In the studio with Skeleton Krewe Chris (all artwork © Christopher Kirsch; all photos © Luna Park)

On my recent trip to New Orleans, I had the great pleasure of finally meeting long-time Flickr friend, fellow graffiti photographer, and artist, skeletonkrewe. He not only showed me some of his hometown’s best graffiti spots, but also graciously invited me into his studio and agreed to answer some of my questions.

Please introduce yourself. How long have you been making art and how did it all start? Tell us about some of your various projects.

Hi, my name is Christopher Kirsch (but I mostly go by Chris).

I am New Orleans born and bred. I am a self taught painter, print-maker, photographer and papier mache artist. I am the leader and founder of the New Orleans’ Carnival Club, the Skeleton Krewe.

Son House

I have ongoing series of musicians, either New Orleans’ or Delta blues. I also paint portraits of Skeleton Krewe members and my newest series is somewhat “anatomically correct” animal skeletons, kind of inspired by textbooks and circus side shows.

Pig skeleton

What inspires you?

Life in New Orleans and the American DEEP South, mainly Louisiana and Mississippi. Life & death in New Orleans. New Orleans’ rhythm & blues and Delta blues. Food and culture found in the Southeast region of New Orleans.

Okra Truck

You have lived in New Orleans your entire life. How has this shaped your artistic practice? What is characteristic of New Orleans folk art?

I’m born & raised here. I’m a rarity these days. Tons and tons of transplants moving in, and it ain’t necessarily a good thing…

I grew up drawing and painting, no one ever told me “how to paint”. So I do what I do and have developed my own style over the years: being self taught, I define myself as a folk artist.  Anything I find around me is inspiration for my art: I’ve painted everything from musicians to food, po-boys & crawfish (a.k.a. sandwiches and crawdaddies).

What is Skeleton Krewe and why is it important to you?

The Skeleton Krewe is a small New Orleans Carnival Marching Club. I started it in 1999 by myself and have slowly grown to 40+ members (although not everyone marches each year). I know everyone personally, have taught each one to do papier mache, how to paint their suit, and about face make-up. We try and hold ourselves to some strict carnival standards. Each year we make new heads and try to keep to some level of secrecy. We lead one parade on the Friday night before Mardi Gras and we also march early on Carnival morning. Some photos can be seen here:   Skeleton Krewe 2013.

Skeleton Krewe cooler on wheels

To what extent do you use found or recycled objects in your work? What is their appeal?

As an artist, I pretty much live hand to mouth, so I am always on the lookout for anything I can paint on, from cabinet doors to old shipping crates and 55 gallon drum lids. I really don’t like canvas, it has no appeal to me, no character… A rusty 55 gallon drum lid tells a story and then you just add onto that story by adding your own art to it.

James Booker

Why did you start painting portraits of jazz and blues greats? Do you listen to their music while you paint?

I started by doing portraits of two of the most famous (dead) New Orleans musicians: Professor Longhair and James Booker, 2 of New Orleans piano greats! Their music is just embedded into our lives, we grew up knowing the lyrics to their songs before we even realized who they were. In my teen years, I grew up with punk and through The Clash, my life came full circle: The Clash covered a New Orleans standard called Junco Partner and it made me realize how special New Orleans music is. The Clash took another New Orleans great on tour with them: Lee Dorsey. And a couple of years later, when Lee Dorsey died, some of the members were his pallbearers. Anyway, this all brought me a greater appreciation of New Orleans. Later on, I started getting into the blues and traveled throughout the Mississippi Delta, visiting some of the great historical sites of the blues. And yes, I always listen to whoever it is I’m painting at the time – I find great difficulty in painting musicians that I don’t like.

Skip James

How is the graffiti & street art scene in New Orleans? Are there any particular local artists whose work stands out in your opinion?

Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has been a spray-cation destination. I can’t say that I approve of this, but it has brought some greats to New Orleans. Read More Books has been here a couple of times in the past 8 years and dominated. You Go Girl has been here a bunch and UFO 907 came a few years back. And of course Banksy was here and did some really great, politically motivated pieces. I enjoy all their work and then there are some natives that really stand out: Harsh has been the dominant graffiti artist for years and years. Meek has also been around.

Harsh D30

Then there’s a batch of younger ones that I like a lot: Uzit, Achoo, AMYK and MRSA. We also have to deal with the Grey Ghost, who goes around buffing everything. He’s nuts and he’s dangerous – if you watch Vigilante Vigilante you can find out more about him.

UZIT AMYK

Where can people see more of your work online? How can interested people contact you?

I do a lot of art markets and festivals in and around New Orleans, but I do have a presence online: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeletonkrewe. I also have two groups on Facebook: New Orleans Folk Art and Bare Bones Studio. And people can email me directly at christopherkirsch@yahoo.com. I’ll be setting up some sort of eCommerce site shortly.

James Booker, R.L. Burnside & skeleton

READER: Classic books & skulls (Photo by Luna Park)

I recently spent a week in New Orleans, where I saw A LOT of Reader… impressed as always by the variety of names and styles.

READER: Sparky (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Read (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Read (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Read! (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Bonafide (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Bonafide (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Reverand Reader (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Book n Skull (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Square Bohohester… (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Square Bohohester! (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Harsh Boans You Go Girl (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Rankos Boans! (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Boanes Harsh (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Boans! (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Boans! Oye (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: You Go Girl Reader RK Evak (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Wolftits Reader (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Read! (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Read! (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Book Skull (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Boanes (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Boanes Piccadilly Lounge Half Shell Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Boaney Harsh Paws Old Crow (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: 9th Ward (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Crescent City (Photo by Luna Park)

READER: Boans (Photo by Luna Park)

Special thanks to P, A, and C for helping me navigate the city.

The Brooklyn: Brooklyn Street Photography
17 Frost Gallery
17 Frost Street (between Union & Lorimer), Williamsburg

Marty (photo by Luna Park)

I was very happy to have been on hand to witness a community come together and celebrate one of its own: artists, fellow photographers, bloggers, friends and family surprised legendary photographer Martha Cooper, who turned 70 this past Saturday, by painting the Houston/Bowery wall in her honor. The wall, which took roughly 12 hours to complete, features the work of Faust, Terror161, Freedom, Bio, Lady Pink, Free5, How & Nosm, Daze, Crash and Lady Aiko.

Martha and cousin Sally are surprised! (photo by Luna Park)

Many well-wishers stop by as the wall comes together… (photo by Luna Park)

Martha gets a lift (photo by Luna Park)

Martha springs into action as Bio paints her name. (photo by Luna Park)

Lady Pink & one of the twins (photo by Luna Park)

Jay Edlin & Martha Cooper (photo by Luna Park)

How & Nosm in action (photo by Luna Park)

One of the twins watches Terror161 & Lady Pink paint (photo by Luna Park)

Lady Pink, Free5, one of the twins (photo by Luna Park)

Martha & Lady Pink (photo by Luna Park)

Marty in progress (photo by Luna Park)

Marty (photo by Luna Park)

Marty by night (photo by Luna Park)

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger,” said Nietzsche. Life-altering injuries work similarly, pulling not just the injured but also their loved ones into the tumultuous aftermath. What do you do when your feet have literally been wiped out from under you? How do you find your way back to yourself? How do you escape the pain-pill fueled nightmare of fear, rage and darkness? Reality dissolves and perceptions change. You will never be the same. But though bones break easily and incisions run deep, kindred spirits run deeper. With Mr. Boy, a show of highly personal and enigmatic small works by Peter Carroll and Katherine Lorimer (aka Laser Burners and yours truly), the pair put the bleak events of the past year behind them. Their mutual love for graffiti is a strong undercurrent in the work, but it’s hardly the sole source of inspiration. Unleashed over a sprawling mosaic of over one hundred, unique, square tiles, Mr. Boy reflects an insight into the people, places and memories that make life worth living…

Mr. Boy: Small Works by Laser Burners & Luna Park
Opening: Thursday, February 7, 2013, 6:00-10:00pm
On view 4:00pm-4:00am daily through February 20.
Tender Trap
245 South First Street
Btw Roebling & Havemeyer
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Basel 2012 – #URliving from HotMop Films on Vimeo.

For fans of NYC graffiti, Noxer needs no introduction. Member of XTC, TFP, RIS, DOD… namsayin? For this solo show at Bushwick’s Low Brow Artique, Noxer’s dug deep into his blackbook. As one can expect from a true style originator, Noxer’s line drawings are highly inspirational, drawing from the iconography of ancient Egypt while remaining deeply rooted in NYC street life. Forget what you think you know about Noxer and come prepared to be surprised.

Noxer DOD
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD
Curated by Jowy Romano
Opening: Friday, January 18th, 7-10pm
January 18 – February 2, 2013

Low Brow Artique
143 Central Ave
Brooklyn NY, 11221

Kripoe in Berlin (photo by Luna Park)

On the occasion of All City, a graffiti and street art initiative launched by the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, the Goethe-Institut Chicago is dedicating the month of January to street art in Germany. Programming includes free screenings of the graffiti films Whole Train and Alter Ego – both highly recommended – as well as an exhibition of Berlin and Munich street art photographs by yours truly and Los Angeles’ own Lord Jim. We’ll both be on hand to talk about the German street art scene at the opening this coming Friday night. If you’re in Chicago, please come out to support.

All City – Street Art from Germany
Opening: Friday, January 11th, 6:00pm
January 11 – January 31, 2013

Goethe-Institut Chicago
150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 200
Chicago, lllinois 60601
Tel. +1 312 263-0472

Seen Better Days
Photo Series: NYC Abandoned Buildings
By Jon Handel

January 1-30, 2013
Opening: January 6, 2013, 4-6pm

Gimme! Coffee Brooklyn
495 Lorimer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

RIP Nekst… gone, but never forgotten. What a legacy. Condolences to family, friends and crews.