With their vibrant colors and seductive styles, the rotating walls in Hackensack’s Union Street Park tantalize. Pictured above is T-Kid. Here are a few more captured yesterday:
Jew BT
Abe BT
Photo credits: 1, 5 & 7 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2-4 & 6 Lois Stavsky
{ 0 comments }
With his outstanding sense of color, style and design, Tracy 168 achieved legendary status early on in the most significant art movement of our time. The personification of wild style and the first writer to hit the subways with cartoon characters, the prolific artist wielded tremendous influence. On reviewing Tracy 168‘s work on exhibit back in 1999, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times art critic Holland Cotter had the following to say: “Tracy offers an astounding variety of styles, from 3-D to space-age spiky to Cubistic. He floats out words on cushions of colors, and ties them up in unreadable knots, festooned with tendril-like flourishes.”
When did you first get up?
I first got up with a crayon on a wall in my house when I was four years old. I remember drawing a tortoise and a hare. I lived across from the Bronx Zoo, and I always heard the sounds of animals from my window.
What about the streets? When did you first hit the streets? And the trains? When did you first hit them?
In 1969 when the Mets won the World Series, I first hit the streets. And I tagged my first train the same year. I was 11.
What inspired you to do so?
I loved the sense of adventure…the adrenalin rush. I envisioned myself as a Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn. And I loved seeing my name on the trains.
Had you any favorite spots?
I was all-city, and I loved painting anywhere with people whom I loved. But my favorite spots were New Lots Avenue and Utica Avenue on the IRT line in Brooklyn. Any train I painted there would run right away, and so I didn’t have to hang around too long to see my piece pass by.
What about crews? Did you get up with any crews?
I founded the Wanted crew. It was one of the largest crews ever, and just about anybody who was anybody of worth was in that crew. It represented Wild Style.
Had you any early role models or inspirations?
My mother, my grandfather, Jack Stewart, Michael Stewart… Michael Stewart gave his life so that others would live. After his death in 1983 — and the trials and investigations that ensued — the police were somewhat afraid of treating writers so brutally. We are the true prophets…
Any particular risky ventures stand out?
I was always wild, always doing dangerous things.
How did you support yourself back in the day? What was your source of income?
In the late 70’s, I began to create all kinds of art-related jobs for myself — painting storefronts, memorial walls, murals… I was the first writer to do that kind of thing. I also worked in an advertising agency. Jack Stewart taught me about copyrights and trademarks. He was a true mentor. He told me real stories — not the ones from Fantasy Island.
Your work has been shown in all kinds of settings across the globe!
Yes! I’ve been in museums and galleries all over the world. I was always breaking boundaries, Here in NYC my work has been exhibited in dozens of spaces including the New York Historical Society, the Brooklyn Museum and NYU.
I remember seeing your work at the Brooklyn Museum back in 2006.
Yeah! When I came by, I made some adjustments to my canvas with a paintbrush. That didn’t go over well with the security guards. They got the curator of the exhibit involved, who insisted that I couldn’t change anything, since it had already been photographed for their catalog.
Did you have a formal art education?
My education is hands-on.
How do you feel about the role of the Internet in this scene?
It can be used as a tool — if you know how to read the truth.
What’s your ideal working environment?
Anywhere outdoors. Even when I paint canvases, I like to paint outside.
What inspires you these days?
My main inspiration is to express myself and grow as an artist in a world that is reluctant to see me as one.
Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?
Every culture. NYC is a melting pot, and I’m in the center of it painting.
Are you generally satisfied with your finished piece?
I’m not done until I’m happy. As long as I’m alive, I can improve on it. But it must have meaning and exude positivity. Otherwise, why bother?
A few years back you were reported dead. What was that all about?
If I hadn’t died then, I wouldn’t be alive now. It had to happen. When I vanished, I saw the world going in the wrong direction. This art form can save it.
How has your work evolved in the last few years?
It’s constantly evolving. This movement is to art like jazz is to music. It’s a fusion of styles and cultures that knows no boundaries. It is a universal language. And the message of Wild Style is “Be yourself. Find out what your talent is and get good at it.” I love everyone, but I will not surrender the truth and lose my integrity.
Photos: 1, 6-8 Lois Stavsky; 2, 4 & 5 courtesy of the artist; 3 Flint Gennari; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky
Note: Photos 7 & 8 were captured from Tracy’s current black book; special thanks to Flint for the introduction!
{ 14 comments }
This is the tenth in a series of occasional posts featuring images of children that have surfaced on NYC public spaces.
BK Foxx with JMZ Walls in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Joe Iurato and Logan Hicks at the Bushwick Collective
Ernest Zacharevic — based on photo by Martha Cooper — in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
Swoon in Red Hook, Brooklyn
Long-running Cekis in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Rubin 415 and Joe Iurato with the Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria, Queens
Photos 1 Courtesy of John Woodward; 2-4 Tara Murray; 5 Dani Reyes Mozeson and 6 Lois Stavsky
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.
{ 0 comments }
As NET was getting ready for TAGSTRACTION, tonight’s unsanctioned exhibition on the streets of NYC, I had the opportunity to speak to him and find out a bit about it all.
Just what is TAGSTRACTION?
It is a mix of tagging and abstraction, blurring the lines between graffiti tagging, abstract expressionism and stylized signatures.
And when was NET born?
NET was born in 1987, but I’ve been tagging since I was a child.
Were you ever arrested?
I was arrested about fifty times for graffiti since I was 14.
Who are some of your inspirations?
There are many: Barry McGee aka Twist, Adam Cost, Jon 156, Al Diaz, Easy, Phantom 13 aka P13, Old English, Enx, Phil Frost and multiple Brooklyn artists.
You define TAGSTRACTION as “too hood for the nerds and too weird for the thugs.” Who is your audience?
Anyone and everyone who’s on the street with eyeballs.
How can folks see tonight’s exhibit?
The location will be announced one hour prior to the 7pm opening. Check out my Instagram for it.
And why did you choose an unsanctioned outdoor location for an art exhibit? Is there a message here? You seem to be on a mission of some kind.
My message is that you do not need the approval of the Art World to accomplish your goal. It is time for us to take it into our own hands.
Yes!
All images courtesy NET; interview by Lois Stavsky
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.
{ 0 comments }
The most riveting graffiti spots are those we almost never discover on our own. Located in tunnels, abandoned buildings, rooftops and hidden passageways, they tend to host some of the most creative, innovative writing — from tags to pieces — to be found anywhere. We recently had the opportunity to visit such a spot — the SGK Pit — in Newark, New Jersey and speak to Torch Fuego who has established an office there.
Can you tell us something about this spot! What an amazing oasis of creativity and escape from it all!
It was founded over 25 years ago by several Old School writers, and it quickly became — largely under the direction of SGK crew founder Syko — a key spot for writers to practice and learn from one another.
And what does SGK stand for?
Style, Gifted, Knowledge…and more!
Who were some of the writers who frequented it? Were they all locals?
Among the NJ writers were: Syko, Rime, Carmelo “Snow” Sigona, Teck and Lesk — who made me an SGK member. But folks also came from other places. Bom5 used to come down from the Bronx.
How and when did you discover the SGK Pit? And what was your first impression of it?
Baye took me there when I was about 15. I thought, “Wow!.” I couldn’t imagine that such a place existed.
Do any particular memories stand out?
The few graffiti battles that turned into brawls…lots of parties…and the first time I saw the deer and red foxes that also call this spot home.
And just what is your role here now?
For several years it had been abandoned. But it has recently been revitalized. And — together with Zew — I basically maintain it. I keep it tidy. I make sure the walls are clean. I introduce new members to old heads, who can pass down knowledge to them. Basically, I want to maintain it as a “practice sanctuary.” And as Syko handed down the torch to me, I feel a huge responsibility.
That seems like quite a responsibility and quite a bit of work!
Yes! I’ve sacrificed my day job for this. But it’s worth it!
No doubt!
Note: You can meet Torch at a special event today — Saturday — from 1-6 pm at Shorty’s. And tonight — starting at 11pm — Clearport Events will host a graffiti after-party at Port-O-Lounge, 286 1st Street in Jersey City, to benefit The Artchitectz, a program that teaches youth creative skills. Check out Torch’s Instagram for additional info.
Photo credits: 1, 3 & 4 Lois Stavsky; 2 & 5 Tara Murray; photo two features work by Lesk, with Erizl to his left; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky
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.
{ 1 comment }
This is the second in our series of NYC couples that were spotted around town. Pictured above is Dasic Fernandez as seen at the Bushwick Collective. Here are several more:
D*Face at the Bushwick Collective
Mr. Nerds at the Bushwick Collective
Jorit Agoch and Leticia Mandragora in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Faith 47 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Sipros, as seen earlier this year at the Bushwick Collective
Photo credits: 1-3 Tara Murray; 4-6 Lois Stavsky
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.
{ 0 comments }
On view through June 26 at the Bronx Museum of the Arts is Bronx Focus: Paintings by Valeri Larko, an extraordinary visual ode to a borough whose landscape is rapidly changing. Among Valeri Larko‘s paintings are many that are infused with the Bronx’s gritty graffiti. With her impeccable renderings of tags, throw-ups and pieces, the artist has immortalized our favorite art form in the borough that birthed it. On revisiting the exhibit last week, I had the opportunity to meet Valeri, who gave a tour of her exhibit.
We love the way you are keeping some of our favorite walls alive through your paintings. What spurred you to focus on this aspect of the Bronx?
I’ve always been interested in the urban landscape, and when I moved from New Jersey to New Rochelle — just a short drive from the Bronx — I discovered the just how rich the graffiti in the Bronx is. I think it is gorgeous, and I love how sites with graffiti always have great stories to tell.
Can you tell us something about your process? How long does it take from beginning to end to create a painting?
Everything is done on location. If a site interests me, I begin with a quick pen and ink sketch in a small notebook using a uni-ball pen. If I then decide that I want to do a painting of the particular scene, I do an oil sketch of it. For most of my studies, I work on 300 pound watercolor paper that I staple to a board. For the larger version, I typically paint two to three months, also on location.
What are some of the challenges you face in producing this work?
The weather is, by far, my greatest challenge. The wind is my biggest enemy. My car is — many times — my only shelter, and that is where you will often find me painting, especially in the winter months.
How do the graffiti artists feel about what you are doing?
They love it. If they see a blank surface at a particular space where I am painting, they will sometimes ask if they can leave their mark on it — to be included in my painting.
What is your most memorable experience of painting on location?
There are so many, but here is one that comes to mind: I had been working at a site for several weeks on Top Dollar, a painting of a trailer truck. Then one day when I showed up, I was surprised to find a very large boat in front of the truck. I could’t imagine how it got there! Luckily, I had mostly finished the painting, and the boat seemed too clean, too pristine and too out of place to include. But a few days later, the graffiti artist SAET with his friend NARO showed up. Once SAET had christened the boat with his tag, it was totally transformed. And so I decided to add the boat to the painting. I was even thinking of doing a new painting of the boat. But that never happened!
Why was that? Why didn’t you get to do the new painting of the boat?
While I was still working on Top Dollar, Tommy — who was living in the Jay’s Hot Dog Camper — informed me that the site was about to be demolished. That is one of the hazards of working on site. Whoa! I still needed at least a week to finish my painting. Luckily I found the guys doing the demolition work, and they agreed to give me one more week to complete my painting! It actually took me eight days, and within hours after I finished, everything on the site was demolished. And what about Tommy who had been living in the camper? He headed on a Greyhound back home to Kansas City where he and his sons had built two houses!
What’s next? Are any walls calling you? Any sites that particularly intrigue you?
Yes! I discovered an abandoned golf course across from Co-op City. And since I don’t know how much longer it will be around, I’ve been heading there as often as I can!
What an incredible visual history you are creating! And we are already looking forward to your upcoming solo exhibit at WallWorks in the fall.
Images
1. Valeri Larko — as seen last week — at the Bronx Museum
2. Ferris Stahl Meyer Diptych, close-up
3. Corner of Boone Avenye and 173rd Street
4. Bronx Drawbridge
5. Valeri Larko painting at Top Dollar
6. Top Dollar
Photo credits: 1-3 Lois Stavsky; 4 City-as-School intern Sol Raxlen; 5 John Wyatt & 6 courtesy of the artist; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky with Sol Raxlen
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.
{ 0 comments }
We love how the walls at Brooklyn Reclaimed — under the curatorial direction of Meres One — have become rotating outdoor canvases. Pictured above is Panic Rodriguez at work. Here are a few more recent murals — some captured while in progress, and others when completed.
ZA One at work
Kais
Wore at work
Photo credits: 1, 3 & 5 Tara Murray; 2, 4, 6-8 Lois Stavsky
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.
{ 0 comments }
This past Sunday, Elmhurst’s ELKS Lounge was home to Street Art Expo NYC, as it celebrated three generations of first-rate graffiti artists. Visitors — of all ages — had the opportunity to meet a wonderfully diverse range of artists, become acquainted with new products and purchase original artworks directly from the artists. Pictured above is the legendary Part One. Here’s a small sampling of what we saw:
Veteran writer and photographer Flint Gennari with photo he’d captured back in the day of Flip One in action
Old school writer and a sponsor of Street Art Expo NYC, Alski
Bronx-based veteran writer and founder and curator of InstaFame Phantom Art, Nic 707
Contemporary graffiti and street art legend Moody Mutz, AA Mobb
The prolific Brooklyn-based Plasma Slug
Bronx-based b-boy and graffiti artist, Chief 69
In addition to The Alski Show, other sponsors of Street Art Expo NYC included: Ironlak, TYOTOYS and Art Primo.
Photo credits: 1 & 5 Tara Murray; 2-4, 6 & 7 Lois Stavsky
{ 0 comments }
This past Saturday, Her Story, the first annual female graffiti series, was launched at the legendary Inwood wall on Isham Street off 10th Avenue . While visiting, I had the opportunity to speak to the inimitable Lady K Fever.
Can you tell us something about Her Story’s mission?
We women are underrepresented in the graffiti world. The mission of Her Story is to provide us female writers with a supportive environment to tell our stories while sharing our skills with others.
Whose idea was it? And how did the concept for such a project become a reality?
We’ve been constantly talking — among ourselves — about the need for more opportunities. We feel that we don’t have anywhere as many opportunities — or access to spaces — as guys have. And, by chance, several weeks ago, Crane invited us to paint here on Isham and 10th Avenue.
How did you decide which artists to include in today’s launch?
We’ve all known each other for awhile, have painted together before and we get along well together. We are looking forward to including additional female writers in future jams.
The vibes here are great! Everyone seems to be having so much fun. What is your impression of this launch?
It’s been excellent! So many people came by to watch us paint, including many legendary old school writers. It’s been busy!
What’s ahead for Her Story?
With the sponsorship of The Bronx Graffiti Art Gallery and Hush Hip Hop Tours, we will be painting for the next six months in five boroughs in three states. On June 25th you can find us at Tuff City. Future spots include: Graffiti Universe and Hackensack, New Jersey. We will also be involved in the New York Restoration Project. In collaboration with Bette Midler’s foundation, we will be painting in a garden on July 30th, as part of the series, Ladies of the Bronx, highlighting the elements of hip hop.
It’s all very exciting! Good luck!
Images
1. Lady K Fever
2. Mel1
3. Rocky 184
4. Charmin 65
5. Miss Boombox with Bom5 dancing to its beat; Gem 13 on right
6. Gem13
7. Neks
Photos and interview by Lois Stavsky
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.
{ 0 comments }
