This past weekend’s third iteration of the Welling Court block party, organized by the tireless Alison and Garrison Buxton, was a huge success. The total number of walls now painted in this corner of Astoria has almost reached 100! Here’s a small taste of what went down on Saturday…
Toofly (photo by Luna Park)
Sheryo in action (photo by Luna Park)
Never and The Yok pieces in progress (photo by Luna Park)
Score and Flying Fortress in progress (photo by Luna Park)
Skewville piece in progress (photo by Luna Park)
Chris RWK in action (photo by Luna Park)
Veng in action (photo by Luna Park)
John Fekner & Don Leicht (photo by Luna Park)
Ellis G in the foreground w/Sinned in progress (photo by Luna Park)
Fumero in action (photo by Luna Park)
Taking in Joe Iurato’s finished piece (photo by Luna Park)
SpOne (photo by Luna Park)
Cost, Darkcloud and Keely (photo by Luna Park)
Admiring Chris Stain and Billy Mode’s work (photo by Luna Park)
Cekis (photo by Luna Park)
URNewYork in action (photo by Luna Park)
Cern’s balloons (photo by Luna Park)
Score by night (photo by Luna Park)
Click through for The Street Spot’s coverage of Welling Court in 2011 and 2010.
This Williamsburg rooftop has taken on a decidedly international flair – Spain’s Nuria rolled out a large, pink geometric form on the roof between the even pinker chompers Britain’s Sweet Toof recently left behind. While other rats thrive all over the city, only the head of Roa’s rat remains. Aones, CS, Goal, Hellbent, Smells and El Celso hold it down for New York.
MTO is a portrait artist whose grayscale paintings grace Berlin’s streets. He’s dedicated portrait series to musicians, film characters and now graffiti and street artists. Each piece is a collaboration with the featured artists providing their own signatures. He’s done 10 Berlin Street Fighters to date – here are portraits of Just, Bimer, Emess, 4artist.com, SP38 and Grab.
Pantheon: A history of art from the streets of NYC opened this past Saturday, April 2nd with a well-attended reception at the Hilton Hotel. The work of 33 street and graffiti artists is now on view around the clock until April 17th – across the street from the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Stay tuned for more information on the closing + catalog launch party. The 300+ page catalog features interviews with all participating artists, crew histories, essays on topics relevant to the history of NYC street art and graffiti, and images from eight contributing photographers (Becki and I included). I’m not normally one to encourage people to visit midtown, but this is one exhibition that is not to be missed – don’t sleep on the crazy 3d collaborative installation by six members of the 907 crew.
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS: * Abe Lincoln Jr. * John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres * Adam VOID * Cake * Cassius Fouler * Darkclouds * Droid * El Celso * Faro * John Fekner and Don Leicht * Freedom * Ellis Gallagher * Gen2 * Goya * Groser * Richard Hambleton * infinity * KET * LSD-Om * Matt Siren * NohJColey * OverUnder * Oze 108 * Quel Beast * Royce Bannon * Sadue * Jordan Seller * Stikman * Toofly * UFO * Vudu
EXHIBITION LOCATION: chashama at the Donnell 20 West 53rd Street, b/w 5th & 6th Avenue New York, NY 10019 (across from MoMA)
Join me at the New York Public Library tonight as I talk about how I became obsessed with street art and graffiti. I’ll be showing slides of work from the handful of artists that have inspired me most over the years. [Photo courtesy of Sam Horine.]
Eye on the Wall: Observations on Street Art with Luna Park New York Public Library Mid-Manhattan Library 455 Fifth Avenue (at 40th St.) Sixth Floor New York, NY 10016 Monday, March 7th, 6:30pm
I’m very pleased to have contributed some images to the 3rd issue of The Infamous Magazine. Keeping a graffiti magazine fresh and interesting is no easy task – from what I’ve seen so far, this magazine promises to keep getting better with each issue. The article on the history and development of the Philly wicked handstyle alone (unfortunately not available online) is well worth the price of this issue. If you’re in New York, come out and celebrate the Issue #3 release party at Panda NYC this Wednesday.
This April brings two exhibitions of note to fans of graffiti and street art, both of which aim to place the movement in art historical context.
In Los Angeles, the Museum of Contemporary Art presents Art in the Streets, which bills itself as “the first major US museum survey of graffiti and street art.” The exhibition is expected to include some of the biggest names, past and present. Not surprisingly, the show will benefit from institutional, private and corporate sponsorship.
In New York, a consortium of independent curators, collaborators and artists will mount Pantheon: A history of art from the streets of NYC in a space generously provided by chashama. The mission: “35 graffiti writers and street artists will unite to reclaim the former Donnell Library as a repository of visual information on the growing world-wide phenomenon of street art. This exhibition will present an art historical timeline that is a part of New York City’s unique legacy. The artistic contribution of these cultural catalysts and preservationists from the 70′s to the new millennium will address the ever-changing urban landscape and alternative modes of producing art in the streets.”
The above slideshow, culled from my archive, includes street work from most of the participating artists (incidentally also some of my favorite NYC artists). The list encompasses several decades of working artists, including: Abe Lincoln, Jr., John Ahearn, Adam VOID, Cahil Muraghu, Cake, Darkclouds, Droid, El Celso, Faro, John Fekner, Freedom, Ellis Gallagher, Gen 2, Ghost, Goya, Groser, Richard Hambleton, infinity, Ket, Lsd Om, Matt Siren, Nohj Coley, OverUnder, Oze 108, Quel Beast, Royce Bannon, Sadue, Skewville, Stikman, Toofly, and UFO.
Countless individuals have donated their time, resources and talents to bring this DIY project to fruition. Yet in order to realize some of the project’s major goals – including the publication of a full-color exhibition catalog with previously unpublished interviews and histories from all participating artists – your support is needed. Efforts such as these, to define, document and celebrate the work of a vibrant, yet ephemeral art form, are crucial for the historical record. If you care about this community, please consider giving to the Pantheon Kickstarter campaign – every dollar helps.
PANTHEON: A history of art from the streets of New York City April 2-17, 2011
OPENING RECEPTION Saturday, April 2, 5-7PM Press preview with curators: 4-5PM
LOCATION chashama/Donnell Library Building 20 West 53rd Street, b/w 5th & 6th Avenue New York, NY 10019 (across from MoMA)
As a kid, my brother used to collect Matchbox cars. Funny how I was never into cars, yet as an adult I’ve really gotten into trucks … specifically, the elusive graf truck. You never know when and where you’ll stumble across one. If you’re lucky, it’ll be parked … or at least idling at a stoplight long enough to fire off a shot or two. Here are some of my favorites.
Please join the Street Spot for the closing of Veng’s Identifiable Reality show and a free screening of Florian Gaag’s excellent Wholetrain film at Pandemic Gallery this Friday at 7:00pm. Internationally renowned writers Neon, Won, Cemnoz, Pure TFP and Ciel produced artwork for the rolling stock in the film – the finished whole train gliding across the screen is something to be seen! Drippy marker tags, hot aerosol on steel action, writer beef, trainyard ninja stylings, police drama – this is hands down one of the best fictionalized portrayals of the graffiti lifestyle that I’ve seen to date. Come see the film and stay to celebrate Veng’s work – see you Friday.
Pandemic Gallery 37 Broadway (between Wythe and Kent) Brooklyn, NY 11211
After another great year filled with lots of highlights, below are 40 photos that represent my favorite pieces, places and people of 2010. Thanks, as always, for the inspiration. You motivate me.
