with Warhol and people who don’t know the difference between ambiguous and arbitrary”

Read “Back Talk: A conversation with TipToe” on Juxtapoz: http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/back-talk-a-conversation-with-tiptoe

Back Talk with Street Artist Radical!

August 15, 2011 Artists

Today we hear from Radical!

Artists you admire: “Henry Darger, Margaret Kilgallen (RIP), Barry McGee, Booker (Read More Books), Blu, Barbara Kruger, Robert Longo, C215, Chris Stain, Dondi White (RIP), Os Gemeos, Vrno, Gaia, Josh Keyes, the old Pottymouth Crew (Dwell, Oneunit, Mr. Prvrt), my grandpa, my professors, all of the people still going big these days.”

Read “Back Talk: A conversation with Radical!” on Juxtapoz: http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/back-talk-a-conversation-with-radical

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