exhibit

studio-sweet-home-public-art-NYC

The Studio Street Home duo — Colombian native Yeimi Salazar and Puerto Rican native Melvin Sanchez — began collaborating six years ago, soon after they met in NYC. Their first solo exhibit will open tomorrow and Saturday at Exit Room NY during Bushwick Open Studios. While visiting Exit Room last week, we had the opportunity to speak to its art director Daniela Zoe.

It’s great to see Exit Room NY so alive again! What a wonderful home for Studio Sweet Home‘s first solo exhibit!

Yes! To coincide with Bushwick Open Studios, I wanted to feature artists with a unique multidisciplinary approach. And I’m delighted to host Studio Sweet Home here at Exit Room NY, as Juguetería/Toys Warehouse is a great opportunity for the artists, our space and the public.

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Can you tell us something about this upcoming show? What will Juguetería/Toys Warehouse feature?

There will be paintings, installations, sculptures, video projects, and performances. There will be something for everyone – as Juguetería/Toys Warehouse is not just an art exhibit, but an interactive experience.  A participatory performance will be held at 7pm on both opening days.

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Have you worked with Studio Sweet Home artists Yeimi Salazar and Melvin Sanchez in the past?

Yes, they have participated in group shows before here at Exit Room NY.

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What was it about Yeimi Salazar and Melvin Sanchez that initially drew you to them?

Their mastery of their craft, their talents and their versatility.  And I love the way their works attract participants.

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What do you expect those who visit the show to take away from it?

The constructed objects and scenarios are certain to engage the viewer’s senses. There will be so much to see, stories to hear and objects and people to touch. And there are many subtle, suggestive, somewhat ironic, messages.

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What’s ahead for Exit Room NY?

We are expecting a visit from a legendary street art crew in August. We will keep you posted!

It sounds great! Good luck! We are looking forward to it all!

Note: The exhibit’s opening will take place tomorrow and Saturday, the first two days of Bushwick Open Studios. The exhibit will then continue until June 26. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Friday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.  EXIT Room is located on 270 Meserole Street, a short walk from the Montrose stop on the L train.

Interview conducted by City-As-School intern Diana Davidova. All photos courtesy Studio Sweet Home and Exit Room NY.

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N-Carlos-J-The Beautiful-Decay of-fear

Exuding beauty, decay and fear, the extraordinarily atmospheric The Beautiful Decay of Fear opens Friday at 12pm. We visited yesterday evening and got a glimpse of the installation in progress. Here are a few close-ups:

Another image by curator N Carlos J

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Kirby Santos, close-up

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Justin Carty, close-up

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Danielle Mastrion at work

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The site of the exhibit is 225 Starr Street, where you will be greeted by a masterful outdoor mural by the wonderfully talented Ben Angotti.

the beautiful decay of fear

 Photos: 1 & 2 City-As-School intern Diana Davidova; 3-5 Lois Stavsky

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Savior-el-mundo-Frida

Highlighting the impact that Mexican civilization has had on other cultures, The Impact Show, El Momento del Impacto, presents a stunning array of artworks that reflect various aspects of the Mexican experience. Here are a few more images that can be seen in the backyard garden of the lovely Cafe de la Esquina in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Danielle Mastrion

"Danielle Mastrion"

Esteban del Valle, close-up

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Juan Carlos Pinto

"Carlos Pinto"

Albertus Alburg, close-up

"Albertus Alburg"

Ben Angotti

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Curated by Savior Elmundo and Frankie Velez, the Impact Show remains on view for the next several weeks — with a closing party 7-10pm on Thursday, June 25 — at 225 Wythe Avenue, a short walk from the Bedford stop on the L train.  

Note: First image is a close-up from  Savior Elmundo‘s Frida.

Photos: 1 – 6 Dani Reyes Mozeson and 7 Lois Stavsky

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MadC--graffiti-Yonkers-NY

A master of form, composition and color, German artist Claudia “MadC” Walde fashions luscious artworks that surface both on public spaces and in galleries world-wide. Her current exhibit Bits and Pieces at WallWorks NY remains on view through June 2.  Here are a few images:

1700Acrylic, watercolor and spray paint on canvas

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2035Acrylic, watercolor and spray paint on canvas

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1126, Acrylic, watercolor and spray paint on canvas

MadC-1126-2015-Wall-works-NYC

1342Acrylic, watercolor and spray paint on canvas

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1149, Acrylic, watercolor and spray paint on canvas

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Wide View

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WallWorks NY is located at 39 Bruckner Blvd in the Bronx, just a few minutes away from Manhattan.

Photo credits: 1 Sara C Mozeson; 2, 4, 6 & 7 Tara Murray; 3 Lois Stavsky; 5 City-As-School intern Diana Davidova

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Lee-Quinones-the-Fabulous-5

Fusing his never-before-seen drawings with his newer works, Lee Quiñones‘s pop-up solo exhibit — presented by Nicole Klagsbrun — takes us on a fabulous foray into the rich history of one of NYC’s legends who has garnered acclaim for both his graffiti and his fine art. Here is a small sampling of what can be seen through June 7 at 291 Grand Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side:

Wild, Installation view

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Hell Express, work study #3, 1979

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Rust-oleum VS the Toys, 1981 

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Golpe de Suerte, 2013 – 2014, close-up

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Crossing Delancey, 2014

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The pop-up exhibit can be seen Wed – Sun from 11am – 6pm.

Note:  First image is Iz the Wiz (The Fabulous Five), 1977

Photo credits: 1, 2, 4 & 5 Lois Stavsky; 3 & 6 City-as-School intern Diana Davidova

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David-Safhay-Compostion-of Compositions

Fusing natural elements with man-made materials, sculptor and fine artist David Safhay creates an astonishing range of distinctly inventive works in various media. Presented by Imagination in Space — in partnership with Parasol Projects  — David Safhay‘s first New York City solo show remains on view at 2 Rivington Street through Saturday. Here’s a glimpse:

Nefertiti, Bone, fossil, shells, stone, epoxy

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Witch’s BrewBone, found objects, shell, colored pencil, epoxy

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Glyphtich, 1 of 3, Formica color core laminate, cherry wood, ebony inlay

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Psychedelic Relic, Polythermal clay baked on composite abhor vitae skeleton 

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Photos: 1 courtesy of Imagination in Space founder Greg Spielberg (pictured above); 2, 4 and 5 Lois Stavsky; 3 City-as-School intern Diana Davidova

Note: First image pictured, Composition of Compositions, walnut casing, wood, iron, rock, fossil, mixed media

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After spending five months in London, Pyramid Oracle is back for a bit in NYC.  Opening today at 6pm at City Bird Gallery is Return, a five-day show featuring work he developed in the UK. We met up with the artist yesterday, as he was getting ready for this evening’s exhibit.

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Your works began surfacing here on NYC streets about two years ago. We were struck at once by their haunting, somewhat melancholy, beauty. What is the inspiration behind these works?

I’m inspired by the people, places and things I’ve experienced. I try to capture wisdom from the great mysteries, while depicting our existence in a sort of subliminal lull. I’ve been particularly inspired by the Native Americans I’ve met in Montana and New Mexico.

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When and where did you begin sharing your work in public spaces? 

I started around 2008 doing work throughout the Midwest.  My work first started getting recognized primarily in Chicago. 

What motivated you to get up on the streets?

I was hanging around train riders, graff artists and vagabonds. I was doing most of my work while traveling and spending so much time on the street that it seemed like the natural thing to do.

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Where – besides NYC, Chicago and London – have you gotten up?

Minneapolis, Baltimore, Philly, Portland, and Miami. And in Iowa — Cedar Rapids, Iowa city, Ames, Fort Dodge and Des Moines.  

Just who is Pyramid Oracle?

Pyramid Oracle represents the body of work that I am developing. It is constantly evolving.

pyramid-oracle-in-gallery-nyc

Who are some of your influences?

Among the artists whose works have resonated the most with me through the years are: Gaia, SwoonMata Ruda, LNY and OverUnder.

What would you like folks to come away with after seeing your work? Have you a message to convey?

It is open to interpretation, while its primary purpose is to facilitate a means of reflection and illumination.

Pyramid-Oracle-Return

Return opens this evening at 6pm at City Bird Gallery and remains on exhibit through Sunday. The gallery is located at 191 Henry Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Interview by City-as-School intern Diana Davidova with Lois Stavsky; photos 1-3 Lois Stavsky; 4 Diana Davidova

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LMNOPI-art-Brooklyn-Is-the-Future

Featuring an awesome array of outdoor and indoor murals, along with a range of smaller works in different media, Brooklyn is the Future opens this evening at the Vazquez at 93 Forrest Street in Bushwick. Here is a small sampling of what I saw when I stopped by yesterday.

Brooklyn is the Future curator, N Carlos J at work.

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Chris Soria at work 

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 Eelco at work

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Marc Evan at work

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Savior Elmundo, close-up

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Ben Angotti, close-up

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Rob Plater

Plater-art

The two-weekend long exhibit and charity event opens this evening at 6pm.

Brooklyn

Photos by Lois Stavsky; the first photo features LMNOPI

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keith-haring-close-up-untitled-1984

Unlike so many of Keith Haring‘s playfully iconic works that exude a child-like innocence, the huge works on exhibit in Heaven and Hell largely suggest an eerie darkness and unfettered eroticism. Here’s a sampling:

Wide view of two untitled works, 1984

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Untitled, 1985

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Untitled, 1984

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Untitled, 1984

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Heaven and Hell remains on exhibit at Skarstedt at 550 West 21 Street through next Saturday.

Photos of images: 1, 4 and 5 City-as-School intern Zachariah Messaoud; 2 and 3 Dani Reyes Mozeson. Note: First photo is a close-up from the huge mural below it (R).

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RAE-This-May-Come-as-a-Shock

On exhibit through April 19 at 34 1/2 Bayard Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown, RAE’s brilliantly idiocyncratic Trunk Work celebrates the retrieval and contents of RAE‘s trunk from his former Brooklyn studio, while chronicling the events related to its loss and rescue. Graphically and conceptually engaging, Trunk Work wittily defines the mood and culture of the Brooklyn environs that housed RAE‘s trunk, as it showcases a range of RAE’s rescued and new works.

For four years, you couldn’t gain access to your trunk. What exactly was inside it?

Various artworks, notebooks, sketches, implements and a range of personal items.

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How did you lose access to it?

I had been maintaining a studio in a Flatlands, Brooklyn apartment building. But as a result of tenant complaints, I was forcibly removed. Barred from entering the building, I had no way to retrieve my trunk.

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rae-audio-system

What kinds of complaints might these tenants have had?

They didn’t like my taste in music; they complained that it was too loud. And the noise from my art practice bothered some. Finally, when a microwave I was using to melt some materials exploded, the landlord decided that he’d had enough of me.

RAE-found-objects

How did you finally retrieve your trunk?

This past August, cracks were discovered in the building’s facade and the entire building was evacuated. Amidst the chaos of it all, I was able to retrieve my trunk from what was once my studio.

We’re so glad you did! What a story! And what an amazing recreation of it all!

In true RAE fashion, Trunk Work is far more than an art exhibit; it is a totally immersive experience. Set in a Chinatown basement at 94 1/2 Bayard Street, right off Mulberry, it continues through April 19, Thursday-Sunday (except for Easter) from 1-6pm.

Photos 1-3 and 5 by Lois Stavsky; 4 by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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