All posts tagged: Yote

The Painted Desert, Part II

July 10, 2012 ,

The sheltering sky is huge in Navajo country, and city slicker Street Artists have room to expand their minds and their imaginations when they get out to see the landscape dotted by occasional man-made structures. Jetsonorama and Yote invited a handful of them to come out and meet some local artists and the folks who live here.

By meeting the business owners and community members who invited them to create work on their buildings, the artists learned a little about local customs, their histories, and relationships. According to Jetsonorama, the guys appreciated that this project wasn’t about big walls with lots of exposure and were interested in connecting with people and the land to inspire their work. The resulting collection has a character and context very specific to the culture and the qualities of life here.

Overunder. White and yellow corn are symbols that play into the creation story for many native people. Overunder incorporated those symbols with the power lines that punctuate the sky here. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Overunder. White Corn, Yellow Corn. Detail.  (photo © Jetsonorama)

Overunder added a rainbow to encourage rain. Shortly after he finished it, the sky obliged. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Overunder (photo © Jetsonorama)

Gaia at Labrona’s Wall (photo © Jetsonorama)

Labrona. Detail. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Labrona (photo © Jetsonorama)

Labrona and Gaia collaboration. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Labrona and Gaia collaboration. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Gaia. The Bluebird Diner. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Gaia. The Bluebird Diner. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Gaia. The Bluebird Diner. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Gaia (photo © Jetsonorama)

Doodles (photo © Jetsonorama)

Doodles (photo © Jetsonorama)

Doodles and Labrona collaboration. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Doodles takes in the universe at White Mesa Arch. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. Ben Water is Life. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. King of the Store. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama and Breeze Collaboration. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Breeze (photo © Jetsonorama)

Tom Greyeyes (photo © Jetsonorama)

Doing pullups on a fence. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Click HERE to see Part I of The Painted Desert Project

<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA

Please note: All content including images and text are © BrooklynStreetArt.com, unless otherwise noted. We like sharing BSA content for non-commercial purposes as long as you credit the photographer(s) and BSA, include a link to the original article URL and do not remove the photographer’s name from the .jpg file. Otherwise, please refrain from re-posting. Thanks!

<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA

Read more

Images of the Week 06.17.12

June 17, 2012 , , ,

Welling Court, in Queens, NYC is a city block where three-family homes intermingle with small family owned business — a nice old-fashioned model with today’s 1st and 2nd generation immigrants taking a crack at an American dream. The art-minded Buxtons, Allison and Garrison, never seem to tire of providing a safe, roomy space to artists to create within and for the third year they have hosted “Welling Court” here in this neighborhood. But it’s more than a bunch of mismatched weirdo art kids getting up on walls with their own vision and isolated from their surroundings. Allison and Garrison want all the kids to play together nicely and that’s why yesterday there were also bicycle races down the main block with a chalk finish line, a section of wall reserved for all ages to try their can skillz, and that’s why moms and dads  brought out food in metal trays and set up barbecues and used a truck as a mobile dj booth to blast cumbias and reggae inflected dance/hip-hop/two-step/classic rock all up and down the block.

As we celebrate Father’s Day today we gotta hand it to the ones who stay involved and engaged in their kids lives, and to the stand-in Dads who give guidance and encouragement to all of us when the real ones aren’t to be found. We also salute the Buxtons’ experiment in building art and community here, where aerosol fumes mix with barbecue smoke and an international bevy of Street Artists come to let their guard down and get their game on. It’s not commercial, often exceeds expectations, and always engenders feelings and behaviors of “family”.  And doesn’t everybody benefit from that?

We begin this Sunday’s Images of the Week with a small selection of some of the completed murals from yesterday. We’ll bring you the full account later in the week. The second part of today’s images show BSA readers some exclusive images of new Street Art sent to us from around the world. Artists include, Brett Armory, Cekis, Dan Witz, Hellbent, Michael Aaron Williams, Olek, R. Robots, Rene Gagnon, Skewville, Skount, Stormie Mills, and Yote.

Let’s start off with this little bundle of joy from New York Street Artist and fine artist Dan Witz, who may have based this portrait on someone he knows quite well.

Dan Witz. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Hellbent. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Rene Gagnon. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Stormie Mills. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Stormie Mills. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

OLEK. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dan Witz. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cekis. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Whoops, dropped one!” Rene Gagnon at Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

RRobots presents a departure from his usual street fare. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Skewville. Welling Court 2012 (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Brett Amory doing a miniature portrait series on the street in San Francisco for Spoke Art Gallery. (photo © Berlin Tomas)

Brett Amory in San Francisco for Spoke Art Gallery. (photo © Brett Amory)

Getting ready for take-off! Michael Aaron Williams. Chai. Thailand (photo © Michael Aaron Williams)

Michael Aaron Williams. Chai. Thailand. (photo © Michael Aaron Williams)

Skount shares a lot of “Fisherman Color” in Tel-Aviv at the Old Seaport. (photo © Skount)

Skount. A collaged photo of “Fisherman Color” Tel-Aviv, Old Seaport. (photo © Skount)

Olek in Montreal inspired by Street Artist Stikki Peaches. (photo © Olek)

Olek in Montreal inspired by Street Artist Stikki Peaches. (photo © Olek)

Yote “Flowers for Frederick” A mural dedicated to artist Frederick Brown. (photo © Yote)

Street Artist Yote sends this tribute to an artist and teacher. “Frederick Brown recently passed away and I wanted to dedicate this mural to him. It is entitled “Flowers for Frederick.”  He was best known for his portraits of jazz singers and musicians.  I talked to him on the phone this spring in hopes to get advice on how to loosen up my style and not be such a perfectionist from a real expressionist.  He was too sick to talk for long but I do know he used to instruct students to complete two dozen paintings in a week and things like that to get them out of their head and into painting”~  Yote

Yote “Flowers for Frederick” A mural dedicated to artist Frederick Brown. (photo © Yote)

 

<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA

Please note: All content including images and text are © BrooklynStreetArt.com, unless otherwise noted. We like sharing BSA content for non-commercial purposes as long as you credit the photographer(s) and BSA, include a link to the original article URL and do not remove the photographer’s name from the .jpg file. Otherwise, please refrain from re-posting. Thanks!

<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA<<>>><><<>BSA<<>>><<<>><><BSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more

Jetsonorama & Yote Start “The Painted Desert Project” In The Navajo

June 16, 2012

We’re beginning to see an ever growing mural/wheat-paste/stencil circuit, a clan-like constellation of firing synapses across the globe, the informally formal collecting together of Street Artists in one town or area to smash some walls and exchange tips, learn new skills, make connections. Sometimes there’s a budget, sometimes there’s just beer.

But it’s cool to see this generation of Street Artists reaching out to each other and hosting in their town, even cultivating an exchange that is personal and cultural. Having just returned back to the Navajo reservation from his trip out east to Baltimore to participate in the Open Walls project, Street Artist Jetsonorama is readying his own version with his buddy, a Street Artist you know well from these pages named Yote.

They’re calling it “The Painted Desert Project”.

Jetsonorama. Step in Cedar Ridge. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Together they imagined inviting some of their favorite Street Artists to the Navajo nation to paint. Jetsonorama gives Yote the credit for thinking up the archtypical roadside stand as a recurring mural location. “He first voiced the idea,” says Jetsonorama, “but as soon as he said it, I was already drawing up my dream list because I’d been entertaining this idea too.”

So there you have it. A project can happen if you dare speak the words, and these two guys are bringing some of their dream list, plus a couple of surprises, back to their stomping grounds to make art. The list includes Gaia, Doodles, Chris Stain, OverUnder, Labrona, and local talents like Thomas “Breeze” Marcus from the Tohono O’odham and Salt River Native communities.  To set the stage, here are a number of pieces by Jetsonorama to whet your desert appetite.

Jetsonorama. Step in JR’s House. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. Cavalene’s Right Eye. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. Cavalene. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. King Fowler on Shed. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. King Fowler in Front of The Store. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. Ben. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. Ben on Hugo’s Stand. (photo © Jetsonorama)

Jetsonorama. John Begishie. (photo © Jetsonorama)

 

Read more
Jeice2 Brings 2 Wild Wolves in Gerena, Spain

Jeice2 Brings 2 Wild Wolves in Gerena, Spain

April 9, 2012 , ,

Jeice 2 checks in the with the animal kingdom as he starts a new series he’ll call “Savage Planet”.  The street artist has experimented with a variety of styles on the street over the last year including a bright abstract lined candy corner in Seville and most recently a portrait of William Burroughs.

Jeice 2 “The Couple” (photo © Jeice2)

Here he brings “The Couple” to a supporting bridge pylon – with a natural hand and sketch stroke, the topic and the style may remind you of animal portraiture done by Gaia, Yote, ROA, and more recently Willow in New York.  Here in a greener environment that’s more natural than the urban detritus of Brooklyn, it feels more home-like for these two blue eyed beauties.

Jeice 2 “The Couple” (photo © Jeice2)

Jeice 2 “The Couple” (photo © Jeice2)

Jeice 2 “The Couple” (photo © Jeice2)

Read more

Jetsonorama & Yote Laying Plans for “The Painted Desert”

March 12, 2012 , ,

Arizona based Street Artists Jetsonorama and Yote are embarking on a new project they’re calling “The Painted Desert” with a growing roster of Street Artists you know.

The project is reaching out to an array of Street Artists to put their stuff up on roadside structures in western agency of the Navajo nation.  As part of a wheat-pasting project Jetsonorama began in 2009, the plans include holding mural making workshops and information sessions for youth who live on the reservation.

 

Jetsonorama (photo © Jetsonorama)

It looks like the project is picking up steam with commitments from Street Artists including Gaia, Chris Stain, Overunder, Doodles, Breeze, and Yote, who are all planning to get up over the next year. Also we hear that Swoon has some special plans, so that will be a point of interest too, and Henry Chalfant is also lending his support.

Says the organizers, “The project seeks to boost the economy by having the art be a destination for those who get it and to share the knowledge that we have as artists with local youth.” Sounds like Street Artists are poised to help the community again.

Learn more about “Painted Desert Project” is on Facebook and you can make a donation to the effort if you like.

 

Read more

Monster Island in Williamsburg; 2004-2011

November 8, 2011 , , , ,

By now it has been very well documented that Monster Island in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has closed its doors after seven years of art exploration and experimentation with murals, art shows and music concerts. The building is set for demolition and it is rumored that it will be replaced by a Whole Foods Store.

During these years we’ve watched the exterior of Monster Island with great interest as it was an every-changing heaven for emerging artists to show their stuff to the public. The environment engendered creativity; With non for profit art galleries and performance spaces, an underground music venue, a surf shop, a screen-print studio, a recording studio, several artists studios and a family of lovely street cats, Monster Island was a symbol of what Williamsburg was all about; artists and community struggling to make cool stuff for each other and sometimes a big audience. Since the early 1990s, ad-hoc love-driven venues like this have opened and closed, along with art parties, loft performances, artist collectives, and a loose association of art galleries. The settlement of writers, dancers, bands, performers, and all sorts of artists helped give the area a decided edge, even if you couldn’t convince your Manhattan friends to come visit the neighborhood at night.

Kid Acne (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Now “The Edge” of course is the name of a corporate looking glass tower on the waterfront and the moderate frightened masses began their march to Williamsburg after the developers re-zoned 30+ blocks in North Brooklyn in 2005, transforming it quickly to a New York suburb with quirky, kooky shopping opportunities. It’s an old story, but we have to tell it; Now the rents are too high and the culture is increasingly inhospitable to artists and the Monster Island landlord has a different plan for the lot and the lease wasn’t renewed.  Williamsburg is going upscale just like Manhattan and the rest of the city and for struggling artists and the venues that give them shelter and nurture them this is another reason why we are watching people move to other neighborhoods or out of New York altogether. In a way, this is what NYC is all about; Re-invention and greed.

We have been photographing the ever-changing facade of this building that was offered as a canvas for local and visiting artists all over the world to put their art up. Today we pay homage and say farewell to this iconic institution and to the people that endeavored to make it unique with a photo essay of the numerous murals that went up there since 2004. We have made an effort to identify most of the artists. Please let us know if you know the names of the artists we have tagged as unknown or if we erroneously credited a piece of art.

Armsrock (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Armsrock (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Maya Hayuk (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Ripo and Maya Hayuk (photo © Jaime Rojo)

 “This Wall Could Be Your Life” was a 7-year project conceived, curated and solely funded by Maya Hayuk. “For the following seven years artists were invited from all over the world, given paint, space and freedom to create” Maya Hayuk. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

This spring the Lilac bush outside the building was majestic. Punto and Blok’s mural on the background. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Wolfy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Noah Sparkes (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ROA (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ROA pulls a rabbit out of a hog. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

MOMO and Zosen  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

MOMO and Zosen working on a makeover. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Waldo with a hook looks on as an artist works on a makeover. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Troy Lovegates AKA OTHER. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Troy Lovegates AKA Other, Deuce 7 and Pork. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

YOTE (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Hellbent and Hellcat (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Cat with Punto’s mural in the background. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

I just finished my installation. Time to take a cat nap. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A Spring 2011 model. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Skewville (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Kyle Ranson and Oliver Halsman Rosenberg. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Julia Langhof (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Maya Hayuk. As a final collective event, a paint pour and block party was organized in September. Multiple artists went up to the roof and poured paint down the walls, a colorful blessing on the home that gave so many opportunities to artists and built community.  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Maya Hayuk. Paint Pour (photo © Jaime Rojo)

An unknown artist painted this figure while the building awaits demolition. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Chris Uphues gives the building a heart while it awaits demolition. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Read more

Happy New Year! BSA Highlights of 2010

December 31, 2010
Year-in-review-2010-header

As we start a new year, we say thank you for the last one.

And Thank You to the artists who shared their 11 Wishes for 2011 with Brooklyn Street Art; Conor Harrington, Eli Cook, Indigo, Gilf, Todd Mazer, Vasco Mucci, Kimberly Brooks, Rusty Rehl, Tip Toe, Samson, and Ludo. You each contributed a very cool gift to the BSA family, and we’re grateful.

We looked over the last year to take in all the great projects we were in and fascinating people we had the pleasure to work with. It was a helluva year, and please take a look at the highlights to get an idea what a rich cultural explosion we are all a part of at this moment.

The new year already has some amazing new opportunities to celebrate Street Art and artists. We are looking forward to meeting you and playing with you and working with you in 2011.

A very special thanks to Kimberly Brooks and the team at Huffington Post for seeing the value of Street Art and for encouraging us to be a part of the HuffPost Arts coverage in 2010. It has been a great honor and we look forward to more great stuff in ’11.
Specter does “Gentrification Series” © Jaime Rojo
NohJ Coley and Gaia © Jaime Rojo
Jef Aerosol’s tribute to Basquiat © Jaime Rojo
***

January
Imminent Disaster © Steven P. Harrington
Fauxreel (photo courtesy the artist)
Chris Stain at Brooklyn Bowl © Jaime Rojo

February
Various & Gould © Jaime Rojo
Anthony Lister on the street © Jaime Rojo
Trusto Corp was lovin it.

March
Martha Cooper, Shepard Fairey © Jaime Rojo
BSA’s Auction for Free Arts NYC
Crotched objects began appearing on the street this year. © Jaime Rojo

April
BSA gets some walls for ROA © Jaime Rojo
Dolk at Brooklynite © Steven P. Harrington
BSA gets Ludo some action “Pretty Malevolence” © Jaime Rojo

May
The Crest Hardware Art Show © Jaime Rojo
NohJ Coley © Jaime Rojo
The Phun Phactory Reboot in Williamsburg © Steven P. Harrington

June
Sarah Palin by Billi Kid
Nick Walker with BSA in Brooklyn © Jaime Rojo
Judith Supine at “Shred” © Jaime Rojo

July
Interview with legend Futura © Jaime Rojo
Os Gemeos and Martha Cooper © Jaime Rojo
Skewville at Electric Windows © Jaime Rojo

August
Specter Spot-Jocks Shepard Fairey © Jaime Rojo
“Bienvenidos” campaign
Faile studio visit © Jaime Rojo

September
BSA participates and sponsors New York’s first “Nuit Blanche” © Jaime Rojo
JC2 © Jaime Rojo
How, Nosm, R. Robots © Jaime Rojo

October
Faile “Bedtime Stories” © Jaime Rojo
Judith Supine © Jaime Rojo
Photo © Roswitha Guillemin courtesy Galerie Itinerrance

November
H. Veng Smith © Jaime Rojo
Sure. Photo courtesy Faust
Kid Zoom © Jaime Rojo

December

and on the Huffington Post:

10 Best Street Art Moments of the Decade (PHOTOS)

Best Brooklyn Street Art of 2010 (SLIDESHOW)

==========

Read more

Brooklyn Street Art: 2010 Year In Images (VIDEO)

December 20, 2010 , , , , , , ,

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.

Read more

Yote: “The Bienvenidos Campaign” Update

October 18, 2010 , , ,

brooklyn-street-art-election-2010

Political postering has a long tradition in the public space – from slick to goofy to earnest to comic, everyone can get into the game of smacking their opinions on a wall or staking it onto a patch of grass. Street Artist Yote has jumped into the ring this year by putting his hand-painted signs amidst the forest of political missives along streets in Arizona.

In Yote’s case, it’s more of a plea for tolerance and brotherhood rather than a shill for a specific vote. Always a fanastic money maker for politicians and even religious leaders, the flames of good old fashioned racism have been fanned again this year. Here’s to the one-person campaign to dampen their enthusiasm.

brooklyn-street-art-yote-10-10-14-web

Yote spoke to BSA about the background for his personal/political campaign called “Bienvenidos”.

“A few days after Governor Jan Brewer signed SB1070 into law she signed HB2281.  2281 bans all ethnic studies programs in public High Schools in the state of Arizona. 

Last Thursday and Friday were two events for Ethnic Studies Week here in Prescott, AZ.  I donated t-shirts I silk screened saying “Eduquémonos,” meaning “Educate Ourselves.” As well as some “Bienvenidos” stickers for them to sell.  I was excited to hear that hundreds of dollars were raised for the Ethnic Studies Defense Fund from those two events.  I also donated 50 “Bienvenidos” yard signs for the defendants and students to take back to Tucson.

brooklyn-street-art-yote-10-10-00-web

As the sunset on Saturday Night a couple friends and I descended into Phoenix to add our voices to the political dialogue. Methodically we followed the light rail from North Phoenix to Mesa installing yard signs at every intersection already littered with political campaign signs.
brooklyn-street-art-yote-10-10-69-web
We continued on to Guadalupe, a small town that in part inspired this project.  My friend who runs The Garage Bike Shop there had told me a lot of people had left over the summer.  Moved on to other places where they would have more security. In the shopping center where his shop is they were down to only a few business still open.  Leaving about 20 vacancies. When I was there last fall every storefront was open.  There was so much life and abundance then, now its just quiet.  But my friend tells me the people who are here, are here to stay. They are ready to ride out whatever else is coming.
brooklyn-street-art-yote-10-10-15-web
Then we headed north to the arts district and hit a few more spots in central Phoenix before finally ending the night on McDowell in West Phoenix.  Over 100 signs were distributed throughout Phoenix. Keep an eye out for more appearing all over the rest of the state leading up to the November 2nd election.
brooklyn-street-art-yote-10-10-83-web
Arriving home just before sunrise I was exhausted but felt elated to be participating in the immigration debate.  As the election nears I hope “The Bienvenidos Campaign” can help shift the Immigration debate into a more constructive conversation.  I also hope businesses and communities embrace the image to represent the hope for safer and healthier communities.
brooklyn-street-art-yote-10-10-87-web
Here is a great trailer for a new documentary about some students experience in the Raza Studies program in Tucson, AZ. http://vimeo.com/15062646
To Support the Bienvenidos Campaign go here:
A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to the Ethnic Studies Defense Fund.
brooklyn-street-art-yote-10-10-88-web

Text and Images ©Yote

Read more

“Bienvenidos”: Street Artist YOTE Puts His Art Where His Heart Is

September 15, 2010 ,

Hospitality is one of our virtues throughout history…  Along with periodic phases of racism and immigrant bashing.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Yote-Bienvenidos-on-fence

For Fall 2010, brown is the new black and Arizona is working the runway with Jan Brewer on the catwalk!  But let’s not all lose our heads, neighbors. Street Artist YOTE is firing up the grill and putting the ignorance on ice to welcome the Spanish speakers for an Indian Summer barbecue in Arizona (which used to be part of Mexico).

“Bienvenidos”; It’s Biblical, for those who profess to live by the teachings of that book. Judeo-Christian values. Welcome, Bienvenidos. The Pilgrims certainly relied on those values when arriving to Plymouth for a better life and the American Indians practiced hospitality even without reading the guests’ holy book..

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Yote-Bienvenidos-stencil

Since this is campaign season in the US and Arizona symbolizes the most recent immigrant-bashing wave, Street Artist YOTE has created colorful messaging to at least divert some of the hate toward a more sane and healthy discussion about immigration in this country. The “Bienvenidos” Campaign posters are meant to remind the kind-hearted among us to speak up and practice hospitality to the newest immigrants in our midst. To raise funds for his signs (as all real campaigns must) he’s got a limited edition of signed posters for your house. The proceeds of the sales of this poster will help him fund his project.

brooklyn-street-art-yote-bienvenidos

YOTE describes the campaign:

“Over the summer of 2010 I have experienced very contradicting feelings for the state of Arizona. It was not hard to see how laws like 1070, 2281 and 287(g) have caused fear to spread through local communities, the state, and the rest of the country. By juxtaposing the Arizona state flag with the word “Bienvenidos”, I hope to spread a positive and affirming message throughout our communities. This symbol will appear as a political campaign sign leading to the November 2nd election. Additionally this symbol will appear as a sticker for residences, business and rebels who wish to express that all people are welcome in their homes, stores and communities. My intention is that the “Bienvenidos” symbol will spread throughout the state to be both a visible resistance to laws like 1070 and a representation of the hope for safer communities in the state of Arizona and beyond.  All proceeds from the limited edition of signed posters will go to the production of “Bienvenidos” campaign signs and stickers. Thank you.”

brooklyn-street-art-yote-bienvenidos-1

VOTE FOR YOTE

Here’s a LINK to his “Bienvenidos” print:

Read more

Images Of The Week 08.15.10 on BSA

August 15, 2010 , , , ,

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

Our weekly interview with the Streets: This week featuring Os Gemeos, Futura, Feral, MOMO, Overunder, Peat Wollaeger, URNewYork, $howta, White Cocoa, QRST, Michael Williams, Yote, and Tip Toe

Os Gemeos, Futura (© Jaime Rojo)

Os Gemeos, Futura (© Jaime Rojo)

See our interviews with Futura and Os Gemeos

Feral (© Jaime Rojo)

Feral (© Jaime Rojo)

Momo (© Jaime Rojo)

MOMO (© Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (© Jaime Rojo)

OverUnder (© Jaime Rojo)

Peat Wollaeger and URNewYork (© Jaime Rojo)

Peat Wollaeger and URNewYork (© Jaime Rojo)

$hota (© Jaime Rojo)

$howta (© Jaime Rojo)

White Cocoa (photo © Jaime Rojo)
White Cocoa (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Feral (© Jaime Rojo)

Feral (© Jaime Rojo)

QRST (© Jaime Rojo)

QRST (© Jaime Rojo)

Michael Williams (© Jaime Rojo)

Michael Williams (© Jaime Rojo)

Yote Mail Bunny. (© Jaime Rojo)

Sumbunny’s waiting for a letter. Yote. (© Jaime Rojo)

© Jaime Rojo

© Jaime Rojo

Tip Toe (© Jaime Rojo)

Tip Toe (© Jaime Rojo)

Os Gemeos, Futura (© Jaime Rojo)

Os Gemeos, Futura (© Jaime Rojo)

Read more

Yote, Jetsonorama and Joerael: Fertility on the Range in AZ

July 12, 2010

Brooklyn-Street-Art-HEADER-Yote-Jetsonorama-Joerael-July2010-_0159

Street Artists in sunny Gray Mountain, Arizona took a trip to the Navajo Reservation this weekend to hit one of their favorite abandoned sites. The juxtaposition of their work on the storage tanks as sculptures against the AZ sky somehow makes their impact profound.  Add to this the fact that the three hadn’t realized their individual pieces would all carry a central theme of fertility until installing them, and the site could take on a mystic quality. Or maybe they were just freaking themselves out chewing on some peyote.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Yote-Jetsonorama-Joerael-July2010-0143

The unplanned coincidence began to take on an added dimension as Joerael worked on his fertility medicine man character and Jetsonorama installed the mother and child image. Yote’s rabbit, a traditional symbol of fertility, and ear of corn, a symbol of harvest, finished the theme.  Whether the theme arose from the land or from like minds, this co-incidental installation is further evidence of the fertile soil that the current street art crop is planted in.

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Yote-Jetsonorama-Joerael-July2010-_0142Brooklyn-Street-Art-Yote-Jetsonorama-Joerael-July2010-_0175

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Yote-Jetsonorama-Joerael-July2010-_0159

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Yote-Jetsonorama-Joerael-July2010-_0154


Read more

Featured Video | Martin Wong’s “Houston Street”

Recent Articles on BSA