Noxer

Produced by artist Andrew H. Shirley and featuring  members of the classic Brooklyn-based 907 graffiti crew, the widely-acclaimed 32-minute film Wastedland 2, along with a site-specific installation, will make its NYC premiere tomorrow, September 15th, at the Knockdown Center in Maspeth, Queens.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by the spirit animals of graffiti vandals, the film features Wolftits, Avoid, SmellsRambo, Noxer, EKG, UFO and others, as it raises the existential questions: What is this all about? and Why are we here?  Ultimately,Wastedland 2 is a paean to the power of graffiti. Prior to its eagerly-anticipated NYC premiere, Wastedland 2  toured several cities — beginning with Shirley’s native Detroit. What follows are a few photos captured at different sites:

At Recycle Here! in Detroit featuring EKG

At Superchief Gallery in LA — featuring Rambo, UFO and more

At Holland Project’s Serva-Pool space in Reno, Nevada with Wolftits & more

The filmmaker Andrew H. Shirley in Portland

The opening reception of this one-day special event will take place tomorrow, Friday, from 7pm to midnight with screenings at 9pm and 11pm. Music performances will take place throughout the evening.

All photos courtesy Andrew H. Shirley

Photo credits: 1 Phil Conners; 2 William Dunleavy; 3 Tod Seelie; 4 Danny Johnson and  5 Daniel Kruse

{ 1 comment }

Gorey-and-Ezo-street-art-and-graffiti-apple-gate-project-bushwick-nyc

A huge industrial building at 61 Jefferson Street – a short walk from the JMZ Myrtle Avenue line – has become the backdrop for a wonderful mix of vibrant public art. I recently spoke to its curator, Whisper aka Chip Love.

SP-one-Apple-Gate-Project-Brooklyn

What an ideal space for this wonderfully diverse artwork! How did you come upon it?

My friend, Brian Sturm, introduced me to John Weiss, the president of Apple Restoration & Waterproofing. John was interested in beautifying the exterior of his business, and Brian thought I might be interested in curating such a project.

bis-uno-and-diego127-graffiti-apple-gate-project-bushwick

Can you tell us a bit more about Apple Gate Project Bushwick’s mission?

Its mission is to beautify the property here at 61 Jefferson with public art and to aesthetically connect to the community.

Chip-street-art-apple-gate-mural-project

How many artists were engaged in the project?

By the time it was completed, 15 had been involved.

mast-noxer-graffiti

The art here represents such a wonderful mix of cultures. In addition to many legendary NYC-based artists, participants include: Brazilian artist Binho; Australian artist John Kaye and French artist Gorey.  How did you manage to engage such an eclectic group of talented artists?

I called my friends who then called their friends.

quik-graffiti-apple-gate-project-bushwick

What particular challenges did you face in seeing the project to completion?

Challenges were limited. Because the property is a restoration company, we had everything we could possibly need at our disposal: lifts, scaffolding, ladders. John Weiss was wonderfully accommodating. And the entire exterior was power-washed before it was painted.

John Kaye-and-Spar-graffiti-street-art-Apple-Gate-Project-Bushwick-NYC

How has the response been?

There hasn’t yet been much publicity, as we’ve kept it largely undercover while we were working on it. But the word is getting out, and the response that we’ve been getting is incredible. You can check out the hashtag #AppleGateProjectBushwick on Instagram.

Noxer-binho-graffiti

What’s ahead for you?

Continuing my art, connecting with like-minded people and building more projects like this one!

noxer-street-art-whisper-John-Weiss-Apple Gate Project-Bushwick

Images: 1. Gorey 2. Greg Lamarche aka SP.ONE 3. Bis Uno & Diego 127 4. Whisper 5. Mast; bottom side gate Noxer 6. Quik 7. John Kaye & Spar 8. Noxer & Binho 9. Noxer with Whisper standing and John Weiss of Apple Restoration and Waterproofing seated to his right

Photo credits: 1-5, 7 & 9 Lois Stavsky; 6 & 8 Tara Murray

{ 4 comments }

noxer-kaput-giz-martinez-gallery

While visiting the Free Radicals graffiti exhibit at ALL CITY this past Friday, I had the opportunity to speak to noted Martinez Gallery director Hugo Martinez who — together with Dr. Juan Tapia — envisioned and helped realize this wonderful space that serves as a graffiti art gallery, arts center and pediatric clinic.

What an amazing venture this is! A pediatric clinic, a dynamic art gallery and lounge all sharing the same space. Whose concept was this?

It was Einstein’s. “After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity and form,” he once stated. There is a natural synthesis between art and medicine, and a health clinic is an ideal setting to realize it.

Noxer

What made this extraordinary space possible?

2.5 million dollars and seven years.

Who were the main forces behind it?

I work with Dr. Juan Tapia, a pediatrician and former graffiti artist known as C.A.T. 87.  We were inspired to observe and measure evidence-based results of fusing two seemingly antithetical concepts.

"Navy8 and False"

How did you two come to collaborate?

I met Juan over 40 years ago when I was a student at City College and he was a Warlord for the neighborhood division of the Young Savage Nomads gang.  In 1972, we co-founded the United Graffiti Artists (UGA) as an alternative community to the established art world. Juan then went on to earn his GED and attend college and medical school. We have since collaborated on many community-based art and health projects. And in 2008, we established the ALL CITY Foundation.

Can you tell us something about the ALL CITY Foundation?

It is a community-based health and arts collaborative that has brought together a network of medical practitioners, artists and designers to create and run coordinated health and art programs for youth in New York City.

Navy8

Your current exhibit, Free Radicals, is a remarkable representation of various works in different media by a range of prolific artists.

Yes. All of the artists in this exhibit have established all-city reputations, most in NYC and a few in other large cities.

Why did you choose this particular space on the corner of 135th Street and Broadway? It is quite impressive.

It is close to City College, where UGA was first established. And the lay-out of the building, the former Claremont Theater – a 22,500-square-foot landmark that was the first theater to show photoplays — is perfectly designed for our purposes.

Soviet

from-the-outside-martinez

What’s ahead?

A range of programs, activities and revolving art exhibits.

Note: Free Radicals continues through March 31 at 3332 Broadway at 135th Street in Harlem. All artworks are for sale. You can follow the Martinez Gallery online at martinezgallery.com and on Instagram at instagram.com/martinezgallery. You can also visit the space with NY1 and check out this recent story in the New York Times.

Photos

1. Kaput, Noxer and Giz

2Noxer

3. False and Navy8

4. Navy8

5. Soviet, close-up

6. Various artists, as seen from the outside looking inside

Interview and photos by Lois Stavsky

{ 0 comments }

This is the fifth in a series of ongoing posts featuring the diverse range of stylish trucks and vans that strike NYC streets:

Sevor and Ideal

"Sevor and Ideal"

Cinik

Cinik

Ski and Optimo Primo

Ski and Optimo Primo

Staino

Staino graffiti

Noxer and 3ess

Noxer and 3ess graffiti

 Roda

Roda graffiti

Repo

Repo graffiti

Toper/Smart Crew

Toper of Smart Crew

 Photos by Lenny Collado, Dani Mozeson, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

{ 0 comments }

This is the fourth in a series of ongoing posts featuring the diverse range of stylish trucks and vans that strike NYC streets:

Noxer and 3ess in Bushwick, Brooklyn

"Noxer and 3ess graffiti"

Gano in Manhattan

"Gano graffiti"

Wen One in Manhattan

"Wen One graffiti"

 Deceve of Smart Crew

"Deceve graffiti"

Sebs in Bushwick, Brooklyn

"Sebs graffiti"

ND’A and See One in Bushwick, Brooklyn

"ND'A and See One"

See One close-up

"See One graffiti"

 Stem in Manhattan

"Stem graffiti"

Photos of Noxer & 3ess and ND’A close-up by Lois Stavsky; Gano, Wen One, NDA & See One by Dani Mozeson; Deceve by Lenny Collado; Sebs by City-as-School intern Damien Kelly and Stem by Sara Mozeson

{ 0 comments }