I made it over to Welling Court this afternoon — and was greeted by dozens of freshly-painted walls. Some shutters were closed and a few of the spaces were inaccessible, but there was still much to see and document. I also discovered some new artists.
For the second year, a diverse crew of dozens of first-rate street artists transformed several Queens blocks into an open-air gallery. Here is a selection of photos of artists at work captured yesterday by Lenny Collado, a recent college graduate who’s been documenting graffiti/street art alongside me. More to follow when I visit the site tomorrow:
Photos by Lenny Collado
Checked this out on Saturday. A great event run by Metro Gallery. Have a look at their website, a really good gallery with some amazing pieces by some renowned artists (Banksy, Blek Le Rat, HAHA, Damien Hirst, Anthony Lister and Michael Peck to name a few)..
Got there a little late, so missed a lot of Twoone and Reka (sorry guys) but saw Rone from start to end.
Enjoy.
Shots of all finished pieces available on Metro’s facebook page.
Photos by Lukey
Whilst this post is not necessarily street art based it does share the same premise, with regard to having the ability to change (and challenge) the urban environment outside of traditional top-down city planning policies. Plus I think it’s rather exciting and something that should be promoted in other cities, not just in New York…
Joining forces for New York City’s Urban Design Week 2011, The Institute for Urban Design and Project for Public Spaces have come together to propose By the City / For the City.
In essence the project is a traditional design competition, but with one significant difference – entrants are encouraged to define their own sites and the locations that they wish to change – which themselves have been outlined with over 500 suggestions from local New Yorkers.
Open to; architects, planners, artists, designers, and students from all around the world, no matter who you are, the aim is to create a dialogue between professional urban designers and the actual people who use the city spaces.
Entries will be measured by a panel of judges and will be evaluated on how they address Connectivity, Beauty, Enjoyment, Accessibility, and Equity in the city. Plus an extra incentive to get involved is that the 10 best entries will receive $500 prizes! And all entries will then being included in an “Atlas of Possibility for the Future of New York” exhibited during the design week in September – bonus.
So all you creative people get involved and share an idea. But make sure your entries are in before July 14th 2011 as that’s when the applications process closes.
Check the By the City / For the City website for more information including maps, ideas, trends, and for instructions on how to enter.
Image information taken from urbandesignweek.org
Last weekend, Factory Fresh hosted another 1-day iteration of their Bushwick Art Park with new murals by Veng, Bast and Skewville and sculptures by Leon Reid IV, Specter, Skewville, Infinity and others. Above is a photo of Skewville’s mural. Right next to is Bast’s mural. The Street Spot has photos of Veng’s mural and the sculptures.
Photo by astrodub
This Thursday VNA will launch their latest issue featuring the likes of Shepard Fairey aka Obey. The issue also contains features on Nychos, Logan Hicks, Burning Candy Crew and Elph. By the sound of it the launch is going to be a bash you don’t want to miss. The party starts at 6pm on Thursday at Black Rat Press. To get on the list email RSVP@verynearlyalmost.com
And to pre-order your copy of VNA click here
I met Julio Rölle of the Berlin-based 44flavours artist collective a number of years ago in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I immediately fell in love with its zine, 44flavours, for its intelligent mix of graffiti/street art culture, graphic design, interviews, prose and poetry. I later met up with Julio in Berlin and once again was intrigued by what he and his partner, Sebastian Bagge, were doing. Working these days as graphic designers, 44flavours still paints outdoors and exhibits in various venues. Opening this evening, Wednesday, May 18, 6pm at the Café Görlitzer Bahnhof, Manteuffelstrasse 87, 10997 Berlin is a new exhibit featuring new and old work, including recent collages.
Images courtesy, Julio Rölle
Kenny Scharf will be at MOCA this weekend as part of the Levi’s Film Workshop video series at Art in the Streets for a Q&A about Kenny Scharf: More, Newer, Better, Nower, Funner, a short film that Malia Scharf and Nathan Meier have made a short film about Kenny. The film will also be premiering at the event, before being available online. The Q&A/screening will be at 3pm on Sunday. RSVP for free online.
Photo courtesy of the Levi’s
While I should probably be studying for final exams right now, I’m spending just as much time getting ready for Up Close and Personal, which opens next week in NYC. Check out a preview on Brooklyn Street Art. Here’s some stuff I would have liked to have covered this week:
Photo by TresOhUno
Factory Fresh and Trust Art are putting together a mini Bushwick Art Park this Saturday as part of the Festival of Ideas for the New City‘s StreetFest. Leon Reid IV, Specter, Skewville and Olek will be showing installations. You can check out the mini Bushwick Art Park on Saturday from 11am-7pm just outside of the New Museum at 235 Bowery in New York. Here’s a little teaser of what you might find at the art park:
Photos courtesy of Factory Fresh and by Leon Reid IV
