All posts tagged: Sweet Toof

Factory Fresh Presents: Sweet Toof “Dark Horse” (Brooklyn, NY)

Sweet Toof
brooklyn-street-art-Sweet-toof-factory-fresh-gallery

Sweet Toof
Dark Horse

Opening April 29th, 7-10pm
On view till May 22nd, Gallery is open Wednesday – Sunday from 1-7pm

Having chewed up the streets of London’s east end, British artist Sweet Toof takes a bite out of the Big Apple with his first New York solo exhibition, Dark Horse.  Revealing a new series of original works, Sweet Toof’s Trojan Horse greets the city that never sleeps ‘til Brooklyn at the freshest factory in town.

Like the Dark Horse himself, Sweet Toof has risen up the ranks as a graffiti artist throughout 80s and 90s England, where his letterforms and street styles have evolved alongside a rigorous academic practice as a realist painter and sculptor. Heavily influenced by the Vanitas paintings of sixteenth century Europe, Mexican Day of the Dead, Subway Art, and the underground comics of Vaughn Bodé, his characteristic gummy chompers are a true mash-up of street and studio.

Now, the anonymous face that launched a thousand teeth unleashes the beast and charges forward once again—with a fleet of new works and an army of horsemen braced to paint New York by storm.  It’s a call to arms in the battle for free expression: join forces, or else just grin and bear it.

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Brooklyn Street Art: 2010 Year In Images (VIDEO)

We’re very grateful for a wildly prolific year of Street Art as it continued to explode all over New York (and a lot of other places too). For one full year we’ve been granted the gift of seeing art on the streets and countless moments of inspiration. Whether you are rich or poor in your pocket, the creative spirit on the street in New York makes you rich in your heart and mind.

To the New York City artists that make this city a lot more alive every day we say thank you.

To the artists from all over world that passed through we say thank you.

To our colleagues and peers for their support and enthusiasm we say thank you.

To the gallery owners and curators for providing the artists a place to show their stuff and for providing all of us a safe place to gather, talk, share art, laugh, enjoy great music and free booze we say thank you.

To our project collaborators for sharing your talents and insights and opinions and for keeping the flame alive we say thank you.

And finally to our friends, readers and fans; Our hearts go out to you for lighting the way and for cheering us on. Thank you.

Each Sunday we featured Images of the Week, and we painfully narrowed that field to about 100 pieces in this quick video. It’s not an encyclopedia, it’s collage of our own. We remember the moment of discovery, the mood, the light and the day when we photographed them. For us it’s inspiration in this whacked out city that is always on the move.

The following artists are featured in the video and  are listed here in alphabetical order:

Aakash Nihalani,Bansky, Barry McGee, Bask ,Bast, Beau, MBW, Bishop ,Boxi, Cake, The Dude Company, Chris RWK, Chris Stain, Dain, Dan Witz ,Dolk ,El Mac, El Sol 25, Elbow Toe, Faile, Feral,  Overunder, Gaia, General Howe, Hellbent, Hush, Imminent Disaster, Jeff Aerosol, Jeff Soto, JMR ,Judith Supine ,K-Guy ,Labrona, Lister, Lucy McLauchlan, Ludo, Armsrock, MCity, Miso, Momo, Nick Walker, Nina Pandolfo, NohjColey, Nosm, Ariz, How, Tats Cru, Os Gemeos, Futura, Pisa 73, Poster Boy, QRST, Remi Rough, Stormie Mills, Retna, Roa, Ron English, Sever, She 155, Shepard Fairey ,Specter, Sten & Lex, Samson, Surge I, Sweet Toof, Swoon, Tes One, Tip Toe, Tristan Eaton, Trusto Corp, Typo, Various and Gould, Veng RWK, ECB, White Cocoa, Wing, WK Interact, Yote.

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“Marxist Glue” At Hold Up Art Gallery in LA

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The young Hold Up Gallery in the Japantown section of Los Angeles currently has a sleek and smart-alec show that shouts for attention.  Drawing a clear connection between today’s graphic design-savvy Street Artists and their anti-corporate fascist/ punk rock/ culture-jamming roots, this show is a delicious collection of disgusted discontent.  Thanks to its relative proximity to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which is assembling an inaugural Street Art spectacular next spring under it’s new director, Jeffrey Deitch, the show has an added dimension of interest. A collection of polished pungency, “Marxist Glue” heralds the smooth collection as a survey of current LA street artists.

Artist and Columnist Gordy Grundy says the show is “Sticky” in his Huffington Post article:

“Marxist Glue, a new street art show curated by Toks Shoyoye, redefines the Los Angeles community and challenges MOCA. Curator Toks Shoyoye has stomped his foot and the earth has quaked. Marxist Glue is a group show, actually a historical gathering, of 13 Los Angeles artists. This show covers an epoch and illustrates the motivations of a movement. Los Angeles street art shall be redefined”

Continue reading and see images of the show at Huffington Post Arts here…

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Street Art And The Day Of The Dead

“Dia de los Muertos”

Skulls are everywhere on the street today, and here is a collection to mark The Day of the Dead. The commemoration of people who have passed is observed nation-wide in Mexico every year at this time. Although it is not a national holiday, the strictly religious and cultural observance is revered and, depending on the region, it varies in the ways in which the holiday is marked.

The cultural aspect of this holiday has inspired many artists, filmmakers and poets. Here we have selected images of Street Art culled from our library to mark the Dia de Los Muertos, focusing on the most prominent symbol used to represent this holiday: “Las Calaveras” or skulls.

PeruanaAnaperu (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

PeruanaAnaperu (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Imminent Disaster. Detail (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Imminent Disaster. Detail (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Mexico’s  “Dia de los Muertos” or “Day of the Dead” takes place every year on November 2 to coincide with the catholic holiday of “El Dia de los Santos” or “All Saints Day”. The Day of the Dead is not the Mexican equivalent of Halloween. The Day of the Dead in Mexico is a celebration of Death and it does not carry any of the connotations of fear, fantasy and gore that Halloween does.

El Sol 25 (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

El Sol 25 (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

This religious and cultural holiday can be traced as long ago as 3000 years. Before the conquest of what’s now modern Mexico in the pre-Hispanic era the indigenous cultures celebrated death, rebirth and their ancestors by displaying human skulls as memento mori.

Gaia Channels Mexican Artist Jose Guadalupe Posada (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia Channels Mexican Artist Jose Guadalupe Posada (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Booker (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Booker (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Elbow Toe (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Elbow Toe (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

When the Spanish missionaries arrived more than 500 years ago they tried without success to eradicate such pagan and sacrilegious celebrations that seem to mock death while converting the indigenous people to Christianity. To the Spaniards death was the end of life but to the Aztecs it was a continuation of a journey not yet completed. The Aztecs embraced death and they celebrated it for the entire month of August, the ninth month of the Aztec Calendar, and the festivities were presided by the goddess Mictecacihuatl or “Lady of the Dead” presumed to have died at birth.

Spazmat/Skullphone (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Spazmat/Skullphone (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

The Spaniards were met with fierce resistance in their attempts to vanish the rituals so in frustration they sought and found a common ground with the natives by moving the pagan rituals to coincide with the Catholic holiday of “El Dia de los Santos” or “All Saints Day” on November 2.

Hellbent (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Hellbent (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Modern Mexicans remember their friends and family members that have departed from life by honoring them with extravagant festivities that, depending in the region might include lavish offerings or “ofrendas” in private altars in the cemeteries at the tombs of their loved ones and/or at home. It is a day of celebration and many people elect to stay overnight at the cemetery for prayer, and remembrance but partying, eating and drinking is encouraged and expected always following the norms of respect and decorum for the defunct.

Look at that Bunny! (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Look at that Bunny! (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ludo (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ludo (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

These “ofrendas” or gifts include the most favored dishes, foods and beverages that their loved ones enjoyed while alive. They also include photos and other personal mementos of the deceased ones. The “ofrendas” are meant to be eaten and shared by the relatives and friends of the departed and sometimes they are very elaborate five course dinners. Other times the relatives might choose to have a daytime picnic at the cemetery and return to their homes at dusk. The “ofrendas” are believed to nurture and help the souls of the dead while in their journey to heaven.

Some people use this day to just take their customary once a year trip to the cemetery to clean and maintain the tomb of their loved ones.

Y The Fuiste (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Y Te Fuistes  (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Regardless of the singular cultural distinction of each region two symbols are common throughout the country: “La Calavera” or The Sugar Skull and “La Catrina” or The Skeleton Lady. The Skulls can be made of sugar and chocolate and often are inscribed with the recipient’s names and are gifts to both the living and the dead. There is also “El Pan de Muertos” or “Bread of the Dead” which Mexicans give as gifts to the visiting relatives for their journey back home.

It is said that Mexicans not only celebrate death they also eat it.

Sweet Toof (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Sweet Toof (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dr. Hoffman (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dr. Hoffman (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Smilee (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Smilee (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faile (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faile (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

PMP (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

PMP (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Matt Siren (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Matt Siren (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Viki (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Viki (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Main Banner image credit: Jose Guadalupe Posada “Gran Calavera Eléctrica” Courtesy Library of Congress.

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Fun Friday 10.29.10 BSA Halloween Special

Fun-Friday

Have a great Halloween Weekend Everybody!

Our longest post ever – scarily long. First we start off with a bunch of cool Street Art that is evocative of Halloween.

Then we hear a special Halloween/Election  message from Christine O’Donnell, a look at tonights’ events including Unified Love Movement’s installation across from MOMA, Erik Burke’s Closing Party, and Crest Hardware’s Pumpkin Carving Party (tonight). Also, video of Dan Witz’s disturbing WTF Street Art, and the most popular person to dress up as.

Careful out there, ya’ll.

The ghost of Bedford Ave (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

The ghost of Bedford Ave. (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Evils (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Evils (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cake pays tribute to Nosferatu (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cake pays tribute to Nosferatu (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

C2 Army of One (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

JC2 Army of One (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dain Sidebusted (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dain Sidebusted (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faro (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faro (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ink (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ink (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dark Shadows (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dark Shadows (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Matt Siren and Royce Bannon (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Matt Siren and Royce Bannon (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Oopsy Daisy (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Oopsy Daisy (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Christian Paine (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Christian Paine (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

General Howe (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

General Howe (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Haculla (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Incubator Studio (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Sweet Toof (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Sweet Toof (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Tats Cru How, Nosm with Aryz. Detail (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Tats Cru How, Nosm with Aryz. Detail (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Elbow Toe (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Elbow Toe (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chris RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chris RWK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Halloween-Vote-2010



Unified Love Movement – Alison and Garrison Buxton in Manhattan Tonight

Brooklyn-Street-Art-WEB-unified-love-movement

Garrison and Alison Buxton invite you to come celebrate the unveiling of their Unified Love Movement installation across from the MoMA at 20 West 53rd St. The Buxtons are honored to manifest their latest vision on Halloween weekend via chashama’s “Windows at Donnell” program. The exhibition runs October 29th – November 28th, 2010 and is viewable 24/7. This visual fruit is timely and ripe for viewing.  MORE HERE

Bring Your Carved Pumpkins To Crest Tonight

brooklyn-street-art-crest-art-show-halloween-pumpkin-contest

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO THE WEBSITE. FOR THE OFFICIAL RULES LOOK UNDER THE HALLOWEEN TAB ON THE MENU BAR
http://cresthardwareartshow.com

“This Land is My Land” Closing Party Tonight at 17 Frost

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Erick-Burke-WEB

More here

Dan Witz WTF??

And Finally, The Halloween Costume Report:

Lady GaGa Costumes Are All the Rage This Year. You can blow 50 bucks on one of these, or just visit your local hardware store and glue-gun stuff to your swimsuit.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Lady-Gaga

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Images of The Week 06.13.10

Images of The Week 06.13.10

Our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring Gaia, Ludo, Liv, MBW, Beau, Yote, Clown Soldier, Faile, Man Standing, Roa, Sweet Toof, Headhoods, and Holy Family

Gaia
Gaia (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ludo
Ludo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Man Standing
Man Standing (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The Holy Family
The Holy Family (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Liv
Liv (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Clown Soldier and Yote
Clown Soldier and Yote (photo © Jaime Rojo)

MBW and Beau
MBW and Beau (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Yote
Yote and Clown Soldier (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Roa
Roa (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Sweet Toof
Sweet Toof (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia
Gaia (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Headhoods, Ludo and Sweet Toof
Headhoods, Ludo and Sweet Toof (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faile
Faile (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Images Of The Week 05.30.10 on BSA

Images Of The Week 05.30.10 on BSA

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

Our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring Sweet Toof, Robots Will Kill, Ludo, Clown Soldier, Swoon, NanooK, Gaia,  Faile, ROA, Shepard Fairey, Sting, Aakash Nihalani

Sweet Toof and Veng
Sweet Toof moves in next to Robots Will Kill (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ludo
Don’t pull that thing! (Ludo) (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Clown Soldier's many talents
Clown Soldier’s many talents (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Swoon
Swoon (photo © Jaime Rojo)

NanooK
NanooK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Swoon
Over the shoulder Swoon (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Gaia
Gaia (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Roa, Celso

Roa, Celso ( Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Faile
Amidst all these troubles and anxieties that befell Trixie, she still remembered to wear her pumps.  (Faile) (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Roa
ROA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Don't Stop Aakash Nihalani! (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Don't Stop Aakash Nihalani! (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Look Ma, Sting is coming out of Shepard Fairey's riffles!
Shepard Fairey and Sting (a street art collabo) (photo © Jaime Rojo)

And Now This Briefs Message:

NanooK
NanooK (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Sweet Toof, Clint

Sweet Toof, Clint (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

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Welling Up a Little? That’s the Street Art “Community” Feeling

Welling Court Mural Project Opens Over the Weekend in a Queens Community; Many Street Artists Contribute

There can be a bit of grand posturing around the word “community” especially by people (or corporations) who spend more time chasing the Gravy Train than climbing on the Love Train. And swimming in an acid-tongued media landscape that keeps saying we’re are a giant polarized society simply bubbling with animosity, you could be forgiven for not leaving your house, let alone breaking bread with your neighbor who is different.

JMR
JMR (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

New York people prove that lie to be wrong every day – we are a hugely diverse lot- our different mother tongues alone could lick a frosting bowl the size of Shea Stadium.  And yet mysteriously all of us weird different kinds of people are all getting along with each other day after day – sometimes we even enjoy each other!

Dan Witz
Dan Witz (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Burning Candy
Sweet Toof from Burning Candy Crew (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Welling Court Murals, a project with Street Artists in a neighborhood in Queens, New York, came to fruition on Saturday and the results were as colorful and eclectic as we are. While the people on the block barbecued and danced and played games, kids chased each other and rode their bikes and took many pictures of Street Artists doing their thing on the walls- spray cans, paint brushes, wheat paste, and markers busy.

Darkcloud, Celso and Ron English
Ron English, Darkcloud, Celso and Deeks (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Saturday was the “show day” for this project that the folks at Ad Hoc Art, with Alison and Garrison Buxton at the helm, have been “community organizing” for a long time.  However, by no means is it the end of the project, as new friendships and alliances were forged and a neighborhood has a new panoply of street art to look at, ponder, and hopefully be inspired by.

Clint
Clint (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

The Welling Court Mural Project was one of the most cohesive “community” events we’ve seen in a long time.  Street Artists plus an engaged neighborhood of very nice people… delicious home-made foods, music from Latin America and India/Pakistan, adults, kids, painting, asking and answering myriad questions, posing for pictures in front of pieces — all proving again that the arts can bring people together.  A sincere “Thank you” to Ad Hoc and Allison and Garrison and all the artists for putting your best out there for others to share.

Gia, PMP, Leon Reid
Gaia, PMP, Leon Reid (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Michael DeFeo
Michael DeFeo doing a little inside joke on that Banksy character (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

M City (detail)
M-City (detail) (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Minetta, Chris Stain
Nineta, Chris Stain (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overview with Royce Bannon. Matt Siren, Robots, Burning Candy and Too Fly
Overview with Michael DeFeo, Royce Bannon. Matt Siren, Robots, Burning Candy and Too Fly (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Remi Rough and Stormie Mills (detail)
Remi/Rough and Stormie Mills in their first ever New York piece (detail) (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Lady Pink, Cycle
Lady Pink, Cycle (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Swoon
Swoon (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ron English
Ron English (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Veng RWK
Veng RWK (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Tristan Eaton
Tristan Eaton (Photo © Jaime Rojo)

Welling Court Artists include: Alice Mizrachi, Beast, Chris Mendoza, Chris Stain, Celso, Cern, Cey Adams, CR, Cycle, Dan Witz, Darkclouds, Daryll Peirce, Don Leicht, Ellis G, Free5, Gaia, Garrison & Alison Buxton, Greg Lamarche, JMR, John Fekner, Lady Pink, Leon Reid, Matt Siren, M-City, Michael De Feo, Mr. Kiji, Pablo Power, Peripheral Media Projects, R. Nicholas Kuszyk, Remi/Rough, Ron English, Royce Bannon, Sofia Maldonado, Stormie Mills, Sweet Toof, Swoon, TooFly, Tristan Eaton, and Veng RWK.

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JMR’s got his Piece done for the Queen’s Wall

No, not Queen Elizabeth, – it’s the borough of Queens this time.
Ad Hoc Art,
with the Queen Alison Buxton and her ever-loyal servant Garrison at the helm, are putting together a very fun and expansive show on the walls on Saturday.
We know the list, and there are a couple special guests, so don’t miss it.  It’s kind of far, but it will be worth it when you get there.

I dunno, I want to try something new.  How about pink highlights? (JMR) (photo © and courtesy Jim Rizzi)
I dunno, I want to try something new. How about pink highlights? (JMR) (photo © and courtesy Jim Rizzi)

Welling Court Artists include: Alice Mizrachi, Beast, Chris Mendoza, Chris Stain, Celso, Cern, Cey Adams, CR, Cycle, Dan Witz, Darkclouds, Daryll Peirce, Don Leicht, Ellis G, Free5, Gaia, Garrison & Alison Buxton, Greg Lamarche, JMR, John Fekner, Lady Pink, Leon Reid, Matt Siren, M-City, Michael De Feo, Mr. Kiji, Pablo Power, Peripheral Media Projects, R. Nicholas Kuszyk, Remi/Rough, Ron English, Royce Bannon, Sofia Maldonado, Stormie Mills, Sweet Toof, Swoon, TooFly, Tristan Eaton, and Veng RWK.

Read more about Welling Court Mural Project HERE

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Bushwick Beat: Stalking the Wild Street Art with Vincent Cornelli

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

Te Amo © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

C215 on a firebox © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

Know Hope © Vincent Cornelli

Know Hope © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

Bast and Clown Soldier © Vincent Cornelli

Bast and Clown Soldier © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

Robots Will Kill © Vincent Cornelli

Robots Will Kill © Vincent Cornelli

Mac and Remed © Vincent Cornelli

© Vincent Cornelli

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

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

See more of Vinny’s work HERE

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“Mutate Britain” installs “One Foot in the Grove”

Banner-Hello-Brooklyn

The British have such a funny sense of humor – or HUMOUR, that they call this new mega-street-art-show opening in London called  “One Foot in the Grove”.

Or Hpfumourre, in King Oxibald English.

The New Mutate Britain Exhibition One Foot In The Grove Is Launched
Artist ‘Matty Small’ puts on the finishing touches yesterday. (photo Oli Scarff)

The “One Foot in the Grove” exhibition of street art by ‘Mutate Britain’ – I think this is the second year – is getting underway Friday, and preparations have begun IN EARNEST.

The New Mutate Britain Exhibition One Foot In The Grove Is Launched
The K-Guy working on a stencil (photo Oli Scarff)

The exhibition features: sculptures, paintings, stencils and graffiti from some of the world’s most well-known street artists, and Bortusk Leer. (kidding!)

The New Mutate Britain Exhibition One Foot In The Grove Is Launched
SickBoy did a loverly re-facing of this trailer. Which reminds me – I better buy  plane tickets home for Thanksgiving before the prices go up! (photo Oli Scarff)

Situated on the edge of a public transport line, the event hopes to draw over 20,000 visitors and is open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from October 9, 2009 till October 25, 2009.

The New Mutate Britain Exhibition One Foot In The Grove Is Launched
A giant floral skull hovers over these 2 unsuspecting lads sitting on …. Suburu seats? (artist:Part 2-ism)  (photo Oli Scarff)

Who’s in this show, you ask?
Read them and weep. (Well you won’t weep, just being dramatic.)

Mutate Britain says there are over 12,000 square feet of street art, sculpture and installations featuring: Joe Rush , Obey , Alex Wreckage , Fark FK , Dotmasters , Pete Dunne , Zeus , Snub , Cyclops , Sweet Toof , Best Ever , Part2ism , The Krah , Nick Walker , Teddy Baden , Dr D ,Bleech , zadok , Giles Walker , Remi Rough , Bortusk Leer , Blam , Pure Evil , Milo , Andy Seize , Carrie Reichardt , Milk , Dora , Dep , Alex Fasko , Stickboy , Mr Insa , Mac1 , Miss Buggs , Strappa , Josephine , Mr Wim , Swarm , Misecellany , Joe Black , Auction Saboteur , Busk , Bonsai , Rabodiga , Probs.

photographer Oli Scarff’s site

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Martha Cooper’s Influence: Inspiration, Imitation, and Flattery

Martha Cooper’s Influence: Inspiration, Imitation, and Flattery

For the silly folks who consider themselves ordained to be critics, the prodigious street art scene in New York just bubbles with possibilities.

One of the favorite criticisms of a street artists’ piece today is its’ lack of originality, whether because it closely resembles the style of anothers’ work already on the street, or because it seems like an outright appropriation.  Imitation is not always interpreted as flattery.

It’s a fine line to tread for any creative person – dancer, singer, fashion designer, or stencil artist – when they decide to “pay homage” to the work of another, or merely to love it so much that is serves as an “influence”.   One recent discovery on the street by New York street art photographer Jaime Rojo included this wheat-paste of a pretty famous image from the New York photographer, Diane Arbus, smacked onto a bed of tropical flowers by Shin Shin:

Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, New York City (1962), by Diane Arbus. On the right

Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, New York City (1962), by Diane Arbus. On the right street artist JC2 colors the grenade red. (photo Jaime Rojo)

A quick search of the Arbus image reveals that it has served as inspiration for other street artists here,  and here, and here, and here, and even in Spokane!  Diane Arbus passed away in 1971 and this is one of her images that has passed through the years into the popular conscience.  A case could be made that the image somehow belongs to the people to do with it as they wish, invoking new meanings or recall old ones.  Maybe.  Ask Che Guevara.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-WEB-copyright-jazirock-Martha-Cooper

Ready for Anything! Martha Cooper as shot by Jazi Rock

Martha Cooper has been taking pictures for more than fifty years. Yes, you read it right. With a continuously curious mind and sharp eye, Martha Cooper takes photos wherever she goes (including  Japan, Afghanistan, Guatemala and Surinam, to name a few), and it is a rare day you will see her without her camera draped around her neck.

Well known in the New York City graffiti and Street Art scene, she’s seen her images in National Geographic, Smithsonian and Natural History Magazines as well as several dozen books and journals.  Her photographs of New York’s streets and people are also burned into the minds of thousands; particularly the minds of young artists worldwide who examined their own creative skills after laying their eyes on “Subway Art”, the book she and Henry Chalfant published a quarter century ago.  Many have since used Martha’s work as inspiration for their own.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Dondi-by-Martha-Cooper-and-Grotesk

Cooper’s now iconic image of graffiti writer Dondi was the inspiration for the work by Grotesk on the right.

Ms. Cooper is no diva, but she is direct. Well traveled and warm, she smiles and laughs easily when talking with most people, and when the subject is photography, she easily shares her knowledge and opinion with you. In the past few years, a number of artists have been inspired by her work, and while humble, she is proud of the ongoing influence it has had.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-WEB-Easy173-does-Dondi-by-Martha-Cooper

Easy173 did a mural (left) based on her photo of Dondi (right) (photos Martha Cooper)

Brooklyn Street Art: How do you feel when your work is appropriated and re-purposed by another artist?

Martha Cooper: I’m flattered the artists are actually looking at my work and liking it well enough to create something new based on it.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Martha-Cooper-Fire-hydrant-Nazza-LP

This image from “Street Play” by Martha was reinterpreted by Nazza on an LP vinyl. (photo Martha Cooper)

 

Street artist Chris Stain credits the photography of Ms. Cooper for shaping his own view of art and culture, and her impact can not be overestimated in his view.  He has poured over the pages of her books for years and internalized the imagery as well as the messages they convey about urban culture, the hip hop movement, and people.

“Martha’s influence on my work began back in 1984 when I first stole a copy of ‘Subway Art’. Graffiti hadn’t been documented so intimately (except by writers) in my opinion up until this point. I sat for hours day after day studying the photos, turning the book sideways and upside down trying to come up with my own styles.

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“Urban Harmony” (upper right) by Chris Stain incorporates 3 of Martha Coopers images into one of his pieces (2 shown here)


 

 

Had it not been for her initial documentation I don’t think graffiti or hip hop would be the world wide phenomenon it is today. With the release of ‘Hip Hop Files’ a few years ago I got more of an insight into her photo journalistic work; Once again she was capturing the essence of the birth of a movement.

When I look at those photos today at 37 I feel like I’m 11 years old again.  I am met with the same excitement as when I first witnessed them. But more importantly I have the same hope that people can build their dreams out of seemingly nothing.

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Chris Stain and Armsrock pose for Martha Cooper in front of some of Chris’s work that was influenced by Martha’s photographs. (photo © Martha Cooper)

 

 

 

I came across ‘Street Play’ and immediately connected with the photographs of kids playing in their neighborhoods. This time I contacted Martha and asked permission to work from some of the pictures. She kindly obliged. Since then I have worked from a number of her photographs.

Her work speaks to me directly not only because she is from Baltimore but because she goes to the “heart” of the matter.  Whether its Dondi hanging on and painting in-between subway cars, Ken Swift floor rockin’ at Common Ground, or a child holding his pigeon to the sky on a rooftop, Martha’s work is undeniably not only the most prolific but some of the most important documentation of organic cultures and city life to have grown out of New York and America as a whole.” – Chris Stain

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“Among the artists who have ‘re-interpreted’ my photos include the Burning Candy Crew in London.  Henry Chalfant and I were recently there for the London release of ‘Subway Art’ at Black Rat Gallery and Burning Candy painted a lot of canvases from Subway Art.”

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Whistling while they work, these goulish Sweet Toof train writers influenced by photos by Martha Cooper in “Subway Art”

Brooklyn Street Art: Did you think that eventually your work would be influential to a generation of artists and photographers?

Martha Cooper: Not at all. I would say that my work is pretty much unknown to artists and photographers of my own generation so it’s especially gratifying to connect with younger artists and photogs.

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An image by Martha Cooper on the left was interpreted in a large mural street artist Armsrock did with Chris Stain in Brooklyn at the end of July. Says Martha, “I took that photo on the Lower East Side (of Manhattan) in 1978. Don’t know who the boy is or anything more about his drawing. The photo is part of a series published in my book ‘Street Play’.” (photo on right by Jaime Rojo)

 

see a video of the mural above being created here

Brooklyn Street Art: What’s your impression of the current state of street art in New York?
Martha Cooper: Well I’m definitely not an expert or any kind of art historian so I can’t give you a definitive evaluation. However  I love walking around and being surprised by all the fresh stuff going up all over the place. If it weren’t for street art, NYC would be turning into a bland and boring city.

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“Shepard Fairey has also worked with two of the images from ‘Street Play’, says Martha. Fairey selected five of the troops from this group of toughs when creating this poster called “Defiant Youth” this year. (photo Martha Cooper, poster Shepard Fairey)

 

Brooklyn Street Art: Why aren’t there more female street artists?
Martha Cooper: I have no idea. I wish there were more. I’m working on another little sticker book, this one about the smaller name badges. I couldn’t find even one active “Hello My Name Is” female stickerer. Do you know any?

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Shepard Fairey only slightly changed this image of kids jumping off a fire escape onto a pile of mattresses when he converted it into a stencil. This spring and summer a version of the image was made by Obey’s clothing line into skateboards, caps, t-shirts, and bags along with others of Martha’s “Street Play” photos.  (photo on left Martha Cooper)

Brooklyn Street Art: When you hit the street, camera in hand, do you consider yourself more of a photo-journalist, or an artist?
Martha Cooper: Neither–an ethnographer.

Brooklyn Street Art: Do you have a word of advice to a street art photographer starting today in New York?
Martha Cooper: Back-up!

– Good advice from a person who has catalogued perhaps hundreds of thousands of images of graffiti and street art over the last 30 years. We continued our dialogue about the use of Martha’s images over the years, and she added this clarification, I’m pretty much a purist when it comes to my own photography. I absolutely hate when designers want to mess with my photos. I want my photos to be used as I took them. However, when an artist wants to take one of my photos and turn it into a completely different piece of art, I don’t mind at all.

To paraphrase Martha and the critics, the guidance one would offer to a street artist (and any artist) is “Be original”.

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Special thanks to Jazi Rock, who at 12 years old “was infected by the graffiti bug when he saw Martha Cooper’s infamous book circulate around his neighborhood” of Baltimore.  See more at his website.

Photo of Martha above by JaziRock – his website JaziRock.com is HERE

 

See Martha Cooper this weekend with her newest book "Going Postal"

See Martha Cooper this weekend with her newest book “Going Postal”

 

Martha Cooper will be at the MBP Urban Arts Festival this Saturday October 3rd in Bushwick Brooklyn. A multitude of street artists, musical acts, skaters, vendors, and live painting events will be there. You can learn more about the festival HERE.

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The day before that on October 2nd, Martha Cooper will be at The New York Art Book Fair.  Stop by the SCB booth (Z-01).

Friday, Oct 2nd
2pm – 4pm: Daze, Ghost and Papermonster (with dirtypilot.com online gallery)
4pm-6pm: Martha Cooper (photojournalist/NY graffiti scene documentarian), author of Tag Town, Hip Hop Files, and Street Play

Saturday, Oct 3rd
11am – 1pm: Alain “KET” Maridueña (hip hop artist/activist)
2pm – 4pm: Ron English (contemporary pop artist)

You can learn more about the Book Fair HERE.

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Read Martha Cooper’s Blog on Juxtapoz

Read Martha Cooper on 120z.Prophet

“Subway Art” 25th Anniversary Edition

Read more