Nomad recently did this really great project in the Canaries. Note the sunbathers in comparison to the size of those blocks.
Via Sabotaz
Jaybo at Nancy Victor Gallery
Last night was the opening of Jaybo’s “The Pocket Show” at Nancy Victor Gallery. I couldn’t make it for the opening, but I stopped by this afternoon.
My friend Rachel and I had split views on the show. For me, although Jaybo is definitely a good painter, it just isn’t my kind of work. Rachel, on the other hand, really liked it. Overall, I’d say it’s a good show, just not for the typical street art fan.
Jaybo’s work is definitely different from what street art fans come to expect. So many of us are used to low-quality stencils, but Jaybo actually knows how to paint. Reminds me of Elbowtoe’s distortion of bodies, but painted.
The really cool work there has to be piece that Jaybo made out of painted match sticks.
Although it wasn’t really my sort of show, Jaybo is talented, and people who prefer a bit more of a painterly style than most street art should really enjoy it.
Photos from Remi
Vandalog Visits New York
Last week I had the chance to spend 2 days in New York City. New York is where modern graffiti and street art originated (yes I am aware that Cornbread was from Philadelphia), so it was a trip I had been looking forward to for a while. I crammed as much art into my visit as a possibly could.
First, before getting to New York, I was in Baltimore for a day. While there, I had lunch with Gaia. One of the topics we spoke about, the perception of street art as a democratic process, turned into a post on his blog, and soon (probably after finals are over) I think I’ll be doing a similar post.
My first day in New York, I made sure to see a number of galleries. I’m sure I’ll forget to mention somewhere I visited, but here’s a summary.
First I went to the Jonathan LeVine Gallery for their Phil Frost show. I’m not the biggest fan of Phil Frost. I own one small piece by him, and I really like it, but for the most part, I just don’t get his work. I had never seen more than 2 or 3 pieces together at a time though, so I thought that maybe seeing an entire show would convert me to a fan. It did not. I’m still pretty indifferent to his work.
Next, I made a quick stop at the Doma Café and Gallery for a show by Erik Otto. I’d never heard of Otto, but it was recommended by Hooked. I was in a rush, so I only browsed the show quickly, but it was pretty impressive for artwork in a café, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for Otto in the future.
Naturally, Deitch Projects was a place I had to stop, and though I originally had little interest in Ryan McGinness’ show there, a few pieces definitely caught my eye.
After popping in at Glowlab and then seeing the amazing wall where the above video took place, I was headed to Williamsburg, the heart of NYC’s street art scene… Continue reading “Vandalog Visits New York”
Sick of Graffiti?
Well, somebody had to make the worst looking advertisement of the year, I just didn’t expect it to be Hounslow:
More info on the campaign at the press release.
Via Animal New York
Found on Flickr
Found these on flickr today. I don’t know this guy’s name, but it looks stunning.
Photos from a guy whose name consists of symbols
Faile Prayer Wheel in New York
This “prayer wheel” popped up recently in New York City. Don’t expect it to last long though, after all, its only made of wood.
A number of these were in Faile’s fall show in London in 2008, and it’s great to see them on the street. If I remember correctly, the wheels are all hand carved and painted (though if that’s done by Faile or by some assistant they’ve hired who knows woodworking, I’m not sure).
Photos by sabeth718
Aaron Rose Curates at Circleculture Gallery
Aaron Rose of Beautiful Losers fame is currated a show currently at Circleculture Gallery in Berlin with Barry McGee, Ed Templeton, and Raymond Pettibon. All the vital info can be found here. A few images below:
More on the show here
Jonathan Jones’ Attack on Street Art
I’ve just read Jonathan Jones’ piece on why he considered nominating Banksy for the Turner Prize. In it Jones brushes street art aside as a lesser art form and nothing but “something that scares old people on estates.” This is not the first time Jones has been critical of street art or Banksy in particular, but it is odd, as just a few months ago, he suggested that state-funded graffiti murals could help discover the next Jackson Pollock.
So maybe Jones only likes graffiti and not street art. Fine. I’ll accept that, even though it raises the much larger issue of what is graffiti and what is street art (a topic for another day, not that anybody really knows a good answer to that question). Back to Jones’ original point.
The paragraph I take the most issue with is this one:
Anyway, I believe in education. The reason I don’t like street art is that it’s not aesthetic, it’s social. To celebrate it is to celebrate ignorance, aggression, all the things our society excels at. For middle class people to find artistic excitement in something that scares old people on estates is a bit sick.
How is street art not aesthetic? How can Jones look at the work done by artists like Adam Neate or Swoon and say “those artists clearly had no intention of creating a beautiful image, or if they did, they have failed miserably?” Maybe Jones is just not exposed to enough street art. The media tends to focus on street artists doing stencils (all good and well, just not usually, save for C215, primarily about creating a pretty picture), and Jones is in the media so he sees the street art that the rest of the media shows him.
And again, this whole bit about street art scaring old people. Has he ventured to look outside of Banksy, Nick Walker, and D*Face? Jose Parla is certainly not intending to scare old people with his work.
There is hope for you yet Mr. Jones. I would urge you to have a look at a few of these street and urban artists who might be more to your liking:
1. Adam Neate
2. Matt Small
3. Jose Parla
4. Judith Supine
5. Keith Haring
6. Dan Witz
7. Swoon
8. Doze Green
9. Faile
10. JR
Any other suggestions for Mr. Jones? I just did this list off the top of my head, so I’m sure I’m missing plenty of people.
Thanks to Caroline W1 sending me Jones’ article
Latest ABOVE Print Release
This has got to be ABOVE’s best print release in a while (or maybe I’m just starting to love British culture after 4 years here). “Union Jack Arrows” combines Above’s classic arrows with his tendency to embrace other cultures where he paints. As Art of The State points out, this print is based on an image ABOVE painted in the UK back in 2005. I’m seriously tempted to pick this print up, but I’m saving most of my money right now for summer travels.
Here’s the press release (and you can buy it here):
PRINT NAME: “UNION JACK ARROWS”
EDITION SIZE: 70 REGULAR EDITION (RED/BLUE) + 20 SPECIAL EDITION (ORANGE/GREEN)
PRICE: REGULAR EDITION (RED/BLUE) = 69.00 BRITISH POUNDS /// SPECIAL EDITION (ORANGE/GREEN) = 99.00 BRITISH POUNDS.
LIMIT PER PERSON: 2 PRINTS PER PERSON TOTAL *(ONLY 1 SPECIAL EDITION PER PERSON)
PAPER/INK: 7-COLOR HAND PULLED SCREEN PRINT ON 22 IN. X 15 IN. ( 56 cm. X 38 cm. ) LENNOX 100 ARCHIVAL WHITE 250 GSM.
*EVERY PRINT IS CUSTOM EMBOSSED, SIGNED, DATED AND NUMBERED BY ABOVE.
AS ALWAYS, ABOVE DESIGNED AND SCREEN PRINTED EVERYTHING HIMSELF. IT DOESN’T GET MORE PERSONAL THAN THIS!
And here is the special edition orange and green version:
Buy the print on ABOVE’s website.
Art on Fire
Street art seems to encompass just about everything under the sun that can be done outside. Now that includes setting things on fire.
Recently, Ellis G. used spray cans as flamethrowers for the Hollowood show at the Carmichael Gallery (yes that was inside, but its a street artist, and he may very well try this technique on the street, who knows?):
And Hurt You Bad recently featured work this from Daniel Art on flickr:
See the awesome result after the jump… Continue reading “Art on Fire”