All posts tagged: Houston Wall

Talking With Crash About Popeye and The Houston Wall

March 20, 2013 Artists, Interview

He first wrote “Crash” on New York streets and trains in 1974 but he still finds ways to entertain and challenge himself artistically. Now managing a successful gallery career that has him globe trotting much of the year, John Matos considers himself a closet pop artist, and the similarities to Lichtenstein and Rosenquist are always there, along with his nostalgia for pop iconography. But at his heart he’s still a graffiti writer from the South Bronx and that’s why he invoked the collaborative energy of the Tats Cru and other friends when putting up his latest public work – a mural for the Houston Wall now on display in New York’s lower Manhattan at the corner of Bowery.

Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A week after completing his part of collaboration on the same wall for photographer Martha Coopers’ birthday with artists other old school train bombers and friends, Crash hit this wall hard like Popeye, the sailor man. “The mural on Houston Street – an accomplishment for sure,” says Crash as he surveys the expanse that took about a week to complete and that will run into summer for everybody to see.

Brooklyn Street Art: Can you talk about the piece that you just finished?
Crash: When I was approached to paint it, I felt the weight of over 30 years of painters that I’ve admired and felt it an honor to be someone to be added to that group. The piece was meant to depict the mix of Pop and Graff/Street art and how it’s developed in the last 40 years.

Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: How did Popeye work his way into the show? Is he an old friend, or does he just have a good PR agent?
Crash: I wanted to do a very Pop image that is known throughout history…I thought that Popeye would be a cool image. I painted Popeye recently for an installation at a museum/foundation in Switzerland and the beauty of nostalgia hit home, so I thought, “Why not do it again?”

Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Did you have any help on this job?
Crash: Basically I had some young people come in to help block out areas of the wall using a simple acrylic enamel – which would make it mush easier to fill and blend the spray paint with. With them I was able to basically fill in about half of this incredibly large wall on the first day. Then on Thursday, The Tats Cru rolled by. They are family, so they came by and they helped some with the stars and stripes motif on the right side of the wall. Otherwise it was all me for three long days, but it was great fun and it always brings me back to the early subways…awesome.

Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: You did a cool collaboration on Martha Cooper’s birthday wall with Daze last week. Do you remember the first time Martha photographed your work?
Crash: The first time Martha photographed me was at her studio, I think in 1980 or ’81 – and she has photographed me ever since – a long association for sure

Brooklyn Street Art: Have you seen any good graff or street art recently?
Crash: There is some great art being made all around the world. There are so many artists out there and I don’t want to let any one out, so I don’t want to list any names and miss somebody.

Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bristol based Street Artist Nick Walker stopped by to see Crash at work. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Photographer Joe Conzo’s reflection in a car window as he chats with Crash. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Getting the shot. Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Crash (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Images of the Week 03.10.13: Happy 70th Birthday Martha Cooper

March 9, 2013 Artists

“I can’t believe it. I never expected this, ever.”

The Houston Street Wall was the site of a sidewalk surprise birthday party Saturday for photographer Martha Cooper, who was planning to stop by for what she thought would be a new mural shoot. The world famous graffiti photographer had no idea that artists How and Nosm had begun masking the letters of her nickname out of their mural at 7 a.m. to prepare for an all-star cast of some big graffiti and street art names from the last 4 decades to create a larger-than-life birthday card for her.

Thanks to speedy social media, a sunny early spring day, and her stature as an historic photographer of fortitude and integrity, the impromptu guest list ballooned throughout the day for this street side celebration, while the boisterous honking New York traffic rolled by.

Above: Happy Birthday Martha Cooper (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The “Marty” wall begins at the Houston Wall in NYC as How and Nosm buff their mural and mask out her name. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

By the time Martha and her cousin Sally arrived with wall organizer Meghan Coleman just after noon, the “MARTY” letters had already been half completed and she stood staring with mouth smiling and agape, waving at the cluster of photographers shooting her atop the Houston Street meridian. A second later she was laughing and racing across the street, camera in hand, ready to capture the painting action and get mobbed with well wishers. Cooper confessed to being pretty overwhelmed by the sight of her name so big. For her part, Sally, a confidant and buddy since they attended grammar school together in their hometown of Baltimore, busted out into tears.

How & Nosm at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Just inside of one day the famed wall that has hosted the likes of Haring, Scharf, Fairey, and Faile was suddenly regaled in eye-popping color and a variety of styles by Lady Pink, How and Nosm, Bio from Tats Cru, Freedom, Free5, Crash, Daze, Terror 161, Faust, and Aiko – producing a head spinning and sweet greeting to a person whom they all respect and admire for her work and determination. In addition to the steady flow of fans, writers, artists, bloggers and photographers asking to have a photo taken with one the few photographers of New York’s 1970s subway graffiti scene, a number of friends stopped by to have some birthday cake and watch the painting – like Wild Style director Charlie Ahearn, his brother artist John Ahearn, hip-hop photographer Joseph Conzo, and master sculptor Simon Verity, among others.

The brand new “Marty” mural is up for an incredibly short time, possibly only days, so if you have an opportunity or inclination, catch this personal and public display of affection for a lady who helped us all appreciate art in the streets.

Bio from the Tats Cru at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Crash shows his sketch for his portion of the wall. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko(photo © Jaime Rojo)

Crash at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Martha (center) arrives and gets a big surprise. Flanked by Meghan Coleman on the left and Cousin Sally on the right. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Davide (Nosm) greets Martha. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faust at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Freedom at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Freedom signs a book and talks to a young admirer. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Daze at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Terror 161 at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bio at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A possible devotee of the Seapunk movement walks past “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A New Yorker captures the action from the comfort of his taxi while waiting for the light to turn green. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Bio does the official birthday wish.”Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Lady Pink at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

How & Nosm at work. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Aiko at work, or rather, her shadow. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Laboutins and aerosol make a riveting combination for Aiko. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

All the artists with Marty. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Marty poses for us. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

BSA loves Martha Cooper. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko. (photo © Leah )

The final shot. “Marty” at the Houston Wall in NYC; A tribute to Martha Cooper in collaboration with How & Nosm, Faust, Freedom, Terror 161, Bio, Daze, Lady Pink, Free5, Crash and Aiko (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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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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Images of the Week 11.11.12

November 11, 2012 Artists

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, today featuring AVOID, Dart, EKG, FKDL, Hellbent, How & Nosm, Ian McGillivray, ICH, Phlegm, Pop Mortem, See One, Veng from Robots Will Kill, Werds, Willow, and You Go Girl!

One note as we mark Veterans Day today in the US and this week had the re-election of a President, nothing can be more patriotic than helping out your neighbor in a time of need – and many of our neighbors here in New York still need your help. Please do what you can, whether it’s to donate food or supplies, offer a hand, or send money. Thanks.

You Go Girl (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Willow at Bushwick Five Points (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ICH (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Avoid (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Phlegm did this gate when he was in NYC in the Summer. Sandy forced the gate to come down and we were able to finally flick it. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dart (photo © Jaime Rojo)

EKG and Veng RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

FKDL at Bushwick Five Points (photo © Jaime Rojo)

See One and Hellbent. Detail of their collaboration at Bushwick Five Points. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ian “Pop Mortem” McGillivray (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Nec Spec Nec Met #1 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

See One (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Werds on the back of the box truck. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

This mystery man with a bright happy yellow head was caught walking by the new How & Nosm Houston Wall. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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How & Nosm and “The Day After” on the Houston Wall

November 8, 2012 Artists

New Mural Pays Tribute to Wall’s Owner, His Family, and New Yorkers

The newly painted Goldman Wall is here on Bowery and Houston Street for you to pour over; a dense and storied depiction of the trials and tribulations that no one escapes, deftly rendered with cans and brushes in precise and purposeful strokes. A huge NYC tattoo of life lessons and metaphors by How and Nosm, the new mural is their tribute to a city recovering from a crippling storm and to the memory of the neighborhood guy who turned this wall into an institution, Tony Goldman.

How & Nosm (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“It wasn’t premeditated, but we painted this wall during a very tough time for New York City, and at a very tough time for those who loved Tony and who admired his dedication to art in the streets. Our work always depicts life; with both its dark and bright side.”

No strangers to hard times, the twins know the street. With their work they study and pull apart and reconstruct the duality of daily existence, swinging on the pendulum of extremes, looking for balance somewhere in between, trying to avoid getting caught in the storm. Partners and brothers, philosophers and students, How and Nosm mark this wall with a stylized “X” at the intersection of Houston and Bowery, where a wind battered and flooded Manhattan sat this autumn for days in darkness while it’s northern half was still illuminated; our beloved city fumbling for it’s footing, unbalanced and off-kilter. The “X” locates Tony Goldman’s gift like a pin dropped on your aerial GPS map, but it also marks a central location of the 1970s/80s raging “Downtown” art scene where it began; a signpost for myriad interlocking lifelines and a genesis for one of New Yorks’ longest-running Street Art exhibitions.

How & Nosm (photo © Jaime Rojo)

With an auto reflexive line drawing style that leads one story into the next, the circular spinning of tales and small universes invite you to look into the drama and observe; tight winding info-graphics of an undulating life, glorious and dreadful in it’s functional dysfunction. A perfect storm contained in one large canvas, this one sometimes bubbles over. Each vignette is instructive, playfully honoring and negating while the twins interrupt each other to give you a running commentary on society, the environment, politics, psychology, family, and maybe a bit of spirituality.

How & Nosm (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Plain-talking gents in the rough, How and Nosm have been rising steadily for two decades to a now global stature on the graffiti/Street Art/fine art stage. Born in the Basque country, raised in Germany, the firey twins who are known in the Bronx as graffiti kings with the Tats Cru are living all-Brooklyn now. Bringing their lunch to Manhattan every day while painting because no businesses were open, working only in the day because there were no working streetlights, the mural itself becomes yet one more New York tale of determination. “People kept stopping on the sidewalk to tell us how much they appreciated that we came out at such a tough time to beautify and to bring some color to the city. Most thought it was very uplifting and we felt we did the right thing by coming out, ” say the artists.

From Haring to Scharf, Fairey and Faile, the many New York stories spawned by and sprayed onto this wall have given it a pivotal place in Street Art history while Houston Street’s boisterous traffic and Manhattan’s lust for reinvention have rushed past it for three decades. Now as we rebuild from the storm, How and Nosm remind you that there is “The Day After”, a compelling invitation and unabashed encouragement to those battered brothers and sisters who had their doubts. “There will always be a day after and it will get better for sure,” the brothers say.

How & Nosm (photo © Jaime Rojo)

From the sidewalk you can look up at a rotating solar system of vignettes and stories as they cluster and revolve around an invisible central power source. How and Nosm walk with you on the sidewalk looking upward, describing their tales and metaphors, sometimes dark and harrowing, sometimes comforting, never pandering. Painted in their signature black, white, and red, these tightly coiled inner stories are tied to their biographies as much as the timeless trials and joys that are more universal – the ones that bind us one to the other.

“On the right hand side you find a black half circle with a face depicting the approach of something bad about to happen, like the storm. On the left you see the red half circle rise up again,” explains one, but you are not sure whom.

“On the very top left side you can see a person holding a black heart trying to pass it on while riding on a bull. You have to be very strong to be able to ride a bull – which means you have to be strong during these challenging times and find a way to support those in need.”

How & Nosm (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Every life is full with stories, like this wall is. Here is a boat that has broken apart, there a crowd protecting birds from attack, and over there an entire scene balancing on the back of a whale. One central image is described as a group hug of a family bound together during adversity. Perhaps this one is How and Nosms’ nod to the City and to the Goldman family itself, who are still weathering their personal storm of grief even as they continue this, their commitment to the city.

For the brothers, it is all part of the larger piece. “So basically the wall reflects the selfishness of humans but at the same time the beauty of interaction and a commitment to love for each other in good and bad times.” In these times of loss and stress and insecurity, it’s hard to think of a better gift to New York.

How & Nosm (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Images of the Week 07.22.12

July 22, 2012 Artists, Brooklyn, Manhattan, NYC, On the Street

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, featuring Aiko, Cost, KAWS, Leon Reid IV, Mint & Serf, Nick Walker, Phlegm, Poster Boy, REVS, Swampy, and Wing.

We start off the review with this pretty amazing and magical new installation by Street Artist Phlegm in a children’s playground at the Fulton housing project. He also hit a gate and a quick wall while he was in New York, but this series will be taking kids on rides through their imaginations for a few years to come.

Phlegm (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jetsonorama. Donté. Click on the link at the bottom of this posting to see more images of Jetsonorama at the Navajo. (photo © Jetsonorama)

WING (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mint & Serf (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Swampy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Kaws (photo © Jaime Rojo)

COST . REVS (photo © Jaime Rojo)

COST (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Nick Walker (photo © Jaime Rojo)

AIKO. Detail of her installation at the Houston Wall. For process shots and full completed wall click on the link at the bottom. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Leon Reid IV and Poster Boy collaboration for Showpaper. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Click here to see the full documentation of AIKO getting up on the Houston Wall.

Click here to visit Jetsonorama’s life with the Navajo through images and words.

Aiko Flies At Night on The Houston Wall

July 16, 2012 Artists, Manhattan, NYC, On the Street

At Tony Goldman’s reception for Street Artist Aiko on Friday, the diminutive dynamo looked pretty smashing as she signed fresh Martha Cooper prints, despite smashing a wall till 4 am the same day. In fact Aiko was on a cherry picker every night last week as she methodically knocked out the candy-pink and purple pastiche of sexy stenciled ladies and butterflies across this nearly institutional wall that stands as an edificial link to Manhattan’s Street Art past.

Aiko (phot0 © Jaime Rojo)

With summer’s sun now scorching NYC during the day, beginning the job as the sun set over Gotham meant Aiko could avoid the brain-frying heat and study the detailed booklet of plans she had prepared for this high-profile wall that’s been hit by the likes of Haring, Scharf, and Fairey. During the day you might spend a third of the time answering questions from inquisitive New Yorkers who want to know exactly what the hell is going on, but at 3 am on Wednesday morning it’s only sanitation workers, dog walkers and the occasional drunken revelers.

Ironically, while many Street Artists have worked anonymously under cover of night, in this case hitting a wall means you’re more public than ever before. For Aiko, it’s a perfect opportunity to bring her fully female flurry of power to “represent” in a scene that has a preponderance of dudes. For New Yorkers, this is another free Street Art show that runs 24/7 all summer long.

Aiko (phot0 © Jaime Rojo)

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RETNA At The Houston Wall in NYC

March 6, 2012 Artists, Manhattan, NYC, On the Street

The weather is turning friendly, and RETNA is encouraging the conversation

We have been having a very mild winter in New York, even scarily warm. The daffodils are almost in bloom and you can already see the faint shades of pink on the buds of the cherry and apple trees. “Wait!”, we want to yell at them, “Wait! – there might be a frost yet.” But when it is sunny and warm out, everybody wants to come out and play.

For example Los Angeles based Street Artist and fine artist RETNA, who took Saturday through Monday to complete the Houston Wall with his brightly secretive musings, messages, and tributes painted in his now famous alphabet. Maybe it was the holy day, or the holy hangover, but watching this piece appearing on Sunday was like seeing the wall turn into a soaring stained glass cathedral of gestural markings in crimson and blue, a private prayer out in the open.

Watching an artist at work is always a pleasure and it is a gift to see the unfolding magic of a community coming alive on the street, bonded by the humanizing experience of art in progress. RETNA can be playful, serious, contemplative, relieved, pleased, and you will see it all.

Houston Street is not one of those quiet hidden romantic streets where an artist can just zone out, no matter the hermetic fit of headphones; this rumbling thoroughfare splits Manhattan loudly and boisterously, dividing Soho from Noho, both ever more expensive and increasingly mall-like these days. Whatever the composition of foot traffic, the sense of community comes alive in this sacred presence of the creative spirit; Passersby, complete strangers, well-wishers and friends stop to say hello, to ask a question, dare a request, or just silently and introspectively observe the process.

Faile Surprise : New Painting Direction at Lazarides Show Tonight

November 3, 2011 Artists

JUST ANNOUNCED: FAILE UNVEILS BOLD NEW STUFF

A new gallery show from the Brooklyn art collective Faile has just been announced at Lazarides in London and even though they say it’s not a radical departure from their recent work, we feel like it is.

Yes there will be the blocked paintings, and other quilt-like piecing together of familiar fragments of pulp and pop imagery, but the show actually features straight ahead painting. The series of faceless fashion plates of female figures on canvas and found objects bring to mind the bold patterning and mix and match style of Other and maybe the couture insouciance of Miss Buggs but it’s a raw hand-rendered warmth and the combined snippets from their established graphic vocabulary that make it solidly Faile. It’s a fresh stripped down approach and a departure from these guys who just finished the Houston Wall in Manhattan, and it already wins.

See more HERE

Images of the Week 10.30.11

October 30, 2011 Artists, Manhattan, NYC, On the Street

FAILE DAY TWO : THE HOUSTON WALL AND A PRAYER WHEEL.

Friday was a sunny clear October day and the Faile Duo returned to the Houston Wall to complete their installation, a continual layering of the images and visual vocabulary they have developed into a language. Aided by a handful of assistants, they set out to fill in by hand painting the missing details on the hand painted and wheat pasted panels that they put up on Wednesday. It took them a month to hand paint all those panels at their studio. When that was completed they proceeded to add smaller pieces that were hand painted s well and silk screened.

Passing tourists stopped to take photos and admire the wall and ask questions while more industrious New Yorkers could only afford to take a quick glance and continue their brisk pace toward an important meeting or to the hair salon or the gym. Other Street Artists like Futura, JR and Kenny Scharf stopped by to say hello to the Faile fellas — adding to the small town feeling, one of the Patricks helped a lost mother navigate on her iPhone, as she and her child in tow taken a wrong turn. Sometimes New York feels like a quiet place, even as the traffic roars by.

Our interview with the street this week is with Brooklyn Street Art Collective, Faile.

Faile. Photographer Martha Cooper (wearing Obama on her hood) is joined by an enthusiastic Faile fan. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Martha Cooper Shoots Faile on Houston

October 27, 2011 Artists, Manhattan, NYC, On the Street

The Houston Wall, a showpiece of curated Street Art in an increasingly malled and moneyed Manhattan where the uncurated stuff is getting harder to find, is once again brandishing a Brooklyn favorite, thanks to Faile’s installation yesterday. Patrick and Patrick worked methodically throughout the day and are expected to return for some hand touch ups before sealing it. With this wall, owned and curated by developer Tony Goldman, it’s anybody’s guess how long it lasts without being tagged, as Shepard Fairey and Kenny Scharf can tell you. Happily for all of us, photographer Martha Cooper caught all the action as it was going up and she makes a guest appearance today to share these excellent shots and observations with the BSA family;

“The Brooklyn collective Faile had an all-day, marathon pasting session yesterday on the Houston/Bowery wall transforming JR’s muted black and white photo into a dazzling display of color. The free-standing wall has been a favorite urban canvas since Keith Haring appropriated it in 1982. Faile hand painted their piece in their studio on multiple sheets of paper which they then pieced and pasted onto the wall. ” ~ Martha Cooper

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