All posts tagged: Steven P. Harrington

“Tiempos Muertos”. Idle Time With Isaac Cordal in Madrid

April 9, 2024 Artists

“Idle Time has become that free moment we have between one task and another in the production process. Productive inertia has turned idle time into a simulacrum of leisure, a residual time in which, strangely enough, we don’t seem to know what to do.” – Isaac Cordal

In the vibrant heart of Madrid’s Barrio de las Letras, Isaac Cordal’s exhibition “Tiempos Muertos,” more aptly understood as “Idle Times,” debuted at the ON Art Space on Calle Santa Maria 37. Hailing from Pontevedra, Galicia, and currently residing in Bilbao, Cordal is celebrated for his distinctively satirical and somewhat melancholic view of our societal landscape.

Isaac Cordal. *“Tiempos Muertos”* On Art Space Gallery. Madrid, Spain. (photo © Patri Nieto)

Trained in the art of sculpture at the School of Fine Arts in Pontevedra and further refining his craft at the School of Canteiros, his work masterfully intertwines traditional techniques with contemporary themes. Renowned for his “Cement Eclipses” project, Cordal’s miniature sculptures have become a critical lens through which the absurdity of our daily routines and the deeper malaises of urban life are magnified.

“Idle Times” offers a small yet comprehensive survey of Cordal’s stylistic evolution, weaving together his enduring fascination with the mundane, the mystifying, the miniature, and the monumental. This exhibition invites viewers on a reflective journey through the paradoxical trappings of modern life, where productivity and idleness, connection and isolation, digital engagement and disengagement perpetually intersect.

Cordal’s dark humor shines through as he nods to the stupefying muddle that is our existence, capturing the essence of idle moments as both a puzzling symptom and a withering critique of our times. “The infinite scroll is the closest thing to the modern rosary,” he observes, highlighting a soulless collective drift into digital oblivion and ever-greater productivity.

Through various installations that span his recent career, “Idle Times” showcases Cordal’s ability to encapsulate the peculiarities of contemporary human conditions with irony and depth. His sculptures, set against the backdrop of urban decay or the cold glow of a smartphone screen, serve as poignant reminders of life’s absurd theatre. It’s in these finely crafted scenes of everyday disconnectedness that Cordal’s voice is most resonant, urging us to question the true cost of our ceaseless hustle. At the same time, the digital leash increasingly binds us.

We once summarized Cordal’s oeuvre as a “catastrophic reality and a sense of entrapment within an electronic prison of everyday existence,” underscoring the artist’s commitment to exploring the boundaries between reality and satire. “Idle Times” not only celebrates Isaac Cordal’s artistic journey but continues to challenge viewers to confront the absurdity of our daily lives, with a bit of laughter if you can summon it.

TIEMPOS MUERTOS | ISAAC CORDAL

ON ART SPACE | CalleSanta Maria 37 | Barrio de Ias Letras | 28014 Madrid

BSA Images Of The Week: 07.07.24

April 7, 2024 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

To BSA’s Muslim brothers and sisters, we hope your Ramadan has been fulfilling as it draws to a close this Tuesday. Amid the spiritual calm, Friday’s earthquake and its aftershocks have certainly rattled us in New York and across the Northeast—a rare tremor that would barely raise an eyebrow in LA, given their familiarity with the earth’s whims. But for us, a 4.8 is no small shake! Adding to our week of natural spectacles, Monday brings an eclipse, inviting us all to don those dope glasses and gaze skyward as a celestial dance sweeps across the continent. It’s been quite a lineup: an earthquake to kick off the weekend, a celestial blackout to start the week. What’s next on the cosmic agenda? A swarm of locusts? Let’s hope the universe has checked off its list of surprises for now.

We start this week’s collection with a new text piece of unknown origin but one that strikes at the heart of life here in 2024 for many. Could this be an advertisement for the new album by Future and Metro Boomin? A spectrum of emotions and styles, the new collection is from two guys whose collaborative efforts have been making significant waves in the music industry for a half decade. Debuting at number 1, as an album “We Don’t Trust You” has been described as a monumental success, showcasing the synergy between Future’s distinctive rap style and Metro Boomin’s innovative production. The out of context graffiti message, “We Don’t Trust You,” captures a poignant irony: while distrust might seem like a safeguard, history shows that a society where trust is deeply eroded becomes fertile ground for manipulation by autocrats and tyrants.

And now, here are images from our ongoing conversation with the street, this week, including: Praxis, Homesick, Lexi Bella, Modomatic, Danielle Mastrion, Mort Art, Claw Money, Jorit, Isabelle Ewing, Paolo Tolentino, JG, Marthalicia Matarrita, Gia, and 1RL.

Mort Art and Paolo Tolentino (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Unidentified artist (photo © Jaime Rojo)

My Body My Voice Murals (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Marthalicia Matarrita. My Body My Voice Murals (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Lexi Bella. My Body My Voice Murals (photo © Jaime Rojo)

GIA. My Body My Voice Murals (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Danielle Matrion. My Body My Voice Murals (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Claw Money. My Body My Voice Murals (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Isabelle Ewing. My Body My Voice Murals (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Magnolia. Spring 2024. NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Murals, Art, Childhood, and Community in Lwala: Martha Cooper and Seth in Kenya: Part 1

April 4, 2024 Artists

In the heart of Lwala, Kenya, a place where the warmth of the sun is matched only by the warmth of its community, two artists, Martha Cooper, an esteemed New York ethnologist and photographer, and Seth, a visionary French street artist and muralist, embarked on a remarkable journey a few weeks ago. Their mission, rooted in a shared passion for integrating children’s creativity into their work, led them to the vibrant classrooms and playful corners of Lwala, capturing the imaginations we all had as kids – against a backdrop of education, care, and community.

Cooper, with a distinguished career spanning over seven decades, has traversed the globe, documenting children’s inventive play practices and turning her lens toward the ingenuity that flourishes in the spaces between childhood and the urban landscape. Seth, on his canvases of buildings, brings to life the dreams and stories of Lwala’s children in murals that echo the community’s pulse.

SETH. Nyota Orphanage and Daycare Center. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Lwala, situated near the shores of Lake Victoria, is more than just a geographical location; it’s a nexus of culture, learning, and artistic expression. Through the eyes of Cooper and the brush/cans of Seth, the essence of Lwala’s youth shines brightly, depicting scenes of everyday life transformed into extraordinary murals.

As Seth described on his Instagram, the interaction is key. “The walls of the Lwala primary school are covered with small drawings and graffiti,” he says. “Treasures just waiting to be discovered, to which I sometimes enjoy adding my touch.”

This collaboration marks another chapter in the duo’s journey of artistic exploration and social commentary, previously witnessed in places like Tahiti and Haiti. Yet, Lwala stands out for its own spirit and this natural integration of art into the lives of its children. The murals, vividly capturing scenes from daily life to imaginative escapes, become a canvas where the children’s own artworks also find a place, transforming school walls into collaborative galleries of dreams and aspirations. Martha Cooper’s photography captures these moments of interaction, where art and life converge, offering glimpses into the playful ingenuity that has been the focus of her lens many times in her life.

“We asked kids to bring their homemade toys (my ongoing subject). The most creative were wheeled sticks they called ‘motorbikes’ with an engine sound made by a stick hitting a plastic bottle as the wheel turned,” she says. “There were also guns shaped from mud, balls made of trash, paper hats, thin scarves knit from scraps of wool and stick needles and jump ropes.”

Among the observer’s voices echoing the significance of this project, Valentine Otieno’s stands out, “Some of the best memories for the school will be in this art. It will exist for years, and what Seth gave the school is a gift for ages,” he writes on her Instagram page. “Thanks Martha for covering all this through your incredible lense skills and the few snap lessons.” Mode2, a legendary figure in graffiti and urban art, remarks, “The only limits to their resourcefulness is their imagination,” highlighting the boundless creativity captured here in Lwala.

At 81 (she celebrated her birthday while here), Cooper’s journey to Lwala with Seth is a testament to capturing childhood’s essence and art’s transformative power. Without sponsorship, driven solely by passion and friendship, their visit to Lwala becomes a narrative now woven into the fabric of the local school – a vibrant testament to the enduring power of art and the universal language of play.

Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

“The boys and girls at Lwala primary school found a little surprise perched above their blackboard—a sweet drawing by Seth of a child wearing their school uniform reading a book,” says Martha.
SETH. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

SETH. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

This one is of a “boy blown horizontally as if by wind hanging onto the tree,” says Ms. Cooper.
SETH. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

SETH interacts on a wall with graffiti from an unknown student at the school. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

The kids are shown playing with their homemade ‘motorbikes’, Martha tells us. “I’m always on the lookout for creative child-made toys. Kenya did not disappoint with these ‘motorbikes’,” she says. Play the video “to hear their very realistic-sounding engine,” Martha says. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

The kids are shown playing with homemade toys. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Boy wearing a homemade hat. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Girl wearing a homemade hat. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Girl knitting with homemade tools. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

Lake Victoria, Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

“Seth painted fishing boats on the wall of Lwala Primary school after seeing similar ones on nearby Lake Victoria. Students added their names,” says Martha.
SETH. Lwala Primary School. Kenya. (photo © Martha Cooper)

@seth_globepainter @montanacans @nyotaforchildren #kenyastreetart @marthacoopergram

Nyota Orphanage and Daycare Center – https://nyota-ev.de/about-nyota-e-v-for-children-in-africa/

Ingmar Järve aka Gutface: “Street Gnomes” in Porto

April 2, 2024 Artists

In the bustling street art/graffiti scene of Porto, Portugal, a fresh wave of new pieces informed by folklore gives rise to “Street Gnomes,” a captivating solo exhibition by the Estonian street artist Gutface, also known as Ingmar Järve.

Hosted by Circus Network, this show, funded by the EU, the Goethe-Institut, and the Estonian Embassy in Lisbon, runs until April 11, 2024, offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of mythical beings reimagined for the urban jungle – imbued with a certain warmth that may make you nostalgic for a time you never lived through. Gutface, a Tartu-based freelance artist, illustrator, and graphic designer, brings his personal tour de force to Portugal after entertaining audiences across Europe with the Stencibility Street Art Festival and his vibrant contributions to the collective @ajuokse.

Gutface aka Ingmar Järve. *“Street Gnomes”*. Circus Network Gallery. Porto, Portugal. (photo © Kadri Lind)

“Street Gnomes” looks to redefine the gnome, a figure steeped in European folklore, traditionally seen as a guardian of the earth and its hidden treasures. Gutface often transposes these mythical guardians from their idyllic garden settings to the concrete sprawl, where they embody the spirit and toil of unseen urban caretakers: the road workers, electricians, plumbers, and garbage collectors who keep our cities seamless and functioning. The artist experiments and succeeds with various mediums; through a mix of ceramics, tufted carpets, risography, and bold speckled street art, the exhibition highlights a symbiosis between nature and urbanity.

At the heart of this exhibition is a narrative and a style that merges the raw energy of street art with less obvious storytelling. Järve invites us on a journey through the city’s veins, where every corner and crevice is alive with the silent hustle of its gnomish caretakers. “Street Gnomes” may also strike one as a testament to the transformative power of street art and a celebration of those who labor in the shadows, ensuring our urban ecosystems and imaginations thrive. Gutface’s work, deeply rooted in the vibrant street culture and community-driven ethos of Tartu, Estonia, connects the fantastical with the mundane, inviting viewers to reconsider the sources of that magic pulsing through the city’s concrete heart.

Gutface aka Ingmar Järve. *“Street Gnomes”*. Circus Network Gallery. Porto, Portugal. (photo © Sofia Borba)

“Street Gnomes” is open until April 11th at Circus Network (Porto, Portugal). The collaborators and partners are Krasta Keramika, Kuues Planeet, and Not So Fast Press. The exhibition was produced by Kadri Lind (Stencibility, Urban Festival UIT). The project is funded by the European Union, Goethe-Institut, and the Estonian Embassy in Lisbon. (photo © Sofia Borba)

BSA Images Of The Week: 03.31.24

March 31, 2024 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Happy Easter to all the Christians today, and we hope all the kids get a chocolate bunny in their basket and go on an egg hunt in this new green grass Mother Nature has brought to the park for everyone to enjoy. It has been such an entertaining and rewarding hunt this week looking for new works popping up like daffodils on the street in NYC. We hope you enjoy some of these new works, a boon to the creative spirit that is running the streets in all five boroughs, no matter the season.

And now, here are images from our ongoing conversation with the street, this week, including: Praxis, Sara Lynne Leo, UFO 907, Aneko, Sluto, Viler, QUAZAR, Bones, Luch, Deluxe, WaliC, Suka, Ring, and TCONE.

Untitled. Spring 2024. Brooklyn, NY (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Books In The MCL: Golden Boy as Anthony Cool: by Herbert Kohl and James Hinton

March 28, 2024 Art Book Review, Artists

As founding members of the Martha Cooper Library at the Urban Nation Museum in Berlin, Brooklyn Street Art (BSA) proudly showcases a monthly feature from the MCL collection, illuminating the extensive and diverse treasures we’re assembling for both researchers and enthusiasts of graffiti, street art, urban art, and its numerous offshoots. Below, we present one of our latest selections.

Text Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo Photos by Sebastian Kläbsch

Herbert Kohl and James Hinton, Golden Boy as Anthony Cool. 1972.

Herbert Kohl and James Hinton’s “Golden Boy as Anthony Cool,” published in 1972, is a seminal work in the study of urban graffiti and street culture. Not only an academic exploration; it’s a journey into the heart of graffiti as a form of personal expression, rebellion, and cultural identity. Kohl’s insightful essays paired with Hinton’s evocative photographs provide a window into the lives of young people in the urban landscapes of New York City and Los Angeles as they simultaneously boil, wane and flourish in the late 60s and early 70s. These vibrant and vibrating communities are chronicled, whether affluent suburbs or struggling neighborhoods, each appears to brim with stories cryptically told through tags and murals on walls and doors.

As a crucial part of street art history, “Golden Boy as Anthony Cool” is an essential resource for anyone interested in the roots of modern graffiti culture. Its compelling blend of vivid imagery and profound analysis not only makes it an invaluable addition to any collector’s library but also a portal to the dynamic world of urban street art. Simple and unassuming, the book is testament to graffiti’s evolution, offering a deeper appreciation for the art form and the voices that shape it.

GO TO MCL AT URBAN NATION MUSEUM BERLIN TO CONTINUE READING.

Dispatch From Curaçao: Caribbean Warmth and Urban Art

March 26, 2024 Artists

On the street, Curacao feels like a vibrant heart where Caribbean warmth meets urban art in a spectacular showdown. It’s an island—a canvas painted with rich strokes of history, culture, and innovative thinking. Nestled off the Venezuelan coast, Curacao stands out with its Dutch heritage, swirling in a cocktail of languages, cuisines, and, notably, street art that tells stories deeper than the clear blue waters surrounding it.

Carlos Blaaker. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Willemstad, the capital, is not just a city but a UNESCO-listed testament to colonial architecture, Caribbean vibes, and mural magic. Here, historical narratives meet modernity, and old Dutch houses stand tall, often awash with color. Beyond the postcard-perfect Handelskade, a current revolution in public art-making brings paint, passion, and a sense of purpose, led by a vibrant local creative community.

Garrick Marchena. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Enter Street Art Skalo, a pied piper of this visual revolution, transforming the neighborhood of Scharloo Abou from a forgotten area into an outdoor museum. This isn’t merely a beautification effort spearheaded by the chamber of commerce; it’s an eclectic transformation that breathes life, creating a dialogue that invites locals and tourists alike to wander, wonder, and witness the neighborhood as it is reborn.

Curacao’s mural scene is as diverse as its coral reefs, featuring everything from intricate stencil works to grandiose murals stretching across buildings. Themes delve into identity, heritage, colonial past, global issues, and natural beauty—all greeted with Caribbean flair. From the alleys of Scharloo Abou to the bustling streets of Punda and Otrobanda, Curacao offers a kaleidoscope of styles and techniques, mirroring the island’s multicultural heartbeat.

Thanks to light artist Chris Jordan, who shares with BSA Readers his photos of recent discoveries on Curacao. Through his photos, Chris captures an island that is not just surviving but thriving, propelled by creativity. It’s good to know that here one can look beyond the beaches, dive into its streets, and find some real treasures.

Mr. Garek. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Tao Szen. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Giovanni Abath. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Nina Paintina. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Blend Curacao. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Jhomar Loaiza. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Nina Valkhoff. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Bio Tats Cru. Eno Egul. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

Unidentified artist. Willemstad, Curaçao. (photo © Chris Jordan)

BSA Images Of The Week: 03.24.24

March 24, 2024 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Spring officially arrived this week, along with torrential rains and sometimes flooding. Happy Nowruz to all our Persian friends, and Happy Purim to the youngsters in costumes going to parties this weekend. The city’s walls reflect a new blossoming of talents joining with those more established in the visual arts, a usual mismatch of styles, coded messages, and obvious imagery. If you love New York, it is with the ongoing expectation of eclecticism mixed with the expected, and as it pertains to graffiti and street art, its a crowded party of all sorts of guests all speaking at once, each hoping to be heard in the din.

And now, here are images from our ongoing conversation with the street, this week, including: Turtle Caps, She Posse, Kosuke James, IAC, Ratrockster, Solo, Merg, Erat, SenOne Original, COSA.V, and Sen1.

Sen1 Original. Cosa.V. Tribute to Grandmaster Flash. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Unidentified prankster explains the contours of the BORE program. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

We can’t read the artist’s signature??? (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Spring 2024. NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A Tribute to Artist Akira Toriyama: Eslicer and Keneone in Barcelona

March 21, 2024 Artists

Fans of manga and anime are mourning the loss of a legendary figure in the industry, Akira Toriyama, who passed away on March 1, 2024, at the age of 68. Born in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, he was not just a prolific manga artist; he was a visionary who brought to life some of the most iconic characters and stories in the world of Japanese pop culture. His most renowned creation, “Dragon Ball,” transcended generations and geographic boundaries, embedding itself in global pop culture and inspiring an era of manga artists.

Akira Toriyama memorial wall at the Caterina Albert Square by Eslicer & Keneone. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Lluis Olive-Bulbena)

Toriyama’s influence extended beyond the printed page; his creative genius was instrumental in designing the characters for beloved video games like the Dragon Quest series and Chrono Trigger.

By many accounts, he had humble beginnings drawing animals and vehicles, but he eventually had what some would call a revolutionary impact on manga and anime, a testament to the universal language of art and storytelling. Despite facing challenges and opposition, Toriyama’s dedication to his craft and innovative spirit paved the way for his legendary status. The aesthetics and themes of Toriyama’s work, including a fusion of traditional and futuristic elements, resonate with fans of street culture and graffiti, showcasing his widespread influence.

Today we look at a new mural in Barcelona Spain by Eslicer and Keneone, with shots by photographer Lluis Olive-Bulbena. As we remember Akira Toriyama, we celebrate the stories he told and the boundless imagination and creativity he inspired in artists and fans alike, leaving an indelible mark on the world of art and entertainment.

Sebas Velasco and a Night Time Portrait in Beaumont, Texas

March 19, 2024 Artists

A coastal city in Southeast Texas, Beaumont is 90 miles east of Houston and 30 miles west of the Louisiana border. At the third Beaumont Mural Festival the debut of the new mural by acclaimed artist Sebas Velasco is a momentous occasion, and we bring you fresh shots of the process and final work. Inspired by his collaboration with longtime friend and photographic collaborator Jose Delou, it’s no surprise that Velasco’s latest piece captures an essence of urban life with depth and emotion, an idealized measure of modern existence against a perhaps less-than-ideal cityscape.

Sebas Velasco. Beaumont Mural Festival 2024. Beaumont, Texas. (photo © Jose Delou)

A youth adorned in classic sportswear, set against the backdrop of a dynamic cityscape, the striking portrayal is based on a local resident who agreed to be the subject of Velasco’s art; somehow, it embodies a fusion of American influence and stoic solitude reminiscent of artists like Hopper. With his attention to detail, Velasco enhances the scene’s post-industrial elements, infusing them with warmth and vibrancy. The immediacy of the gaze holds the viewer accountable, studying it all more closely, wondering what stretches beyond the confines of the mural.

Velasco’s blurred aesthetic warms the night, eschewing traditional photographic realism in favor of a wilder, more dynamic energy. His approach, reminiscent of the gestural abstraction of artists like De Kooning, prepares the scene with rawness and a sense of movement; a mural that not only enriches the cultural landscape of Beaumont but also serves as a testament to the transformative power of public art.

BSA Images Of The Week: 03.17.24

March 17, 2024 Artists, BSA Images Of The Week

Welcome to BSA Images of the Week!

Happy St. Patricks Day to all our Irish brethren and sisteren (?) — unless you are unlucky to be a gaylesbitrans Irish resident of Staten Island: their official Saint Patty parade bans all of those other types. Our 5^th borough always complains that it doesn’t get enough attention because Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens hog the spotlight. So bigotry, because why not? But Manhattan shouldn’t bray too loudly; we’re old enough to remember the LGBT bans by The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) at the beery 5^th Avenue parades for decades.

Grocery stores, big box stores, and McDonald’s are converting customer service to self-service, so why not law enforcement in Brooklyn? On the subway, this dude takes a gun from his attacker so he can shoot him, after another passenger stabbed him in the back. You used to call this vigilante justice, but now it’s just called DIY policing.

And now images from our ongoing conversation Specter, Cern, Homesick, Peter Phobia, Dzel, REW, Folk, Appear 37, BRK. Nover NYC, GUS, Hand of Tess, 1krlOs, Pirdb!, Kool Hand, Croke, Regae, Nova44, and Spyee.

FOLK. HOMESICK. PRDB! (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Untitled. Spring 2024. Manhattan, NYC. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The Martha Cooper Scholarship: Call For Applicants

March 14, 2024 Artists

We’re excited to introduce the inaugural Martha Cooper Scholarship (MCS), celebrating Martha Cooper’s legacy in capturing human cultures through photography. This scholarship presents a unique chance for photographers from Africa or Latin America to engage in an eleven-month artistic journey in Berlin.

As founding members of the Martha Cooper Library, we will select an individual who embodies her spirit, vision, and legacy alongside Martha and a panel of experts in art, academia, and photography and the Urban Nation Museum. This is not just a scholarship in her name; it’s an opportunity to contribute to a global dialogue and to represent the Urban Nation Museum and the Fresh Air program. The Fresh Air theme is “I AM FLUX: The Freedom of Being and the Possibilities of Becoming,” reflecting on human transformation and social issues.

If your artistry and vision resonate with these themes, this could be your path to making an impactful statement in documentary photography. Apply for this transformative opportunity to join us in continuing Martha’s story.

______________________________________________

Martha Cooper at Urban Nation Museum (photo ©Steven P. Harrington)

From the scholarship website and application:

The Martha Cooper Scholarship (MCS) offers a unique opportunity for an individual from Africa or Latin America to dedicate themselves for eleven months to an artistic project through the medium of photography. With the newly announced MCS, the Foundation Berliner Leben acknowledges the importance of documentary photography and purposefully offers a production scholarship for professional photographers who use their photography in an effort to promote a positive impact on the world. The scholarship is based on the annual topic of Fresh A.I.R., the scholarship program of Stiftung Berliner Leben, which addresses social and political developments that affect us in the present, and
highlights the diversity of human experience and perception of the world.

__________

The chosen photographer will be invited to live and work in one of our Fresh A.I.R. residencies in Berlin Schöneberg.

The current call is for the 10th class starting in January 2025 and ending in December 2025.

___________

Thematic Call:
“I AM FLUX: The Freedom of Being and the Possibilities of Becoming”

Art can convey the relevance and complexity of themes of our time in unexpected ways.
Under the title “I AM FLUX: The Freedom of Being and the Possibilities of Becoming,« the 10th class
deals with the inexhaustible capacity for development and transformation of human beings and their
perspectives on themselves.

We encourage artists to critically examine selected socially relevant thematic complexes and apply with projects that contribute to raising awareness about the call’s contents and enriching ongoing discourses.

Within the framework of »I AM FLUX,« three thematic fields of action, namely »HORIZONS OF
BEING,« »WHISPERS OF EXISTENCE,« and »BEYOND LIMITS,« are being introduced. Project ideas
will be supported in which at least one of the three thematic focuses finds expression in the artistic works.

1. “HORIZONS OF BEING”
In the first thematic field of action, “HORIZONS OF BEING,” artists and cultural practitioners are invited
to investigate the multi-layered and dynamic nature of gender identity. Through artistic expressions, the
focus is primarily on embodiments, practices, and self-perceptions of people who do not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth.

Funding will be provided for:
• Projects that address the diversity and manifestation of gender identity and/or the development
and shaping of gender possibilities, realities, perceptions, and representations.
• Projects that identify and critically artistically reflect upon the current heteronormative hierarchical
structure of gender, both in its institutional and everyday routine forms.
• Projects that promote a broader conception of gender.

2. “WHISPERS OF EXISTENCE”
The second thematic field of action, »WHISPERS OF EXISTENCE,« is intended to emphasize the
metaphysical dimension of art. The imagination is intended to be challenged and expanded in diverse ways through artistic expression.

Funding will be provided for:
• Projects that place art as a metaphysical activity at the center, addressing and reflecting upon ontological questions.
• Projects that artistically process a transgression of the experiential reality of the natural self.

3. “BEYOND LIMITS”
The third field of action, »BEYOND LIMITS,« serves as a platform supporting the exploration of various
approaches through which art and creativity, in conjunction with other influences, endeavor to redefine
the boundaries of the human in new ways.
Funding will be provided for:
• Projects that aim to experimentally expand human potential or those centered around (self-)creation
within the imaginative space of natural or technological (further) development.
• Projects that examine ‘Creative Artificial Intelligence’ and the fundamentally changing possibilities of
artistic expression resulting from applying the latest technologies.
• Projects that delve into historical forms of surpassing bodily boundaries and explore the visions, opportunities, consequences, and dangers associated with them.

Application for a scholarship in 2025
Application deadline: Sunday, 21 April 2024
Applications are only accepted via Email: FreshAIR-office@stiftung-berliner-leben.de
For a successful application, please include the following documents:
• Curriculum vitae
• Project outline/description
• Budget plan

You can find further information about Fresh A.I.R. at

https://urban-nation.com/artist-in-residence-scholarships/

“Above Ground” : How Martin Wong Preserved the Underground Soul of Graffiti
November 21, 2024
Museum of the City of New York PresentsAbove Ground: Art from the Martin Wong Graffiti Collection In the heart of …Read More »
ELFO: Don’t Use This Wall!
November 19, 2024
Elfo is a graffiti writer and social commentator whose work intentionally sidesteps traditional notions of style or technical lettering. This …Read More »
BSA Images Of The Week: 11.17.24
November 17, 2024
Right out of the gate, Pres-elect Trump is telling us that one must destroy the government to save it, just …Read More »
SpY’s “ORB” Lands in Montreal: A Mirror of Street Art’s Evolution
November 14, 2024
SpY, a prominent public artist hailing from Madrid, has unveiled his latest sculptural work titled “ORB” in Montreal’s renowned Place …Read More »
Birch Bark, Rosehips, and a Family Affair: Faring Purth’s New Chapter in Mural Form
November 12, 2024
In her latest mural, Faring Purth delivers a powerful reflection on connection, continuity, and the complexity of evolving relationships—a true …Read More »
BSA Images Of The Week: 11.10.24
November 10, 2024
Well, the world ended this week—again. Yet here we are, still standing, and so are you. It turns out Donald …Read More »
Réunion Island’s Evolution: Eko and the Graffiti/Street Art Festival That’s Making Waves
November 7, 2024
A place you may not have heard of, Réunion Island has quickly become a remarkable hotspot for urban art, largely …Read More »