So Now that everything has settled down and I am back in New York, it’s time to sit down and adequately give an overview of the street, gallery and legal works produced for the Living Walls Conference. The focus of these works was a hybridization of the Cherokee and Suburbia, both entities that occupy the American imagination but are seemingly different. The photo references employed within these portraits are women of the Cherokee nation, which was one of the first Native American tribes to embrace the encroaching Western frontier. These photographs capture a people in transition who retain their traditional values while simultaneously assimilating to a new, oppressive lifestyle. In the largest of the four street pieces, the Cherokee weaving pattern transitions into the homogeneity of suburban sprawl, an issue that has defined Atlanta’s contemporary development. The romance of establishing autonomy closer to nature, away from the turmoil of the city, is joined with the domesticity of the Cherokee portraits, the romantically free people tamed by invasion. A more comprehensive overview of the other projects will be coming soon! More photos and details after the jump
Last weekend, residents of Beacon, NY were treated to live painting by a couple of dozen artists, including some of street art’s finest. The artists were their for Electric Windows. Steph mentioned the event last month, but here’s the short version: artists paint panels which then go on display in the windows of a former electric blanket factory. An interesting idea, but I still think the best part of this event was the chance for members of the public to wait such talented artists work. Papermonster has over 100 photos from Electric Windows on his blog. Here are some of my favorite pieces from the event:
Papermonster
Elbow-toe
Gaia
Chris Stain, one of a few artists at the event who worked directly on walls
And so it is, the only piece that has been buffed in DC since my recent visit in July has in fact been a permission wall. Due to complaints from local neighbors, the manager of Whole Foods circumvented the building owner and had the piece painted over. The result of which is a perfect reflection of the former Rooster figure and two hands in negative space. For the full description on the whole ordeal visit Worn Magazine http://www.wornmagazine.com/2010/08/gaia-painted-over/
The premise of this illegal street project was to extend my investigation of traditional folklore and religion in the United States to the city of Seoul. Utilizing Korea’s rich history and extensive mythology, a piece exploring the various conflicts that have defined this contentious nation was installed in each quadrant of the city. The application of each piece is structured according to the principles of Ohaeng, the five directions of the universe, thus the implementation is therein physically defined by the direction of Korean Mysticism. To see the whole project check out this set on flickr.
Gaia in Korea: the second of five pieces for each quadrant of the city. With the wave of evangelicalism that has arrived with the western wash that has suffused korea for the last half century, I thought it would be pertinent to hybridize/subvert the old tradition with the new influence. Shamanism and Buddhism were expelled from the city of seoul when the Joseon dynasty adopted Confucianism and now the country is undergoing a new religious transition to Christianity. But the Image of Buddhism has returned to the the walls of the palace right near the ancient gate of Gyeongbokgung, this time by the hands of a westerner. The contrast of the Buddhist monk with praying hands inscribed with the symbols of the disciple St Andrew is a portrait of passing times and transmission of culture.
This piece was literally put up a block away from the main gate in the thick of the national security of one of the most geopolitcally tenuous nations in Asia. Yet somehow a foreigner is always invisible.
On Saturday July 31, Electric Windows will take place in Beacon, NY. Sponsored by Open Space Gallery and Burlock Home, 30 artists well venture to the town to participate in live painting on an abandoned factory building. This year’s event will include two other installation sites in addition to the factory.
Here is a video from Electric Windows 2008
The full list of artists include:
Big Foot
Buxtonia
BoogieRez Cern
Chor Boogie
Chris Stain
Chris Yormick
Depoe Elbow Toe
Elia Gurna
Ellis G
Erik Otto
Eugene Good
Faust Gaia
Joe Iurato
Mr Kiji
Logan Hicks
Lotem & Aviv
Michael De Feo Paper Monster
Peat Wollaeger
Rick Price Ron English
Ryan Bubnis
Ryan Williams
Skewville
thundercut
Gaia in Korea: the first of five pieces for each quadrant of the city. The hybrid of the Tiger and Rabbit signifies the annual transition in the Korean calendar. Furthermore, these archetypal symbols of aggression and submission address the hierarchy of japanese colonization and contemporary korean identity. Situated in Hongdae, the center of Seoul’s fashion and nightlife, the neighborhood is the confluence of traditional korean culture and American influence.
To stay abreast of future pieces check in on this map for updates.
Last night, Gaia’s “The Urban Romantic” show opened at Irvine Contemporary in Washington, DC. The artist drew a pretty decent crowd to the exhibit’s first night, as hipsters, art lovers, and curious residents descended upon the gallery. While the bulk of the work featured Gaia’s usual black and white intricate aesthetic of mythical anthropomorphic creatures, the following pieces really stood out among the works.
I especially like the oil paintings that demonstrate an even more mature side of the young artist.
Behind the gallery, Gaia left his mark with two large scale pieces that are great additions to the Irvine outdoor collection.
Manhattan’s Leo Kesting Gallery has a group show opening next week with some of my favorite emerging artists. Dead Letter Playground: A Collection of Contemporary Street Art opens June 24th (from 7pm-10pm) and has artwork from Carolyn A’Hearn, Chris Stain, Clown Soldier, Dain, DickChicken, Doze Green, Elbowtoe, Elle, Ellis G, Faro, Gaia, Head Hoods, Imminent Disaster, Jen.Lu, Jordan Seiler, Know Hope, Laura Meyers, Lee Trice, Love Me, Matt Siren, Mister Never, Nicola Verlato, Peru Ana Ana Peru, Phil Lumbang, Shark Toof, Anthony Michael Sneed and Sweet Toof. Of course, the show also includes one of my least favorite artists, DickChicken, but nobody’s perfect (ps, because I know that somebody is going to give me shit for that comment, I’d like to clarify: I actually don’t mind DickChicken’s tag or find it offensive or anything. I just don’t think he makes anything remotely interesting indoors). The show runs through July 18th.
Here’s some of the work that will be at Dead Letter Playground:
Been crushing Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle and Chinatown in DC for tomorrow’s show at the Irvine Contemporary. Never really gotten up in this city hard before and its been fantastic. It has the Baltimore spots but the New York traffic and police are concerned with much larger matters. Check the flickr for more street shots. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaiastreetart/
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