How can you not be riveted to Al Jazeera online and Twitter and Facebook and Youtube right now as a purely people-powered movement in the streets of major cities all over Egypt is working to dislodge their president? Even after the government shut down the internet in the most comprehensive way in history, Egyptians have taken to the streets to reassert their right to self-determination.
Mint&Serf & BSA @ District 36 Tonight
Joe Iurato and Shai Dahan @ Vincent Michael Gallery in Philadelphia
Exhibition Details
What: Natural Selections & Salvation: Featuring New Works from Shai Dahan and Joe Iurato
Where: Vincent Michael Gallery
1050 N. Hancock St. Suite #63 Philadelphia, PA 19123
When: Exhibit runs February 4th thru February 25th Opening Reception Friday, February 4th 7pm – 10pm
Conor Harrington in Tel Aviv (VIDEO)
Crossing Lines is a short film that documents Irish artist Conor Harrington’s trip to Tel Aviv, Israel and Bethleham, Palestine in May 2010.
Keep your eyes open today for a new print release celebrating American Hardcore superstar and punk poet laureate Henry Rollins. Dude is a far cry from the pretty candy coated mummification of punk that ensued as it became a commercialized lifestyle. This is the first of a two part release by Obey celebrating the quest for truth that fires inside Henry.
18 x 24 Screen Print, Signed and Numbered Edition of 700.
The work for Street Artist and fine artist Joe Iurato uses stencil as it’s central technique, and the human figure and gesture as a means of expression. For his dual show with Shai Dahan opening tomorrow at Vincent Michael Gallery in Philadelphia, Iurato expresses a turbulent time in his recent life when he battled economic insecurity, deep rooted fears, and feelings of low self-esteem. For “Salvation” the artist contemplates his relationship with his religious faith, and he questions the strength of it’s foundation and his life.
As a gift to the BSA family, Joe speaks here about his development of the theme and offers a rare insight into the intersection of faith and creativity in an artists life, and the catharsis that can take place.
Joe Iurato Installing his show “Salvation” at Vincent Michael Gallery (photo courtesy the artist)
“Salvation” addresses a personal struggle I’ve had during the past couple years. It’s a conflict that everyone, regardless of social status, will go through at least once in life. It’s about the struggle with faith and where we stand with our own beliefs. It’s easy to say “I believe in this” or “I don’t believe in that” when times are good.
After I was laid off, like probably half of the people reading this, in 2008, I watched the job market crumble and I just fell apart with it. At the time, I was sole provider of a new family at home, and I just remember feeling the greatest sense of failure I’ve ever known. Pure defeat. Regardless of what I believed or didn’t believe prior to this, I went through all sorts of soul searching. I questioned everything. I was angry at somebody, but I didn’t know who. Sometimes I’d look up and question why, and sometimes I’d look down and place the blame on myself. It’s like you don’t know exactly where or what went wrong and suddenly these crutches appear – like if you leaned on them they’d save you. Looking back on it, it’s rather desperate and borderline silly. But, there’s no denying they were there. And it left me wondering. Now, I ponder the validity of it all.
You can interpret the paintings any way you like; religious, spiritual, desperate. I’m not saying any conclusions are right or wrong. Whatever you see will probably be a testament of your own faith and where you stand with it. For me the story begins with the struggle, leaps into the arms of faith, and ultimately ends with salvation.
About the work itself: I used some new techniques and ideas, especially with the concept of supports. I used glass and shadow boxes for depth with “local” wood harvested from Amish farms in Pennsylvania. I stayed away from being exact and clean, and got a little looser with my cuts and compositions. I’m hoping this segues into something new for me on walls outside, too. The works are primarily based on photos of me, since the topic of salvation is so personal. Carrying the theme a step further, I made an installation in this show using the coat and shoes I wore while creating these pieces; the rope, some torn stencils, unused wood scraps and cuts of paper. Guess it’s my way of retiring a critical time in my life and moving forward.
This February, Vincent Michael Gallery is pleased to present a dual exhibition featuring new works from artists Shai Dahan in the exhibition, Natural Selections and Joe Iurato in Salvation. Both exhibitions will be on display February 4th to February 25th. In honor of our artists, Vincent Michael Gallery will be hosting an opening reception Friday, February 4th 7PM to 10PM.
In his newest body of works Natural Selections, artist Shai Dahan has continued to explore the issues of survivalism within the animal habitat by addressing the effect of human’s behavior and disruption to the natural order and environmental conditions. In Natural Selections, Dahan has created a series of aesthetic paintings that exemplify this struggle and focus on wildlife’s two key traits of which they must depend on: Movement and Survival.
Dahan portrays the distress to the natural society of wildlife by combining elements of realistic portrayal and abstract motion. He takes his interpretation of this environmental conflict and unseemingly symbiotic relationship a step further by utilizing amusing hints of industrialism and manmade weapons.
Along the same lines, Joe Iurato explores another deep-seeded relationship for man: the struggle between belief amidst trials and hardship.
In his first solo gallery exhibition, artist Joe Iurato’s latest works in Salvation examine the ever-present bond between man’s faith and misfortune in modern times. With his illusive imagery, Iurato portrays the struggle between seeking solace in self, God, or society – everyone turns to something during times of adversity.
Coming off his recent success at Art Basel Miami with ArtWhino Gallery’s “The Takeover” exhibition, the NBA supported “Art of Basketball” exhibition, and Primary Flight, Iurato set focus on developing a new body of work for his gallery exhibition, utilizing new methods and mostly found materials. For Iurato, Salvation is a deeply personal body of work, one that arose from the question: Is our faith, wherever it may come from, a road to greener pastures or is it merely a component of tragedy in disguise?
Exhibition Details
What: Natural Selections & Salvation: Featuring New Works from Shai Dahan and Joe Iurato
Where: Vincent Michael Gallery
1050 N. Hancock St. Suite #63 Philadelphia, PA 19123
When: Exhibit runs February 4th thru February 25th Opening Reception Friday, February 4th 7pm – 10pm
More Information 215.399.1580 x. 704 / International – 1.877.291.1138 or contact@vincentmichael.com
About The Artists
Shai Dahan, founder of Abztract Collective, is a New York artist who currently resides in Sweden. Shai’s work predominantly focuses on animals and their environment conditions, and how the repercussion of human tampering causes them to evolve into survivalism. Animals painted and illustrated with witty and humorous hints of man-made weapons, expresses Shai’s hopes in letting the viewer see the hybrid effect of man’s hands in animal society and its disruption on the natural order.
Shai Dahan: “Foolishly Loaded” 48″ x 48″. Wheatpaste, acrylic, markers, spraypaint, watercolor on plywood.
Joe Iurato is a New Jersey based artist, prolific in street art and mural installations and has shown
extensively in New York City, L.A., Miami and Europe. Joe Iurato specifically signs his work :01. It’s not an alias to conceal his identity, though. It’s a reminder to himself, and one that he chooses to share, that a single second is the most powerful measurement of time. “It only takes a second to decide you’re going to move forward in a positive direction regardless of the obstacles or challenges you’re facing in life,” Joe says. “And from that decisive moment on, you should never look back. Know that life isn’t a race or a competition – you can’t lose unless you give up on yourself. When you get slapped around, get back up, wipe the dirt off and move forward with purpose and conviction. While you’re at it, make it your business to help others along the way.”
Joe Iurato: “Rubble” Spray paint and polyurethane on cardboard affixed to a reclaimed cabinet door
About Vincent Michael Gallery
Wanting to support and contribute to contemporary art, owners and avid collectors Elizabeth Gault, Armon Vincent and Andrew George established Vincent Michael Gallery in Philadelphia, PA. The gallery is a multifaceted space that exhibits diverse forms of art from both emerging and established artists. By incorporating the use of progressive technology, we strive to challenge contemporary art as well as our artists, and seek to create an open forum for on-going dialogue and community engagement.
C215 Prepares for “Community Service”: New Show and Book
“Painting in the streets puts limits on you, as far as the number of colours you can bring with you, how much time you have to paint, and even the subject matter since I like to put a link between the stencils I paint and the context around where I paint them.”
C215 speaks about his process, his travels, and his new book that features street images from our own Jaime Rojo and an introduction from our editor. More from the interview with Ripo on No New Enemies.
Aakash Nihilani at Bose Pacia Gallery
Aakash has been riding that tape into the gallery – including this homage to Jeff Koons. Says the gallery for the “Overlap” show that opened last night, “The common denominator of all works in the exhibition is the overlapping of isometric square shapes to create new forms that move towards figurative representation.”
The celebrated Street Artist from Brooklyn talks about her approach to her work, and how it continues to evolve.
Invader Accused of Stealing Cow
This courtesy of graffart.eu, apparently Street Artist Invader has a sidebuster called Id-iom. Invader’s iconic digital spaceship had a rather close encounter of the bovine kind on the street recently.
This new video from Nick Walker in an interview at the opening of his current show at Art Sensus Gallery contains two of the pieces he did first with us this summer on a some walls BSA secured for him in The People’s Republic of Brooklyn. The pieces also look great in the gallery, but the time hanging out with this talented and down-to-earth Street Artist was stellar and a really nice memory for summer 2010.
An earnest text-based approach to Street Art, this duo treats their work more like Public Service Announcement than Street Art. The messages posted are in support of Proposition 19, a referendum to legalize use of marijuana this past Tuesday in California, which was voted against by 53.9% of the populace.
Interestingly, the first part of the video is a primer on how to make fresh wheat paste in your kitchen. Suddenly BSA is the cooking channel!
Saber, Shepard Fairey and American Pride
From the West Coast, where smoking pot is still illegal without a doctor’s prescription, Shepard Fairey posted excellent photos by Todd Mazer of a big mural he and Saber recently completed for a project with a name that sounds kind of familiar.
“Saber and I have been friends for over 10 years and previously collaborated on the Brooklyn Projects wall on Sunset in Echo Park. We also both recently coincidentally made art inspired by the American flag,” says Fairey.
Street Artist Stephen Powers aka ESPO sends this video of an amorous train trip along the same elevated line that affords riders a birds-eye view of his “Love Letters” project in Philadelphia. On the way, the Beatles get involved, and we all start to cry.
Here’s the new video for the next chapter in adoration; Love Letters Syracuse, in a mid-sized city in the center of New York State.
After a few years of large scale organizational projects and other collaborative efforts, I am happy to announce I will be opening up my first solo show in 5 years at the Vincent Michael Gallery on November 5th in Philadelphia. New works will include 16 multimedia drawings, a small video installation, and a few street pieces. Anyone familiar with my work knows that some sort of outdoor advertising has to be challenged with anything I do and this show is no exception. All of the drawings are framed in phonebooth advertising structures procured from the streets of NY over the past few months. While I know many of you will not be able to make it down to Philadelphia, the entire catalogue will be available online in the next few days and any inquiries can be directed to the Vincent Michael Gallery.
Thank you kindly for your support and I hope to see some of you in Philadelphia.
Event Details
What: Taking From The Tip Jar: A Solo Exhibition Featuring New Works From Jordan Seiler
Where: Vincent Michael Gallery
1050 N. Hancock St. Suite #63 Philadelphia, PA 19123
When: Exhibition runs November 5th – December 3rd
Opening Reception Friday, November 5th 7PM – 10PM
More information 215.399.1580 x. 704 / International – 1.877.291.1138 or press@vincentmichael.com
And who are all these ferocious kittens that Paper Monster features on the street and in the studio and gallery, with their piercing sharp stares and barbed wire bangs? The young NYC street artist isn’t sharing too much about the inner psyche of the creator, but our armchair analyst will only charge you 50 cents to connect the Freudian dots, and it’s worth every penny.
According to the press release for the show opening tonight, “each piece is a beautiful combination of layered imagery, textures and colors conveying themes of love, anger, fear, passion and mystery.” Truth is, Paper Monster has been banging out successively more intricate and polished stencils of these comely ladies, with their alter-ego wild sides, in the quietly consistent manner of a panther. Once you get past their jet-black razor wire exterior, you find a lawless riot of fluorescent color and shapes, decorative and comic, leaping and pouncing about inside.
Paper Monster Image Courtesy of the Artist
Enjoy these pics of Paper Monster and his new show, six months in the making. If you are in Philadelphia tonight, stop by and give him a shout out from BSA.
Paper Monster (Image courtesy of the artist)
Paper Monster at work. (Image courtesy of the artist)
“PaperMonster Ate That Little Boy” running Friday July 2nd to Saturday July 31st
Opening Reception: Friday, July 2nd 6pm-9pm
Vincent Michael Gallery
1050 N. Hancock St. Suite #63
Philadelphia, PA 19147
“PaperMonster Ate That Little Boy” is the latest titled of PaperMonster’s (http://papermonster.wordpress.com) solo exhibition opening July 2nd in Philadelphia, PA at the Vincent Michael Gallery (http://vincentmichael.com/). PaperMonster will show over twenty new works of stencil art collages on canvas full of powerful portraits of women exploring themes of strength, fear, passion, and mystery. Several portraits are woven together with combinations of women and animals; each speaking to the strength, ferocity, and power that women carry within. His collage work within each painting allows the audience to develop their own perception and theories as to who these people are and what they hide. PaperMonster will also be having an artist talk on July 24th from 2-4pm covering his thoughts on stencil art and the art world at large. You can find more on PaperMonster and his solo show over at: http://papermonster.wordpress.com
PaperMonster Solo Show
“PaperMonster Ate That Little Boy”
Vincent Michael Gallery
1050 N. Hancock Street Suite 63
Philadelphia, PA 19123 http://vincentmichael.com/
1-877-291-11387
Opening Reception: Friday, July 2nd 6-9 PM
Artist Talk: Saturday July 24th 2-4Pm
Show available from: July 2nd- July 31st
A cheerful and entertained crowd gathered under the high tin ceilings and a cloud of Wolfbats in the warm and gentle space that is Space 1026 in Philadelphia on Friday for Dennis McNetts’ opening.
Maybe it was the tall thin windows, the skylight, or the shabby chic furniture, but McNett’s work seemed to work very well in this unassuming and welcoming atmosphere – a bit of a departure from the austerity of the white-box gallery. If street art is making a transition off the street this kind of atmosphere can feel just like home.
While you are looking at these pictures, enjoy Von Cello doing his rendition of “Iron Man”, by Dennis’s all-time favorite metal band, Black Sabbath. Dude makes some serious and seriously entertaining faces when he plays his cello. ROCK ON!
Undoubtedly it’s the proximity to Halloween that brings it on and makes it work so well, but some McNett fans can’t help but get dressed up for a show. Trick or Treat!
Gallery Tour Stops in Philadelphia Friday at Space 1026
Smile and the World Smiles With You (McMutt) (photo Jaime Rojo)
According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2009 is the Year of the Ox, which said that I would be winning the lotto around mid-year. Maybe I should have read the “Year of the Wolfbat” instead. Dennis McNett seems to be having a rocking good time.
The wild animals that Dennis “McMutt” McNett brings to the streets are ferocious and savage and sometimes byzantine in carved detail. When you turn the corner and see one of them plastered or, in the case of recent sculpture, pacing behind a chain-link fence, you are excited by it’s raw rage; a black and white wheatpaste lino print of a snarling snow leopard with jagged pointy incisers ready to rip chunks of flesh. Rarrrrhhh! McMutt is on a tear!
Here kitty kitty! (photo Helen Michelson)
The “Year of the Wolfbat” tour began in New York in June and has flapped it’s webbed wings across the US, swooping in for exhibitions, artist talks and workshops along the way. The migratory flight of the Wolfbats has included shows at Fecal Face Dot Gallery in San Francisco and Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles.
The swarming mass of wolfbats will next fly to the city of Wolfbrotherly love, Philadelphia Space 1026 in Philadelphia (Thursday Oct. 2) with an installation of print-derived sculpture and mural, accompanied by unique and editioned works both large and small.
Dennis McNett’s installation Willoughby Windows Project in downtown Brooklyn this summer (photo Helen Michelson)
A longtime head-bashing punk and metal music fan, Dennis is also a professor at Pratt here in Brooklyn, sharing his thousands of hours of experience and mastery of craftsmanship with aspiring artists of the new generation. An artist and street artist, you’ll find his wild animal kingdom wheatpastes in Brooklyn on the facade of KCDC skate shop in Williamsburg, and in the ongoing Willoughby Windows exhibit downtown.
Vans by Dennis McNett
You can also find his designs on sneakers, t-shirts, and skateboards.
Brooklyn Street Art:How many hours does it take to carve one of those giant 4’x8′ linotype blocks? Dennis McNett: If I have no distractions and lots of coffee it usually goes very quickly once I have my drawing on the block.
Dennis’s show at Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles this August. Says owner Andrew Hosner, “Dennis rocked our spot. One of the best installs we’ve had to date.” (photo Helen Michelson)
Brooklyn Street Art:Is it possible to develop Carvel-Tunnel Syndrome? Dennis McNett: You mean Carvel like the ice cream?….. I’m sure if you scoop too much you could.
Come quick Hilda! There is something in my eye! (Dennis McNett at Thinkspace) (photo Helen Michelson)
Brooklyn Street Art: There was recently a sighting of a prowling mountain cat in Bushwick. Have you seen this ferocious feline behind a fence? Dennis McNett: I have seen it but I think it was a snow leopard and just like the illusive and mystical cat it is now nowhere to be found.
So I’m a snow leopard, eh? Watch me chew a hole through this fence. (photo Helen Michelson)
Brooklyn Street Art: Who are the five best heavy metal artists of all time? Dennis McNett: Black Sabbath is timeless to me. Gwar is underrated for the amount of creative energy put into their theatrics, longevity, and mastery of the mediums of story telling, costume making, set design, character development, album cover art, comics, metal music, etc… whether you like their aesthetic or not. Slayer!!! Motorhead!!! Death!!! This list may change from day to day…. there are too many.
Gwar getting ready to go to the supermarket (photo Kerosene Photography)
photo credit: Kerosene Photography Brooklyn Street Art:Now that we are in the fourth quarter, how has the “Year of the Wolfbat” been? Dennis McNett: It was awesome to travel around and show work. I met a ton of really amazing people and was able to invoke their wolfbat. The folks at Fecal Face and Thinkspace were really generous and hospitable with their time and space. The Badlands were intense. Good times.
Some not-so-casual fans of Dennis McNett (photo Helen Michelson)
Brooklyn Street Art:You have referred to the Wolfbat as a spirit. Would you say that you are a spiritual man? Dennis McNett: Wolfbats are spirits… they are kin to the great wolf Fenris who was wrongfully bond by the gods …. I started a sort of mythology of my own by resurrecting Fenris. He was killed during Ragnarok (the battle of the Gods and Giants) by Oden’s son Vitar. I rewrote the ending where his sister Hel resurrects Fenris and raises a new army. Wolfbats wake the sleeping spirit of people who need to be woken. That is their reason for coming into our dimension and world.
” “Odin and Fenris” by Dorothy Hardy, published in 1909 in Myths of the Norsemen from the Eddas and Sagas.
Brooklyn Street Art: Your creatures are violent and rageful. Should people be afraid of you? Dennis McNett: Absolutely not. I don’t see my work as violent or rageful. I just see these characters as very alive and expressive in their gesture. I usually choose animals with some mythology behind them or that are mystical, misunderstood, or pack/family oriented.
A Wolfbat on Sunset Boulevard (photo Helen Michelson)
From the 1026 Space gallery:
“You can expect to see a loud psychedelic woodcut landscape covering several walls of the gallery in which nature’s bass has been cranked up to 11. Duck your head walking in and make way for an entire flock of hotheaded Wolfbats swooping overhead, not to mention the supercharged eagles diving out of their path to let them through.”
Dennis in studio working on a new piece to be shown Friday.
…as well as new wood carved pieces, relief cut prints, masks, oversize tapestries, leopards with serpent tails, goat heads wrapped in snakes, angry beasts, eagles fighting snakes, bats, and of course, Wolfbats.
Wolfbat and Goat: detail of new work by Dennis McNett to be shown at Space 1026
“Year of the Wolfbat”
An installation by Dennis McNett
Show dates: October 2nd –October 31st
Opening Reception: Friday October 2nd 7-10pm
Where: Space 1026, 1026 Arch St. Philadelphia, PA
Street Signals -News Off the Wires from Brooklyn Street Art
Beauty and the Beast – Chor Boogie and Cope2
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is opening in LA tonight at Mid-City Arts Gallery. And while everyone acknowledges that Chor Boogie is cute, do we have to break it all down to appearance? Maybe it’s the fact that Disney fair well killed our cognitive association with a relatively harmless children’s tale by saturating Broadway for years with their tripe.
Anyway, it’s a clever packaging of a duo – one old-school Bronx bomber throwie king VS. one expansive spiritualistic color wizard whose forms sprout and undulate across the wall. Put these two together and LET THE HILARITY ENSUE! Heck Cope2 has his own special appeal, right ladies?
Cope2! Bro! Get out of Cali before they make you start doing yoga and sh*t. Look what they did to Chor!
West Philadelphian and beautiful loser street artist Stephen Powers (AKA Espo) has harnessed the powers of love to mastermind a huge public art event in the city called “Love Letters”. A huge fan and faithful reproducer of that old-time sign painting aesthetic that was once the hottest thing since sliced baloney for outdoor advertising, Mr. Powers is combining efforts with a number of “writers” to be visible to travellers along a grand tour of a Market Street in Philly.
Mo money, mo love letters. (courtesy www.aloveletterforyou.com)
The new “Love Letter” campaign will be visible along the Market-Frankford Elevated Line
Download a PDF of the Map and additional information HERE
BROOKLYN STREET ART LOVES YOU MORE EVERY DAY
Exhibition Details
