Let’s be real: Subjectively, it is difficult to see these and not immediately think of Mr. Brainwash, Supreme, or any of the other thousands of examples of celebrity images used in wheatpasted vandalism.
If I walked by one of these I would probably deface it until I really felt it learned its lesson.
This was the response Burton Machen was hoping for he when went around New York City and Los Angeles putting these up. Machen periodically revisited his paste-ups to document their evolution with time, and the alterations or destructive contributions of passersby.
Cindy Sherman and Terry Richardson
Next month, April 19th to May 19th, Hionas Gallery in New York will be exhibiting photographs of his defaced posters and others selected works, in Machen’s upcoming show Urban Evolution: PORTRAITS PROJECT.
Personally, I feel a lot less compelled to deface images of people I don’t know. Do you think Machen’s choice to use celebrities was a matter of taste or a strategic move to maximize their alterations?
HowNosm have just finished an installation, called “Reflections,” at the Andrew Freedman House. What is that building? Until the mid-1980’s, it was a poorhouse for the formally rich. Basically, the functioned as a place where those who used to be rich and had fallen on hard times could live with the comforts that they had grown accustomed to (like servants). Definitely strange, but that idea was put into practice for decades at this mansion in the Bronx. Now it is about to be used for a show of 20-some artists organized by No Longer Empty and curated by Keith Schweitzer. This Side of Paradise looks to be a fascinating show with a great space and great artists including Daze, Crash, Cheryl Pope and others. The show opens next week.
After the jump, check out more photos of HowNosm’s installation as well as a video of “Reflections” coming together. If anyone out there was worried that HowNosm might be one-trick ponies with their quite distinctive style, I think this should convince them otherwise… Continue reading “HowNosm’s “Reflections” installation”
For me, this week was spent thinking way too much about the digital humanities at Re:Humanities. You may be asking what that is. I’m still not entirely sure, but I think it means using YouTube and Twitter to learn important stuff rather than to watch laughing-baby-related videos and talk about the last hamburger you ate. Still, interesting stuff. Kinda helps justify running a blog. Here’s what I was reading when I was trying not to waste my time on the web:
We would like to take a brief moment to thank this month’s sponsors. These are the organizations and companies that keep us publishing, so be sure to check them out!
20×200, a great place to browse and buy contemporary art prints at reasonable prices.
Artspace. Collect art from the world’s best contemporary artists at accessible prices.
Pulse Art Fair. New dates Pulse NY, MAY 3-6, 2012 at The Metropolitan Pavilion 125 West 18th Street, New York.
There hasn’t been much new on the streets of Brooklyn’s DUMBO for awhile now. I’m not quite sure why, and I miss the art that used to surface regularly on DUMBO’s public spaces. But Mighty Tanaka’s current exhibit “Color & Motion” featuring the energetic, brightly hued works of New York City artists JMR and See One was worth our visit to this Brooklyn district.
See OneSee OneJMRJMR
The exhibit continues through next Friday, April 6th @ 111 Front Street.
Artists whose work I follow somehow slips through the cracks and, even though I’m a fan, their doesn’t wind up on Vandalog for whatever reason. When I realize these slips ups, I try to correct them. One mistake that I noticed this week is that it’s been far too long since I posted about Doodles. So here are a few random shots of his work.
Doodles with Luke Ramsey. Photo by DoodlesSomething simple in Atlanta. Photo by RJ Rushmore
Laws should be designed to protect the innocent, the unarmed, the child walking back home from the corner store. Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law (and similar laws in 31 states) does the opposite by giving license to any aggressor with a gun, and allowing them to claim self-defense as their reasoning to shoot and kill another person.
I created “Stand Our Ground” for people – regardless of race or gender, to stand in solidarity against the injustice this law allows. Adding awareness to the Trayvon Martin tragedy, and aiding his family in their pursuit of justice. All proceeds from the release of “Stand Our Ground” will be donated to the Justice for Trayvon Charity and their advocacy efforts.
Stand Our Ground is 18×24 inches, 3 colors, an edition of 100, and for sale at $50 each.
Ben Slow has returned to Hanbury street to paint the same spot he painted back in 2010. This time, Ben has painted portraits representing the white nationalists of The English Defence League and Islamic extremists. Here’s what Ben has to say about the work:
With my latest street piece, I returned to the wall on Hanbury street which I first painted around this
time back in 2010. That piece was one of the first ‘proper’ street pieces I ever painted. It was of a
Bengali mother and child. The image was chosen to relate to the local Bengali community who
thankfully embraced the piece. I felt that with this next piece, I wanted to challenge people (and
myself) a little more.
This time I wanted to deal with something at the complete opposite end of the spectrum but still
very much related to the local community. I had a very clear idea of what this piece was meant to
represent when I started it, and to be honest, I thought it would be very obvious from the outset.
However, I was shocked (and also delighted) with the variety of responses and reactions I received.
My idea behind the painting was to show two characters as different sides of the same evil. On the
left you have a portrait of a member of the EDL (The English Defence League) and on the other,
that of an Islamic extremist. I have been very interested by such characters for a while. As a
portrait painter they were interesting in terms of the expressions and shapes, but as a human being,
I always struggle with the stories behind such portraits and that they are captured out of such hatred
and contempt for another human being.
My point is simply that these two people represent the same thing – that of intolerance, racism and
hatred. A very unfortunate but very real side of society that has become far too apparent of late.
They see those who do not conform to their views as the enemy, and they preach hatred. They
project themselves as different from the other but to the majority of people they represent the exact
same thing.
I thought I would have trouble getting this painting done. I think it would be fair to say that I
under-estimated the tolerance of people. Except for a couple of snide comments, I received nothing
but positive responses. The majority of people completely understood what I was trying to say and
backed what I was doing. Most people, whatever ethnicity or nationality they may be have no time
for the types of people I was painting and I can not tell you how happy it made me to hear this. The
beautiful thing is that that these extreme individuals are a minority and long may it stay that way!
As with the majority of my street work now, it is important for me to say something with what I am
painting. Be that representing someone I admire or appreciate, or in this case highlighting a
particular point. As much as I am a painter, I am also a massive fan of street art, but I feel that not
enough artists are using their privileged platform to full effect. I am all for stuff that looks great and
is aesthetically pleasing, but for me it is also important to say something once in a while, get people
thinking rather than simply admiring the beauty of something.
