All posts tagged: Moody

“Unusual Suspects” at 17 Frost : Art, Friendship and Collaboration

Street Art can be a very singular activity, and if you desire, you can do your own thing without ever hanging with the crew. Royce Bannon has never been interested in the Lone Wolf approach, preferring to work with friends on projects. In fact, as part of the Endless Love Crew, he brought about the big “Work to Do” show in Soho a couple of years ago with a truckload of mostly New York Street Artists, all working collaboratively to pull off one of the most lively freeze-frames of the current scene, without attitude.

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Royce Bannon and Dark Clouds (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For “Unusual Suspects”, opening Saturday,  the curator and artist invited some of these same artists to this nice open community space in Williamsburg with one important requirement; They all needed to collaborate on a piece with a least one artist in the show.

When asked why he wanted the artists to collaborate he explained that a lot of them work together in many shows but most of them have not painted together on a single piece. In a collaboration you are more cognizant of the working style of the other, and, while not losing your own identity, you are part of a conversation. The resulting work is something entirely different from what either one could have produced solo. The process here involved passing the work back and forth over a period of time with each artist adding his or her contribution. Instructed Royce “Do what you want – just make it look good!”

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Chris RWK and Matt Siren (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Most of these names are seen on the street and it is always interesting to see how the work translate to the framed pieces on gallery walls. Included in this offering are a number of individual pieces that span a wide range of styles and one can clearly see these Street Artists going forward in their personal explorations.

“Unusual Suspects”At 17 Frost Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn opens this Saturday, February 26.

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Deekers, Celso, Infinity and Stikman (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Keely and Dark Clouds  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Moody and Sno Monster (left) Chris RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Infinity (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Dark Clouds (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Keely (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Matt Siren (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Mutz/Moody (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Nose Go  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Royce Bannon (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Celso, Keely and Mutz collaborate on the scaffolding outside the gallery (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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A detail view of the front facade of the gallery (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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A detail view of the front facade of the gallery (photo © Jaime Rojo)

To read more details about “Unusual Suspects” click on the link below:

http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/?p=17537

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Coming Up Friday: Gore B. and “Stokenphobia” at Pandemic Gallery (NY)

The long awaited return of Gore B.

– don’t know why I say it that way but it seems that the streets had a few more historical references and sudden intricate storylines when Gore B. was around.  His new “drawing” show opening at Pandemic Gallery in South Williamsburg tomorrow features densely layered elements in black white and silver – all of his favorites: painted portraits from early photos, symbols from science, religious and maybe astronomy textbooks, ornate filigranic linework, and an ongoing fascination with type styles and letter faces.

A selection of new GoreB. drawings will be on display at the Pandemic Gallery Friday (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)
Some new Gore B. drawings that will be on display at the Pandemic Gallery Friday (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Detail of new Gore B. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)
Detail of new Gore B. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

But Gore B. will not be alone at Pandemic by any means on Friday – “Stokenphobia”, a show about two geometric shapes, will feature the work of around 40 street artists and friends in a show of community love for signage.

Keely's entry into the show (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)
Keely’s entry into the show (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

For the non-eggheads reading this – stokenphobia is fear of circles – so Pandemic has provided small rectangular shaped metal signs to a number of people to create a piece on.

Buildmore (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)
Buildmore (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Says Robbie D. of Pandemic, “It’s kind of sporadic. There was no real theme except ‘Just do whatever you feel on the objects we give you.’ We provided the metal signs and basically everybody is allowed to do what they want.  So there’s no real theme to the artwork – it’s just about the shapes.”

Street art and graffiti photographer Luna Park has entered this beautiful piece in the show  (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)
Street art and graffiti photographer Luna Park has entered this beautiful piece in the show (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Shai Dahan and Darkclouds  (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)
Shai Dahan and Darkclouds ready to be hung. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Speaking about the makeup of the group who was invited to participate in the show, Robbie D say, “Mainly they are street artists but there are a lot of friends and artists who don’t work on the street but work in a studio. So it’s really just acquaintances and other street art people we respect and have known for a while now – kind of a close group of people that we know.”

AVOID pounded every letter of every word into this sign.  (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)
“Open all doors – real and imagined” opens this metal screed – and AVOID pounded every letter into this sign. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

On the opposite side of the room, are a number of large frightening circular shapes that are used as canvasses.

Celso's blue lady stroking your stokenphobia (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)
Celso’s blue lady stroking your stokenphobia (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

"Fake Beef" is the name of this piec by Buildmore  (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

"Fake Beef" is the name of this piece by Buildmore - referring to the lively imaginations (or paranoia) of artists who think others are out to get them. It's circular shape and lace-like patterned background also reminded me of a piece that Hellbent did- but now I can't find a picture of it. (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

Read more about the show HERE

Abe Lincoln Jr., Armer, Avoid, Becki Fuller, Bloke, Buildmore, Cahbasm, Celso, Chris RWK, Chris Campisi, Dana Woulfe, Darkcloud, Deuce7, Dickchicken, Droid, Enamel Kingdom, Egg Yolk, Faro, Gaia, Infinity, Keely, LA2, Luna Park, Matt Bixby, Matt Siren, Moody, Morgan Thomas, Nate Hall, Paper Monster, Plasma slugs, Royce Bannon, Sadue, Shai Dahan, Stikman, Skewville, Ski, Swampy, Tony Bones, Veng RWK, Wrona, 2esae

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PANDEMIC GALLERY PRESENTS: “STOKENPHOBIA” – Everybody Circle Round!

MIC GALLERY PRESENTS: “STOKENOHOBIA”

At PANDEMIC

At PANDEMIC

PANDEMIC GALLERY PRESENTS: “STOKENOHOBIA”

Please join us for the opening of our newest exhibition, “Stokenphobia”. Featuring drawings from Gore B and hand painted signs from over 30 artists. We will be having an opening reception Friday, March 12 from 7-11pm.

Gore B has long been an integral part in the street art scene coast to coast, from hand painted signs bolted around New York City, to crisp roller letters hidden around Santa Cruz.  His work, painted either on canvas or scrawled across the walls of bridge underpasses depicts characters of regional importance and cultural significance.

“Stokenphobia” or the fear of circles and round objects is a fear we have decided to confront head on by displaying the work of many urban artists hailing from New York, Philadelphia, and California on large round metal road signs. If  this  circular display becomes too overwhelming for those afflicted by the phobia they need only to turn around and will find over 60 small rectangular signs painted by the same motley crew of unconventional art misfits. Pandemic is giving those afflicted with Stokenphobia a  chance to confront this debilitating fear.

Artists participating include:
Abe. Lincoln Jr., Armer,  Becki Fuller, Bloke, Buildmore, Cahbasm, Celso, Chris Campisi, Chris RWK,  Dana Woulfe, Darkcloud, Deuce7, Dickchicken, Droid, Enamel Kingdom, Egg Yolk, Faro,  Infinity, Jordan Seiler, Keely, LA2, Luna Park, Matt Bixby, Matt Siren, Moody, Morgan Thomas, Nate Hall Paper Monster,  Plasma slugs, Royce Bannon, Sadue, Shai Dahan, Stikman, Skewville, Ski, Swampy,  Veng RWK, Wrona, 2esae, and more TBA

Hope you all can make it!

Pandemic Gallery
37 Broadway btwn Kent and Wythe
Brooklyn, NY 11211
www.pandemicgallery.com

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Don’t Call it a Comeback

Thursday night it was a true gathering of the tribes –

Old Skool, Art Skool, Graff Crews, Street Art, Hipsters, Hip-Hop, Electro, Blue-haired, Blue themes, Critics, Kids, Collabo’s, Lolitas, Lotharios, Murals, Markers, Canvasses, Cans, Wheatpaste, Stickers, Sculpture, and Script. This might just be what community looks like. Every where you turned, the senses were flooded, and cellphones and electronic gadgetry were revealed for what they lack in the competition for connectedness and D.I.Y. inspiration.

Surpassing many of the street art group shows of the past few years, this one was obviously very organic and full of love, rather than hype.

When Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force finally picked up their mikes and Martha Cooper broke off from signing books with Henry Chalfant to expertly weave with her camera, the crowds’ momentum was already in full swing. No one can doubt that this scene, whatever label you care to give it, is on fire right now and the creative spirit is at work in the belly of the people.

Good luck tracking it’s trajectories.

Thanks to the Combine and the talented Jazz Beaulieu for the images below:

[svgallery name=”Work To Do Jazz Belieu”]

Other shots from the show……

Royce Bannon

Super K8

Sabeth718

Luna Park

Becki Fuller

“Work To Do” is at 112 Greene Street in Soho, NYC, and runs through April 16.

More info – Endless Love Crew

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Year in Images 2008

Year in Images 2008

Paradigm Shifting and Cave Writings

Looking back at the powerful changes in ’08,

it’s not hard to see their reflection on the Brooklyn streets, which may serve as tea leaves revealing the messages swirling around us and in us. Each individual act of creating is of significance, yet it is the cumulative effect of the groundswell of new participants that seems so powerful, so hopeful in it’s desire.

Naturally, at the beginning of this selection of images from 2008, we are featuring the most visible street art piece of the year by Shepard Fairey, which appeared here on the streets of Brooklyn and transcended mediums to reach millions of people. Shepard’s graphic design style and his images of the man who would be president helped many to quickly glimpse the character and message of Barack Obama.

A Winning Campaign (Shepard Fairey) (photo Jaime Rojo)

A Winning Campaign (Shepard Fairey) (photo Jaime Rojo)

The image was replicated, adopted, adapted, transformed, re-formed, lampooned even. It became an icon that belonged to everyone who cared to own it, and a symbol of the change the man on the street was looking for. Like street art, Obama’s message was taken directly to the people, and they responded powerfully in a way that brought a historic shift; one that continues to unfold.

Elsewhere on the street we saw themes from topical to fantastical; crazy disjointed cultural mash-ups, celebrity worship or destruction, Big Brother, icons, symbols, death, war, economic stress, protest, dancing, robots and monsters and clowns and angels, and an incredible pathos for humanity and it’s sorry state… with many reminders of those marginalized and disaffected. We never forget the incredible power of the artist to speak to our deepest needs and fears.

The movement of young and middle-aged artists off the isle of pricey mall-ish Manhattan and into Brooklyn is not quite an exodus, but boy, sometimes it feels that way. The air sometimes is thick with it; the creative spirit. The visual dialogue on the street tells you that there is vibrant life behind doors – studios, galleries, practice rooms, loft parties, rooftops.

Even as a debate about street art’s appropriate placement on public/private walls continues, it continues. From pop art to fine art, painterly to projected, one-offs to mass repetition, Brooklyn street art continues to grow beyond our expectations, and our daily lives are largely enriched by it.

This collection is not an exhaustive survey – the archival approach isn’t particularly stimulating and we’re not academics, Madge. The street museum is always by chance, and is always about your two eyes. Here’s a smattering, a highly personal trip through favorites that were caught during the year.

[svgallery name=”Images of Year 2008″]

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Images of the Week 11.30.08

Andy McCain Vs. Barack Basquiat     (photo Jaime Rojo)

Andy McCain Vs. Barack Basquiat (photo Jaime Rojo)

Andy and Jean-Michel Re-Match   (self poor trait)   (photo Jaime Rojo)

Re-Match! (self poor trait) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Beastly Angel Adventure  (Altered Beast, Creepy Head Tank)  (photo Jaime Rojo)

Beastly Angel's Great Adventure (Altered Beast, Creepy Head Tank) (photo Jaime Rojo)

ET replaced by a six-pack of Coke   (Altered Beast)  (photo Jaime Rojo)

ET replaced by a six-pack of Coke (Altered Beast) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Looking askance    (Lister)   (photo Jaime Rojo)

Secretly has a crush (Lister) (photo Jaime Rojo)

What the heck is a nom-de-plume?  Does it have something to do with feathers?   (Moody, Nom de plume)  (photo Jaime Rojo)

Does it have something to do with feathers? (Moody, Nome de plume) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Flying over the poppy fields    (Peru Ana)  (Jaime Rojo)

Baloonaerobics (Peru Ana) (Jaime Rojo)

I always wash it first just in case.    (Eat Fruit and Die)  (photo Jaime Rojo)

I always wash it first just in case. (Eat Fruit and Die) (photo Jaime Rojo)

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