All posts tagged: Robots Will Kill

Chris Stain Staying Warm Inside Right Now

February 10, 2010 Artists, Brooklyn, Manhattan, NYC

Keep your feet in your sneakers, and keep reaching for the sky. Chris Stain at Brooklyn Bowl last week (photo ©Jaime Rojo)

Sure, you may think its a great day to go play in the snow. But after a few snow angels, a couple slides down the hill on an inflateable mattress, and peeing your name in the white stuff, you will probably head inside to watch Youtube videos of chickens who can make pancakes and that Major Lazer simulated fornication REMIX again. Oh yes you will!

Finger lickin good. Chris Stain in a Soho living room. (image © Jaime Rojo)

So don’t get all Sanctified Street-Art Preacher Man when Chris Stain tells you he’s been making his stencil projects under a roof with central heating for the last couple of months instead of painting big pieces outside on the wall like a Street Artist. We can’t all be Robots Will Kill.

Watch your head on the ceiling fixture! Chris Stain (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chris first did a big mural in an old Soho building that was once probably a factory. And then probably a drug den, then an artist studio, and now a stock photo publishing agency and community space. So, the living room/lounge area had a big wall and he had a blast one afternoon getting up a pretty bumpy bulwark – careful not to bump his head on the ceiling light fixture or tumble into the glass coffee table.

An unlikely location, and yet perfect in some way. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Another gig he did was last week in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Bowl called Rock and Wrap It Up which is an anti poverty organization. More on that here Win4Hunger. It was pretty funny seeing him with what amounted to SPOTLIGHTS clearly demarking his place on the wall.

Dramatic shadow FX! Chris Stain, Heather, and Robyn (photo © Jaime Rojo)

He had 3 hours before the bands started, so Gracias a Dios he had help from two sisters Heather and Robyn Macionus, who rocked the piece in record time, and added a bit of visual interest of their own – or can’t I say that? Okay, they are both gorgeous – now it’s all out in the open!

Bushwick Beat: Stalking the Wild Street Art with Vincent Cornelli

February 9, 2010 Artists, Brooklyn, NYC, On the Street

by photographer Vincent Cornelli

Sure, Jef Aerosol had his show 2 Fridays ago, and he’s now back home in France. But it seems worth revisiting the amount of amazing moments I captured in Bushwick that day as a result of his energy and inspiration while he was in New York; One cannot help but feed off of it.

I want to give you some behind-the-scenes photos of the art and street scene that surrounded the artist at work. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did photographing and capturing them.

Carlito Brigante and C215 in an unlikely collaboration © Vincent Cornelli

Carlito Brigante and C215 in a subtle collaboration © Vincent Cornelli

Te Amo © Vincent Cornelli

C215 on a firebox © Vincent Cornelli

Know Hope © Vincent Cornelli

Bast and Clown Soldier © Vincent Cornelli

Robots Will Kill © Vincent Cornelli

Eine in the center of the Ad Hoc entrance © Vincent Cornelli

See more of Vinny’s work HERE

Work In Progress: “Robots Will Kill” are Opening Windows In February

February 9, 2010 Artists

Veng and Chris brave sub-freezing cold on the “Superior Windows Project” in Williamsburg to create 8 newly painted windows into another world.

The BSA project, named after the business that occupies the building, is an opportunity for street artists to get their stuff up legally that also gets a lot of foot traffic. The block already has roared with wildlife for a few years with the pack animals of Street Artist Dennis McNett in the recessed “window” spaces above the KCDC skate shop. Now RWK has conceived of a way to open the bricked window spaces into a world they imagine.

Here is a peek at the wall in progress.

Veng and Chris at work on their new “Windows” project (photo © Jaime Rojo)

When Brooklyn Street Art and Robots Will Kill first talked about the guys doing this new windows project, it was sunny and warm and girls were still in their summer shorts. The only “girls” wearing shorts in this neighborhood right now are looking for a ride in your nice big cozy car, and I’m not sure all of them are girls.

“The Patience of Saints, The Industry of Ants” – Veng’s FB status.

Chris and the Cat (photo © Jaime Rojo)

It’s all in the can control. If Dutch Master’s had aerosol, Veng would be a guy to get some tips from. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“I’m German,” says Veng, as a way of explaining why he thought this February engagement was perfectly suitable for standing on aluminum ladders with a metal spray can in your hand for 8 hours while the wind gusts off the East River like sailors rushing to an “Open Bar”.

“I’m freakin’ cold,” shivers Chris as he pulls down his neoprene ski mask to talk. “Careful, my coat has paint on it.”

Would she be mine? (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Sure she will…just ask her! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Let me in! Or let me out! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Clad in their North Pole gear the RWK dudes attempt to defy (conquer) mother nature as they depict windows that don’t just open the bricked building, but out to another world.

Chris’s windows show a childlike pastel world of a friendly cock-eyed boy thinking of his Valentine and a wistful hyper-alert cat on the windowsill, while Veng is taking you to a 16th century Dutch town, or possibly the 1840’s town of Williamsburgh, the industrial seaport that was once here.

Yo! Flash me some petticoat! A room with a view… (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A Veng icon in the stain glass detail (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Is that a Schnauzer on the sidewalk (detail ) (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Stay tuned for more progress reports.

RWK in conjunction with BSA.

Year In Images 2009 from Jaime Rojo

January 2, 2010 Artists

Street Art photographer Jaime Rojo captured a few thousand images in 2009 to help document the wildly growing Street Art scene in New York.

A veteran of 10 years shooting the streets of New York, Rojo has amassed a collection of images that capture the scene with the appreciation of an artist. To celebrate the creative spirit that is alive and well on the streets of New York, this slide video gives a taste of what happened in ‘09, without pretending to present the whole scene or all the artists, known and anonymous, who add to the ongoing conversation.

Included in this collection of images (in no particular order) are pieces by Skewville, Specter, The Dude Company, Judith Supine, C215, WK Interact, Anthony Lister, Miss Bugs, Bast, Chris from Robots Will Kill (RWK), Os Gemeos, Cake, Celso, Imminent Disaster, Mark Cavalho, NohJ Coley, Elbow Toe, Feral, Poster Boy, Bishop203, Jon Burgerman, Royce Bannon, Damon Ginandes, Conor Harrington, Gaia, JC2, Logan Hicks, Chris Stain, Armsrock, Veng from Robots Will Kill (RWK), Noah Sparkes, Robots Will Kill, Heracut, Billy Mode, Revs, Skullphone, Spazmat, Mint and Serf, Roa, Aakash Nihilani, Broken Crow, Peru Ana Ana Peru, & Cern

All images © Jaime Rojo

It’s Getting Hot Down There: ART BURN MIAMI

December 3, 2009 Artists

Empresario and street artist Celso has a sense of humor about most things, and street art in particular.

Without reading too much into it, it’s easy to understand how some of the hype surrounding the humongus Art Basel in Miami this week does tend to turn off the hot-headed anti-capitalist anti-consumerist anti-consumption anti-homogenization-of-everything-in-our culture-types in our midst.

Not that any of these artists are in that category, but it is pretty funny to learn that this one-day only art show ends with all the art being burned, and none of it added to your burgeoning street-art collection.

But Marge, what are they trying to say? While we prefer to create original content and not simply copy-and-paste, sometimes it just makes sense to take it directly from the press release >>

ART BURN: The Most Combustible Art Show in the World
International Contemporary Art Expo & Immolation

**To be held at LAS TIAS, 2834 N. Miami Ave., in Miami’s Wynwood District at sunset on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009***

(Miami, FL) — ART BURN, the most combustible art show in the world, will combine an international selection of original art with fire. Original works on canvas, wood and paper by a selection of more than three dozen international artists will be displayed and then flambeed in Miami on the evening of Thursday, December 3, 2009 at sunset. The exhibition/grilling, curated by NYC artist El Celso, will take place in the Wynwood Arts District, within walking distance of Miami’s lesser contemporary art fairs.

An exclusive selection of more than three dozen exceptional pieces by the hottest renowned artists and sizzling, cutting-edge newcomers will be displayed from 1pm until sundown. After the brief exhibition, all of these original works will be burned for the public’s viewing pleasure. Nothing is for sale.

We will be exhibiting and burning new works by:

Stikman
El Celso
Aurora Robson
infinity
Nick Fortunato
Skewville
Jayne Surrena
Darkcloud
Fabian Pena
Elbow-Toe
Rex Dingler
LA II
Royce Bannon
Leonardo Furtado (Brazil)
Rednose
Gore-B
Buildmore
Abe Lincoln Jr.
Cake
Paul Kostabi
Ellis-G
Jeannete Vidalia
2esae
Avoid Pi
Stefano Pasquini (Italy)
Keely
Destroy & Rebuild
Veng
F. Trainer
Ski
Joanne Mattera
Deeker
Sam Horine
Avone
Die Dose (Germany)
Billi Kid
Evelyn Metzger
Robots Will Kill
Adam Vincentz
Garrison Buxton (Peripheral Media Projects)
Michael DeFeo
James A. Willis
Dalva
Kristina Maria Lopez
Hargo
Ray Bradbury & very special guests TBA

You can even follow the events on Twitter at @elcelso and @cmonstah.

SPONSORS
C-MONSTER.NET
The official media sponsor of the ART BURN VIP Lounge

HYPERALLERGIC
The official blogazine, critic and beer sponsor of ART BURN

BROOKLYN STREET ART
The official street art and corporate snack sponsor of ART BURN

KINGSFORD Charcoal
The unofficial grilling partner of ART BURN

We’ve been assured that all local laws and safety precautions will be observed. At least Miami is a coastal town so they are near water.

Enjoy this hunk o burnin’ luv….

Street Signals 10.10.09

October 10, 2009 Artists

New Train Company Hires Well-Known Street Artists/ Graffiti Artists to Paint Trains

Vandalog Blog Writer Publishes New Book About Upcoming Street Art Show in London: “The Thousands”

Veng from Robots Will Kill painted this image one week ago in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Now it is going to be in the book “The Thousands”, by RJ Rushmore

Michael “RJ” Rushmore, founder of Vandalog, and bloggy friend of BSA, is still toiling in the fields of street art, turning out an impressive exhibition of street art next month called “The Thousands”, featuring work by some better-known street art names as Faile, Skewville, Banksy, Chris Stain, KAWS, Robots Will Kill, Shepard Fairey, Swoon, Herakut, and Barry McGee. To accompany the show RJ has written a cool book called “The Thousands: Painting Outside, Breaking In.” It is so up to date it features an image of Veng’s mural from last weeks MBP Urban Arts Fest! Damn son, those pics travel fast!

Says RJ on his blog “I am ecstatic. This is a street art book with all the artists I’ve always wanted to see in a book together. Plus, it’s not just me writing standard bios for the artists (though there is a bit of that), a lot of the book was written by other contributors. Mike Snelle from Black Rat Press wrote the forward (did you know he is an amazing writer?), Panik ATG wrote about Burning Candy, Know Hope wrote about Chris Stain, Gaia wrote about Know Hope… the list goes on.”

The book is only available on publisher DRAGO’s website right now.

“Where the Wild Robots Are” – A New Mural (and video) by Robots Will Kill at Espeis Outside, curated by Brooklyn Street Art

September 16, 2009 Artists, Interview

Where are the Wild Things in Brooklyn? Just hang out on the sidewalk.

Just spend a day and a half on the sidewalk painting a big mural and you’ll be met by a barrage of noise – audio and visual – that is a constant state of cacophony and turbulence, and a host of human insight.

A shouting shirtless homeless guy, daredevil teenage skateboarders, gawking tourists with cameras perched aloft, brutish bikers and wirey bicyclists, skinny hipsters, and fast-talking sassy girls sashaying down the sidewalk…. A grizzled sculptor with five-day growth, bent musicians with big black burdens on their backs, real estate developers in wire-rims and pinstripes, monster trucks and sleeveless toughs hanging out the window, and of course “The Empenada” man dragging his blue and white cooler on a luggage carrier yelling, “Empenada! Two dollar! Empenada!”; these are some of the wild things we saw hanging out with these gents for two days. And we loved every minute of it.

Sketch

Original sketch by Veng (Photo Jaime Rojo)

Veng and Chris worked two days (18 hours) this week to complete the brand new piece in which they pay tribute to the children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are”, by Maurice Sendak, published in 1963. It’s a concept they have wanted to paint for a while and their selected scene is a composite of both their painting styles and a few of the scenes in the book. Together they bring the viewer in touch with the power of imagination.

In the original story, the main protagonist, Max, is banished to his room by his mom for acting out around the house and basically being a little punk. While hanging out in his room he begins to imagine a slew of monsters and a jungle and eventually he escapes into a place where he has power over everything and everyone and becomes the King of All Wild Things. Veng and Chris have depicted many characters of their own on the street in the last few years and decided to create some new ones to play the roles here. Veng’s photo-realistic boy looks at peace afloat in this parti-colored boat as he sails toward a cluster of big comic-book bright monsters. Inspired by the whimsical nature of playtime for kids and the untamed imagination that kids have, RWK let their own imagination run wild.

First, the wallpaper (photo Jaime Rojo)

To create the scene based on Max’s bedroom, where the story begins, they stenciled a wallpaper with their Robots Will Kill logo and washed it out to give it an aged appearance. The Max character, re-created by Veng, is in a boat sailing to an island.

Progress

He created the boat to have no grounded plane to give the impression of a dreamlike fantasy. To symbolize the island Chris sprays a clump of expectant monsters, clamoring for Max’s attention as he sails toward them, maybe waving, maybe trying to scare him away. The color palette in background the is soft with many neutrals to evoke a nostalgic feeling, while the boat and characters pop out to meet you.

Chris’s sketches of the monters (photo Steven P. Harrington)

A little history of Chris and Veng

Chris’s mind is flooded with the imagery and ideas that come from comic books, music, movies, and television from the 1980’s, when he was a kid. His mental journal of these images is a haven for escape, and an inspiration for him to draw from. – Robots are big, but lately he’s been making monsters, and monstrous people.

Instruments to inspire (photo Jaime Rojo)

Chris also set in motion RobotsWillKill.com in 2001 as an arts site dedicated to community and exposure for artists/media often disregarded by the mainstream art world. The site opens it’s robot arms to other artists in the graff and street art scene to show work. Robots Will Kill is a collective of Chris, Veng and Kev/Psyn. Their overseas members are ECB (Germany), Peeta (Italy), Flying Fortress (Germany) and JesseRobot (Belgium).

***

Veng’s sketch of the boy in the cat costume (photo Jaime Rojo

Originally from Staten Island, Veng joined Robots Will Kill four years ago. Originally in the graff scene, he evolved his character series beginning about a year ago, attempting to morph his individual characters to become an ironic statement that blurs the line between fantasy from reality. Heavily influenced by the Flemish masters of the 15th century, he captures the figurative emotions of the era, reworked with wit. Veng’s characters warp time and presents an alternate history to encourage the viewer to immerse themselves in a story.

Veng at work (photo Steven P. Harrington)

While the guys were on ladders painting “Where the Wild Robots Are”, BSA asked them some questions;

Brooklyn Street Art: So how is your progress on the piece so far?
Veng: So far so good. Just got finished with the sail and now it’s the portrait. And I have to finish with the cat outfit that he’s wearing.

Brooklyn Street Art: The cat outfit?
Veng: Yes to represent Max.

Veng using a fine instrument for some fine detailing (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: I thought he had a wolf outfit.
Veng: Not in this one. In this one it’s a cat outfit.

Brooklyn Street Art: (to Veng) Did your parents read this book to you?
Veng: I remember lookin at it, I don’t remember them reading it to me. But we had it. I’m sure they did read it to me.

Stepping back a bit, the execution is underway (Photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Have you seen many wild things on the street in the last day?
Veng: Yeah some guy that would not stop talking to us. Lucky for me I had my headphones on and I avoided the whole four hour conversation. But other than that it’s actually been nice. It’s a different pace than painting in Bushwick which is actually more rough – Less people walking around, more industrial. This is kind of more residential and friendly. A lot of people have been inquisitive about what is going on. So far, no negative feedback.

Veng uses many sizes of caps to get photo-realism effects (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Plus there have been a few skirts that have walked by.
Veng: Yes! And the neighborhood definitely has it’s advantages as far as females go.

Brooklyn Street Art: Well you’ve done your share of murals on the street. So which neighborhood has more monsters?
Chris: More monsters? That’s a tough question because a lot of monsters are in disguise so you can’t really tell who’s who. But every neighborhood has it’s pluses and minuses.

Friendly Monsters by Chris (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Do you want to describe your style of collaboration with each other?
Chris: Usually we come up with an idea and we brainstorm it until the night before we have to do it. As we talk more, more ideas begin to come together. We think a lot alike so it works well.

Chris fine brush work

Brooklyn Street Art: (To Chris) Did your parents read this book to you?
Chris: When I was a kid it was my favorite story. I remember seeing the book in the bookstore and then I remember getting it. And then I remember watching it on PBS when I was a kid and being so enamored with the whole idea of the imagination and going to this other world. So throughout my life I have probably had at least 10 copies of this book.

Hey, look at me in the back! Woo hoo! (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Really?
Chris: Yeah, whether it was because I gave one to someone because they never had it or because my one got beat up and I got one that was in better condition or a hard cover one and usually if any of my friends have a kid I usually get it for them for their birthday?

Almost ready to sail away (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Why is it so important to you?
Chris: I don’t know.. I think it’s the idea of the imagination. I think it’s just the idea of the kid dressing up in the costume and not being happy with what he’s doing every day and he wants to find a different place. That’s pretty much how I feel. I go to work every single day and I don’t want to be there, but you gotta. But doing something like drawing or something to keep your mind a little distracted, it’s almost like living the book again.

One of Chris’s original sketches with his robot guy in the catsuit (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: So in a way you are going to that other place right now.
Chris: Yeah exactly I got out of work today do I could really visit my imagination.

RWK (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: What do you think when you realize that your work here could actually spark the imagination of someone walking by?
Chris: That’s amazing. I think that is one of the best things about art – is inspiring somebody to think something, to do something, just kick-start something. That’s one of the reasons we started the website, so people could see art from people all over the world and be inspired to create their own. It’s simple. We just want to inspire somebody to use their imagination.

Are we ready yet? (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: There are going to be a lot of kids walking by this too:
Chris: Yeah, that is definitely going to be cool. And just hearing kids recognize this when they walk by, our interpretation of the story, is cool.

Veng and Chris after a happy day at work. (photo Jaime Rojo)

“Where the Wild Robots Are” by Veng and Chris from Robots Will Kill (photo Jaime Rojo)

Robots Will Kill Website

See Robots Will Kill do their thing at the MBP Urban Arts Festival in Bushwick Brooklyn October 3rd! Brooklyn Street Art is the official blog for this event so come out and see live painting, BMX Skateboard tricks, and live music all day. Support the artists you love.

New Gallery: Pandemic opens Saturday in Brooklyn

August 21, 2009 Artists, Brooklyn, Interview, Opening

Some work in progress on the gallery floor from Keely (photo Steven P. Harrington)

NYC’s unemployment rate is nearing 10% (higher than the national average by a point), the heat index in the City this week was as high as the crowd at Glasslands, we’re losing Arts programs in the schools left and right, Ad Hoc is shutting down their main gallery space, and Jennifer Anniston was thrown into the trunk of a car.

Who would believe in this topsy-turvey New York that a GALLERY celebrating Street Art is actually OPENING? You read it right. It’s called Pandemic (explanation below) and its on the South Side of Williamsburg Brooklyn in a space that used be the DollHaus, a Gothic-themed and deliberately disturbing gallery with Kewpies on skewers and mutilated cyborg dolls with Lydia-Lunch eyes. Even though it’s a little off of the main Williamsburg drag, it’s just a block from the first artist/hipster outpost “Diner”, and two blocks from the favorite place for Wall Street big-bellies to take guests for a daring trip across the river for steak on their corporate card , “Peter Lugers“

A bright “Welcome!” from 3 of Celso’s ladies (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Now the newly painted space has a fresh air of possibility that washes over you when greeted by the sunny owner of Pandemic, Keely Brandon, an artist and friend of the street art scene for some time. This week we stopped by during the installation and the gleaming walls, new lighting, and shiny floors bespoke a world full of possibilities. Saturday night the small gallery will host a group show of work by no less than 14 street artists, an impressive show of strength for the Grand Opening.

Brooklyn Street Art: A new gallery! How did you hook this up?
Keely: It kinda just fell into my lap, I was apartment hunting and was offered a storefront instead. At the time it was a jewelry store. I started thinking about how awesome it would actually be to have a gallery space that I could run my own way. Free to display the art and merchandise of myself and other artists I respect. So I just went for it.

Always willing to lend a paw around the gallery! (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Is “Pandemic” referring to something in particular, or just a general feeling of dread?
Keely: It’s the concept of a creating a worldwide epidemic, but in a positive way! expanding the global consciousness of our breed of art.

Stikman is mapping out the inner route (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Have you ever had a gallery before?
Keely: Nope

Brooklyn Street Art: How did you chose the artists that are involved with this show?
Keely: I chose a group of prolific street artists who’s artwork and dedication I really admire. Many have worked together before on projects, and create an awesome looking show.

I've got an eye on the underwater world (Keely) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Fresh from the East River! (Keely) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: This place used to be a gallery for baby dolls dressed in gothic garb – babies with black lipstick and white eyes, etc. You find any heads rolling around in the closet?
Keely: Ha.. yea actually when i first moved in there i could have sworn the basement was haunted! No heads, but a lot of fuschia to paint over!

A box fer all yer stuff (Deekers) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

A box fer all yer stuff (R. Deeker) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Are you following a particular theme for this show, or is it mainly a group show?

Keely: No real theme… The name of the show is pandemic 37 – which is basically the gallery address. The show is just a grand intoduction to the place..

That IS Cheap! (photo Steven P. Harrington)

That IS Cheap! (artist Gay Sex) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Outside of the artists in the new show, what art excites you the most?
Keely: hmmm.. I like alot of different things.. strange 70’s artwork. Peter Max, Marushka, and other obscure wall hangings. I love old illustrations in wildlife books, deep sea creature photographs and dinosaur everything. Anything with gnarly teeth!

Brooklyn Street Art: You ever have dinner at Diner? Muffins at Marlowes? Porterhouse at Peter Lugers?
Keely: Dinner at Diner once, muffins at Marlowe… never. As for Peter Luger… I’m a vegetarian and I’m not rich!

You KNOW what time it is! (Royce Bannon) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

One of the more entertaining pieces in the show is the working clock on the face of one of two monsters by Royce Bannon. Royce explains the new development”

BSA: What made you make a clock?
Royce: I made a clock because I like functional art. It looks cool and tells the time too.

BSA: What new skill did you use to install it?

Royce: No new skills were used in the making of the clock just the same old skills

BSA: What room of an apartment would it be more appropriate for?
Royce: Probably the kitchen.

BSA: Is it Monster Time?
Royce: It’s always monster time

From here to INFINITY (photo Steven P. Harrington)

In addition to celebrating the opening of the new gallery, everyone will be celebrating the new Street Art Blog by celebrated photographers Rebecca Fuller and Luna Park.

Their exciting new endeavor, The Street Spot, will feature many of the images of the street that fans have faithfully followed for the last few years. Besides being avid documentarians of the ever-evolving street art and graff scene in NY, Park and Fuller have a deep reservoir of knowledge and stories to draw upon.

TheStreetSpot.com will surely add to the richness of this vibrant scene for all the fans of the wacky world of street art. The AfterParty is where we’ll raise a glass to these fine individuals and their dream.

So that’s TWO great openings in one night! Things are LOOKING UP!

Familiar names in a new gallery, Bixby, Buildmore, Celso, DarkClouds, infinity, Judith Supine, Keely, Kngee, Matt Siren, R. Deeker, Royce Bannon, Stikman, Skewville, Wrona

Pandemic Gallery

37 Broadway Between Kent and Wythe

Brooklyn (South Williamsburg)

MBP Urban Arts Fest at Castle Braid

August 20, 2009 Artists, Brooklyn, Events

BrooklynStreetArt.com Blog is proud to be the Official Blog of the first MBP Urban Arts Fest!

The 2 PART, 1 DAY Urban Arts Festival goes from 1PM-2AM. Come celebrate and participate in the thriving urban art community MBP has advocated since it’s inception. With LIVE PAINTING, skateboard demos and contests, music and DJs, photography and art installations and plenty of art and books for sale, there will be something for everyone!

We will be taking over and transforming the entire lower-half of Castle Braid (114 Troutman Street, Myrtle Ave/Bwy JMZ Train) in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

PART 1

The day’s first part runs from 1PM-9PM and is open to all ages.

PART 2

9PM-2AM is 21 and over, featuring free beer and a dance party.

Art for Progress is the Non-Profit you gotta know;
an organization dedicated to supporting rising multi-discipline arts in New York City.

What to expect:

• Gallery-style art installations
• Live graffiti exhibitions & public graffiti wall sponsored by Montana Colors
• Live entertainment, DJs, dance & musical performances
• Skate park & sponsored game of S.K.A.T.E hosted by Substance Skateboards
• First 500 guests receive a FREE in-person signed copy of Talk Balk: The Bubble Project by Ji Lee
• Special Guest Signings
• All Ages Arts & Crafts: postal sticker tagging how-to; design your own “Umberto” character from Dutch artisit/illustrator Tijn Snoodijk; make-your-own recycled material tote bags with Bags for the People, design your own canvas laptop case from AIAIAI and more!
• Local & International Artist Showcases & Tables
• Unveiling of exclusive OBEY x PEEL poster by Shephard Fairey for Peel Magazine (authors of MBP’s PEEL: The Art of the Sticker)
• Shopping (MBP bookstore & Local Artists’ offerings)
• Food & Drinks (Brooklyn Brewery, Hoegaarden, Food Trucks)
• Gift Bags & Prizes – with bags from Bags for the People, goodies from Mimobots, Cafe Bustelo, Zoo York, AIAIAI and more!

ARTISTS/SPECIAL GUESTS
• Martha Cooper, Going Postal
• Remo Camerota, Graffiti Japan
• Ji Lee, Talk Back: The Bubble Project
• Luz A. Martín, Textura: Valencia Street Art
• Artists from ORBIT Gallery (featured in upcoming EdgyCute book: Joe Scarano, Angie Mason, Michael Caines, Chris Uminga, Motomich Nakamura, BECCA, Emma Overman, Robbie Busch; and Frank Sheehan)
• Special Guest Curator Mighty Tanaka (with art from: avone, JMR, Hellbent, Alexandra Pacula, Peter Halasz, Mike Schreiber, AVOID PI, FARO, Royce Bannon, BLOKE, Mari Keeler, John Breiner, Skewville)
• Tijn Snoodijk of Shop Around – Netherlands
• RobotsWillKill (featured in Going Postal & PEEL: The Art of the Sticker)
• Project Super Friends
• Royce Bannon (featured in Going Postal)
• Chris Stain (featured in Going Postal)
• Destroy & Rebuild
• Cosbe (featured in Going Postal)
• CR
• Abe Lincoln Jr.
• Indigo & Mania
• El Celso
• Chalk drawings by Ellis Gallagher

PERFORMANCES
Hosted by: iLLspokinN
Termanology
Cormega
DJ Statik Selektah
DJ GSUS187
Krts (Powerstrip Circus)
Hot 97’s DJ Juanyto
Guest DJ Jason Mizell (son of Jam Master Jay)
Outabodies
Michael Brian
True2Life
Ad Lawless
Goodomens
Greenberet Team
Quan
Spokinn Movement
William B. Johnson’s Drumadics

SHOWCASES/VENDORS (list in progress)
Sabrina Beram
Abztract
Fresthetic
Owen Jones & Billy Hahn
Peter Moschel Johnson
Jemmanimals & John Bent
Natasha Quam/L’Ange Atelier
Dawn of Man Productions
Katie Jean Hopkins
Stephanie Paz
Alessandro Echevarria
Spost Love
iinex grafik
Andrea Grannum-Mosley
Gully Klassics

ADMISSION: $15 cash at the door, $10 in advance – come & go the whole day. Buy your tickets here!

A GIGANTIC thank you goes out to Kevy Paige Catering, who will be feeding our artists and performers gourmet-style as they work throughout the day!

OFFICIAL BLOG: BrooklynStreetArt.com

Images of the Week 01.25.09

January 26, 2009 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

A look at some of the weeks finds from the gallery on the street.

Robots Will Kill (Chris) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Pirates on the High Seas! (Detail from Deuce Seven) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Pirates of the Central Bank (Give Me Your Wallet) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Pirates of the Central Bank (Give Me Ya Wallet) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Glad I Brushed Today (Joey09) (photo Jaime Rojo)

It's a Hitchcock Life (MBW) (photo Jaime Rojo)

OH Beeeehaaave! (Miss Behave) (photo Jaime Rojo)

OH Beeeehaaave! (Mike Giant) (photo Jaime Rojo)

I Should Just Pull Over and Wipe These Off (Mr. Theodore) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Thou Shalt Use Thy Cellphone at All Times (Obey, Shepard) (photo Jaime Rojo)

The Seal of Approval from Los Angeles (Mullet - Restitution Press) (photo Jaime Rojo)

(unknown) (photo Jaime Rojo)

(Eat Fruit and Die, C215, Ana Peru, PMP) (photo Jaime Rojo)

(Eat Fruit and Die(Specter), C215, Ana Peru, PMP, Faile, Unknown) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Two Andrews talk about “From the Streets of Brooklyn”

January 6, 2009 Artists

An unprecedented show of Brooklyn street art starts off 2009 at ThinkSpace gallery.

Bam! The year has barely started and the momentum from the previous giant year for street art blows clear into January with a new show of 50 artists from the streets of Brooklyn.

ThinkSpace Gallery, a warm-hearted community space and home of rockin’ shows in L.A. since 2005, plays host to it’s brothers and sisters across the continent with a salon-style show of street artists, graff writers, a hot photographer, and live on-the-street work by the chalk artist from BK.

In the middle of the installation craziness, the curator of the show, Andrew Michael Ford (gallery director at Ad Hoc), and Andrew Hosner (co-founder of ThinkSpace), talked with Brooklyn Street Art about the show:

BSA: So how did AdHoc and ThinkSpace hook up to do this show?

Andrew Hosner: Andrew and I have been friends for a while, and met while he was still doing some curating before hooking up with the Ad Hoc crew. One day we were just shooting the s**t about some show ideas and I tossed out the idea of bringing Brooklyn to Los Angeles…

Andrew Michael Ford: I’ve followed what ThinkSpace shows for quite some time and I was always very impressed with the work. I also have always felt that the folks who run ThinkSpace and myself have very similar tastes as far as curating art goes. Something like this has been talked about or at least thought about for quite some time and when Thinkspace approached us about doing it I felt like it was the right place and right time.

BSA: Is it a kind of East-West cultural exchange?

Andrew Michael Ford: The show is about bringing a large group of Brooklyn street artists and graf writers to Los Angeles. We haven’t discussed bringing LA artists to Brooklyn but I would be open to talking about something like that for the future.

Thundercut (courtesy ThinkSpace and AdHoc)

BSA: Brooklyn’s streetscape is pretty dense and is largely accessible by foot. Do you think the L.A. scene is more spread out? How do the two differ, in broad strokes.

Andrew Michael Ford: I have never been to LA but I heard you need a car to get anywhere out there so I assume it’s gotta be pretty spread out.

Andrew Hosner: I think you nailed it on the head, Brooklyn is much more condensed and has more of a community vibe to it I feel, whereas LA is the true meaning of urban sprawl, being one of the most spread out and varied big cities out there. There’s no real community vibe, save for lil’ pockets here and there, but the breadth of the city kind of goes against the notion of all that.

Dan Witz "Scott" from show "From the Streets of Brooklyn" (courtesy ThinkSpace and AdHoc)

BSA: Maybe this is impossible to put your finger on, but what would be a couple of characteristics that distinguish Brooklyn street art from other cities in the world?

Andrew Michael Ford: For me it started in NYC. I mean, graf started in Philly but really came into it’s own in NYC. I just don’t see that kind of history anywhere else. I see the lineage of graf into street art and that is why so many graf writers have been invited to this show. It’s not just about who is doing a lot of street art. It’s about who is getting up and staying in the streets of Brooklyn regardless of tools being used. I don’t like it when street artists from other cities look at graf here in NYC as some kind of background for their work. It’s a massive slap in the face to all graf writers. Brooklyn street artists have a lot more respect for graf than street artists I have met from other cities, especially from Europe. Maybe that’s the thing that distinguishes what’s going on in the streets of Brooklyn from other places.

Imminent Disaster (earlier work) (courtesy ThinkSpace and Ad Hoc)

BSA: You are showing a LOT of artists…did you have enough (Think) Space?

Andrew Hosner: Hahaha… it will be a very packed show hung salon style, going off of color palette and style. Should look amazing, but it is going to be a visual overload for sure. Patrons will be overwhelmed by Gaia and Rachel Lowing’s thought provoking install immediately upon entering the gallery, then passing through the entry area will be met by a tidal wave of artwork, coming at them from all directions, floor to ceiling… before turning the corner into our project room in the back where Disaster’s massive undertaking will greet them.

BSA: A bit like herding cats?

Andrew Michael Ford: Not really. Honestly, everyone involved believes in this show so much and have been very supportive and helpful in putting it all together.

Matt Siren (courtesy ThinkSpace and AdHoc)

BSA: Will you have time to give Mr. Ford a tour of the sickest sites while he’s there?

Andrew Hosner: It’s hard to say since the focus will be our show, but hopefully on Saturday after the show has passed we will get out to see some of the hotter spots about LA to enjoy works outside. With so many coming to town for the opening, there’s a good chance we’ll be able to watch some of Brooklyn’s finest… cool thing is, all will be able to watch Ellis G. on opening night doing his thing on our block, and I can’t wait for that.

Andrew Michael Ford: I would love to see some stuff by Saber if possible. But really anything good being done would be great to check out.

Ellis G. (courtesy Ad Hoc and ThinkSpace)

BSA: The Brooklyn scene keeps evolving rapidly; what is one trend that you are seeing that is telling you about the future?

I see more and more people throwing up wheatpastes in the streets that I don’t feel are well executed or well placed. I mean, there is room for everything and I love to see what people feel they need to put up but it does worry me sometimes when I see tons of poorly crafted wheatpastes thrown all over the place with no thought to where it is being placed or the quality of the imagery they are producing. I would just like to see people take a little more time in the creation of their art and in the selection of the spots they decide to hit.

Elbow-Toe (courtesy ThinkSpace and AdHoc)

BSA: Whose work is exciting to you right now, and what does it say to you?

Andrew Hosner: I love the work of Elbow-Toe, whose work is really a statement on the state of things in our society right now. His every man piece is by far one of the most powerful and extremely well executed works of this past year. You can look at that work 20 years from now and know that it was referencing the economic struggles were going through currently, while also hinting at the 1st great depression. Powerful work.

Also very inspired by the works of Imminent Disaster, due to her strength in so many different creative outlets… Chris Stain also is someone who should be looked up to. Thought provoking work and just a great overall cat.

Stikman (courtesy ThinkSpace and AdHoc)

Andrew Michael Ford: I think that street art needs to interact with the space where it is placed (good placement is key) and it needs to engage the viewer. Working big can sometimes do this but sometimes it can be a big massive nothing. It’s tough to point to a specific artist but if I had to pick one I can say I’m really intrigued by what the artist Stikman does, as he uses a wide variety of mediums and techniques and always catches you off guard with the placement of his work. Very smart work.

Anera (image by Luna Park) (courtesy Luna Park, ThinkSpace and AdHoc)

BSA: What impression do you think the gallery-goer in L.A. is going to come away with about the Brooklyn street art scene?

Andrew Michael Ford: That’s a great question but sadly one that I have no answer to. I haven’t got a clue what kind of reception we will get when we arrive. I am hoping this can be a positive experience for everyone involved.

Andrew Hosner: I hope they come away feeling inspired and filled with the desire to visit the streets of Brooklyn in person, so they can experience these works as they were originally meant to be, and also feel compelled to explore the works of each in the show further, hopefully coming away with a new favorite that they will watch in the years that lay ahead.

I think many will also be surprised at the sheer breadth and quality of work on view – it is definitely an eye opener type of exhibit. Hopefully this will help to open their eyes to the beauty that is all around them in Los Angeles and abroad. So many walk through their city with blinders on, and it really is a revelation when you start to take in and appreciate the work of urban artists.

ThinkSpace Gallery

AdHoc Art

From the Streets of Brooklyn

More stuff on ThinkSpace and Andrew Hosner from the art collector blog

Year in Images 2008

January 1, 2009 Artists, Brooklyn, BSA Images Of The Week, On the Street

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)

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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