Bringing flair and flavor to the walls on and off Bogart Street in Bushwick this past Saturday were some first-rate graffiti artists. Here is a sampling:
Large fragment of 4Sakn’s completed wall
Miami’s Eskae 545 at work
Hoacs at work
Trace at work
Photo credits: 1-6 Tara Murray; 7 Dani Reyes Mozeson
Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.
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Also occupying NYC streets is an intriguing array of skulls, skeletons and assorted eerie creatures, Here’s a sampling:
Vexta in the East Village
N Carlos J in Bushwick
Damien Mitchell in the Bronx for Tag Public Arts Project
Nicole Salgar & Chuck Berrett in Bushwick for JMZ Walls
Steiner in Bushwick
Bishop203 in Bushwick
Epic Uno in Bushwick for the Tag Public Arts Project
Photos: 1 & 6 by Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2, 4, 5 & 7 by Lois Stavsky; 3 by Tara Murray
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Currently on view at 17 Frost is an exhibit of artwork by artists featured in Yoav Litvin’s remarkable book, Outdoor Gallery NYC. While visiting the exhibit on Thursday afternoon, we had the opportunity to speak to Yoav:
This exhibit is in many ways a reflection of your book. It is wonderfully eclectic.
Yes, like the book Outdoor Gallery NYC, it celebrates the diversity of the incredible range of street art that surfaces in NYC’s public spaces.
How did you connect with all of these artists – whose works are featured in your book and in this Outdoor Gallery NYC exhibit?
I initially met most of them through encountering their works on our streets. I further connected with them via Facebook or Instagram.
Can you tell us something about the process from the time you had your resources – your photos and interviews — to the actual production of the book?
Working with the designer, Steve Mosier, I created a template for a book. I then presented my concept to about 30 publishers. In late summer, I signed a contract with Gingko Press, my first choice. The first copies of the book became available last week.
The book looks wonderful, and your book launch party was quite remarkable. We’ve heard that folks waited on line for hours to get in.
Yes, that was quite humbling. And I feel grateful to everyone.
To what do you attribute the incredible success of the book launch?
My sense is that folks appreciate my particular approach. I have deep respect for all of the artists who share their works with us in public spaces. I admire their visions and their skills. I particularly love the way they challenge conventions.
You are a scientist, as well as a photographer and street art documentarian. Has your background as a scientist affected the way you approach street art?
I suppose it has. It is essential that my research and findings remain “clean” and unbiased. I am interested in presenting something that is important not only on a local level, but on a global one, as well.
In what ways has this project impacted you?
I feel that I’ve developed a distinct personal style and approach to documenting street art.
If you had the opportunity to spend time in another city and work on a similar “Outdoor Gallery” project, which city would you choose to visit?
I’d probably choose São Paulo, Brazil.
The exhibit, curated by Yoav Litvin with Royce Bannon, continues through March 8 at 17 Frost Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Yoav can be contacted at yoavlitvin@gmail.com; for updates, visit the book’s Facebook page.
Interview with Yoav Litvin conducted at 17 Frost by City-as-School intern Anna Loucka with Lois Stavsky; photos of artworks by Lois Stavsky. 1. Exterior of 17 Frost painted by Bishop203, elsol25 and Royce Bannon; 2 .Enzo & Nio, Retro Bomba; 3. Cern, Jardim Electrico; 4. Billy Mode, Love; 5. Alice Mizrachi, Queen, close-up; 6. Chris Stain, Up in the Bronx; 7. Bishop203, Jesus Christ Superstar; 8. Icy and Sot, Race and 9. ÑEWMERICA, small segment of collaborative mural
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Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to interview one of our favorite people, Bishop203. A first-rate artist who’s been hitting a range of surfaces from abandoned factories, freight trains and walls to black books and canvases for years, Bishop203 is now the owner of Low Brow Artique, a superb space at 143 Central Avenue in Bushwick.
When did you first conceive of opening a business?
It was something that had been in the back of my mind for quite awhile. But growing up, I’d always wanted to be an art teacher.
So – what happened?
I hated school, and I failed all of my art classes. Actually, I failed just about all of my classes. And when my friends went on to college, I stayed behind for two more years and then graduated to painting freight trains.
And how did Low-Brow Artique – one of our favorite spaces – come to be?
About a year and a half ago – soon after my father died – I thought to myself, “I’m not doing anything much with my life, so why not open a business related to what I love?” But I didn’t have a business plan or anything. At first, I thought I would open an art supply store, but I wasn’t sure I had enough knowledge to do so at that point. And so I decided to focus on graffiti supplies, as I knew enough about hooligans to run a business catering to fellow hooligans.
What made you decide to set up shop in Bushwick?
I felt there was a need for it here. There was no other outlet for graff supplies in my neighborhood, and with Joe Ficalora, the curator of the Bushwick Collective, making so many walls available to artists coming here from all over the world, the local aerosol art scene was booming.
We notice you have just about every brand of spray paint here at really good prices. There are also markers, pens, black books, a variety of hand-printed and home-made goods, and t-shirts. What else is available?
Canvases, wood panels, screen print supplies, Liquitex paints, Krink and much more. I’m also about to start stocking Montana 94.
And your gallery has become one of the most popular graffiti/street art venues in NYC. Tell us something about that.
I love it. It gives me the opportunity to showcase my favorite art. And it was especially wonderful for me to recently feature my dear buddy Bisc’s work. Bisc and I go back years, and his show was my most successful one. It was epic.
What are some of your goals for Low Brow? Where would you like to see it go?
I love teaching the young bucks of the next generation. I can see myself giving formal classes here. And I want to help up-and-coming artists achieve their dream by exhibiting their work.. That, perhaps, may be my greatest legacy.
How do folks find out about your space?
It’s word-of-mouth. The graffiti world is small, and everyone wants to be up on the latest news.
And what about your artwork? We see it regularly at 5Pointz and in this part of town. What’s happening with it?
Well, for the most part, it’s taken a back seat to what’s happening here at Low Brow. But I’m ready to step up my game, especially when it gets too cold for much to be happening on the streets. And just this week, I was delighted to have a print released by my fellow hooligan, Bisc, who in collaboration with his partner at Daylight Curfew, has begun a monthly print series.
What do you see as the future of graffiti and street art?
I see it as just getting bigger and bigger. Just check out what’s been happening down the block.
Interview by Lois Stavsky with Tara Murray; photos by Lois Stavsky; print image courtesy of Daylight Curfew
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This is the third in a series featuring images of New York City’s doors that sport everything from tags and stickers to sophisticated images.
Judith Supine in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
ASVP in NoLita
Bishop in Nolita
Craig Anthony Miller aka CAM in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
The Yok in Williamsburg
One of 13 Portals on the Lower East Side
Gaia in Long Island City, Queens
Jordan Betten in Chelsea
Photos of Judith Supine and 13 Portals by Dani Mozeson; ASVP, Bishop and the Yok by Tara Murray; CAM by Lois Stavsky
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While walking along East First Street off First Avenue early this year, we were delighted to come upon a huge trailer transformed into a vibrant outdoor canvas. In the past few months, this same trailer has featured the works of some of NYC’s best-known street artists such as Claw Money and Optimo Primo, along with images fashioned by artists who rarely paint or exhibit in public spaces.
Last week we had the chance to observe some of NYC’s most active street artists at work on the trailer and meet some others whose work was new to us. We also discovered that these artists were at work on Cycle 3 of The Centre-Fuge Art Project conceived by First Street residents Pebbles Russell and Jonathan Neville in memory of their friend, Mike Hamm.
Here are some images from Cycle 3:
Brooklyn-based artist Danielle Mastrion pays homage to Adam Yauch aka MCA, a founding member of the legendary Beastie Boys.
Local illustrator and graphic designer Michael DeNicola brings an eerie family abroad.
Thanks to Bishop203 and Elle, Brooklyn’s iconic character arrives on the scene.
The prolific Fumero whose distinct aesthetic can be seen on walls throughout NYC brings a slice of paradise to First Street.
Brooklyn-based visual and performance artist Jade Fusco, aka DMZL, graces the trailer with an array of quirky creatures.
And designer, graffiti writer and fine artist CRAM Concepts (center) honors all moms — just in time for Mothers Day.
Cycle 3 of Centre-fuge will be on view until July 12th, 2012.
Photos by Lenny Collado, Tara Murray & Street Art, NYC
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