the Drif

LISA Project NYC & Make-A-Wish Bring Spirited Murals to Macy’s Queens Center: The Drif, Zero Productivity, Chris RWK, Veng RWK, Indie 184 and More

December 19, 2021

When LISA Project NYC co-founder Reynaldo Rosa aka The Drif was 10 years old and living in the foster care system with a critical illness, he wished he could visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a 501 nonprofit organization that that helps fulfill the wishes of children with serious illnesses, Rey had his wish come true – an adventure that sparked his imagination, allowing him “to see color again.”

Inspired by this experience, Rey has been bringing color to our streets for over a decade, and his brain-child, the Make-A-Wish Mural Project, has launched a variety of spirited murals in a range of NYC spaces from the Brookdale Hospital in East Brooklyn to the streets of Nolita in Manhattan.

Last month, under The Drif’s curatorial direction, the exterior of the huge Macy’s Department Store, housed in Queens Center, was magically transformed as part of Macy’s annual Believe campaign. The image featured above was a collaboration among: the Drif, Zero Productivity, Chris RWK and Veng RWK. Several select close-ups from the huge mural project follow:

Zero Productivity and Chris RWK

Indie 184 and Zero Productivity

Veng RWK

Indie 184, Chris RWK & Veng RWK

And a reminder from Chris RWK to send your letter to Santa — as for every letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million. You have until Friday to write your letter here or drop it off at Macy’s.

Note: Earlier this month six murals were also unveiled outside the Macy’s in downtown Brooklyn.

Photo credits: 1 Shalom Stavsky, 2-6 Lois Stavsky

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Cluster Wall to Launch Tomorrow with Exhibit and Party at 17 Frost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

January 16, 2015

A specialized new online gallery certain to appeal to us street art aficionados, Cluster Wall launches tomorrow evening with an exhibit and party at 17 Frost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We recently had the opportunity to speak to Cluster Wall’s founder, Evan Tobias. 

Chris-RWK-Cluster-Wall

What is Cluster Wall? Why that name?

It is a term I respond to! As an art-lover and collector, I tend to cluster art of all colors and styles in our Brooklyn apartment. The results are vibrant, bold and kinetic, like New York City, itself!

What is your mission in launching Cluster Wall?

My mission is to provide art lovers with the opportunity to purchase first-rate, hand-embellished affordable art. There will not be any ink jet prints. All of the artworks will be signed and numbered, and editions will be limited. Prints will be released in a series of 100 or fewer. And, in addition, a small number of original works will also be made available.

"Evan Tobias"

What work experiences do you bring with you to your current position?

I was the founder and editor of Block Magazine, and founder of the Full Circle Bar in Williamsburg.

Most of the artists — whose works you will be exhibiting and selling — are active on the streets. Why the focus on street art?

I’m a big fan of street art. I’ve been living in Williamsburg since 2001, and I’ve seen how street art has enhanced my neighborhood. It has made it a better place to live. But Cluster Wall is not limited to street artists. I will be releasing artworks by other contemporary urban artists, as well.

the-drif

How did you decide which artists to work with?

I started off by contacting artists I know, and then I was connected to some others. I was specifically looking for artwork that I love that would also work well as prints.

Can you tell us something about this weekend’s exhibit? What can we expect to see?

We will be featuring prints and original artworks by Chris RWK, Joe Iurato, Rubin, ASVP, Elle, The Drif, London Kaye, Solus, Opie and ORYX, along with collaborative works by John Paul O’Grodnick and Jilly Ballistic, who will also be painting live.

Jilly-ballistic-and-j-p-o

What is Cluster Wall bringing to the art scene?

It provides art lovers with the opportunity to collect outstanding, innovative artwork at modest prices.

That all sounds great! Good luck!

Joe-Iurato-cluster-wall

Note: The launch begins at 7pm tomorrow — Saturday — at 17 Frost Street and will feature, along with dozens of artworks, music by DJ Nigel Rubirosa and refreshments provided by Lion Beer and Sea Grape Wines.

Interview conducted by City-as-School intern Zachariah Messaoud.

Photos

1. Chris RWK  

2. Cluster Wall founder Evan Tobias, seated in front of artwork by London Kaye 

3. The Drif

4. John Paul O’Grodnick and Jilly Ballistic

5.  Joe Iurato

All photos courtesy Cluster Wall, except for pic of Evan by Lois Stavsky

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NYC Shutters – Part VIII: Sweet Toof, Darkclouds, Ben Eine, Ramiro Davaro, Kashink, the Drif and Buff Monster

January 5, 2015

This is the eighth post in an occasional series featuring artwork on NYC shutters:

Sweet Toof on the Bowery for the LISA Project

"sweet toof"

With Darkclouds

sweet-toof-dark-clouds-shutters-street-art-nyc

Ben Eine in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx

"Ben Eine"

Ramiro Davaro in the Bronx for the Tag Public Arts Project

ramiro-davaro-street-art-shutter-nyc

Kashink in Bushwick

Kashink

The Drif on the Lower East Side for the LISA Project

"the drif"

Buff Monster on the Bowery

buff-monster-street-art-shutter-bowery-NYC

 Photos 1, 2, and 7 by Tara Murray; 3 and 4 by Lois Stavsky; 5 and 6 by Dani Reyes Mozeson

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Boundless Brooklyn & myplasticheart Present Water Towers Designed by: NoseGo, the Drif, Toofly, Rob Plater, Darkcloud, Stencil1 & more

November 2, 2014

NoseGo

Over two dozen talented toy designers and graphic artists  — many of whom also work on the streets — customized water tower models using Boundless Brooklyn’s Water Tower kits.  The results are on exhibit through November 21 at myplasticheart at 210 Forsyth Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.  Here are a few more images by those artists who also use the streets as their canvas:

The Drif

"The Drif"

Toofly

Toofly

Rob Plater

"Marthalicia Mataritta"

Darkcloud

darkcloud

And Stencil1 — as seen from the outside looking in

stencil1

For those of you who would like to try designing your own water tower, kits are available here.

Photos by Dani Reyes Mozeson; the first image is of NoseGo

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