All posts tagged: IRGH

Graffiti Haven “American Flats” Slated for Destruction in Nevada

Graffiti Haven “American Flats” Slated for Destruction in Nevada

November 13, 2014
The news of the impending destruction of a primary spot for graffiti fans in Nevada has saddened a number of artists who have spent long hours painting and socializing at the former site of the American Flat Mill in Virginia City. According to the Reno Gazette-Journal in late October the Bureau of Land Management has just awarded the contract “to dismantle, crush and bury what’s left of the massive mill.” As an abandoned industrial site for the last ninety years or so, it is catnip for graff writers and street artists. Even though it is one of Nevada’s most culturally fascinating relics anyone would admit that it can be hazardous because of its state of neglect, even if its an open secret that it is well trafficked by thrill seekers. For former Brooklyn-now-Reno Street Artist Erik Burke, the news signals the end of an era for him not only as an artist, but because he married his wife on the site. Today Erik provides an essay for BSA readers about his perspective on the loss of this site that holds many memories for tourists, artists, filmmakers, and countless others.
brooklyn-street-art-meryl-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-3

American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 . Please help ID the artists on this photo. (photo © Meryl Burke)

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
by Erik Burke

Over the last week there has been increasing talk of the imminent demolition of The American Flat Mill. In case you are not familiar with this place, the CliffNotes version of the American Flat is that it was a gold, silver and low-grade ore processing plant that opened in 1922 and after a painstakingly brief period of boom it went bust in 1926. Since that time it has been a sightseeing and activity playground for countless visitors. Since local nostalgia is currently running a fever and countless people are sharing their experiences I feel compelled to share my unique bond with this skeletal ruin of Nevada’s formative mining days.

brooklyn-street-art-meryl-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-4

American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014. Please help ID the artists on this photo. (photo © Meryl Burke)

The American Flat will always hold a special place the relationship between my wife and I. It had been the destination of one of our first dates and in April of this year we were married there. The fact that we were able to share this experience with our closest friends and family was truly astonishing given the fact that our hallowed ground was on hollow ground.

The smell of sage and spray paint mingled with our Pastor’s words as we confided our eternal love for one another in a makeshift church, and while we forgave those who trespassed against us we too hoped the Sheriff would return the favor. It was in those time-slowing moments that we all could attest that there truly is beauty in ruins.

brooklyn-street-art-meryl-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-5

American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Meryl Burke)

During the prior week my closest friends and I spent whole days preparing for the ceremony by secretly removing fallen obstacles, assembling monumental towers of rusty barrels, creating mirrored mosaics, sweeping aisles through rubble, tie-wiring bouquets of brush and wild flowers. We also installed works by artist friends from Berlin, Tel-Aviv, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, and New Orleans.

Each morning we would arrive to a bit of un-curated vandalism that happened during the night and we would have to do damage control. When people say, ‘how would you like it if I tagged your house?’ I can now sympathize.

brooklyn-street-art-meryl-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Arnz . Rogue. Yesir . Sunset. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Meryl Burke)

By the day of the wedding we had completely transformed the place, and like so many current testimonies about the Flats, the site had also transformed us. Whether you perceive the ruins as a backdrop to your fashion shoot, canvas to your creative whim, or, as my wife and I did, center stage for exchanging your vows, I think The American Flat should be preserved for generations to come.

While some individuals and entities see the demise of the flats as a trash-strewn, rotting liability of juvenile vandalism, a far larger majority see it as an Americana gestalt. Sadly, Building Solutions Inc. out of Reno recently won the contract with a $1.3 million bid for an un-building solution and they will begin dismantling shortly.

brooklyn-street-art-meryl-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-2

American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Meryl Burke)

When the Reno Gazette Journal interviewed Dave Erbes, a BLM geologist working on the project, he said, “There is going to be more known about the site after it is gone than there ever was before. In a couple of months hopefully you will be able to go online and tour the whole thing.”

Sadly the difference between knowing and experiencing is quite significant. Future generations will never know the feeling of clinging to the sun-warmed iron stairs as pebbles of concrete ping their way into a darkened tunnel or the sight of dropping a cheap flashlight into a pool of cyanide and watching it illuminate.

brooklyn-street-art-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-3

American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

Mark Twain said, “an honest politician is an oxymoron”, and he would be rolling in his grave at the thought of an online “experience”. It’s disheartening to live in a western society that chisels history off the totem pole and places a fence around the remainder all in the name of liability. While it seems that salvation of the mill is not in our cards perhaps this demolition will serve as a good kick in the ass for us to get out there and truly experience our diminishing back yard.

American Flats, we’ll miss you.

brooklyn-street-art-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-2

American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-author-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Author. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-clairvoyance-meryl-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Clairvoyance. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Meryl Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-dirtTBK-overunder-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Dirt TBK . Overunder. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-abc-art-attack-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

ABC Art Attack. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-various-and-gould-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Various & Gould. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-meryl-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Overunder. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Meryl Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-meryl-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-2

Overunder. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Meryl Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-irgh-the-reader-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web

IRGH . The Reader. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-klone-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Klone. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-joins-cbs-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Joins CBS. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-joins-cbs-klone-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web

Overunder . Klone . Joins CBS. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-mike-fitzimons-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Mike Fitzimmons. American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-erik-burke-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Erik Burke)

brooklyn-street-art-lindsey-pisani-american-Flats-reno-2014-web-1

Erik and Meryl’s wedding ceremony at American Flats. Reno, Nevada. 2014 (photo © Lindsey Pisani)

 

Please help ID artists whose names we didn’t know in this article. Thank you.

 

 

 

<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA
 
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!
 
<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA
Read more

Fun Friday 12.16.11

December 16, 2011 , , , , , , , , ,

 

1. Play a New Holiday Video Game from Chris Uphues – “Holiday Jingle Rocket”
2. “Rezolution”, a group show at Hive Gallery Tonight (Phoenix, AZ)
3. “Paranormal Hallucinations” at Pandemic (Brooklyn, Yo!) (Saturday)
4. David Choe and DVS1 for Nuart 11 (VIDEO)
5. “Images of the Year 2011” From Brooklyn Street Art (Video)
6. VINZ FEEL FREE. Don’t be afraid. Feel Free (VIDEO)

Play a New Holiday Video Game from Chris Uphues – “Holiday Jingle Rocket”

Street Artist Chris Uphues uses his signature characters to create this very entertaining game for you to play with while chugging eggnog and rum today as you drink and drive at your keyboard. Try to keep your sled flying over the houses without being hit by giant blobs of snow! It’s a winter blast!

Make sure to click on the link below to play the game:

http://www.megadoug.com/xmasgame/

“Rezolution”, a group show at Hive Gallery Tonight (Phoenix, AZ)

Chip Thomas AKA Jetsonorama and a number of other artists open today in a group show that is getting a lot of pre-buzz here and on Twitter and FB. It should be a great scene tonight at The Hive.

Chip Thomas and Breeze. (photo © Chip Thomas)

For further information regarding this show click here

“Paranormal Hallucinations” at Pandemic (Brooklyn, Yo!) (Saturday)

Pandemic Gallery has a new show “Paranormal Hallucinations” opening Saturday. including, among others, Deuce 7, Swampy and Egyptian Jason.

Swampy. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A very fun group show to end out the season before everybody goes into the holiday haze, featuring some unsung gems in the Street Art and graffiti scene, as well as others, including CHARLIE MARKS  R.I.P, LLEW  payote, Deuce Seven, Egyptian jason, Matt CRABE, Josh and Amy Shandick, Mikey Big Breakfast, Conrad Carlson, G II, Ryan C. Doyle, Mikey I.T., Tamara Santibanez, Othello Gervacio, Mike. P, and Swampy (above).

For further information regarding this show click here

David Choe and DVS1 for Nuart 11 (VIDEO)

David Choe and DVS1 (Photo Courtesy of Nuart11 © Mookie Mooks)

 

“Images of the Year 2011” From Brooklyn Street Art (Video)

It’s been an excellent year for Street Art all over the world and we’ve had the pleasure of seeing a lot of great stuff from big names to the anonymous. Eye popping, brain-teasing, challenging, entertaining, aspirational and inspirational – it’s all happening at once.  We’ve been walking the streets, meeting the artists, going to shows, curating shows, speaking to audiences, providing walls, and asking questions. It ebbs and flows but never stays the same. With the rise of the Occupy movement this autumn, we’re already seeing an uptick in the number of people taking their messages to the street with a renewed intensity.

VINZ FEEL FREE. Don’t be afraid. Feel Free (VIDEO)

Read more

“Images of the Year 2011” From Brooklyn Street Art (VIDEO)

December 14, 2011

It’s been an excellent year for Street Art all over the world and we’ve had the pleasure of seeing a lot of great stuff from big names to the anonymous. Eye popping, brain-teasing, challenging, entertaining, aspirational and inspirational – it’s all happening at once.  We’ve been walking the streets, meeting the artists, going to shows, curating shows, speaking to audiences, providing walls, and asking questions. It ebbs and flows but never stays the same. With the rise of the Occupy movement this autumn, we’re already seeing an uptick in the number of people taking their messages to the street with a renewed intensity.

Left to Right: Shepard Fairey in Manhattan, D*Face in LA, Ludo in Chicago, JR in the Bronx, Barry McGee at LAMoCA, Mosstika in Brooklyn. All photos © Jaime Rojo

Let’s take a look at some of our favorite shots, whether from a rooftop in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a block-long wall in Miami, or the “Art in the Streets” show at LA MoCA. As you sample this eye-candy platter, dig the staccato soundtrack made of sounds culled from Brooklyn’s streets by electro duo Javelin, who spent a day in the Red Hook neighborhood collecting sounds and then mixed them in the back of their car. This is the kind of D.I.Y. ingenuity that is fueling the fire in artists neighborhoods all over the world, with people taking their stories and skills directly to the streets. With Javelin as the perfect auditory partner here’s 90 shots by photographer Jaime Rojo from 2011.

The scenes and scenester included here: 5 Pointz, 907Crew, Sadue, Gen2, Oze108, Droid, Goya, UFO, Aakash Nihalini, No Touching Ground, Aiko, Martha Cooper, Anthony Lister, Boom, INSA, Miami, Primary Flight, LA Freewalls, Los Angeles, Kim West, Kopye, L.E.T., Purth, Lisa Enxing, Baltimore, Banksy, LA MoCA, Barry McGee, Blek le Rat, Broken Crow, Albany Living Walls, Chris Stain, Billy Mode, AD HOC Arts, Chris Uphues, Monster Island, Wynwood Walls, Creepy, Brooklyn Street Art, Jaime Rojo, Steven P. Harrington, Dabs & Myla, How & Nosm, Vhils, Dain, D*Face, ECB, El Sol 25, Elbow Toe, EMA, The London Police, Kid Acne, Will Barras, Enzo & Nio, Faile, Bast, Faith 47, Gaia Clown Soldier, General Howe, Hellbent, Herakut, Invader, JA JA, Jaz, Cern, Joe Iurato, Welling Court, John Baldessari, JR, Kenny Scharf, Knitta Please!, LMA Cru, LUDO, Mosstika, ND’A, IRGH, Labrona, Overunder, Nick Walker, NohjColey, Nomade, Occupy Wall Street, Os Gemeos, Veng, Chris, RWK, QRST, Radical!, Rambo, Retna, Gifted, Demon Slayers, Read, Booker, Read More Books, ROA, Shepard Fairey, Shin Shin, Wing, Skewville, Specter, Swampy, Sweet Toof, Swoon, Toofly, Various & Gould, VHILS, XAM, YOK, Pantheon Projects

Read more

Street Art Summer Hospitality in NYC – OverUnder, Irgh, N’DA, Veng & Chris (RWK)

July 11, 2011 , , , ,

Somebody Brought Moonshine to this Picnic

You get a chance to go out to the park this weekend and sit under a tree or throw a frisbee? It’s not that far to walk really and its good to reacquaint oneself with nature and barking dogs and deviled eggs and other weird salad creations that Aunt Majiminy always forces you to try – even though you didn’t like it the last time she forced you to try it.

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-4Peace Brotherman. Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

But we don’t know what has been in that jug of punch at these little picnics that Overunder, ND’A and Chris and Veng from RWK have been throwing this summer. The characters, the proportions, and the mixing of elements are ever more stretched and eccentric and colorful. These kids are seriously playing with their food – mixing the olives with the jello ambrosia and spreading it on a grilled hamburger and crumbling some ranch potato chips on top.

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-5

Just then, a truck booked by. Booker (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A distant Street Art relative from Berlin named IRGH is in town this summer and these Brooklyn based artists have put down the gingham table cloth and a wicker basket of aerosol cans in multiple locations to welcome their cousin and put him to work…painting walls. We’ve been chasing them around town in Brooklyn and Manhattan and here’s the wackiness we found:

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-6

Overunder, IRGH, Veng RWK and ND’A (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“I’m so excited to have IRGH visiting and get to paint with him. We developed our painting style in the same direction, but in separate scenes, and different parts of the world and now get to combine forces” ~ Overunder

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-2

Is this the beginning of Veng’s Blue Period?  Or maybe his Blue and Yellow Period? Veng RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-3

Come on in! The doors and the mind is open! Overunder and IRGH, and maybe a Celso over there in a frame? (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-7

Looks like someone is making a very important decision, with counsel. Overunder, IRGH, Veng RWK and ND’A (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-10

Can you pass me the ball of limbs please? Overunder, IRGH and ND’A (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-9

Overunder, IRGH and ND’A (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-kuma-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-15

A classic silver Kuma is next to Overunder, IRGH and ND’A (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-14

“Don’t mind if I do.”, Overunder, IRGH and ND’A (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-11

Overunder, IRGH and ND’A (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-12

“Can we talk about our relationship? I really would like to know where it’s going.” Overunder, IRGH and ND’A (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-13

IRGH and ND’A stop to smell the flowers (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-8

Uncle Jimmy may have stopped smoking but he’s still hitting the bottle at this family picnic. ND’A and Chris RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

brooklyn-street-art-overunder-IRGH-NDA-Veng-Chris-RWK-jaime-rojo-07-11-web-1

ND’A with Chris RWK holding it down. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Read more

Fun Friday 07.08.11

July 8, 2011 ,

Fun-Friday

OverUnder & IRGH – BRAND NEW VIDEO Directed by Dan Gingold

To start your weekend dancing, OverUnder and IRGH rocked a couple walls – that go swirling by in this quick and dancey video. More please!

AIKO “Unstoppable Waves” in Amsterdam

At Andenken Gallery, Brooklyn Street Artist Aiko will open her new show on Sunday.

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-aiko-jaime-rojo-LA-free-walls-04-11-web4

Aiko in Los Angeles with LA Freewalls (photo © Jaime Rojo)

www.andenken.com/

brooklyn-street-art-aiko-andenken-gallery

“Dead Relatives” – Ernesto Yerena and Phil Lumbang at the Black Book Gallery (Denver)

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-Phil-Lumbang-Ernesto-Yerena-DEAD-RELATIVES-balck-book-gallerySecond Saturday at Black Book Gallery in July will entail a visit by two artists from Southern California, Phil Lumbang and Ernesto Yerena Montejano.Click on the link below for more information on this show:http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=22640Black Book Gallery

See our piece on Ernesto from last autumn here

Ernesto Yerena: Art Without Borders

COPE2 at Maximillian Gallery , “Authentic”

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-Cope2_Authentic_Maximillian-GalClick on the link below for more information on this show:http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=22636

“Grand Illusion” – Anthony Sneed at the Shooting Gallery (SF)

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-anthony-sneed-jaime-rojo-06-11-web

Anthony Sneed mural in Brooklyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Click below for more information on this show:

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=22434

New PodCast with Steve ESPO by Meighan O’Toole

brooklyn-street-art-WEB-steve-espo-powers-my-love-for-you-meighan-otoole

Steve ESPO Powers (photo © Meighan O’Toole)

The always gracious and hot smart Meighan O’Toole founder of the popular site My Love for You is debuting her podcast series with none other than the “man of words”

“I’ve toyed with the idea over the past few years of doing a podcast series — but honestly never found the time to nail it down. But push came to shove a few weeks ago when I was given the opportunity to sit down with graffiti writer and artist Steve Powers. He had come into SF to set up for Sign Your Life Away at Guerrero Gallery and was only going to be in town for a little over two days. So I figured, no time like the present “. Hear the conversation >>>:http://myloveforyou.typepad.com/my_love_for_you/2011/07/new-podcast-series-steve-espo-powers.html

Call to Artists for Submissions – Tehran Kolah Studio

From Tehran Kolah Studio is issuing a call for artists to contribute submissions for their Call for Art # 12.

brooklyn-street-art-kolah-studioBrainStorm magazine has just shifted to issuu.com .and closed it’s individual domain… but it is still alive and continues to work as one of the very first cutting edge experimental emags shooting out some ideas from IRAN.

From their press release:
“KolahStudioTehran is Calling For Artists to make an issue describing street life and street art…. We are living in an urban enviroment so we creat an urban influenced art…. Let’s describe our culture.. Let’s build an album which defines some aspects of our generation…. paintings, drawings, graffiti, Street art, poetry and short stories…. every kind of art form which can be included in a PDF form as a magazine.”

To take part and for more info please click on the link below:

http://www.kolahstudio.com/underground/?p=979

Read more

Featured Video | Martin Wong’s “Houston Street”

Recent Articles on BSA