All posts tagged: Montreal

Montreal Has The Spotlight: MURAL Festival, Day 1

DAY 1 at #MuralFestival

Starting today in Montreal is MURAL, a four day open-air market on Saint-Laurent Boulevard that turns into a Street Art party. Running June 13-16, the 2 km street will be clobbered by about 20 Street Artists during the day, and dancing and cavorting at night.

BSA is proud to bring you exclusive shots of the action you can only find here as these walls go up for the full four days.  ROA, GAIA, Labrona and others have already started killin’ their spots and folks are already wandering through the closed streets to get a free show of art-in-progress. As is happening more often, Street Artists are getting their own walls and not hitting up the big collaborative cacaphonic multi-piece walls that we used to associate with festivals like these. Unless you count En Masse, who specialize in just that, but only in black and white.

ROA. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

So dial up MURAL on your Instagram machine here http://instagram.com/muralfestival# for quick flix of whatever is happening and check back at BSA every day because we’ll be bringing you a dope mix of shots from some of these artists who are making the MURAL scene; Jason Botkin, Omen, Escif, Labrona, ROA, Pixel Pancho, Other, A’Shop, Le Bonnard, Paria Crew, Phlegm, Reka One, Ricardo Cavolo, LNY,WZRDS GNG, Chris Dyer, Christina Angelina, Squid Called Sebastian, Stare, GAIA, and of course, local heroic collaboratists En Masse.

In the meantime enjoy these beauties just for BSA readers by talented photographer Daniel Esteban Rojas.

ROA (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Labrona. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Labrona. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

GAIA. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

le Bonnard. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Paria Crew. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Paria Crew. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

A’Shop. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Wzrds GNG. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Wzrds GNG. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Stare. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Chris Dyer. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

Chris Dyer. Detail of work in progress. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

The helping hand of volunteer Nathan Balaga. (photo © Daniel Esteban Rojas)

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LNDMRK Presents: Muralistes / Mural Street Art Festival (Montreal, Canada)

Mural Festival

MURAL réunira plus de 35 artistes locaux et internationaux sur 2 km de marché à ciel ouvert sur le Boulevard St-Laurent, fermé à la circulation pour l’occasion. Le festival présentera la création de près de 20 murales uniques qui redéfinieront l’image de la Main pour la prochaine année, en plus de présenter un évènement spécial chaque soir qui permettra aux festivaliers de se réunir en un lieu différent afin de poursuivre la fête créative.

Festival international d’art public déterminé à célébrer la créativité et démocratiser l’art urbain, MURAL transformera l’espace d’une semaine le boulevard Saint-Laurent en véritable musée à ciel ouvert où s’unissent créativement les talents d’artistes locaux et internationaux.

Rendez-vous unique dans le nord-est américain, l’événement annuel rassemble l’avant-garde en arts visuels afin de concrétiser Montréal comme pôle artistique incontournable en Amérique du nord.

Participating Artists: Jason Botkin, Omen, Escif, Pixel Pancho, ROA, Labrona, Le Bonnard, A’Shop, Other, Reka One, Paria Crew, Phlegm, Wzrd GNG, Ricardo Cavolo, LNY.
http://muralfestival.com/
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BSA Film Friday 02.22.13


Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities.

Now screening: En Masse X Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal , Entes y Pesimo AKA Los Primos in Chile, and Jessy Nite in Hollywood: Diamonds….

 

BSA Special Feature:

En Masse X Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal from Fred Caron

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts invited the En Masse Project in for the creation of their new educational area, and here is a record of the installation by Fred Caron. Using only black and white, En Masse covered walls, ceilings, a hallway, and a staircase in the Museum as part of a new program of “educational zones” that offer free access and workshops to kids and their adults.

Artists include: Labrona, Tyler Rauman, Jason Botkin, Rupert Bottenberg, Fred Caron, Melissa DelPinto, Alan Ganev, Beef Oreo, Bruno Rathbone, Jason Wasserman, Peru143, Raphaële Bard, Ad Deville, MCBaldasseri, Dan Buller, Adam Vieira, Peter Ferguson, Carlos Santos, Katie Green, Cheryl Voisine, Tyson Bodnarhuk, Fred Casia, Dominic Brunette, Olivier Bonnard, Troy Lovegates, Lea Heinrich, Dave Todaro.

Entes y Pesimo AKA Los Primos in Chile

Here’s a video of Entes y Pesimo on their visit to Chile in November 2012.

Jessy Nite in Hollywood: Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend…

Creating a Hollyhood Kaleidoscope for The Downtown Hollywood Mural Project in Florida, here is a sunny warm look of the installation in video edited and shot by Peter Vahan.

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Fun Friday 11.23.12 – VIDEO Request Edition – Chosen by You

It’s the BSA Reader Video Request edition of Fun Friday for all us peeps who are not shopping today. We asked our Facebook friends and fans for their favorite street art related video flicks and give them to you here- in no particular order. Peace out and have a great Black Friday everybody.

1. Vhils in Germany
2. Wild Style Part 1
3. Open Air
4. In Bed with Invader
5. En Masse in Miami
6. Berlin Street Art as Lyrics (Emus Primus)
7. Shai Dahan new Ted Talk “Beyond Borders”
8. TEJN LOCK ON STREET ART – Street Art Sculpture by Tejn
9. Burn – Episode 3
10. Graffiti Verite Part 1
11. Japanese Stencil
12. BLU – BIG BANG BIG BOOM
14. Hanoi Lantern Bearers – Vietnam with The Yok
15. Bomb It

Vhils in Germany

The Portuguese Street Artist at work, produced by Euromaxx, recommended by Crist Graphicart (German language)

Wild Style Part 1

The classic Charlie Ahearn movie as recommended by Nahua Prince Huitzilin

 

Open Air

“In 2006, we created this short for the University of Southern California’s Public Arts Studies Program.

This documentary explored the studios and methods of six of the top street artists in America: Faile, Skewville, Mike De Feo, Dan Witz, Espo and Tiki Jay One.” Recommended by Lou J Auguste

In Bed with Invader

H Veng Smith likes this one with Invader.

En Masse in Miami

“At the end of November (2011), the En Masse Art Initiative flew down to Miami to take part of the Miami Art Basel events. With the help of Sodec Quebec and Galerie Pangée, EM teamed up with Scope Art Fair, Fountain Art Fair, Safewalls, Primary Flight and the Found store to create multiple work of art. During 10 days, the team grew exponentially, adding members from all around the globe; Tel-Aviv, Montreal, Brooklyn, Woodstock, Staten Island, San Fransico, San Diego, Miami etc.”  – recommended by Beth Tully

Berlin Street Art as Lyrics (Emus Primus)

Emus Primus and photography of Berlin Street art, set to music. As recommended by Da Andal

Shai Dahan new Ted Talk “Beyond Borders”

The keynote is about my travel into Palestine.  Considering what is going on there –  Being that everyone is talking about the violence, this video can reflect a bit of light on how there are some ways to find peace.  It may not find the sort of wide peace we hope to all gain there, but through the message in the keynote, I hope people can see that Israel and Palestine can share a common beauty: Street-art.” Shai Dahan

TEJN LOCK ON STREET ART – Street Art Sculpture by Tejn

Suggested by Mogens Carstensen

Burn – Episode 3

“The third episode of BURN graffiti video series. Best episode so far! Featuring rolling freight, live painting and more!   As recommended by Beyond The Rail Photography

Graffiti Verite Part 1

“Part 1 of the 1995 Los Angeles graffiti documentary directed by Bob Bryan. Featured artists include Duke, Skept, Tempt, Prime, Mear, Relic, Cre8, and Design9.”

Japanese Stencil

A stencil artist creates a piece as a tribute to Japan in the wake of the destruction it suffered last year. – As recommended by Crist Graphicart

BLU – BIG BANG BIG BOOM

“an unscientific point of view on the beginning and evolution of life … and how it could probably end. direction and animation by BLU.”   This one recommended by Martha Becker

Hanoi Lantern Bearers – Vietnam with The Yok

In Vietnam on a roof. As recommended by The Yok

Bomb It

The full documentary – “Through interviews and guerilla footage of graffiti writers in action on 5 continents, BOMB IT tells the story of graffiti from its origins in prehistoric cave paintings thru its notorious explosion in New York City during the 70’s and 80’s, then follows the flames as they paint the globe.” Recommended by Orson Horchler

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Licking Street Art : Sweet Work from Shelley Miller

Wall Candy from Montreal Street Artist Shelley Miller

Shelley Miller has a sweet take on Street Art that embraces its ephemeral quality and merges it with tile making traditions from Spain and Portugal – and cake making. Using sugar and cake icing, she has brought the street occasional and temporary installations of historically based scenes that are inspired by old tile design, patterning, architectural motifs, and a decidedly calligraphic approach to letter style that most graff heads wouldn’t go near, unless they wanted a taste.

Shelley Miller. “Cargo” Montreal, 2009. Hand painted sugar tiles. Day 1 (photo © Shelley Miller)

Painstaking and faithful to traditional techniques that were originally used with more stable materials, Miller does her work on the street knowing fully well that it will be destroyed by the elements and that passersby will witness it’s disintegration as rain melts it away. Also, since it is edible, sometimes a kid will break off some pieces – or simply lick the wall.

Shelley Miller. “Cargo” Montreal, 2009. Detail. Hand painted sugar tiles. Day 1 (photo © Shelley Miller)

Shelley Miller. “Cargo” Montreal, 2009. Hand painted sugar tiles. Day 9 (photo © Shelley Miller)

Shelley Miller. “Cargo” Montreal, 2009. Hand painted sugar tiles. Day 15 (photo © Shelley Miller)

A more contemporary homage to the graffiti tradition, Miller did this “Throw Up” in Toronto for Nuit Blanche this year using sugar and food dye. (photo © Shelley Miller)

Shelley Miller. “Throw Up”. Detail.  Toronto, Nuit Blanche, 2012. Sugar and food dye. (photo © Shelley Miller)

Doing a fill with frosting. Shelley Miller. “Throw Up”. Detail.  Toronto, Nuit Blanche, 2012. Sugar and food dye. (photo © Shelley Miller)

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FUN FRIDAY 09.14.12

It’s a BSA Fun Friday and we’re gonna tell you all about some stoopendous Street Art shows this weekend from Brooklyn to Chicago to Paris to Vienna but first….Everybody get up and do some FF dancing like my homeboy PSY in Korea.

This sh*t is Gangnsta, bro.

SEOUL, YOU THINK YOU GOT TALENT…

1. VIDEO “Gangnam Style” Dance Frenzy from Korea
2. Bäst Sells Olive Oil and Opens New Show at Opera Gallery (NYC)
3. “Just Your Type” at Low Brow Artique (BKLN)
4. LUDO “Metal Miltia” at Galerie Itinerrance (PARIS)
5. “All Write You Scumbags” with Reyes and Steel at Klughaus (Chinatown, NYC)
6. “Dominant Species” by ROA at 941 Geary (San Francisco)
7. GAIA, MOMO AND MICHAEL OWEN in “Zim Zum” (Baltimore)
8. Don’t Fret in “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Chardonnay”(Chicago)
9. Tel Aviv: Israeli Street Artist and poet Know Hope “Others’ Truths”
10. The Black River Festival in Vienna, Austria
11. Stephen Powers AKA ESPO “A Love Letter for You”
12. “Permanence at Space 27 Gallery in Montreal, Canada
13. eL Seed in Tunisia (VIDEO)
14. When Lucent Met Herakut (VIDEO)
15. Voice Of Art “Graffiti Against The System” Presents GATS (VIDEO)

Bäst Sells Olive Oil and Opens New Show at Opera Gallery (NYC)

Street Artist Bäst has always mixed a savory chopped image salad.  With his dicing, cutting, collaging and stencilling work on the street over the last decade, a lot of his recent stencils are twisted Bodega style signs advertising basic staples for the pantry. But of all the collaborative advertising that Street Artists have been getting into, we never could have predicted this; Olive oil. You can actually go to snooty classist foodery Dean and Deluca and buy a bottle of Bast style olive oil right now. Only 500 were made in this limited edition and the oil smells better than the petroleum-spilled brownfields in industrial Bushwick where you usually see his work, so why not?

This Brooklyn native artist has been amusing, hijacking, and inspiring with his work on the streets of New York for well over a decade and it’s also cool to see his gallery work at his solo show “Germs Tropicana” opened last night at Opera in Manhattan. If the pieces are too pricey, Dean and Deluca is just a couple of blocks away!

Bäst (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

For further information regarding this show click here.

“Just Your Type” at Low Brow Artique (BKLN)

Outside is the brand new wall piece by ND’A and Dirty Bandits. Inside this art store/gallery they are joined QRST and Gilf! in this new small show called “Just Your Type”, opening tonight.

ND’A (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

For further information regarding this show click here.

LUDO “Metal Miltia” at Galerie Itinerrance (PARIS)

Parisian Street Artist LUDO was in multiple shows around the world and blanketed the Paris Metro and bus shelters with his subvertisements for two years before a gallery in his native city invited him inside. Tonight Galerie Itinerrance will have LUDO’s first solo show entitled “Metal Militia”.

With a truly unique approach to social critique that serves as a cunning indictment of the advertising industry and the military industrial complex, you won’t find anything like the pretty disgust than the work of LUDO.

LUDO (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For further information regarding this show click here.

“All Write You Scumbags” with Reyes and Steel at Klughaus (Chinatown, NYC)

Ever the ballsy wiseguy, the Klaughaus Gallery in Manhattan continues to produce and present quality shows that challenge your possibly prejudicial pre-formed perceptions of propriety and pugnacity. This time they invited West Coast natives Reyes and Steel to exhibit at their space with a show titled “All Write You Scumbags”.

From the press release, “The New York debut for both artists and showcases a distinct chemistry cultivated over years working together as friends, creative partners and members of MSK, one of the highest regarded graffiti artist collectives in the world.” To find out what this means go to their show opening tonight.

Reyes (image © courtesy of the gallery)

Steel (image © courtesy of the gallery)

For further information regarding this show click here.

“Dominant Species” by ROA at 941 Geary (San Francisco)

Street Artist ROA concludes his US Summer Tour 2012 in San Francisco at his own victorious opening Saturday at  941 Geary Gallery. The show is aptly called “Dominant Species” and will feature many of the cast of creatures you have grown to expect.

“Here is a Street Artist who has very effectively escaped the street, an introvert traveling quietly in the extroverted world, with open eyes and an acute talent for observation; decoding the universe through study of the natural, and unnatural.” BSA

ROA at work on his recent stop over in NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For further information regarding this show click here.

To read BSA’s feature on ROA this week and to see beautiful images of his work in Mexico, Africa and Cambodia earlier this year click here.

GAIA, MOMO AND MICHAEL OWEN in “Zim Zum” (Baltimore)

GAIA, MOMO AND MICHAEL OWEN are transforming the space at the Creative Alliance Gallery in Baltimore with a collaboration that promises to spill over the street and beyond. If you want to see what the trio is up to put the gameboy down and head out to the gallery for their opening tomorrow night with an exhibition titled Zim Zum.

MOMO at work on his recent participation on Baltimore Open Walls this Summer. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For further information regarding this show click here.

See MOMO in GEOMETRICKS, presented by BSA and curated by Hellbent next weekend in BROOKLYN, baby.

Don’t Fret in “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Chardonnay”(Chicago)

Chicago based Street Artist Don’t Fret has a new solo show, “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Chardonnay” opening Saturday night at the Bizzare Gallery in Chicago.  So if you are planning to arrive naked, BYOB and put your wallet under your armpit. Lo-fi comic book doodling that make most people look like family day at the tractor pull, Don’t Fret drawings are people you know and often dang hilarious.

Don’t Fret in Miami. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For further information regarding this show click here.

Also happening this Weekend:

  • If you are in Tel Aviv: Israeli Street Artist and poet Know Hope is releasing a new zine titled “Others’ Truths” and he’s mounted a small exhibition of the drawings that illustrate it. This exhibition will remain open all day today until 4:00 pm. Click here for more details on this show.
  • The 2012 Edition of The Black River Festival in Vienna, Austria is now open. The festival has an important selection of Street Artists putting up works throughout an entire week of programs. Roster includes Blu, Evan Roth, Florian Riviere, Isaac Cordal, Mark Jenkins, and ZukClub. Click here for more details on this festival.
  • The film screening by Stephen Powers AKA ESPO “A Love Letter for You” is being hosted by the Joshua Liner Gallery in conjunction with their current show by the artist “A Word is Worth A Thousand Pictures”. The screening will take place tomorrow at The Tribeca Grand Hotel. The artist will be in attendance along with the director and a Q & A  will follow the film. Click here for more details on this event.
  • “Permanence” is the title of the new group show at Space 27 Gallery in Montreal, Canada. With an ambitious line up international and Canadian artists this show aims to juxtapose the “ephemeral nature of street art with the permanence of collectible art.” From their press release. Click here for more details regarding this show.

In the spirit of Unity, we present Street Artist eL Seed in Tunisia (VIDEO)

This week there has been much news of sadness, discord, and suffering in Libya, Egypt, and Yemen. Street Artist and painter eL Seed gives us a moment to pull back and reflect on the beauty and poignancy that a religious belief system can contribute to the lives of some.

Here he creates ‘Madinati’ Calligraffiti on Jara Mosque in Gabes.

When Lucent Met Herakut by The One Point Eight (VIDEO)

“A short documentary which presents the show involving graffiti duo Herakut and the Lucent Dossier group, detailing both the rehearsal process and the final performance in a unique and different way.”

Voice Of Art “Graffiti Against The System” Presents GATS (VIDEO)

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Space 27 Gallery Presents: “Permanence” A Group Exhibition. (Montreal, Canada)

Permanence

C215 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Permanence

Space 27 Gallery and Pure Living present Permanence, an exhibition contrasting the ephemeral nature of street art with the permanence of collectible art.

Including a variety of artwork created by Montreal-based as well as Canadian and international street artists shaping our urban landscape, Permanence aims to show the transition of street art from its underground beginnings to mainstream.

The works presented are directly influenced by the artist’s involvement with the street art movement; one that uses the city as a medium of expression, combining a vast range of techniques and artistic influences. In Permanence, they are brought out of the urban landscape and into the fine art world.

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS:
Army of One – US
Banksy – UK
Bast – US
Brett Amory – US
C215 – FR
Charming Baker – UK
Faile – US
Guy Denning – UK
Holly Thoburn – UK
Hush – UK
Jef Aerosol – France
Judith Supine – US
Luc Bouchard – US
Mario Wagner – Germany
Quik – US
Shepard Fairey – US

CANADIAN ARTISTS

Alan Ganev
Case
Earth Crusher
Fauxreel
Fred Caron
Gawd
Jason Botkin
Labrona
Lilyluciol
Mathieu Connery
Omen
Other
Philippe Chabot
Produkt
Rage 5
Roadsworth
Scan
Specter
Stikki peaches
WIA
Xavier Landry
Zilon

Details:

Date: September 15th, 2012
Time: 18:00h – 23:30h
Location: Space 27, 101 rue Louvain W. Montreal

 

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Images of the Week 06.17.12

Welling Court, in Queens, NYC is a city block where three-family homes intermingle with small family owned business — a nice old-fashioned model with today’s 1st and 2nd generation immigrants taking a crack at an American dream. The art-minded Buxtons, Allison and Garrison, never seem to tire of providing a safe, roomy space to artists to create within and for the third year they have hosted “Welling Court” here in this neighborhood. But it’s more than a bunch of mismatched weirdo art kids getting up on walls with their own vision and isolated from their surroundings. Allison and Garrison want all the kids to play together nicely and that’s why yesterday there were also bicycle races down the main block with a chalk finish line, a section of wall reserved for all ages to try their can skillz, and that’s why moms and dads  brought out food in metal trays and set up barbecues and used a truck as a mobile dj booth to blast cumbias and reggae inflected dance/hip-hop/two-step/classic rock all up and down the block.

As we celebrate Father’s Day today we gotta hand it to the ones who stay involved and engaged in their kids lives, and to the stand-in Dads who give guidance and encouragement to all of us when the real ones aren’t to be found. We also salute the Buxtons’ experiment in building art and community here, where aerosol fumes mix with barbecue smoke and an international bevy of Street Artists come to let their guard down and get their game on. It’s not commercial, often exceeds expectations, and always engenders feelings and behaviors of “family”.  And doesn’t everybody benefit from that?

We begin this Sunday’s Images of the Week with a small selection of some of the completed murals from yesterday. We’ll bring you the full account later in the week. The second part of today’s images show BSA readers some exclusive images of new Street Art sent to us from around the world. Artists include, Brett Armory, Cekis, Dan Witz, Hellbent, Michael Aaron Williams, Olek, R. Robots, Rene Gagnon, Skewville, Skount, Stormie Mills, and Yote.

Let’s start off with this little bundle of joy from New York Street Artist and fine artist Dan Witz, who may have based this portrait on someone he knows quite well.

Dan Witz. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Hellbent. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Rene Gagnon. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Stormie Mills. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Stormie Mills. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

OLEK. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cekis. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Whoops, dropped one!” Rene Gagnon at Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

RRobots presents a departure from his usual street fare. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Skewville. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brett Amory doing a miniature portrait series on the street in San Francisco for Spoke Art Gallery. (photo © Berlin Tomas)

Brett Amory in San Francisco for Spoke Art Gallery. (photo © Brett Amory)

Getting ready for take-off! Michael Aaron Williams. Chai. Thailand (photo © Michael Aaron Williams)

Michael Aaron Williams. Chai. Thailand. (photo © Michael Aaron Williams)

Skount shares a lot of “Fisherman Color” in Tel-Aviv at the Old Seaport. (photo © Skount)

Skount. A collaged photo of “Fisherman Color” Tel-Aviv, Old Seaport. (photo © Skount)

Olek in Montreal inspired by Street Artist Stikki Peaches. (photo © Olek)

Olek in Montreal inspired by Street Artist Stikki Peaches. (photo © Olek)

Yote “Flowers for Frederick” A mural dedicated to artist Frederick Brown. (photo © Yote)

Street Artist Yote sends this tribute to an artist and teacher. “Frederick Brown recently passed away and I wanted to dedicate this mural to him. It is entitled “Flowers for Frederick.”  He was best known for his portraits of jazz singers and musicians.  I talked to him on the phone this spring in hopes to get advice on how to loosen up my style and not be such a perfectionist from a real expressionist.  He was too sick to talk for long but I do know he used to instruct students to complete two dozen paintings in a week and things like that to get them out of their head and into painting”~  Yote

Yote “Flowers for Frederick” A mural dedicated to artist Frederick Brown. (photo © Yote)

 

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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 10.17.10

Images Of The Week 10.17.10

Brooklyn-Street-Art-IMAGES-OF-THE-WEEK_05-2010

Our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring: Ski & Werds, Anera, Clown Soldier, Old Crow, Gaia and Radical!

Gaia. Outdoor mural at Brooklynite Gallery (Photo © Jaime Rojo)
Gaia. Outdoor mural at Brooklynite Gallery (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Clown Soldier (Photo © Jaime Rojo)
Clown Soldier (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Montreal Street Art (Photo © Adolfo Bejar)
Montreal Street Art (Photo © Adolfo Bejar)

Anera. She hasn't been feeling friendly lately (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Anera. She hasn’t been feeling friendly lately (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Optimo, Mok and AdLib. (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ski & Werds. (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

DC (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Old Crow (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Radical (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Radical (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Göla in Montreal: Mind, Body and Spirt in an Era of Change

Göla in Montreal: Mind, Body and Spirt in an Era of Change

Street Artist Göla Is Killing the Establishment With a Smile

Göla

If the axiom that your art is autobiographical is true then Street Artist Göla has taken his work to heart. And mind. And spirit.  His giant symbolist and fantasy figures are born directly from his gut, where he stays engaged with the world. The colorful and excited personality of the Italian bolts with graphic clarity across the gray mottled walls of the universe, and a street wall in Montreal recently during the Danse Mur Festival.  Even if you don’t know his ideas and feelings about the world and our current place in historical evolution, you cannot remain unmoved by his enthusiasm.

Göla

Göla

Brooklyn Street Art: What’s the significance of your characters in your work?
Göla:
The two characters are actually two sides of one face. They represent the condition of the humanity today.  The blue gorilla on the left side (like the left side of the brain) represents the instinct, our connection with our feelings and our animal nature.  He is looking at the egg/planet heart in his hands for a long time – and now he perceives that a new beginning is coming, a new kind of relationship between humans and the rest of the biosphere is at the door.

The yellow anthropomorphic characters on the right (right side of the brain) represents rationality; a sick rationality that life that humans have been operating with for too long, as the dominator of the biosphere.

The character has a head full of worms (but “colorful worms”, good ones) and factories, pollution, from the last centuries. He is opening his belly to allow his desire for change, to free his spirit. This is the third element of this portrait of humanity.  The spirit is represented as a mimetic three, in which the leaves are stylized monarch butterflies that fly into the future.

This is the body, mind, and spirit in an era of change.

Göla

Göla

BSA: You use a lot of vibrant colors in your work. Were you influenced by the colors used in 1980’s  album covers, TV, and advertising?
Göla:
For sure I was influenced by 80s graphics and esthetics. I grew up during that period. I think of 80s toys, cartoons and puppets. Do you remember exogini (www.exogini.com ) ? I’m not sure if you had that in the U.S. and by many other characters.  But this influence was passive, and it hid inside me for a long time.  Those colors started to come out from my inner cave at the beginning of 2000, after I started to travel around. I can say that a great influence on me was moving to Barcelona in 2003 to learn how artists were painting there. Then on my trip to India in 2005 I discovered their fashion style and their advertising, the old figurative art, and nature. I think every trip, every connection, teaches us a lot.

Göla

Göla

BSA: How do you think the People in Montreal like your work?
Göla:
I don’t know, you should ask them! During the time when I painted this I received many compliments. People were stopping in the middle of the street and screaming “Yeah!”. Many people told me that my style is not really common; it is like symbolism and is less related to the 90s graff figuration, especially for pieces of this proportion.  I don’t know if everybody liked my work there but I’m sure a lot of them did.

Göla

BSA: Do you try to project a message of optimism with your colorful characters? Is it your intention to bring a smile on people faces when they see your paintings?
Göla:
I’m interest in giving people an opened door. I mean these colors are the colors of my spirit actually; Enthusiastic and vibrant. But I think using bright color is also a good way of catching the interest of people. When a spectator is seeing bright colors he feels the piece is friendly and he’ll stop to have a look.

Then I come to them with the meanings, and there are usually many entangled meanings. And some are not so peaceful. But for sure I want to bring joy to people. I don’t like humans, but I like people. Years ago a friend told me that according the Mayan calendar this is my mission in the world; to bring joy to the people and to destroy the bad establishment with the force of a smile. I like to think that it is true. I feel it.

I also wanted to mention that I painted this wall as part of a D.I.Y. festival of contemporary art called “Danse Mur” organized by my friend 500M, a street artist from Montreal.  I think I will go back next year for the festival. See you there!

http://dansemur.blogspot.com

Göla

Göla does an interpretive dance in front of his new piece.

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