Author: RJ Rushmore

RJ Rushmore has been involved in contemporary art as a writer, curator, photographer, arts administrator, and fan since 2008. With a focus on street art, graffiti, and public art, RJ facilitates and promotes catalytic and ambitious art outdoors, in galleries, and online. He founded the street art blog Vandalog and has worked at The L.I.S.A. Project NYC, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and Creative Time. Currently, RJ is Co-Curator of Art in Ad Places.
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Big things at White Walls and 941 Geary

Roa in Mexico City

White Walls Gallery and 941 Geary, sister galleries in San Fransisco, have two interesting shows opening in April.

Starting on Friday, 941 Geary will open an “indoor mural” installation, aka lots of artists painting the walls inside the gallery. Eine, Roa, Chor Boogie, APEX, Casey Gray, D Young V, Skinner, Hush and Blek le Rat have contributed or will contribute to the project as it continues to evolve over the course of a few weeks. So that could either be really cool or a complete mess. We’ll see. Here’s to hoping it works well.

Over at White Walls, Roa is installing a solo show. That show opens on April 9th. Roa’s recent installations in London got glowing reviews almost across the board, so this large solo installation will be one not to miss.

Photo by Roa

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New from Paper Twins

These pieces from Paper Twins are pretty cool for going semi-3D even as wheatpastes (even if the 3D part of the pieces will probably wash away quicker than the main posters).

Photos by Paper Twins

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Street Communications: Gaia, Jordan Seiler and Wooster Collective in conversation

Next Saturday (April 9th), I’ll be hosting an event at my school, Haverford College, which I hope you will be able to attend. I’ll be moderating Street Discussions, a panel with Gaia, Jordan Seiler, Marc Schiller and Sara Schiller. We’ll be looking at what roles and responsibilities there are on the street for both artists and advertisers. Gaia is a street artist and blogger for Vandalog. Jordan is the artist/activist behind PublicAdCampaign. Marc and Sara started Wooster Collective and their book Trespass was published last year. The event is open to the public, and, contingent on me getting organized, there might be a video uploaded afterward for anyone who can’t make it.

For those in Philadelphia, Haverford College is really easy to get to via SEPTA.

Random side-note: This is one reason why I love Haverford College. Two groups on campus (The Collection Fund and the Humanities Center’s Student Arts Fund) have come together to sponsor this event. They are fantastic.

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Stylewars: The Musical

So umm… Apparently Steve Powers, Todd James and Barry McGee are reuniting for MOCA’s upcoming Art in the Streets show. Then this thing popped up online. Steve Powers’ says on his blog, “Im in LA, working with Todd and Barry building the first solar powered rumor mill,” and Todd James says on his blog, “Style Wars the cult classic documentary By Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant has been reimagined by Todd James and Steve Powers as Style Wars the musical!!   To be seen at “Street” at LA Moca’s “Art in the Streets” April 2011.”

No idea how real, if at all, this is, or what it might have to do with what they are actually planning if this isn’t happening. But just thought I’d mention it because it’s sort of funny.

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Leon Reid IV at Pandemic Gallery in Brooklyn

Brooklyn’s Pandemic Gallery is hosting a solo show of Leon Reid IV‘s artwork next month. Leon Reid IV is probably better known as Darius from the duo Darius and Downey. In true Brooklyn fashion, the event is sponsored by PBR, but Reid is no hipster street artist cashing in on a fad. Over the past decade, his sculptures have pushed street art forward, and with his move into public art, Reid is a great example of street art gaining legitimacy among traditional art institutions (for better or worse).

A Decade of Public Art opens on April 16th and runs through May 8th. Here’s a video teaser:

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Ludo’s first solo show

Ludo is finally having his first solo show, La Belle Vie. It opens next month in Zurich at Starkart Exhibitions. Should be an interesting one. I think Ludo’s stuff works great outdoors, but I wouldn’t immediately put the same things indoors myself. I could imagine him just printing these posters and mounting them on old wood, but that’s difficult to pull off well. Ludo doesn’t simply do that though. From what I’ve seen and the below preview, seems like he actually makes some really nice drawings on paper. I’m curious to see what La Belle Vie will all look like.

Photos courtesy of Ludo

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The Phantom Street Artist t-shirt giveaway

Last year we mentioned a print available by The Phantom Street Artist, an artist probably best known for his art on the cover of Rage Against The Machine’s album The Battle of Los Angeles. Now, a variation on that image has been put on a t-shirt through Morelworks. I’m a big fan of artists doing t-shirts (wearing my Barry McGee shirt right now), so this news was really exciting to me. The Phantom’s Art Saves Lives t-shirt is available online for $25, but Morelworks also have one shirt to give away to a lucky Vandalog reader.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: Just comment on this post (make sure to include your email address so you can be reached if you win), tweet a link to this post on Twitter or share a link to this post on Facebook. Do one of those things before midnight on Friday (eastern daylight time aka the time in NYC), and you will be entered in the random draw to win an Art Saves Lives shirt (in the size of your choice).

And of course, even if you don’t win, you can buy the shirt online.

Photos courtesy of Morelworks

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Weekend link-o-rama

Veng in NYC

Well, I’m just gonna brag for a second. Haverford College just got way cooler. M1 from Dead Prez is doing a residency here. Gonna go see him perform tonight in our tiny music venue. And yes, I am aware of the apparent hypocrisy of being a white male at a private educational institution and getting excited to see M1 perform. Anyway. Back to the art.

Photo by Luna Park

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Kid Acne solo at Stolenspace next week

Rhythm is a Dancer is Kid Acne‘s latest solo show, opening next week at Stolenspace Gallery in London. The show will focus on Kid Acne’s art fag characters. While Neckface utilized the pun in a similar way earlier, Kid Acne has done some cool stuff with this series. Also, I think Neckface just did cartoons of “fags,” not “art fags.” Anyway, Kid Acne’s art fags are fun. It should be interesting to see them come indoors (especially since that’s what so-called “art fags” do, right? Bring their street art indoors and sell out?). Kid Acne definitely knows how to have a little laugh at himself, and I like that.

The show opens on the evening of March 31st and runs through April 24th. Check it out.

Photo courtesy of Stolenspace Gallery