Tag Archives: graffiti

Houston at Bowery: 5 Years

Posted on 03/05/2012 by | 1 Comment

The last five years have seen enormous changes to the face of New York City. It’s been especially noticeable on the once illegal wall on Houston at the Bowery – now home to commissioned public art works by international stars of the graffiti and street art scene (on an increasingly pricey piece of real estate).

Retna/March 2012 (photo by Luna Park)

Faile/October 2011 (photo by Luna Park)

JR/June 2011 (photo by Luna Park)

Kenny Scharf/December 2010 (photo by Luna Park)

Sace RIP/November 2010 (photo by Luna Park)

Barry McGee/August 2010 (photo by Luna Park)

Shepard Fairey/May 2010 (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos/July 2009 (photo by Luna Park) - Last masterpiece to be painted on the actual wall before it was covered in wooden scaffolding!

Keith Haring recreation/April 2008 (photo by Luna Park)

Omni/September 2007 (photo by Luna Park)

Update: The links below offer further insight into the history of this wall.

On the occasion of Os Gemeos painting the wall, Martha Cooper shares photos of past artists at the wall from her archive (including Keith Haring). [12ozProphet]

Jeremiah Moss makes the argument that the Houston mural wall is part of the larger gentrification process of “turning the Bowery into a luxury lifestyle destination”. [Jeremiah's Vanishing New York]

Brian Rose examines the wall’s humble origins as a handball court. [Journal/Brian Rose]

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“All Talk” and then some at Pandemic

Posted on 02/16/2012 by | Leave a comment

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"

→ Leave a comment

Posted in gallery opening

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cassius Fouler’s Unpaid Dues

Posted on 02/03/2012 by | Leave a comment

“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

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , ,

Revisiting Domino

Posted on 02/02/2012 by | Leave a comment

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)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Rate’s Rats

Posted on 01/23/2012 by | Leave a comment

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)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Delicious DROID in 3D

Posted on 01/18/2012 by | Leave a comment

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…






→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Tagging Up Venice

Posted on 01/05/2012 by | 1 Comment

SAF x Ease x Chiste x Twist One et al (photo by Luna Park)

The Italian city of Venice is something of a living museum, with historic buildings and monuments almost everywhere one looks. I had been warned there was next to no graffiti and had set my expectations on that front low. While it was true that I saw no productions or burners – with the exception of a piece that zipped past on an Trenitalia train on its way out of Venezia Santa Lucia train station – I was surprised to see a lot of tags I recognized, some of which had been running for over 10 years. Within minutes of leaving the train station, I picked up a trail of shiny, silver Twist tags that marked the path to San Marco Square.

Twister (photo by Luna Park)

Twister et al on the Rialto Bridge (photo by Luna Park)

Sticker Spot (photo by Luna Park)

SAF x Twist x Unknown Street Artist (photo by Luna Park)

SAF x Twister (photo by Luna Park)

Chiste x MyMo x Twist x Pet (photo by Luna Park)

Winding my way through the city’s narrow alleyways, I scanned all surfaces as usual. A pedestrian city geared heavily towards tourists, the shutters and gates of Venice’s many shops were a popular target. The astute eye will spot KR and Espo tags.

Espo x KR x Cope2 et al (photo by Luna Park)

Crushed Gate (photo by Luna Park)

Mr. Andre x Espo x KR et al (photo by Luna Park)

Faded Espo (photo by Luna Park)

The duo that makes up UR New York was also well represented on the street.

2esae x Ski (photo by Luna Park)

All City Crew (photo by Luna Park)

So much for there not being any graffiti in Venice.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Grottaglie’s Fame

Posted on 12/29/2011 by | Leave a comment

The sleepy town of Grottaglie, located in the high heel of the boot that is Italy, is admittedly not on most tourist itineraries. Yet thanks to the tireless efforts of Studiocromie’s Angelo Milano, whose Fame Festival this summer celebrated it’s 4th year, I have made two pilgrimages to the tiny town – known primarily for ceramics – deep in southern Italy. Fame has attracted some of the international street art and graffiti scene’s most talented artists and let them paint the town red. Big walls by Blu, Aryz, Sam3, Ericailcane – to name but a few – and whimsical characters by Os Gemeos scattered across the medieval town center have made Grottaglie a must-see destination for a street art aficionada like me. The slideshow below presents some of my favorite walls, all shot over two, gloriously warm, and sunny days this past November.

Slideshow:

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Carnage

Posted on 12/29/2011 by | 1 Comment

Atak x Bak (photo by Luna Park)

Street photographer Ray Mock (aka Sabeth718) has started putting out a great graff zine, Carnage. The inaugural issue focuses on Hert and Atak, with exclusive photos and interviews with both writers. At only $8, the edition of 200 is almost sold out – don’t sleep on this – you’ll be missing out.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , ,

Os Gemeos & Friends at Munich’s Kultfabrik

Posted on 12/17/2011 by | 5 Comments

Os Gemeos x Vitche x Herbert Baglione x Nina x Sat x Loomit (photo by Luna Park)

Every time my work takes me to Munich, I make a beeline to the Kultfabrik. The immense factory complex next to the Ostbahnhof, once the home to the manufacturer Pfanni, now houses more than 20 nightclubs, a handful of small theaters and artists’ ateliers, as well as an indoor climbing wall. What interests me the most about the Kultfabrik – no surprise here – is the graffiti on the exterior factory walls. The Kultfabrik complex is something like Munich’s 5 Pointz. With walls run by Loomit, it boasts pieces by some of the biggest names in graffiti. Click here for some of my Kultfabrik photos from recent years.

Os Gemeos detail (photo by Luna Park)

Much like Graffoto’s delight at coming across an untouched 2005 Os Gemeos wall in Athens recently, I return to the Kultfabrik time and time again to see walls painted by the twins (which I believe were also done in 2005). They feature collaborations with Loomit, Nina, Vitche, Herbert Baglione and Sat One. Most were still running as of this past November, but sadly this under-the-sea mural featuring an Os Gemeos mermaid is no more.

Os Gemeos (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos x Nina x Loomit (photo by Luna Park)

There are a handful of Os Gemeos characters scattered across the factory complex – despite repeat visits, I only recently came across a few of these.

Os Gemeos (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos (photo Luna Park)

Os Gemeos tag (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos (photo by Luna Park)

The twins’ riot scene, next to a piece by Nunca, could be ripped out of today’s headlines…

Os Gemeos (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos x Nunca (photo by Luna Park)

This long, curvy wall together with Vitche, Nina and Loomit takes my breathe away every time I see it.

Os Gemeos x Nina x Loomit x Vitche (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos x Nina x Loomit x Vitche (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos x Nina x Loomit x Vitche (photo by Luna Park)

Last but not least, there’s a wall directly adjacent to the one above. I like the use of red rather than black lines employed by the twins here (perhaps from an earlier visit?).

Os Gemeos x Loomit (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos x Loomit (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos x Loomit (photo by Luna Park)

Os Gemeos x Loomit (photo by Luna Park)

Last I heard, Munich plans to tear down parts of the Kultfabrik complex to make room for – what else? – condominiums…

→ 5 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , ,