Gabriel Specter (all photos by Luna Park)

I promise it’s not just all talk, but the evening of Friday the 17th is shaping up to be very busy with no less than 3 quality shows set to open. After hitting Snowblind at Klughaus in Chinatown and Inside Out featuring Cake and Don Pablo Pedro at Mighty Tanaka in Dumbo, I’ll end the night with “All Talk” at Pandemic. I don’t want to spoil any surprises, so I leave you with just a taste of what’s in store at Pandemic. Listen up: it’s going to be a good night for graffiti culture, so don’t miss out.

Jenna Hicock

Jesse Edwards x Jesus Saves

Noh J Coley

Merk

"All Talk"

]]> http://thestreetspot.com/2012/02/talk.html/feed 0 http://thestreetspot.com/2012/02/wheatpastes.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wheatpastes http://thestreetspot.com/2012/02/wheatpastes.html#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:05:05 +0000 Luna Park http://thestreetspot.com/?p=2905

Swoon (photo by Luna Park)

Bäst (photo by Luna Park)

H.Veng.Smith (photo by Luna Park)

Erik Berglin (photo by Luna Park)

Labrona (photo by Luna Park)

Over Under (photo by Luna Park)

N'DA (photo by Luna Park)

Noh J Coley remnant (photo by Luna Park)

"A Past Memory of Delft" by H. Veng Smith (photo by Becki Fuller)

On February 11th, New York City based street artists H. Veng Smith and Chris Stain’s new three person show with Taka Sudo will open in LA’s CAVE Gallery. In preparation for the opening, I met with Veng to get a sneak preview of his new works for this show, as well as to find out exactly what is going on in the fantastical scenes depicted on his canvases:

“For my new work in Alternative Occupancy, I’m working with concepts of nature, abstract living spaces and the mix and match of people and animals.  The techniques for my work are more classic then the ideas. The bottom layer is started in a rough opaque manner to build the shadows and lights. Each layer after this is more oily and thinner creating a subtle sense of depth. All my work is painted with oil paint.”

"From the Low to the High" by H. Veng Smith (photo by Becki Fuller)

” ‘From the low to the high’ shows a man holding atop his head an animal from the waters to the sky,showing what one could consider the complex and sometimes  strenuous relationship between man and nature.”

"From the Low to the High" detail by H. Veng Smith (photo by Becki Fuller)

"The Hunters Patience" by H. Veng Smith (photo by Becki Fuller)

“‘The Hunter’s Patience shows a crane searching for food  by fly fishing, adapting techniques from people showing the strength of nature to persevere. At the bottom I’m showing the same surreal suggestion with homes under the water where a new habitat for people could start”.

"The Hunters Patience" detail, by H. Veng Smith (photo by Becki Fuller)

"Fishcatcher" by H. Veng Smith (photo by Becki Fuller)

To see a preview of Chris Stain’s work, check out Brooklyn Street Art’s feature here.

“Cassius Fouler” is having himself an art opening tonight.

Cassius Fouler
Unpaid Dues
37 Orchard Street (at Hester)
New York, NY 10002
Opening: February 3, 6-9pm
February 3-9, 2012

Domino Sugar Factory (photo by Luna Park)

This April it’ll be two years ago that Adek, Jade, Haeler, Chew and Nekst brazenly hit the Domino Sugar Factory on the Brooklyn waterfront, christening a spot that would soon be hit by the likes of Smart Crew, Aones, and many others. Though there hasn’t been much in the way of high profile hits on the factory tower, the brick buildings on the north side of the complex have seen several more recent additions. Gufe did a massive piece (visible even from Manhattan) and soon got some company from the likes of rollers by Phonoh, Inkhead and Sye5. I recently walked along the East River on the Lower East Side and caught some flicks of the whole Domino complex from across the river with my telephoto zoom lens.

East River Waterfront (photo by Luna Park)

Gufe x Phonoh x Inkhead (photo by Luna Park)

Phonoh x Inkhead x Sye5 (photo by Luna Park)

BTH x ET x Ski x Che (photo by Luna Park)

Gufe et al (photo by Luna Park)

As a librarian, I couldn’t be more excited about Leon Reid IV’s latest project together with filmmaker Julia Marchesi. The Hundred Story House is designed to be a open bookshelf in a sculpture of a typical Brooklyn brownstone that will be installed within a city park. Based on the take-a-book/leave-a-book concept, the community is encouraged to get together and share books. At a time when public spending on both libraries and the arts are under threat, it is all the more important to support efforts to bring positive and uplifting elements into people’s lives. The 100 Story House brings two of my favorite things together: public art and public libraries. Do the right thing. And read more books!

Rate (photo by Luna Park)

It struck me recently that a number of Rate’s rats have vanished. While he’s also capable of some impressive letters (you can view my Flickr set of his work here), I’ve long been partial to his rats on the streets. They consistently injected a much-needed element of mischievous humor into the mix – coming across a Rate rat in the cut always made my day. I know I shouldn’t take it personally when long-running walls disappear, but I can’t help but pause and sigh at every newly buffed wall – with each new coat of buff paint, a little bit of NYC character dies. As a reminder of better times, I’ve selected some Rate classics to share with you.

Rate (photo by Luna Park)

Days x I Spy x Rate (photo by Luna Park)

Rate Deth Kult (photo by Luna Park)

Rate x Ojas (photo by Luna Park)

Trackside Rate (photo by Luna Park)

Double Rate (photo by Luna Park)

Rate x Yolk x Muk123 x NB? (photo by Luna Park)

Cecs x Rate (photo by Luna Park)

Rate Cry Baby (photo by Luna Park)

Rate x Zyre x Weird Sih (photo by Luna Park)

Hell No! Rate (photo by Luna Park)

It's Not Safe! Rate (photo by Luna Park)

Rate TV (photo by Luna Park)

Rate x Muk123 (photo by LUna Park)

Rate (photo by Luna Park)

3D tshirts by DROID/907 (all photos by Luna Park)

I’m no fan of corporate “streetwear” – I refuse to pay to shill for multinational brands. I will, however, gladly rock the hell out of a hand-screened shirt printed in a Brooklyn kitchen by a miscreant in a clown mask. I caught up with DROID this past weekend as he was busy printing a batch of delicious, 2-color, 3D-effect shirts. Get your’s here while supplies last. But don’t blame me if creepy clowns keep you from sleeping…

Coney Island tintype by R. Hasty

Brooklyn-based street artist Imminent Disaster will debut her new, photographic body work at KESTING/RAY Thursday night. After crowdsourcing the funds necessary to realize her project, she embarked on a 15,000 mile cross-country trip with a 19th century, large format view camera. Employing the wet-plate collodion process, she documented her encounters with grassroots/alternative communities struggling to adjust to the decline of the American economy. These tintype photographs will be on display as part of an installation that will also feature a new paper-cut sculpture.

Imminent Disaster
On the River: Stories from the heart of glorious abandon, where you cannot see what lies beyond the next bend
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 12, 7–9pm
Exhibition Dates: January 12–February 05, 2012
KESTING/RAY
30 Grand Street (btw Thompson Street & 6th Avenue)
Ground Floor
New York, NY 10013

ESPO's latest Brooklyn Love Letter (photo by Luna Park)

Ever the witty punster, Stephen Powers has declared that “All is Fare in Love & Brooklyn” for this, his latest, subway-themed Love Letter to Brooklyn. Check out more in this series here and here.

Brooklyn Love Letter (photo by Luna Park)

Brooklyn Love Letter (photo by Luna Park)

Brooklyn Love Letter (photo by Luna Park)