GRAPHOTISM - Benchtalk, Reviews, Interviews http://www.graphotism.com/ Latest Benchtalk, Reviews and Interviews from GRAPHOTISM en GRAPHOTISM - Benchtalk, Reviews, Interviews http://www.graphotism.com/EXT:tt_news/ext_icon.gif http://www.graphotism.com/ Latest Benchtalk, Reviews and Interviews from GRAPHOTISM TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:04:00 +0200 Pay Attention - Schools Kill Creativity - worth watching.... http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/pay-attention-schools-kill-creativity-worth-watching/











]]> Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:04:00 +0200 The Bridge - Trailer http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/the-bridge-trailer/

]]> Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:58:00 +0200 Sheen Bros (Cosmo Baker & 4th Pyramid) ft. Greg Nice - It's So Hot http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/sheen-bros-cosmo-baker-4th-pyramid-ft-greg-nice-its-so-hot/ The checkered taxi cab and dashiki may pay homage to the throwback vibe of the Sheen Bros' "It's So Hot," but directors The ICU keep this party clip fresh and focused. This red hot blast of disco rap from 4th Pyramid, Cosmo Baker and special guest Greg Nice stays lit from dusk 'til dawn. You're going to need to keep those shades on, ya'll. Sheen Bros (Cosmo Baker & 4th Pyramid) ft. Greg Nice - It's So Hot from Scion A/V on Vimeo.

The checkered taxi cab and dashiki may pay homage to the throwback vibe of the Sheen Bros' "It's So Hot," but directors The ICU keep this party clip fresh and focused. This red hot blast of disco rap from 4th Pyramid, Cosmo Baker and special guest Greg Nice stays lit from dusk 'til dawn. You're going to need to keep those shades on, ya'll.

Sheen Bros (Cosmo Baker & 4th Pyramid)  ft. Greg Nice - It's So Hot from Scion A/V on Vimeo.

]]> Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:39:00 +0200 FRASCA Shop feat. Ironlak (Video) - Rome, Italy. DANIELE PACE made this cool promo video for FRASCA Shop in Roma, Italia. http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/frasca-shop-feat-ironlak-video-rome-italy-daniele-pace-made-this-cool-promo-video-for-frasca/

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:04:00 +0200 REVOK - first graffiti writer to tag the cover of the Wall Street Journal http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/revok-first-graffiti-writer-to-tag-the-cover-of-the-wall-street-journal/ REVOK is the first person in history to ever tag the cover of The Wall Street Journal. The best part is that he did it from a jail cell.

REVOK is the first person in history to ever tag the cover of The Wall Street Journal. The best part is that he did it from a jail cell.

]]> Benchtalk Thu, 26 May 2011 22:42:00 +0200 FREE REVOK http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/free-revok/ The Seventh Letter artist Revok was arrested and sentenced to 180 days in jail. To help pay for legal fees SEVER designed this limited edition THE SEVENTH LETTER x FREE REVOK tee shirt, all proceeds will be donated to Revok’s legal fees. Click here to purchase. By TAMARA AUDI - The Wall Street Journal Mainstream Success Puts Graffiti Artists in Law-Enforcement's Sights—and in Jail LOS ANGELES—To the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Revok is a renowned artist whose bright, sprawling work is worthy of display in its latest exhibit. To the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Revok is Jason Williams, also known as inmate No. 2714221. Last month, Mr. Williams was sentenced to 180 days in county jail as a result of a probation violation from a graffiti incident, just days after the opening of a major museum exhibit dedicated to "street art" that features his work. Unable to post his $320,000 bail, Mr. Williams sat in jail for four days before the sentencing. It may be illegal on the street, but inside the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, a new exhibit celebrates the history of graffiti, featuring work by artists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey. WSJ's Tammy Audi reports. Law-enforcement officials around the country are prosecuting graffiti artists with harsher sentences than ever, pushing for felony charges, real prison time and restitution payments as they seek to wipe graffiti from the streets. At the same time, the art world and corporations are embracing the form like never before. "You can make a case that graffiti and street art is the most influential art movement since the great innovations of the '60s," says Jeffrey Deitch, director of the L.A. museum, known as MOCA. "Before this show, no American museum had ever done an ambitious historical exhibition." Law enforcement sees this as a historic moment as well: "This is really the first time in the history of law enforcement that we're making significant gains on identifying who the [graffiti] taggers are, and building a case against them," says Lt. Vince Carter, who heads the sheriff's graffiti unit. "We're in this war against graffiti and we're doing everything to stop it." In years past, authorities usually didn't go out of their way to prosecute the artists, most of whom use pseudonyms to protect their identities. Now, law-enforcement officials in major cities around the country are sharing information, creating catalogs of graffiti work by artist. Police can use evidence of past vandalism to obtain search warrants, and "stack" charges to prosecute graffiti vandalism as a felony. Revok's tag Shepard Fairey, the L.A.-based graffiti artist famous for his portrait of President Barack Obama, which hangs in the Smithsonian, was arrested in Boston in 2009 on his way to celebrate a museum exhibit of his work. Mr. Fairey was eventually charged with 30 felonies for putting stickers and posters on stop signs and guard rails. Mr. Fairey disputed the charges. Most of the charges were dropped, but Mr. Fairey was sentenced to two years probation for misdemeanor vandalism and prohibited from carrying stickers in Boston, his attorney said. Police worry that graffiti exhibits encourage vandalism. But graffiti's popularity has also helped their cause, as once-elusive artists come out of the shadows. "I think when law enforcement can identify a well-known graffiti artist, then that artist will become a target," says Ton Chi Nguyen, Mr. Williams's lawyer. He says Mr. Williams "does not view himself as a tagger or a vandal. He views himself as an artist." The street-art show at The Geffen Contemporary—one of the facilities at MOCA—features a neon-painted ice-cream truck topped with a cigar-smoking clown head. It has drawn thousands of visitors. Some graffiti artists sell their work at private galleries or online. Others are hired by corporations to design ad campaigns or special products. In some cases, they are hired to paint murals. The works of the street artist known as Banksy, who hides his identity, have produced international fame and led him to create an Oscar-nominated documentary. In 2008, Sotheby's sold a painting by another artist "which Banksy has defaced" for $1.8 million. Adidas and Pepsi have hired graffiti artists to create designs and marketing campaigns for their products. Mr. Williams may be the only prisoner in L.A.'s Twin Towers Correctional Facility previously commissioned by Levi's to design a jacket. (On sale at the MOCA exhibit for $250). Mr. Williams, 34, a prolific painter active in Los Angeles since the late 1990s, has said he wanted to be a graffiti artist since he was a teenager. Last month in Los Angeles, he was arrested as he attempted to board a flight to Ireland, where he was hired to paint a mural. He was arrested on a warrant for violating the terms of his probation stemming from a 2009 vandalism incident in Los Angeles. Mr. Williams failed to report for community service picking up roadside trash and didn't pay $3,500 restitution to cover the cost of removing the graffiti, his lawyer and sheriff's department officials said. Prior to his 2009 arrest, investigators had been on the trail of Revok for years. "I'm happy he's been identified and captured, and now he has to pay for what he was doing," says Randy Campbell, a retired California Highway Patrol Officer who now helps cities trying to fight graffiti. Law enforcement officials say they are responding to community demands to combat graffiti. Police say they aren't making a judgment on whether graffiti is art. As long it is painted on public property without permission, it's a crime. Los Angeles spends $10 million a year to scrub the stuff off walls. "These vandals don't have any respect for property," Mr. Campbell says. He added that Mr. Williams's work "was half-way decent. It was big puffy letters, multiple colors, nice shadowing." Lt. Carter, the Sheriff Department's antigraffiti guru, says that "out of curiosity" he went to the MOCA show where he was struck by the sight of a decommissioned municipal bus painted over by an artist named Risk. "Now people are going to see that bus and want to write something on some other bus. That's my job to stop that graffiti on that bus," he said. As for the artistic merits of the rest of the show: "I refrain from passing judgment."

The Seventh Letter artist Revok was arrested and sentenced to 180 days in jail. To help pay for legal fees SEVER designed this limited edition THE SEVENTH LETTER x FREE REVOK tee shirt, all proceeds will be donated to Revok’s legal fees. Click here to purchase.

 

By TAMARA AUDI - The Wall Street Journal

 

Mainstream Success Puts Graffiti Artists in Law-Enforcement's Sights—and in Jail

 

LOS ANGELES—To the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Revok is a renowned artist whose bright, sprawling work is worthy of display in its latest exhibit.

 

To the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Revok is Jason Williams, also known as inmate No. 2714221.

 

Last month, Mr. Williams was sentenced to 180 days in county jail as a result of a probation violation from a graffiti incident, just days after the opening of a major museum exhibit dedicated to "street art" that features his work. Unable to post his $320,000 bail, Mr. Williams sat in jail for four days before the sentencing.

 

It may be illegal on the street, but inside the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, a new exhibit celebrates the history of graffiti, featuring work by artists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey. WSJ's Tammy Audi reports.

 

Law-enforcement officials around the country are prosecuting graffiti artists with harsher sentences than ever, pushing for felony charges, real prison time and restitution payments as they seek to wipe graffiti from the streets. At the same time, the art world and corporations are embracing the form like never before.

 

"You can make a case that graffiti and street art is the most influential art movement since the great innovations of the '60s," says Jeffrey Deitch, director of the L.A. museum, known as MOCA. "Before this show, no American museum had ever done an ambitious historical exhibition."

 

Law enforcement sees this as a historic moment as well: "This is really the first time in the history of law enforcement that we're making significant gains on identifying who the [graffiti] taggers are, and building a case against them," says Lt. Vince Carter, who heads the sheriff's graffiti unit. "We're in this war against graffiti and we're doing everything to stop it."

 

In years past, authorities usually didn't go out of their way to prosecute the artists, most of whom use pseudonyms to protect their identities.

 

Now, law-enforcement officials in major cities around the country are sharing information, creating catalogs of graffiti work by artist. Police can use evidence of past vandalism to obtain search warrants, and "stack" charges to prosecute graffiti vandalism as a felony.

 

[AHED-GRAFFITI]

Revok's tag

 

Shepard Fairey, the L.A.-based graffiti artist famous for his portrait of President Barack Obama, which hangs in the Smithsonian, was arrested in Boston in 2009 on his way to celebrate a museum exhibit of his work. Mr. Fairey was eventually charged with 30 felonies for putting stickers and posters on stop signs and guard rails. Mr. Fairey disputed the charges.

 

Most of the charges were dropped, but Mr. Fairey was sentenced to two years probation for misdemeanor vandalism and prohibited from carrying stickers in Boston, his attorney said.

 

Police worry that graffiti exhibits encourage vandalism. But graffiti's popularity has also helped their cause, as once-elusive artists come out of the shadows. "I think when law enforcement can identify a well-known graffiti artist, then that artist will become a target," says Ton Chi Nguyen, Mr. Williams's lawyer. He says Mr. Williams "does not view himself as a tagger or a vandal. He views himself as an artist."

 

The street-art show at The Geffen Contemporary—one of the facilities at MOCA—features a neon-painted ice-cream truck topped with a cigar-smoking clown head. It has drawn thousands of visitors.

 

Some graffiti artists sell their work at private galleries or online. Others are hired by corporations to design ad campaigns or special products. In some cases, they are hired to paint murals. The works of the street artist known as Banksy, who hides his identity, have produced international fame and led him to create an Oscar-nominated documentary. In 2008, Sotheby's sold a painting by another artist "which Banksy has defaced" for $1.8 million. Adidas and Pepsi have hired graffiti artists to create designs and marketing campaigns for their products.

 

Mr. Williams may be the only prisoner in L.A.'s Twin Towers Correctional Facility previously commissioned by Levi's to design a jacket. (On sale at the MOCA exhibit for $250).

 

Mr. Williams, 34, a prolific painter active in Los Angeles since the late 1990s, has said he wanted to be a graffiti artist since he was a teenager.

 

Last month in Los Angeles, he was arrested as he attempted to board a flight to Ireland, where he was hired to paint a mural. He was arrested on a warrant for violating the terms of his probation stemming from a 2009 vandalism incident in Los Angeles. Mr. Williams failed to report for community service picking up roadside trash and didn't pay $3,500 restitution to cover the cost of removing the graffiti, his lawyer and sheriff's department officials said.

 

Prior to his 2009 arrest, investigators had been on the trail of Revok for years. "I'm happy he's been identified and captured, and now he has to pay for what he was doing," says Randy Campbell, a retired California Highway Patrol Officer who now helps cities trying to fight graffiti.

 

Law enforcement officials say they are responding to community demands to combat graffiti. Police say they aren't making a judgment on whether graffiti is art. As long it is painted on public property without permission, it's a crime. Los Angeles spends $10 million a year to scrub the stuff off walls.

 

"These vandals don't have any respect for property," Mr. Campbell says. He added that Mr. Williams's work "was half-way decent. It was big puffy letters, multiple colors, nice shadowing."

 

Lt. Carter, the Sheriff Department's antigraffiti guru, says that "out of curiosity" he went to the MOCA show where he was struck by the sight of a decommissioned municipal bus painted over by an artist named Risk. "Now people are going to see that bus and want to write something on some other bus. That's my job to stop that graffiti on that bus," he said.

 

As for the artistic merits of the rest of the show: "I refrain from passing judgment."

]]> Benchtalk Thu, 26 May 2011 15:59:00 +0200 Edding Art Series Competition http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/edding-art-series-competition/ Win some limited edition artwork To celebrate the launch of the edding Art Series Retractable Permanent Markers and Highlighters we are offering you the chance to win some signed and numbered limited edition screen prints. The artwork has been designed by three of the Art Series featured artists Alfa, Stika & Jimi Crayon alongside a legendary guest artist. Each artist will provide 50 signed and numbered screen prints – making a total of 200 prizes to be won. You are open to enter as many times as you like but only one prize will be awarded per person. Good luck and get entering…

Win some limited edition artwork

To celebrate the launch of the edding Art Series Retractable Permanent Markers and Highlighters we are offering you the chance to win some signed and numbered limited edition screen prints. The artwork has been designed by three of the Art Series featured artists Alfa, Stika & Jimi Crayon alongside a legendary guest artist.

Each artist will provide 50 signed and numbered screen prints – making a total of 200 prizes to be won.

You are open to enter as many times as you like but only one prize will be awarded per person.

Good luck and get entering…

]]> Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:55:00 +0100 Legacy of Letters http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/legacy-of-letters-1/

screen-shot-2010-10-31-at-22904-pm

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/12733075" width="505" height="375" frameborder="0"></iframe>

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:00:58 +0100 1 Hour of MF DOOM http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/1-hour-of-mf-doom/ TURN IT UP Show du 26 février 2010 – MF DOOM issue from Hiphoptimyst on Vimeo.

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/9767290" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe>

TURN IT UP Show du 26 février 2010 – MF DOOM issue from Hiphoptimyst on Vimeo.

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:01:20 +0100 Studio Visits: Faile - “Bedtime Stories” @ Perry Rubenstein Gallery Part 2 http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/studio-visits-faile-bedtime-stories-perry-rubenstein-gallery-part-2/ In part one of our studio visit to Faile’s Williamsburg workshop, we showed you the digs where the magic happens and also took a close look at the uniquely crafted building blocks that form their new works. In part two, we dive deeper into the imagery for their Perry Rubenstein Gallery show “Bedtime Stories” opening this Thursday. The studio seemed like a children’s playland as everywhere we looked there were stacks of beautiful square and rectangular blocks dissected from completed paintings/silkscreens. The Patrick’s affectionately called the wood block paintings “deconstructions.” Faile basically creates a painting layer by painstaking layer and when completed, they chop it up and prep it to be surgically spliced into a whole new creation. Imagine a mash-up of Bunny Boy / Falling for Faile / Betrayal Story or a Bret the Hitman / Hits & Crashes / Heartbreak in Brooklyn cocktail. The possible combinations are endless… Check it all out after the jump. Discuss this show here. Discuss Faile here.

In part one of our studio visit to Faile’s Williamsburg workshop, we showed you the digs where the magic happens and also took a close look at the uniquely crafted building blocks that form their new works. In part two, we dive deeper into the imagery for their Perry Rubenstein Gallery show “Bedtime Stories” opening this Thursday.

The studio seemed like a children’s playland as everywhere we looked there were stacks of beautiful square and rectangular blocks dissected from completed paintings/silkscreens. The Patrick’s affectionately called the wood block paintings “deconstructions.” Faile basically creates a painting layer by painstaking layer and when completed, they chop it up and prep it to be surgically spliced into a whole new creation. Imagine a mash-up of Bunny Boy / Falling for Faile / Betrayal Story or a Bret the Hitman / Hits & Crashes / Heartbreak in Brooklyn cocktail. The possible combinations are endless…

Check it all out after the jump.

 

 

Discuss this show here.

Discuss Faile here.

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:30:41 +0100 Insa @ EXTRABOLD gallery http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/insa-extrabold-gallery/ Insa seems to be constantly busy. Check http://www.insaland.com/blog/

Insa seems to be constantly busy.

Check www.insaland.com/blog/

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:49:29 +0100 VIDEO: BLISS N ESO PROJECT http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/video-bliss-n-eso-project/

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:42:40 +0100 Petro @ China Heights in Sydney http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/petro-china-heights-in-sydney/ Here at HYB, for reasons unknown to me, we get a lot of love from our Australian readers. So when one of London’s finest goes to Australia to do a show you know we have to represent! Petro TFW currently has a show up at China Heights in Sydney at the moment. Go check it out if you’re in the area and don’t come crying to me if your favourite print is already sold out, the guy is good! Check the pictures after the jump and go here to see more.


Here at HYB, for reasons unknown to me, we get a lot of love from our Australian readers. So when one of London’s finest goes to Australia to do a show you know we have to represent!


Petro TFW currently has a show up at China Heights in Sydney at the moment. Go check it out if you’re in the area and don’t come crying to me if your favourite print is already sold out, the guy is good! Check the pictures after the jump and go here to see more.




 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:00:02 +0100 Catch Banksy!? http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/catch-banksy/ Catch Banksy!? Some people out there seem to have to much spare time…Today I read about that new “Catch Banksy” project by Miguel Delarosa who urgently wants to find Robin Cunningham, a former student of Bristol Cathedral School, who – as some people believe – is Banksy… “Download the sticker- or stencil-file. Print stickers and post ‘em all over the planet. Make stencils and spray with your blood! We will get him! Catch him if you can! Supporters could be: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Christina Aguilera, King Robbo.” (catchbanksy.com) I have to say that I can’t understand what people think will happen when Banksy’s real life identity is revealed – his art lives on the myth of the untouchable street art genius – but I hope they will respect his privacy and personal rights… Via blog.rebellen.info. This post was written by Brenna on urbanartcore.eu. Post tags: Banksy, Bristol, project, stencil, sticker, wanted

banksy sticker

Catch Banksy!?

Some people out there seem to have to much spare time…Today I read about that new “Catch Banksy” project by Miguel Delarosa who urgently wants to find Robin Cunningham, a former student of Bristol Cathedral School, who – as some people believe – is Banksy…

“Download the sticker- or stencil-file. Print stickers and post ‘em all over the planet. Make stencils and spray with your blood! We will get him! Catch him if you can! Supporters could be: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Christina Aguilera, King Robbo.” (catchbanksy.com)

I have to say that I can’t understand what people think will happen when Banksy’s real life identity is revealed – his art lives on the myth of the untouchable street art genius – but I hope they will respect his privacy and personal rights…

Via blog.rebellen.info.

<small>This post was written by Brenna on urbanartcore.eu.

Post tags: , , , , , <br/>

</small>

 

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:47:12 +0100 Daim 2010 - detail http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/daim-2010-detail/ Daim - Lüneburg, Germany 2009 Daim - art pack Daim - Reinking Collection Source - Link

4983066141_b721263f9a_b

4983706344_bb95e31f4e_b

4983694424_9c94894bcc_b

4983684912_1ccee57796_b

4983652854_070307fb50_b

4983076243_70bcba69f1_b

4983042143_9fee12d6b7_b

Daim - Lüneburg, Germany 2009

Daim - art pack

Daim - Reinking Collection

Source - Link

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:45:21 +0100 Set-up: Swoon - “Small Acts of Resistance” group show @ Black Rat Projects http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/set-up-swoon-small-acts-of-resistance-group-show-black-rat-projects/ Hot on the heels of the recent opening of her Fata Morgana solo show at Galerie L.J. in Paris, Swoon (interviewed) made a trip to London last week. AM had the pleasure of spending some time with the artist over a couple of days while she prepared a site-specific installation at Black Rat Projects for Small Acts of Resistance, a group show that will also feature works by Peter Kennard, Dotmasters, Matt Small (interviewed), Know Hope, and Armsrock (interviewed). The exhibition’s title references the recently-published book by Steve Crawshaw and John Jackson, Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity, and Ingenuity Can Change the World — a collection of more than eighty stories from around the globe celebrating the courage and resilience of the human spirit. There was a comforting atmosphere of both serenity and organised chaos reigning at the gallery as Swoon cut, tore, drew, painted and pasted. One highlight for AM was listening to the artist discuss her recent work in post-earthquake Haiti on Konbit Shelter, a sustainable building project in the village of Barrier Jeudi. We were pleased to hear that she and her team will be making a return trip to Haiti next month to continue their efforts. See Swoon’s finished installation and works by the five other artists at Black Rat Projects as from this Thursday, November 4th. More work-in-progress photos and commentary after the jump. Different cups and containers were littered around the gallery — some filled with beverages like coffee and juice, some with paint and other liquids not necessarily intended for human consumption. We couldn’t help but feel slightly worried that there was an unfortunate accident just waiting to happen here, especially for a sleep-deprived artist. We then came to the separate and somewhat embarrassing conclusion that our concern about health and safety was a clear indication we were now officially old. Among the art supplies, we couldn’t help but notice Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals by John Gray lying on the floor. Aside from its intriguing cover, the fact Swoon was currently reading this book somehow made it more appealing. AM was initially going to order a copy immediately, but then felt a certain unease about whether this was appropriate. Although we’re not even sure if there is such a thing as literary stalking, we decided to play it safe and wait six months before buying the book. Text and photographs by Patrick Nguyen. Discuss Swoon here.

Hot on the heels of the recent opening of her Fata Morgana solo show at Galerie L.J. in Paris, Swoon (interviewed) made a trip to London last week. AM had the pleasure of spending some time with the artist over a couple of days while she prepared a site-specific installation at Black Rat Projects for Small Acts of Resistance, a group show that will also feature works by Peter Kennard, Dotmasters, Matt Small (interviewed), Know Hope, and Armsrock (interviewed). The exhibition’s title references the recently-published book by Steve Crawshaw and John Jackson, Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity, and Ingenuity Can Change the World — a collection of more than eighty stories from around the globe celebrating the courage and resilience of the human spirit.

There was a comforting atmosphere of both serenity and organised chaos reigning at the gallery as Swoon cut, tore, drew, painted and pasted. One highlight for AM was listening to the artist discuss her recent work in post-earthquake Haiti on Konbit Shelter, a sustainable building project in the village of Barrier Jeudi. We were pleased to hear that she and her team will be making a return trip to Haiti next month to continue their efforts.

See Swoon’s finished installation and works by the five other artists at Black Rat Projects as from this Thursday, November 4th. More work-in-progress photos and commentary after the jump.

Different cups and containers were littered around the gallery — some filled with beverages like coffee and juice, some with paint and other liquids not necessarily intended for human consumption. We couldn’t help but feel slightly worried that there was an unfortunate accident just waiting to happen here, especially for a sleep-deprived artist. We then came to the separate and somewhat embarrassing conclusion that our concern about health and safety was a clear indication we were now officially old.

"No, don't smile."

"Okay, never mind."

Among the art supplies, we couldn’t help but notice Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals by John Gray lying on the floor. Aside from its intriguing cover, the fact Swoon was currently reading this book somehow made it more appealing. AM was initially going to order a copy immediately, but then felt a certain unease about whether this was appropriate. Although we’re not even sure if there is such a thing as literary stalking, we decided to play it safe and wait six months before buying the book.

 

 

Text and photographs by Patrick Nguyen.

Discuss Swoon here.

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:00:31 +0100 SENTO & KAMI (TFP). MADRID & BARCELONA http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/sento-kami-tfp-madrid-barcelona/ As you guys all ready know, the mythical NYC writer SENTO TFP will be visiting the MONTANA SHOP MADRID today, and the MONTANA CAFÉ BARCELONA tomorrow. We wouldn’t leave out BARCELONA. Come by MONTANA CAFE and have a look at the street and subway photo exposition we’ve put together with pieces done by SENTO, SABE (who at the last minute had to cancel due to personal matters), and our special guest KAMI. Have a drink on the house as you browse over decades of graffiti and its frenetic past. All those writers, whether solo or crewed up, who that have followed the lineage of ¨the creators¨, have clearly been influencial innovators of style in their respective countries. They have shown expansive character which has helped bring the painting to countries all over the world. You can see a clear example in them of what defines a true burner and the character of a WRITER in capital letters. Sento, Kami, Pocho, Colh (Madrid, Lavapiés) Kami, Sento (NY) SENTO & KAMI (TFP) MONTANA CAFÉ & RESTAURANT BARCELONA C/ Comerç, 4 (Metro: Arc de Triomf) Thursday, November 4th , starting at 7:30pm Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Post this to MySpace Email this to a friend? Subscribe to the comments for this post?

As you guys all ready know, the mythical NYC writer SENTO TFP will be visiting the MONTANA SHOP MADRID today, and the MONTANA CAFÉ BARCELONA tomorrow.

We wouldn’t leave out BARCELONA. Come by MONTANA CAFE and have a look at the street and subway photo exposition we’ve put together with pieces done by SENTO, SABE (who at the last minute had to cancel due to personal matters), and our special guest KAMI.

Have a drink on the house as you browse over decades of graffiti and its frenetic past. All those writers, whether solo or crewed up, who that have followed the lineage of ¨the creators¨, have clearly been influencial innovators of style in their respective countries. They have shown expansive character which has helped bring the painting to countries all over the world. You can see a clear example in them of what defines a true burner and the character of a WRITER in capital letters.

Sento, Kami, Pocho, Colh (Madrid, Lavapiés)

Kami, Sento (NY)

SENTO & KAMI (TFP)

MONTANA CAFÉ & RESTAURANT BARCELONA

C/ Comerç, 4 (Metro: Arc de Triomf)

Thursday, November 4th , starting at 7:30pm

 

 

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 09:45:15 +0100 GRAFF WARS, THE BOOK http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/graff-wars-the-book/ Thanx 12oz. prophet for the heads up.

Thanx 12oz. prophet for the heads up.

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:30:44 +0100 VNA13 – Eine, Steve Powers, Dan Witz and a girl with her shirt off http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/vna13-eine-steve-powers-dan-witz-and-a-girl-with-her-shirt-off/ I’ve got a drawer full of books and magazines to read and review right now, but Very Nearly Almost number 13 jumped to the front of the queue this weekend when I took a bus to and from Washington, DC. Why? Because it’s light and small and fits in my backpack way better than Trespass. Regular Vandalog readers will know that I’m a fan of Very Nearly Almost, and issue 13 is no exception. Interviews with Elbow-toe, Dan Witz and Miso are great because I think they (particularly Miso) are overlooked talents. And then there’s Steve Powers who never responded to Vandalog’s recent interview request (kind of expected that to be honest). There’s even an essay by Dave The Chimp, who never ceases to entertain me, about the need to experience art in real life (as in not on blogs or in magazines). Oh and on page 74 there’s a photo of a topless girl. Sorry if I’m sounding a bit glib. I really just want to write this post and get to sleep. Just got my flu shot and the symptoms are kicking in a bit. In all seriousness though, VNA is probably my favorite magazine and art lover should pick up a copy of their latest issue. You can get it online for £4. RJ Rushmore for Vandalog | Permalink | No comments Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

I’ve got a drawer full of books and magazines to read and review right now, but Very Nearly Almost number 13 jumped to the front of the queue this weekend when I took a bus to and from Washington, DC. Why? Because it’s light and small and fits in my backpack way better than Trespass.

Regular Vandalog readers will know that I’m a fan of Very Nearly Almost, and issue 13 is no exception. Interviews with Elbow-toe, Dan Witz and Miso are great because I think they (particularly Miso) are overlooked talents. And then there’s Steve Powers who never responded to Vandalog’s recent interview request (kind of expected that to be honest). There’s even an essay by Dave The Chimp, who never ceases to entertain me, about the need to experience art in real life (as in not on blogs or in magazines). Oh and on page 74 there’s a photo of a topless girl.

Sorry if I’m sounding a bit glib. I really just want to write this post and get to sleep. Just got my flu shot and the symptoms are kicking in a bit. In all seriousness though, VNA is probably my favorite magazine and art lover should pick up a copy of their latest issue. You can get it online for £4.

<small>RJ Rushmore for Vandalog |

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<small>Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh</small>

 

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:23:56 +0100 Interview: Emma Tooth - ‘Consilium Plebis’ @ Lazarides Outsiders Gallery http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/interview-emma-tooth-consilium-plebis-lazarides-outsiders-gallery/ Emma Tooth’s ‘Consilium Plebis’ series of oil paintings have been described as “Extraordinary portraits of ordinary people.” This week sees the Derbyshire based artist open her London solo show at the Lazarides’ Outsiders Gallery, as well as making her debut showing in the United States in Thinkspace’s five year anniversary show. AM caught up with Emma just ahead of the exhibition, which opens on Thursday 4th November, and put a few questions to the exciting young artist. Check out our interview and some further preview images after the jump. Arrested Motion (AM): We’ve known each other for a little while now, and I find you to be a fascinating person. For the benefit of AM’s readers could you give us a brief introduction to the world of Emma Tooth? Emma Tooth (ET): I don’t think I can. Let’s hope they pick it up throughout the interview! AM: Watching your technique of under-painting and over-layering is mesmerizing. From where did you develop the chiaroscuro style with which you paint? ET: My painting style is completely self-developed. There was no one around who could teach me to paint in oils the way I wanted to so I had to just keep trying till I figured out a way that works for me. I’ve been at it something like 15 years now – I’ll get there eventually. AM: We’ve seen your work in various galleries throughout the UK in recent years, but you have this latest showing of the ‘Concilium Plebis’ paintings at Lazarides’ Outsiders Gallery. How did the Lazarides connection come about? ET: They just emailed me one day out of the blue and invited me. I asked them later how they found out about me and they said no one could remember – all very mysterious I say! I have to confess that, because I actually do live under the proverbial rock, I hadn’t heard of them before. I’m actually completely disconnected from the “art world” – and the world in general really. AM: Where and when did the concept for the Concilium Plebis paintings originate? Tell us a little about what message you are hoping to find and convey with this body of work… ET: Well, it was few years ago now; I was living in the centre of a city (not a very nice area), and I was unhappy there to say the least. Several galleries I was working with at the time had said to me they would like to give me solo shows if I came up with a cohesive body of work to present all together, instead of the disparate, individual portraits I was producing at the time. This was the next stage for me really, to think in terms of shows rather than just selling individual paintings here and there. So I was wracking my brains trying to think where do I want to go next? I wanted it to have a social aspect to it, something people could relate to – but yet not part of the soulless, tasteless, trashy popular culture I so abhor! I had been through a period of painting myself a lot (it was good way to experiment, I gained a lot of self-awareness… and finding a model was always easy) and around this time my mother phoned me. We were chatting about all this and she said “you’ve painted enough pictures of yourself, why don’t you paint some normal people” or something like that! I tried to take it the right way – and soon enough the ideas for Concilium Plebis began to form – out of the desire to paint something of contemporary life but to infuse it with the beautiful art of the past which I can admire and relate to. It was a way for me to go outside and meet the world head on – to connect with things I’d never wanted to connect with - to filter the 21st Century through my own sensibilities and make it palatable to me. AM: You received funding from The Arts Council in the past. Was this associated with the Concilium project? ET: That’s correct. I received a small grant to start up the project and buy the gold frames and things. AM: The different ways you’ve sourced the subjects and models for the paintings sounded interesting when we spoke about it before. You have a mixture of people you know, friends of friends through to people you’ve simply approached on the street. What makes a worthy subject for one of your paintings? ET: A worthy subject! Well, one of the fun things about Concilum Plebis has been the serendipitous way I came across my models and images. I would go out as you said, and find models on the street, not knowing of course who I would find - if anyone - or how they would react. Sometimes I’d have a particular idea in mind of how their painting would look, but often not. The model would very much dictate – once I started working with them – the outcome of the picture. A good example is the day there was an absolute blizzard and it was getting worse and worse and I just wanted to go home. In a moment of desperation, I spotted a guy going into McDonalds with his hood up against the snow. I really had no idea what he looked like because the visibility was terrible, and I’ve never seen weather like it since – and I thought right, it’s him or I’m going home! So when he came out again I cornered him in a shop doorway to shelter from the howling wind – it was terribly dramatic! - and asked him. He agreed right away and possibly said something about having modeled before but I honestly couldn’t understand him cause I think his face was numb with cold – but also because he had these gold grills on his teeth! So we got back to my friend’s studio where I had already set up lights. Her studio was in the town and near enough to just whip people in and photograph them. We took the photographs which were later worked into Concilium Plebis 5, where he looked just as I found him in the street in the snow. I showed him some of my previous work and he was particularly interested in some of the tattoos I had painted. He then said “Do you like to paint tattoos? I have some.” Despite the cold, he took off his hooded jumpers and the result was Concilium Plebis numbers 4 and 7 – some of my very favourite pieces. Another example was when I was working with the breakdance team Trinity Warriors – I set out with them to re-imagine Caravaggio’s “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas”, also popularly known as “Doubting Thomas” for my 10th painting in the series. I showed them the original in a book and let them just choose their places and fall into an approximation of the famous pose often described as four heads united in the quest for truth, or similar. As they are dancers, they were great to work with because they are confident, aware of themselves and each other. I remember saying, “I don’t suppose any of you has a real tattoo on his stomach?” And sure enough, the one already in the position of Jesus said “actually, I do!” – you couldn’t make it up – and sure enough, in just exactly the right position it read “Pride goes before a fall” – it even has a Biblical ring to it. So the short answer to your question, I guess is - I don’t know, it just seems to happen! AM: And I understand you photograph the models yourself to create the source imagery for your work? ET: Absolutely. It’s essential, I think. It’s a big part of what I do. Firstly, if I didn’t create the images from the ground up I wouldn’t feel that they were truly mine or truly original - obviously though on this project I have borrowed some compositions from Caravaggio and Holbein, I admit! I’m obsessed with lighting, it has to be right. I work with my husband, Owen, photographing the models. We have been together about 15 years so our work has grown together. We have always worked together and he is a filmmaker now, but still takes care of the technical aspects of all my photography. He’s brilliant. The main reason I work this way is because few people nowadays have the time to sit for weeks for me and pose – particularly if they’re in the middle of their shopping and I’ve just accosted them in the street – I may only have half an hour with them. Then of course, once I have that photographic reference I can paint their portrait a year later, if I’m busy, or I can work on several portraits at once and I don’t have the pressure of a person in my studio, posing like Christ on the cross or something, complaining that his arms ache! I couldn’t work like that. I even hated having the cameras over my shoulder to film me painting for my documentary! AM: For me, one of the most interesting things about AM is getting to visit artists in their studios to see the spaces they work within. When I visited your studio earlier this year, I was kind of surprised that you had a huge collection of religious iconography in the space. Where does your fascination with this particular kind of kitsch come from? ET: Why were you so surprised, Sven? Elaborate! AM: I guess I’m judging the proverbial book by it’s cover, but you don’t strike me as being one of the “devout,” shall we say… ET: Hahaha! No, you’re right! But, I have always loved that stuff. Even the really awful stuff has a kind of beauty – even the pictures of Mother Mary with the flashing LEDs were made to evoke feelings of piety and awe just like a breathtaking cathedral, or indeed Caravaggio’s Doubting Thomas, presumably. I went to a Church of England school, though my family were not at all religious, and so spent most of my childhood learning hymns. I know them all! And when it was “play time,” I would try to avoid going out to play hopscotch or whatever awful thing with the children (I did not feel I was one of them at all!) by cornering my teachers behind their acoustic guitars and having theological discussions with them. I’d ask in hushed tones, “you don’t actually believe all this stuff do you?” I was concerned that the people who were supposed to be older and wiser than me could believe such nonsense and pass it on to unsuspecting children. I could only have been 6 years old. I must have been a nightmare. I suppose it was there I lost the fear of religious objects, you could say. AM: On the subject of your working environment, I understand that you lock yourself away from interactions when you are working – like a self imposed exile. Does this social withdrawal help your focus when creating work? ET: Hahaha it’s not just when I’m working! I suppose I’m not what you’d call a people person! I’m really happy where I am now in the country and there’s just not a lot going on that I want to be involved in or that I could feel involved in. And I’d hate to spoil my frock! AM: I know that you’ve been busy over the last few months putting together your DVD together with Owen and also your book, which are both due to be released to coincide with this show. Have these been interesting projects to work on for you? What formats do the DVD and the book follow? ET: Incredibly busy. As well as the book and DVD, I’ve also obviously been making the paintings for the shows too. I ended up doing the whole book myself - one reason being that it was just too complicated to explain to someone else and too personal. I had a lot of ideas for the book that I had been playing with for several years and really only I could do it. It was a hell of a learning curve. It’s been interesting looking at my work - and at myself - from the outside, thinking what would be interesting to an outsider, what would someone want to know about me? With the book I wanted to offer almost a peek inside my head rather than just a catalogue of works. I wanted to share what interests, inspires or influences me alongside what I produce. So it’s like a scrapbook, or rather, a musty old trunk that’s been in an attic for 80 years – you can open it up and peek inside, and try to piece things together from what you find inside. Owen has done an amazing job on my DVD. His films are always very finely crafted – he’s an artist in his own right. On the DVD, you get the documentary film, the trailer of which has been up on my site for quite a while now, but you also get (insert shameless plug here) a behind-the-scenes video following the process of making a painting, photographing the models, and time-lapse footage of the painting as it grows - which I think is interesting for people, getting to “look over the artist’s shoulder” as it were. There are promos and slideshows, a full-length breakdance performance by Bad Taste Cru which took place at one of my shows in Newcastle and we have also included two of Owen’s own short films which I collaborated on with him and even appeared in! It’s been an exhausting but good year. AM: We last met at your Museum show in Derby where your paintings were displayed alongside those of the 18th Century painter Joseph Wright. It must be exciting to have a museum show under your belt at such a young age. I can see the parallels in yourself and Wright, but just how did this pretty unique exhibition come about? ET: The museum show was actually one of the ones I was offered right at the start when I had only made Concilium Plebis 1. I was invited to show that in a group show there called ‘Gaze’ and they had such a great response to it, (people actually fell for it and thought it was really an old painting) that they offered me the show with Joseph Wright. I did say though that they would have to wait a couple of years till I could produce the rest of the show, but museums tend to plan that far in advance anyway, luckily. It was wonderful that they took the chance on me, when I only had that one painting done at that point and the show really became something to work towards. AM: You had a crew of B-boys performing at the Derby Museum opening, as you have done previously at other exhibitions. Some of the crew have been subjects of the paintings also. I can’t exactly picture you throwing down some power moves in one of your elaborate dresses, so where does the breaking connection stem from? ET: Oh! Can you not picture it? I do love to dance. Though, admittedly not in the manner they do. However, I do have a secret love of dance battles and I have gained such respect for what these guys can do. Some of the stunts you see the dancers perform in my film actually are astounding – I was completely breathless while I was watching and it still makes me gasp now when I watch. I felt faint! The connection came about very naturally, strange as it sounds. When I was preparing the show at the Sandford Goudie gallery one of the members of staff there just happened to be a member of another dance team, Bad Taste Cru, and recognised the Trinity team from their portrait! He had the idea of staging a dance in the gallery and took it further by actually basing the dancers “characters” on my paintings! It was a great honour for me and that night still remains a high point of my career so far. Mixing the old and the new is a strong theme with me and so the spectacle of breakdancers backflipping among priceless 18th Century paintings is irresistible! AM: And on the subject of your beautifully made dresses, which on occasion you make yourself, have you a new outfit planned for your London exhibition? How would you describe the style of clothes you make – does Gothic Victoriana come anywhere close? How long does it take to put one of those creations together? ET: Yes, I do make most of them myself, it can take many weeks, but on this occasion I have had one made for me by my dear friend, Olivia Barnard-Firth, aka. The Wicked Lady. I won’t get to see the finished product of her labours till the day of the show, but I can tell you that it will be a reinterpretation not only of Concilium Plebis but of me myself too… Call it what you wish. I find my style hard to define in words. it’s very eclectic and comes straight from within. It seems so obvious, normal and natural that I hardly notice it and wonder why people look at me strangely. AM: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Emma. We look forward to seeing you at the opening! ET: Thank you. I shall look forward to seeing you too. Discuss Emma Tooth here.

Emma Tooth’s ‘Consilium Plebis’ series of oil paintings have been described as “Extraordinary portraits of ordinary people.” This week sees the Derbyshire based artist open her London solo show at the Lazarides’ Outsiders Gallery, as well as making her debut showing in the United States in Thinkspace’s five year anniversary show. AM caught up with Emma just ahead of the exhibition, which opens on Thursday 4th November, and put a few questions to the exciting young artist.

Check out our interview and some further preview images after the jump.


Arrested Motion (AM): We’ve known each other for a little while now, and I find you to be a fascinating person. For the benefit of AM’s readers could you give us a brief introduction to the world of Emma Tooth?

Emma Tooth (ET): I don’t think I can. Let’s hope they pick it up throughout the interview!

AM: Watching your technique of under-painting and over-layering is mesmerizing. From where did you develop the chiaroscuro style with which you paint?

ET: My painting style is completely self-developed. There was no one around who could teach me to paint in oils the way I wanted to so I had to just keep trying till I figured out a way that works for me. I’ve been at it something like 15 years now – I’ll get there eventually.

AM: We’ve seen your work in various galleries throughout the UK in recent years, but you have this latest showing of the ‘Concilium Plebis’ paintings at Lazarides’ Outsiders Gallery. How did the Lazarides connection come about?

ET: They just emailed me one day out of the blue and invited me. I asked them later how they found out about me and they said no one could remember – all very mysterious I say! I have to confess that, because I actually do live under the proverbial rock, I hadn’t heard of them before. I’m actually completely disconnected from the “art world” – and the world in general really.

AM: Where and when did the concept for the Concilium Plebis paintings originate? Tell us a little about what message you are hoping to find and convey with this body of work…

ET: Well, it was few years ago now; I was living in the centre of a city (not a very nice area), and I was unhappy there to say the least. Several galleries I was working with at the time had said to me they would like to give me solo shows if I came up with a cohesive body of work to present all together, instead of the disparate, individual portraits I was producing at the time. This was the next stage for me really, to think in terms of shows rather than just selling individual paintings here and there.

So I was wracking my brains trying to think where do I want to go next? I wanted it to have a social aspect to it, something people could relate to – but yet not part of the soulless, tasteless, trashy popular culture I so abhor! I had been through a period of painting myself a lot (it was good way to experiment, I gained a lot of self-awareness… and finding a model was always easy) and around this time my mother phoned me. We were chatting about all this and she said “you’ve painted enough pictures of yourself, why don’t you paint some normal people” or something like that! I tried to take it the right way – and soon enough the ideas for Concilium Plebis began to form – out of the desire to paint something of contemporary life but to infuse it with the beautiful art of the past which I can admire and relate to. It was a way for me to go outside and meet the world head on – to connect with things I’d never wanted to connect with - to filter the 21st Century through my own sensibilities and make it palatable to me.

AM: You received funding from The Arts Council in the past. Was this associated with the Concilium project?

ET: That’s correct. I received a small grant to start up the project and buy the gold frames and things.

AM: The different ways you’ve sourced the subjects and models for the paintings sounded interesting when we spoke about it before. You have a mixture of people you know, friends of friends through to people you’ve simply approached on the street. What makes a worthy subject for one of your paintings?

ET: A worthy subject! Well, one of the fun things about Concilum Plebis has been the serendipitous way I came across my models and images. I would go out as you said, and find models on the street, not knowing of course who I would find - if anyone - or how they would react. Sometimes I’d have a particular idea in mind of how their painting would look, but often not. The model would very much dictate – once I started working with them – the outcome of the picture.

A good example is the day there was an absolute blizzard and it was getting worse and worse and I just wanted to go home. In a moment of desperation, I spotted a guy going into McDonalds with his hood up against the snow. I really had no idea what he looked like because the visibility was terrible, and I’ve never seen weather like it since – and I thought right, it’s him or I’m going home! So when he came out again I cornered him in a shop doorway to shelter from the howling wind – it was terribly dramatic! - and asked him. He agreed right away and possibly said something about having modeled before but I honestly couldn’t understand him cause I think his face was numb with cold – but also because he had these gold grills on his teeth!

So we got back to my friend’s studio where I had already set up lights. Her studio was in the town and near enough to just whip people in and photograph them. We took the photographs which were later worked into Concilium Plebis 5, where he looked just as I found him in the street in the snow. I showed him some of my previous work and he was particularly interested in some of the tattoos I had painted. He then said “Do you like to paint tattoos? I have some.” Despite the cold, he took off his hooded jumpers and the result was Concilium Plebis numbers 4 and 7 – some of my very favourite pieces.

Another example was when I was working with the breakdance team Trinity Warriors – I set out with them to re-imagine Caravaggio’s “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas”, also popularly known as “Doubting Thomas” for my 10th painting in the series. I showed them the original in a book and let them just choose their places and fall into an approximation of the famous pose often described as four heads united in the quest for truth, or similar. As they are dancers, they were great to work with because they are confident, aware of themselves and each other. I remember saying, “I don’t suppose any of you has a real tattoo on his stomach?” And sure enough, the one already in the position of Jesus said “actually, I do!” – you couldn’t make it up – and sure enough, in just exactly the right position it read “Pride goes before a fall” – it even has a Biblical ring to it.

So the short answer to your question, I guess is - I don’t know, it just seems to happen!

AM: And I understand you photograph the models yourself to create the source imagery for your work?

ET: Absolutely. It’s essential, I think. It’s a big part of what I do. Firstly, if I didn’t create the images from the ground up I wouldn’t feel that they were truly mine or truly original - obviously though on this project I have borrowed some compositions from Caravaggio and Holbein, I admit!

I’m obsessed with lighting, it has to be right. I work with my husband, Owen, photographing the models. We have been together about 15 years so our work has grown together. We have always worked together and he is a filmmaker now, but still takes care of the technical aspects of all my photography. He’s brilliant. The main reason I work this way is because few people nowadays have the time to sit for weeks for me and pose – particularly if they’re in the middle of their shopping and I’ve just accosted them in the street – I may only have half an hour with them.

Then of course, once I have that photographic reference I can paint their portrait a year later, if I’m busy, or I can work on several portraits at once and I don’t have the pressure of a person in my studio, posing like Christ on the cross or something, complaining that his arms ache! I couldn’t work like that. I even hated having the cameras over my shoulder to film me painting for my documentary!

AM: For me, one of the most interesting things about AM is getting to visit artists in their studios to see the spaces they work within. When I visited your studio earlier this year, I was kind of surprised that you had a huge collection of religious iconography in the space. Where does your fascination with this particular kind of kitsch come from?

ET: Why were you so surprised, Sven? Elaborate!

AM: I guess I’m judging the proverbial book by it’s cover, but you don’t strike me as being one of the “devout,” shall we say…

ET: Hahaha! No, you’re right! But, I have always loved that stuff. Even the really awful stuff has a kind of beauty – even the pictures of Mother Mary with the flashing LEDs were made to evoke feelings of piety and awe just like a breathtaking cathedral, or indeed Caravaggio’s Doubting Thomas, presumably.

I went to a Church of England school, though my family were not at all religious, and so spent most of my childhood learning hymns. I know them all! And when it was “play time,” I would try to avoid going out to play hopscotch or whatever awful thing with the children (I did not feel I was one of them at all!) by cornering my teachers behind their acoustic guitars and having theological discussions with them. I’d ask in hushed tones, “you don’t actually believe all this stuff do you?” I was concerned that the people who were supposed to be older and wiser than me could believe such nonsense and pass it on to unsuspecting children. I could only have been 6 years old. I must have been a nightmare. I suppose it was there I lost the fear of religious objects, you could say.

AM: On the subject of your working environment, I understand that you lock yourself away from interactions when you are working – like a self imposed exile. Does this social withdrawal help your focus when creating work?

ET: Hahaha it’s not just when I’m working! I suppose I’m not what you’d call a people person! I’m really happy where I am now in the country and there’s just not a lot going on that I want to be involved in or that I could feel involved in. And I’d hate to spoil my frock!

AM: I know that you’ve been busy over the last few months putting together your DVD together with Owen and also your book, which are both due to be released to coincide with this show. Have these been interesting projects to work on for you? What formats do the DVD and the book follow?

ET: Incredibly busy. As well as the book and DVD, I’ve also obviously been making the paintings for the shows too. I ended up doing the whole book myself - one reason being that it was just too complicated to explain to someone else and too personal. I had a lot of ideas for the book that I had been playing with for several years and really only I could do it. It was a hell of a learning curve.

It’s been interesting looking at my work - and at myself - from the outside, thinking what would be interesting to an outsider, what would someone want to know about me? With the book I wanted to offer almost a peek inside my head rather than just a catalogue of works. I wanted to share what interests, inspires or influences me alongside what I produce. So it’s like a scrapbook, or rather, a musty old trunk that’s been in an attic for 80 years – you can open it up and peek inside, and try to piece things together from what you find inside.

Owen has done an amazing job on my DVD. His films are always very finely crafted – he’s an artist in his own right. On the DVD, you get the documentary film, the trailer of which has been up on my site for quite a while now, but you also get (insert shameless plug here) a behind-the-scenes video following the process of making a painting, photographing the models, and time-lapse footage of the painting as it grows - which I think is interesting for people, getting to “look over the artist’s shoulder” as it were. There are promos and slideshows, a full-length breakdance performance by Bad Taste Cru which took place at one of my shows in Newcastle and we have also included two of Owen’s own short films which I collaborated on with him and even appeared in!

It’s been an exhausting but good year.

AM: We last met at your Museum show in Derby where your paintings were displayed alongside those of the 18th Century painter Joseph Wright. It must be exciting to have a museum show under your belt at such a young age. I can see the parallels in yourself and Wright, but just how did this pretty unique exhibition come about?

ET: The museum show was actually one of the ones I was offered right at the start when I had only made Concilium Plebis 1. I was invited to show that in a group show there called ‘Gaze’ and they had such a great response to it, (people actually fell for it and thought it was really an old painting) that they offered me the show with Joseph Wright. I did say though that they would have to wait a couple of years till I could produce the rest of the show, but museums tend to plan that far in advance anyway, luckily.

It was wonderful that they took the chance on me, when I only had that one painting done at that point and the show really became something to work towards.

AM: You had a crew of B-boys performing at the Derby Museum opening, as you have done previously at other exhibitions. Some of the crew have been subjects of the paintings also. I can’t exactly picture you throwing down some power moves in one of your elaborate dresses, so where does the breaking connection stem from?

ET: Oh! Can you not picture it? I do love to dance. Though, admittedly not in the manner they do. However, I do have a secret love of dance battles and I have gained such respect for what these guys can do. Some of the stunts you see the dancers perform in my film actually are astounding – I was completely breathless while I was watching and it still makes me gasp now when I watch. I felt faint!

The connection came about very naturally, strange as it sounds. When I was preparing the show at the Sandford Goudie gallery one of the members of staff there just happened to be a member of another dance team, Bad Taste Cru, and recognised the Trinity team from their portrait! He had the idea of staging a dance in the gallery and took it further by actually basing the dancers “characters” on my paintings! It was a great honour for me and that night still remains a high point of my career so far. Mixing the old and the new is a strong theme with me and so the spectacle of breakdancers backflipping among priceless 18th Century paintings is irresistible!

AM: And on the subject of your beautifully made dresses, which on occasion you make yourself, have you a new outfit planned for your London exhibition? How would you describe the style of clothes you make – does Gothic Victoriana come anywhere close? How long does it take to put one of those creations together?

ET: Yes, I do make most of them myself, it can take many weeks, but on this occasion I have had one made for me by my dear friend, Olivia Barnard-Firth, aka. The Wicked Lady. I won’t get to see the finished product of her labours till the day of the show, but I can tell you that it will be a reinterpretation not only of Concilium Plebis but of me myself too…

Call it what you wish. I find my style hard to define in words. it’s very eclectic and comes straight from within. It seems so obvious, normal and natural that I hardly notice it and wonder why people look at me strangely.

AM: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Emma. We look forward to seeing you at the opening!

ET: Thank you. I shall look forward to seeing you too.

 

 

Discuss Emma Tooth here.

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:00:37 +0100 David Choe and James Jean | Willie-T http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/david-choe-and-james-jean-willie-t/ Mini documentary about David Choe and James Jean, shot by Willie-T, for Goodsmile/Parco Japan show. Artist's David Choe and James Jean keep painting, keep drawing and mostly keep fucking around, and somehow end up getting an art show in Japan at PARCO with the amazing folks at Goodsmile.info, that will melt your fucking eyes out of their sockets.--shot by Willie-T Artist's David Choe and James Jean keep painting, keep drawing and mostly keep fucking around, and somehow end up getting an art show in Japan at PARCO with the amazing folks at Goodsmile.info, that will melt your fucking eyes out of their sockets.--shot by Willie-T

 

 

Mini documentary about David Choe and James Jean, shot by Willie-T, for Goodsmile/Parco Japan show. Artist's David Choe and James Jean keep painting, keep drawing and mostly keep fucking around, and somehow end up getting an art show in Japan at PARCO with the amazing folks at Goodsmile.info, that will melt your fucking eyes out of their sockets.--shot by Willie-T

 

Artist's David Choe and James Jean keep painting, keep drawing and mostly keep fucking around, and somehow end up getting an art show in Japan at PARCO with the amazing folks at Goodsmile.info, that will melt your fucking eyes out of their sockets.--shot by Willie-T

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 03:04:34 +0100 FUCK WHAT YOU HEARD http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/fuck-what-you-heard/ This one goes out to all the bitches that like to pop shit on yur twitters and facebooks, and to the ones that feed off that shit! Yur probably trying to figure out a way to throw us under the bus as we speak without us finding out who u r. The funny part iz that we already know! A lil’ birdy told me! Get all 4 b4 they’re gone! Dang Josue, u be lookin like a cop in this flick or the FB police! Don’t be FB’ing this shit, let us sell a few first. GET IT HERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This one goes out to all the bitches that like to pop shit on yur twitters and facebooks, and to the ones that feed off that shit!

Yur probably trying to figure out a way to throw us under the bus as we speak without us finding out who u r. The funny part iz that we already know!

A lil’ birdy told me!

Get all 4 b4 they’re gone!

Dang Josue, u be lookin like a cop in this flick or the FB police!

Don’t be FB’ing this shit, let us sell a few first.

GET IT HERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:36:07 +0100 Richmond Virginia's Born Ugly magazine http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/richmond-virginias-born-ugly-magazine/ Richmond Virginia's Born Ugly Magazine Brings The Ocho! Issue #8 Features: -A multiple choice interview with Washington DC shredder and photographer Shaun Gregoire -An interview with Richmond Virginia’s Rob Lee, best known for his awesome art, shitty-spot skating, angry bartending, headbutting acumen, and for having drawn this issue’s comic -St. Louis Missouri’s DIY, under-the-bridge spot, Kingshighway -A hardflip in underwear, CRETE Local DIY fundraising ideas, a cross-the-pond Brew Review by UK photographer Alex Irvine, and some LA inspired Hate! Check it out online at bornuglymag.com or in print at finer skateshops and galleries.

 

Richmond Virginia's Born Ugly Magazine Brings The Ocho!


Issue #8 Features:

-A multiple choice interview with Washington DC shredder and photographer Shaun Gregoire

-An interview with Richmond Virginia’s Rob Lee, best known for his awesome art, shitty-spot skating, angry bartending, headbutting acumen, and for having drawn this issue’s comic

-St. Louis Missouri’s DIY, under-the-bridge spot, Kingshighway

-A hardflip in underwear, CRETE Local DIY fundraising ideas, a cross-the-pond Brew Review by UK photographer Alex Irvine, and some LA inspired Hate!


Check it out online at bornuglymag.com or in print at finer skateshops and galleries.

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:31:41 +0100 ASKEW visits the Los Angeles crew | Video http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/askew-visits-the-los-angeles-crew-video/ This is the last video from my trip to the US during the summer. It's in two parts: the first features the wall I painted with Revok, Rime and Saber in Highland park. The last time we painted there in 2008 - we had some drama, which Saber speaks about in the revised version of his book. Between then and now the area has changed a bit as the once vacant lot facing the wall has become a community garden. This has truly changed the atmosphere around there considerably. On this wall we exchanged names as well just to make it more challenging for ourselves. The second park features our spur of the moment road trip to San Francisco. This was my first time visiting SF, a place that was strangely reminiscent of home - especially the Kauri floors inside the weatherboard houses. The wall features Steel, Rime, Revok, Lango and myself. -ASKEW1

 

<iframe width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16349804?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0"></iframe>

This is the last video from my trip to the US during the summer. It's in two parts: the first features the wall I painted with Revok, Rime and Saber in Highland park. The last time we painted there in 2008 - we had some drama, which Saber speaks about in the revised version of his book. Between then and now the area has changed a bit as the once vacant lot facing the wall has become a community garden. This has truly changed the atmosphere around there considerably. On this wall we exchanged names as well just to make it more challenging for ourselves.


The second park features our spur of the moment road trip to San Francisco. This was my first time visiting SF, a place that was strangely reminiscent of home - especially the Kauri floors inside the weatherboard houses. The wall features Steel, Rime, Revok, Lango and myself.

-ASKEW1

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:15:47 +0100 SANRIO | 50th Anniversary - Small Gift Los Angeles http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/sanrio-50th-anniversary-small-gift-los-angeles/ SANRIO Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary with Popular Artists from Around the World Small Gift Los Angeles November 12 - 21, 2010 Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA www.sanrio.com/smallgift It’s Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary, and to celebrate, the iconic company has invited popular artists from around the world to collaborate in two standout art exhibitions: Small Gift Los Angeles and Small Gift Miami, during Art Basel. Inspired by their “small gift, big smile” philosophy, Sanrio’s Small Gift events offer a multi-dimensional experience for fans of all ages. For both Small Gift exhibitions, artists will transform their favorite Sanrio characters such asHello Kitty®, Little Twin Stars®, My Melody®, Patty & Jimmy™, Tuxedosam™, Keroppi®, Badtz-Maru®, Chococat® and many more into stunning original works that will be available for sale to the public. Small Gift Los Angeles and Small Gift Miami exhibitions will feature different artists as well as incorporate charitable components specific to each city. Small Gift Los Angeles will open on November 12th, 2010 at Barker Hangar as part of Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary celebration events, featuring a character product retrospective, pop-up shop, interactive activities and special event programming, in a carnival style theme. Curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, Small Gift Los Angeles will showcase works by 50 artists as well as eleven unique installation rooms designed by 64 Colors, Anna Chambers, Buff Monster, Crowded Teeth, Dan Goodsell, Joe Ledbetter, Neivz, Peekaboo Monster, Plasticgod, Sharktoof, and Tim Diet. In December, Small Gift travels to Miami as part of its national mobile pop-up tour. Curated by Roger Gastman,Small Gift Miami will inhabit an 8,000-square foot space in the Wynwood Arts District during Art Basel. Artists, exhibition highlights and special surprises will be announced soon. Featured artists in Small Gift Los Angeles include: Audrey Kawasaki is a Japanese-American artist, born and raised in Los Angeles, where she currently lives and works. Kawasaki’s creative influences include eastern as well as western traditions such as Art Nouveau and Japanese Manga comics. She is known for her ethereal female subjects whose grace and mystery populate her delicate tableaus. Kawasaki’s highly sought-after works have been featured in numerous publications, including theLos Angeles Times, Juxtapoz, NotCot, and Vogue Australia. And the artist has collaborated on a number of products from jewelry and apparel to album art and laptop skins. Brandi Milne grew up in Southern California surrounded by a wealth of inspiration as a child, taking pleasure in classic cartoons, crayons and coloring books, toys, candies and the kitschy fabrics and notions of the times. Self-taught and emotionally driven, Milne’s work speaks of love, loss, pain and heartbreak in the first person. She decorates it oddly with a wink of humor and a delicious candied-coat finish - a combination that can be considered highly addictive to viewers around the world. In 2008, she published her first book So Good For Little Bunnies with Baby Tattoo Books, and 944 Magazine recently spotlighted Milne as one of Orange County’s rising art stars. Buff Monster cites heavy metal music, ice cream and Japanese culture as his major influences. His signature Pepto pink palette is a symbol of confidence, individuality and happiness and can be found in all of his works, including fine art paintings, design projects and toy collaborations. Buff Monster’s painting Happy Pink Explosionhangs in the permanent collection of Bristol’s City Museum and Art Gallery in the UK, and he is featured in Banksy’s film Exit Through the Gift Shop. The artist has been showcased in numerous publications from Juxtapozto The New York Times and most recently, he appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly. Buff Monster works tirelessly day and night to spread happiness, joy and a love of pink. Crowded Teeth founder Michelle Romo is a self-taught illustrator and designer who is fueled by cookies and naps. Her influences include Mid-Century, Japanese, and Scandinavian design and all things cute. Based in Los Angeles, Michelle created her line, Crowded Teeth, in 2004 and continues to produce characters and products under that name as well as for popular apparel brand Loungefly. Romo is the creatively crafty author of Paper Wonderland: 32 Terribly Cute Toys Ready to Cut, Fold & Build and she is also featured in Print & Pattern by Bowie Style. Eric Joyner is known worldwide for his signature paintings that reveal the secret life of robots and donuts. Filled with a delicious assortment of glazed imagery and android culture, his work has been featured in numerous media from Wired to KCRW’s Good Food radio program, and he has shown in galleries and cultural institutions worldwide, including the National Museum of American Illustration and San Jose Museum of Art’s exhibition “Robots: Evolution of a Cultural Icon”. Joyner has been an instructor and speaker at San Francisco’s Academy of Art University and California College of the Arts, and he is the author of Robots and Donuts. Gary Baseman personifies Pervasive Art. As an internationally-known artist, Baseman has blown away vast audiences and their diverse tastes with his exceptional forays into toy culture, fashion design, magazine illustration, whimsical performance art and experiential gallery exhibitions. Among his most recent projects are “La Noche de la Fusión,” a mythical festival that brought various favorite Baseman characters to life, and the musically vibrant performance piece, “Giggle and Pop!” which debuted at LACMA in June 2010. Baseman is the three-time Emmy award-winning creator of the animated series and film Teacher’s Pet, designer of the best-selling game Cranium, as well as a fine artist with gallery and museum shows the world over. Joe Ledbetter graduated from Humboldt State University with a BA in Sociology. However, art was his secret passion. Ledbetter immersed himself in Los Angeles’ underground art scene and by the summer of 2004, he had honed his trademark visual style into a fulltime career. With international appeal, he has had numerous solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, Rome, Toronto, Taipei, Istanbul, and Amsterdam, including his Amalgamation European Tour in 2009, consisting of five cities and five unique solo art exhibitions. Ledbetter’s incredible cast of creatures has been emblazoned on over 100 designer vinyl toys, as well as apparel and lifestyle brands, and he has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose, Playtimes Magazine, DPI magazine, Techmag, and XL Magazine. Junko Mizuno is a painter, illustrator and comic artist who is recognized for her unique style of powerful and erotic female imagery. A Tokyo native, Junko's work is highly-influenced by Japanese cute culture such as Manga, animation and toys. She was featured on the BBC's acclaimed documentary series Japanorama, and her work has been exhibited in galleries worldwide. She is also the author of art book Hell Babies and has created several graphic novels, in addition to collaborating on numerous toy and clothing projects. Natalia Fabia is known for her signature glitter veneer oil paintings of sultry seductive women and modern day Belle de Jours. The Los Angeles artist cites Toulouse-Lautrec, ornate interiors, wild animals, punk rock music and sparkles among her inspirations, and she is renowned for masterfully creating thematic environments for her shows. Her custom jewelry line, HookerFeathers, adorns celebrities and fans alike. A media darling, Fabia is featured in LA Weekly’s 2010 People Issue and her work has been published in Italian Vogue, Riviera Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Juxtapoz, Inked, and New York Arts. Fabia has also appeared on television series Miami Ink as well as on NBC News and Fox 11. Paul Frank is a world famous graphic and fashion designer. Renowned for his funky designs, which have been adored by smiling fans for over a decade, Frank’s characters include Julius The Monkey, Worry Bear, Clancy (a small Giraffe) and Ellie (an Elephant). Defining a generation of pop culture, his iconic graphics have been featured on a variety of products from apparel and accessories to bicycles and eyewear. Inspired by everyday objects such as desks, school buildings, office furniture and various other industrial design, Frank’s creations are as vibrant as the Southern California skies where he is from. Plasticgod is an internationally recognized Los Angeles artist who has been dubbed the "The 21st Century Warhol". Plasticgod’s iconic “Heads” collection features over 900 pop and political icons sporting his signature caricature twist, and the series has caught the eye of celebrities, musicians and politicians who collect his work. The artist has collaborated with numerous brands to create limited-edition products and vinyl toys that have been featured in the media worldwide from Italian Vogue and Elle to Entertainment Weekly, MTV and the New York Times. Simone Legno is the Italian artist behind the highly popular tokidoki brand. Growing up in the punk scene in Rome, Simone likes to mix the edginess of girls with tattoos and brightly colored hair with his Japanese inspired illustrations. Legno’s iconic imagery has been featured on numerous apparel and product collaborations, and most recently, the tokidoki creative director teamed up with leading beauty retailer Sephora to launch a brand new line of custom tokidoki cosmetics and accessories. Recognized worldwide, tokidoki has been featured in publications fromW, Paper and Vogue to The New York Times, Variety, and Vanity Fair. Sanrio, Inc. continues their 50th Anniversary celebration with the upcoming Small Gift anchor event in Los Angeles. Small Gift Los Angeles is a 10 day carnival-style event open to the public Friday, November 12 – Sunday, November 21 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Small Gift Miami is the East Coast anchor event and will take place December 2 - 5, during Art Basel. Inspired by the brand’s “small gift, big smile” philosophy, Small Gift Los Angeles will have a nostalgic fair/midway theme and offer fans of all ages a chance to immerse themselves in the whimsical world of Sanrio. Interactive games and rides, art exhibit and installations, product retrospective, pop-up shop, food trucks, dress-up photo booths, character appearances, workshops and special theme days combine to make this event a one-of-a kind experience. Entry to the venue is free of charge and tickets for games and activities will be available for purchase. Small Gift Los Angeles will include: Midway Carnival -- a game booth area featuring classic characters will include Hello Kitty’s Spilled Milk Bottle Toss, Little Twin Stars Shooting Stars, Tuxedosam Bowtie Bounce, Chocopanda Dough Toss, Hangyodon Ring Fling, Landry Lucky Duckies, and Sanrio Friends Spin ‘n’ Win Wheel, a Japanese activity corner, a retro videogame arcade, photo booths and a ferris wheel with multiple characters represented on the cars. Two 9-hole miniature golf courses celebrating Sanrio’s legacy of characters will round out the midway fun! Art Exhibition -- curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, Small Gift Los Angeles will showcase artist works as well as eleven unique installation rooms that transform favorite Sanrio characters into original works. Fifty top artists will participate including Buff Monster, Gary Baseman, Paul Frank, Crowded Teeth, Natalia Fabia, Simone Legno, and many others. Artwork will be for sale; with a portion of the proceeds going to Los Angeles based L.A. Works. L.A. Works is a non-profit, volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service projects throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Contact us for a more detailed listing of artists on display, works and artist bios. Food Extravaganza -- the “mobile food court” of food trucks will be a centerpiece of Small Gift Los Angeles, with many different trucks visiting over the 10 days, including The Grilled Cheese Truck. In addition, cream puff gurus Beard Papa’s will have a booth for the duration of Small Gift Los Angeles and have developed a special Hello Kitty flavor – a yummy strawberry flavored cream puff with sprinkles. Also on sale, an eco-friendly, co-branded Beard Papa’s/Hello Kitty tote created by Beard Papa’s to commemorate the event. Yogurtland will also staff a booth throughout Small Gift Los Angeles, offering a variety of special yogurt flavors and toppings tied back to Hello Kitty®, My Melody®, Keroppi®, and Chococat®. Pop Up Shop -- in addition to playing, participating and previewing, guests of Sanrio will also have the opportunity to purchase specially created and selected commemorative product in the Small Gift Los Angeles pop-up shop. Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary marks the first time that so many of the characters have appeared together and there are a variety of must-have, collectible pieces including iPhone cases and laptop cases, t-shirts, tin lunch boxes, tote bags, bobbleheads, plush, a commemorative 50th Anniversary book and much, much more. Events Within the Main Event -- special parties and events will abound over the 10 days of Small Gift Los Angeles. The themed “I Heart Nerds” party hosted by Sanrio and Loungefly and “Kitty in Pink – Retro 80s Prom Party” offer fans a chance to dress up, have fun and compete for ‘best-dressed’ prizes. Workshops will include Sushi Bento Box making, Sunae (Japanese sand art), cupcake decorating, jewelry and craft making with participating artists, and an intro to Hello Kitty Beauty by Sephora. Tickets will be available for purchase prior to events and workshops on brownpapertickets.com. Sanrio will also host groups of children with L.A. Works throughout Small Gift Los Angeles. Special Partnerships -- many special partners will be on hand throughout Small Gift Los Angeles to participate in this massive celebration. Various models of the newly launched Hello Kitty Smart Cars will be on display, inviting fans to hop inside, explore, and snap pictures. New partner Sephora will give fans a sneak peek of their soon-to-launch “Hello Kitty Beauty” collection featuring a luxurious line of cosmetics and collectible accessories. Barker Hangar 3021 Airport Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90405 More info: Artist Contact: Charm School Angelique Groh (323) 363-9338 angelique@charmschoolcie.com

 

SANRIO Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary with Popular Artists from Around the World




Small Gift Los Angeles

November 12 - 21, 2010

Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA

www.sanrio.com/smallgift


It’s Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary, and to celebrate, the iconic company has invited popular artists from around the world to collaborate in two standout art exhibitions: Small Gift Los Angeles and Small Gift Miami, during Art Basel.


Inspired by their “small gift, big smile” philosophy, Sanrio’s Small Gift events offer a multi-dimensional experience for fans of all ages. For both Small Gift exhibitions, artists will transform their favorite Sanrio characters such asHello Kitty®, Little Twin Stars®, My Melody®, Patty & Jimmy™, Tuxedosam™, Keroppi®, Badtz-Maru®, Chococat® and many more into stunning original works that will be available for sale to the public. Small Gift Los Angeles and Small Gift Miami exhibitions will feature different artists as well as incorporate charitable components specific to each city.


Small Gift Los Angeles will open on November 12th, 2010 at Barker Hangar as part of Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary celebration events, featuring a character product retrospective, pop-up shop, interactive activities and special event programming, in a carnival style theme. Curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, Small Gift Los Angeles will showcase works by 50 artists as well as eleven unique installation rooms designed by 64 Colors, Anna Chambers, Buff Monster, Crowded Teeth, Dan Goodsell, Joe Ledbetter, Neivz, Peekaboo Monster, Plasticgod, Sharktoof, and Tim Diet.


In December, Small Gift travels to Miami as part of its national mobile pop-up tour. Curated by Roger Gastman,Small Gift Miami will inhabit an 8,000-square foot space in the Wynwood Arts District during Art Basel. Artists, exhibition highlights and special surprises will be announced soon.


Featured artists in Small Gift Los Angeles include:


Audrey Kawasaki is a Japanese-American artist, born and raised in Los Angeles, where she currently lives and works. Kawasaki’s creative influences include eastern as well as western traditions such as Art Nouveau and Japanese Manga comics. She is known for her ethereal female subjects whose grace and mystery populate her delicate tableaus. Kawasaki’s highly sought-after works have been featured in numerous publications, including theLos Angeles Times, Juxtapoz, NotCot, and Vogue Australia. And the artist has collaborated on a number of products from jewelry and apparel to album art and laptop skins.


Brandi Milne grew up in Southern California surrounded by a wealth of inspiration as a child, taking pleasure in classic cartoons, crayons and coloring books, toys, candies and the kitschy fabrics and notions of the times. Self-taught and emotionally driven, Milne’s work speaks of love, loss, pain and heartbreak in the first person. She decorates it oddly with a wink of humor and a delicious candied-coat finish - a combination that can be considered highly addictive to viewers around the world. In 2008, she published her first book So Good For Little Bunnies with Baby Tattoo Books, and 944 Magazine recently spotlighted Milne as one of Orange County’s rising art stars.


Buff Monster cites heavy metal music, ice cream and Japanese culture as his major influences. His signature Pepto pink palette is a symbol of confidence, individuality and happiness and can be found in all of his works, including fine art paintings, design projects and toy collaborations. Buff Monster’s painting Happy Pink Explosionhangs in the permanent collection of Bristol’s City Museum and Art Gallery in the UK, and he is featured in Banksy’s film Exit Through the Gift Shop. The artist has been showcased in numerous publications from Juxtapozto The New York Times and most recently, he appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly. Buff Monster works tirelessly day and night to spread happiness, joy and a love of pink.


Crowded Teeth founder Michelle Romo is a self-taught illustrator and designer who is fueled by cookies and naps. Her influences include Mid-Century, Japanese, and Scandinavian design and all things cute. Based in Los Angeles, Michelle created her line, Crowded Teeth, in 2004 and continues to produce characters and products under that name as well as for popular apparel brand Loungefly. Romo is the creatively crafty author of Paper Wonderland: 32 Terribly Cute Toys Ready to Cut, Fold & Build and she is also featured in Print & Pattern by Bowie Style.


Eric Joyner is known worldwide for his signature paintings that reveal the secret life of robots and donuts. Filled with a delicious assortment of glazed imagery and android culture, his work has been featured in numerous media from Wired to KCRW’s Good Food radio program, and he has shown in galleries and cultural institutions worldwide, including the National Museum of American Illustration and San Jose Museum of Art’s exhibition “Robots: Evolution of a Cultural Icon”. Joyner has been an instructor and speaker at San Francisco’s Academy of Art University and California College of the Arts, and he is the author of Robots and Donuts.


Gary Baseman personifies Pervasive Art. As an internationally-known artist, Baseman has blown away vast audiences and their diverse tastes with his exceptional forays into toy culture, fashion design, magazine illustration, whimsical performance art and experiential gallery exhibitions. Among his most recent projects are “La Noche de la Fusión,” a mythical festival that brought various favorite Baseman characters to life, and the musically vibrant performance piece, “Giggle and Pop!” which debuted at LACMA in June 2010. Baseman is the three-time Emmy award-winning creator of the animated series and film Teacher’s Pet, designer of the best-selling game Cranium, as well as a fine artist with gallery and museum shows the world over.


Joe Ledbetter graduated from Humboldt State University with a BA in Sociology. However, art was his secret passion. Ledbetter immersed himself in Los Angeles’ underground art scene and by the summer of 2004, he had honed his trademark visual style into a fulltime career. With international appeal, he has had numerous solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, Rome, Toronto, Taipei, Istanbul, and Amsterdam, including his Amalgamation European Tour in 2009, consisting of five cities and five unique solo art exhibitions. Ledbetter’s incredible cast of creatures has been emblazoned on over 100 designer vinyl toys, as well as apparel and lifestyle brands, and he has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose, Playtimes Magazine, DPI magazine, Techmag, and XL Magazine.


Junko Mizuno is a painter, illustrator and comic artist who is recognized for her unique style of powerful and erotic female imagery. A Tokyo native, Junko's work is highly-influenced by Japanese cute culture such as Manga, animation and toys. She was featured on the BBC's acclaimed documentary series Japanorama, and her work has been exhibited in galleries worldwide. She is also the author of art book Hell Babies and has created several graphic novels, in addition to collaborating on numerous toy and clothing projects.


Natalia Fabia is known for her signature glitter veneer oil paintings of sultry seductive women and modern day Belle de Jours. The Los Angeles artist cites Toulouse-Lautrec, ornate interiors, wild animals, punk rock music and sparkles among her inspirations, and she is renowned for masterfully creating thematic environments for her shows. Her custom jewelry line, HookerFeathers, adorns celebrities and fans alike. A media darling, Fabia is featured in LA Weekly’s 2010 People Issue and her work has been published in Italian Vogue, Riviera Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Juxtapoz, Inked, and New York Arts. Fabia has also appeared on television series Miami Ink as well as on NBC News and Fox 11.


Paul Frank is a world famous graphic and fashion designer. Renowned for his funky designs, which have been adored by smiling fans for over a decade, Frank’s characters include Julius The Monkey, Worry Bear, Clancy (a small Giraffe) and Ellie (an Elephant). Defining a generation of pop culture, his iconic graphics have been featured on a variety of products from apparel and accessories to bicycles and eyewear. Inspired by everyday objects such as desks, school buildings, office furniture and various other industrial design, Frank’s creations are as vibrant as the Southern California skies where he is from.


Plasticgod is an internationally recognized Los Angeles artist who has been dubbed the "The 21st Century Warhol". Plasticgod’s iconic “Heads” collection features over 900 pop and political icons sporting his signature caricature twist, and the series has caught the eye of celebrities, musicians and politicians who collect his work. The artist has collaborated with numerous brands to create limited-edition products and vinyl toys that have been featured in the media worldwide from Italian Vogue and Elle to Entertainment Weekly, MTV and the New York Times.


Simone Legno is the Italian artist behind the highly popular tokidoki brand. Growing up in the punk scene in Rome, Simone likes to mix the edginess of girls with tattoos and brightly colored hair with his Japanese inspired illustrations. Legno’s iconic imagery has been featured on numerous apparel and product collaborations, and most recently, the tokidoki creative director teamed up with leading beauty retailer Sephora to launch a brand new line of custom tokidoki cosmetics and accessories. Recognized worldwide, tokidoki has been featured in publications fromW, Paper and Vogue to The New York Times, Variety, and Vanity Fair.



Sanrio, Inc. continues their 50th Anniversary celebration with the upcoming Small Gift anchor event in Los Angeles. Small Gift Los Angeles is a 10 day carnival-style event open to the public Friday, November 12 – Sunday, November 21 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Small Gift Miami is the East Coast anchor event and will take place December 2 - 5, during Art Basel. 

 

Inspired by the brand’s “small gift, big smile” philosophy, Small Gift Los Angeles will have a nostalgic fair/midway theme and offer fans of all ages a chance to immerse themselves in the whimsical world of Sanrio. Interactive games and rides, art exhibit and installations, product retrospective, pop-up shop, food trucks, dress-up photo booths, character appearances, workshops and special theme days combine to make this event a one-of-a kind experience. Entry to the venue is free of charge and tickets for games and activities will be available for purchase.

 

Small Gift Los Angeles will include:


Midway Carnival -- a game booth area featuring classic characters will include Hello Kitty’s Spilled Milk Bottle Toss, Little Twin Stars Shooting Stars, Tuxedosam Bowtie Bounce, Chocopanda Dough Toss, Hangyodon Ring Fling, Landry Lucky Duckies, and Sanrio Friends Spin ‘n’ Win Wheel, a Japanese activity corner, a retro videogame arcade, photo booths and a ferris wheel with multiple characters represented on the cars.  Two 9-hole miniature golf courses celebrating Sanrio’s legacy of characters will round out the midway fun!

 

Art Exhibition -- curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, Small Gift Los Angeles will showcase artist works as well as eleven unique installation rooms that transform favorite Sanrio characters into original works.  Fifty top artists will participate including Buff Monster, Gary Baseman, Paul Frank, Crowded Teeth, Natalia Fabia, Simone Legno, and many others.  Artwork will be for sale; with a portion of the proceeds going to Los Angeles based L.A. Works. L.A. Works is a non-profit, volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service projects throughout the greater Los Angeles area.  Contact us for a more detailed listing of artists on display, works and artist bios.

 

Food Extravaganza -- the “mobile food court” of food trucks will be a centerpiece of Small Gift Los Angeles, with many different trucks visiting over the 10 days, including The Grilled Cheese Truck.  In addition, cream puff gurus Beard Papa’s will have a booth for the duration of Small Gift Los Angeles and have developed a special Hello Kitty flavor – a yummy strawberry flavored cream puff with sprinkles.  Also on sale, an eco-friendly, co-branded Beard Papa’s/Hello Kitty tote created by Beard Papa’s to commemorate the event.  Yogurtland will also staff a booth throughout Small Gift Los Angeles, offering a variety of special yogurt flavors and toppings tied back to Hello Kitty®, My Melody®, Keroppi®, and Chococat®.

 

Pop Up Shop -- in addition to playing, participating and previewing, guests of Sanrio will also have the opportunity to purchase specially created and selected commemorative product in the Small Gift Los Angeles pop-up shop.  Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary marks the first time that so many of the characters have appeared together and there are a variety of must-have, collectible pieces including iPhone cases and laptop cases, t-shirts,  tin lunch boxes, tote bags, bobbleheads, plush, a commemorative 50th Anniversary book and much, much more. 

 

Events Within the Main Event -- special parties and events will abound over the 10 days of Small Gift Los Angeles.  The themed “I Heart Nerds” party hosted by Sanrio and Loungefly and “Kitty in Pink – Retro 80s Prom Party” offer fans a chance to dress up, have fun and compete for ‘best-dressed’ prizes.  Workshops will include Sushi Bento Box making, Sunae (Japanese sand art), cupcake decorating, jewelry and craft making with participating artists, and an intro to Hello Kitty Beauty by Sephora. Tickets will be available for purchase prior to events and workshops on brownpapertickets.com.  Sanrio will also host groups of children with L.A. Works throughout Small Gift Los Angeles.

 

Special Partnerships -- many special partners will be on hand throughout Small Gift Los Angeles to participate in this massive celebration.  Various models of the newly launched Hello Kitty Smart Cars will be on display, inviting fans to hop inside, explore, and snap pictures. New partner Sephora will give fans a sneak peek of their soon-to-launch “Hello Kitty Beauty” collection featuring a luxurious line of cosmetics and collectible accessories.                                                                                                                                                                                                   Barker Hangar

3021 Airport Avenue

Santa Monica, CA 90405

More info:

Artist Contact: Charm School

Angelique Groh (323) 363-9338

angelique@charmschoolcie.com

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:06:53 +0100 BIZARRE HERALD ARTICLE http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/bizarre-herald-article/ About the Kings Of Style Battle last weekend. Rife with Racial generalisations and a pot shot at Deus’ teeth – this article has too many golden quotes!! Last Saturday at Nga Tohu o Uenuku, the beautiful new Mangere Arts Centre, nearly two dozen graffiti artists fought it out in the Kings of Style 2010 Graf Art Battle, part of the Manukau Festival of the Arts. They painted skulls and 1980s ghettoblasters; eyeballs and green gunk; babes and musclemen; cityscapes and robots. Altogether, 11 two-man crews wielded 250-odd spray cans over eight hours, in paint-fume haze under the Labour Weekend sun. They were watched by knowledgeable young men; kids who wandered out of the b-boy/b-girl dance competition next door; and fellow graffiti writer Lady Diva who was too busy with her four children to enter (this time). The standard was high. Jaes, one of the three visiting American artists roped into judging by celebrated local artist Askew, declared Auckland as “one of the most progressive graffiti scenes in the world”. He was looking for figurative designs which supported the letter shapes: “I’m big into letters … I’ll be asking, ‘Do these letters have an attitude you can enjoy?”‘ Midway through the event, amiable writer Deus was up a ladder spraying a flat halo of pink around the bald head of a very large, sad, bleary-eyed figure of an old man. When Deus added spots of pink to the character’s sunken cheeks, it looked like someone had rouged the old man. Deus says his work never turns out like he thinks it will and he just takes a risk and hopes for the best. But his hand was steady as he went over most of the old man’s pink halo with brown. He then added thin black lines to transform flat blocks of colour into a shadowed hood of tired wolfskin. Its snout echoed the old man’s own thin nose. The effect was comic-grotesque; below, pink tartan socks stopped just before the old man’s knobbly knees. Deus likes drawing distorted people “with holes in their clothes”. With a droopy blond moustache and crooked teeth, he himself looks more like a hillbilly than a stereotypical brown graffiti artist but then, most of the battle writers were white. Graffiti is territorial and hierarchical, but it’s also collaborative. Deus belongs to the TMD crew, which stands for “The Most Dedicated”. A dozen TMD writers meet every week or so to talk their projects over, and they’ll work on pieces together and help each other out. For the battle, Deus teamed up with his fellow TMD member, Berst. Working in a pair, says Deus, you have to sometimes paint over the other guy’s work. “You have to be brave enough to ruin your friend’s work, and also humble enough to have him ruin yours.” But there was no ruining for Deus and Berst – they won first prize along with another TMD team, Has and Phat1. Deus gives Berst a lot of credit – lettering is still the most important element of graffiti, and Berst is handy with a new nozzle, the astro fat cap. The astro “is like going electric after you’ve played acoustic guitar all your life”, says Deus.


About the Kings Of Style Battle last weekend. Rife with Racial generalisations and a pot shot at Deus’ teeth – this article has too many golden quotes!!

Last Saturday at Nga Tohu o Uenuku, the beautiful new Mangere Arts Centre, nearly two dozen graffiti artists fought it out in the Kings of Style 2010 Graf Art Battle, part of the Manukau Festival of the Arts. They painted skulls and 1980s ghettoblasters; eyeballs and green gunk; babes and musclemen; cityscapes and robots. Altogether, 11 two-man crews wielded 250-odd spray cans over eight hours, in paint-fume haze under the Labour Weekend sun.

They were watched by knowledgeable young men; kids who wandered out of the b-boy/b-girl dance competition next door; and fellow graffiti writer Lady Diva who was too busy with her four children to enter (this time).

The standard was high. Jaes, one of the three visiting American artists roped into judging by celebrated local artist Askew, declared Auckland as “one of the most progressive graffiti scenes in the world”. He was looking for figurative designs which supported the letter shapes: “I’m big into letters … I’ll be asking, ‘Do these letters have an attitude you can enjoy?”‘

Midway through the event, amiable writer Deus was up a ladder spraying a flat halo of pink around the bald head of a very large, sad, bleary-eyed figure of an old man.

When Deus added spots of pink to the character’s sunken cheeks, it looked like someone had rouged the old man.

Deus says his work never turns out like he thinks it will and he just takes a risk and hopes for the best. But his hand was steady as he went over most of the old man’s pink halo with brown. He then added thin black lines to transform flat blocks of colour into a shadowed hood of tired wolfskin. Its snout echoed the old man’s own thin nose. The effect was comic-grotesque; below, pink tartan socks stopped just before the old man’s knobbly knees.

Deus likes drawing distorted people “with holes in their clothes”. With a droopy blond moustache and crooked teeth, he himself looks more like a hillbilly than a stereotypical brown graffiti artist but then, most of the battle writers were white.

Graffiti is territorial and hierarchical, but it’s also collaborative. Deus belongs to the TMD crew, which stands for “The Most Dedicated”. A dozen TMD writers meet every week or so to talk their projects over, and they’ll work on pieces together and help each other out. For the battle, Deus teamed up with his fellow TMD member, Berst. Working in a pair, says Deus, you have to sometimes paint over the other guy’s work. “You have to be brave enough to ruin your friend’s work, and also humble enough to have him ruin yours.”

But there was no ruining for Deus and Berst – they won first prize along with another TMD team, Has and Phat1. Deus gives Berst a lot of credit – lettering is still the most important element of graffiti, and Berst is handy with a new nozzle, the astro fat cap. The astro “is like going electric after you’ve played acoustic guitar all your life”, says Deus.

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:56:33 +0100 Releases - Josh Keyes - “Sowers” Print http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/releases-josh-keyes-sowers-print/ Print Original image For those that loved the “Sowers” painting from our interview with Josh Keyes last week, you are in luck. Limited Addiction, the publishing arm of David B. Smith Gallery (where the “Collision” show will open on this Friday night), will be releasing this epic image as Josh’s next print. The good news is that more of you will be able to add this beautiful giclee to your collections as the run will be larger than most of his releases before in a signed, numbered, and titled edition of 350. The size will be a robust 16 x 48 inches so get your walls ready and hope you are one of the lucky ones. The gallery will be announcing further release details next week after the opening of Josh’s exhibition so sign up for their mailing list if you are interested. Discuss this show here. Discuss Josh Keyes here.

Print

Print

Original image

Original image

For those that loved the “Sowers” painting from our interview with Josh Keyes last week, you are in luck. Limited Addiction, the publishing arm of David B. Smith Gallery (where the “Collision” show will open on this Friday night), will be releasing this epic image as Josh’s next print. The good news is that more of you will be able to add this beautiful giclee to your collections as the run will be larger than most of his releases before in a signed, numbered, and titled edition of 350. The size will be a robust 16 x 48 inches so get your walls ready and hope you are one of the lucky ones. The gallery will be announcing further release details next week after the opening of Josh’s exhibition so sign up for their mailing list if you are interested.

Discuss this show here.

Discuss Josh Keyes here.

 

]]> Benchtalk Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:19:05 +0100 DWK WEEK 3 IZ IN EFFECT! http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/dwk-week-3-iz-in-effect/ Only three days left for this contest! Diss weeks question iz super fucking EZ.

Only three days left for this contest!

Diss weeks question iz super fucking EZ.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 23:28:55 +0100 NEW 94EVER CAMPAIGN http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/new-94ever-campaign/ Here is an exclusive look at two new magazine insert advertisements for this winter with photographs of Brazo de Hierro and Germán Rigol. Fellow writers, you know who you are… just think, you and our all-terrain 94… The perfect combination, giving everything you got on whatever type of surface. 94EVER. Brazo de Hierro Germán Rigol Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Post this to MySpace Email this to a friend? Subscribe to the comments for this post?

Here is an exclusive look at two new magazine insert advertisements for this winter with photographs of Brazo de Hierro and Germán Rigol.

Fellow writers, you know who you are… just think, you and our all-terrain 94… The perfect combination, giving everything you got on whatever type of surface.

94EVER.

Brazo de Hierro

Germán Rigol

 

 

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:36:30 +0100 Studio Visit / Preview: Brian Donnelly - “Obedience & Savagery” @ Show & Tell Gallery http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/studio-visit-preview-brian-donnelly-obedience-savagery-show-tell-gallery/ Show & Tell Gallery in Toronto continues its program of exhibitions exciting to us at AM with local boy Brian Donnelly’s second solo exhibit with the gallery opening on November 5th, 2010. “Obedience & Savagery” picks up where 2009’s “Blasphemies, Monstrosities and Other Perversions” left off, with Brian’s unique grafting of animal appendages onto human forms forming the basis of the work. Brian’s beautifully rendered figurative works hang in a background environment of negative space, which establishes an indication of the duality that the work of this artist conjures up; the title of the body of work reinforcing a similar polarity seemingly reflected within the depiction of conjoined man and beast. Take a look at some sneak peeks of the work in progress in Brian’s studio after the jump. Discuss this show here. Discuss Brian Donnelly here.

Show & Tell Gallery in Toronto continues its program of exhibitions exciting to us at AM with local boy Brian Donnelly’s second solo exhibit with the gallery opening on November 5th, 2010. “Obedience & Savagery” picks up where 2009’s “Blasphemies, Monstrosities and Other Perversions” left off, with Brian’s unique grafting of animal appendages onto human forms forming the basis of the work.

Brian’s beautifully rendered figurative works hang in a background environment of negative space, which establishes an indication of the duality that the work of this artist conjures up; the title of the body of work reinforcing a similar polarity seemingly reflected within the depiction of conjoined man and beast. Take a look at some sneak peeks of the work in progress in Brian’s studio after the jump.


 

 

Discuss this show here.

Discuss Brian Donnelly here.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:00:52 +0100 ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO FROM ASKEW http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/another-great-video-from-askew/ -During ASKEW’s last trip here in LA he was messing around shooting some video. We also took a quick trip up to S.F. and here is the result.. -Also, check out this great post concerning the “Graffiti industry” on ASKEW’S BLOG HERE. ASKEW1

-During ASKEW’s last trip here in LA he was messing around shooting some video. We also took a quick trip up to S.F. and here is the result..

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16349804" width="700" height="394" frameborder="0"></iframe>

-Also, check out this great post concerning the “Graffiti industry” on ASKEW’S BLOG HERE.

askew_buffer_newton_2

ASKEW1

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:49:27 +0100 PHIL FROST IN LONDON http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/phil-frost-in-london/ Some photos of his ongoing Slam City Skates mural courtesy of Dennis Martin. -More here at LIVEFASTMAG Thanks LAZERBEAM.

Some photos of his ongoing Slam City Skates mural courtesy of Dennis Martin.

side-by-side

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-More here at LIVEFASTMAG

Thanks LAZERBEAM.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:41:07 +0100 Id-iom versus Invader http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/id-iom-versus-invader/ Id-iom modified this piece in London by Invader with a tractor beam and a cow. Makes me chuckle. And on a deeper level, a nice example of how artists can interact with street art by other artists. Photo by Id-iom RJ Rushmore for Vandalog | Permalink | 3 comments Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Id-iom modified this piece in London by Invader with a tractor beam and a cow. Makes me chuckle. And on a deeper level, a nice example of how artists can interact with street art by other artists.

Photo by Id-iom

<small>RJ Rushmore for Vandalog |

Permalink |

3 comments

<small>Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh</small>

 

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:19:23 +0100 Bue - art pack vol.3 http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/bue-art-pack-vol3/ BUE ART PACK 1, ART PACK 2 SOURCE BUE FLICKR

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5120429363_89beb2ac08_b

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5105043656_e1909f88bf_b

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BUE ART PACK 1, ART PACK 2

SOURCE BUE FLICKR

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:00:32 +0100 Tube Strike http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/tube-strike/ TFL have very helpfully put together a list of lines and stations that will be shut on Wednesday due to the industrial action. Which will be of huge use to people who may need to make alternative travel arrangements. Yes, that’s definitely why I’m posting this. No other reason. None at all…

TFL have very helpfully put together a list of lines and stations that will be shut on Wednesday due to the industrial action. Which will be of huge use to people who may need to make alternative travel arrangements.

Yes, that’s definitely why I’m posting this. No other reason. None at all…

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:21:58 +0100 Stik - on the run from the Buff squad http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/stik-on-the-run-from-the-buff-squad/ Looks like Stik has been busy in London again. We heard that a new large scale Stik piece was planned for the corner of Sclater Street and Brick Lane in London last weekend, and our friend Mark from Hooked Blog was able to grab some flicks of the Stik-man in action. On first appearances, one can assume that the playful characters are simply for the purposes of beautification of a drab street, but as with the last piece we saw him putting up, upon closer inspection, a deeper meaning comes to the fore. This time, the stik characters are running from the dreaded rollers of the £1 million per annum Tower Hamlets Council graffiti buffing squad, but the visual metaphor is also used to raise awareness of the hundreds of refugees being displaced as part of a different kind of pre-Olympic clean-up campaign, and literally painted out of the picture. PHOTOS BY HOOKED SOURCE ARRESTED STIK FACEBOOK

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Looks like Stik has been busy in London again. We heard that a new large scale Stik piece was planned for the corner of Sclater Street and Brick Lane in London last weekend, and our friend Mark from Hooked Blog was able to grab some flicks of the Stik-man in action. On first appearances, one can assume that the playful characters are simply for the purposes of beautification of a drab street, but as with the last piece we saw him putting up, upon closer inspection, a deeper meaning comes to the fore.

This time, the stik characters are running from the dreaded rollers of the £1 million per annum Tower Hamlets Council graffiti buffing squad, but the visual metaphor is also used to raise awareness of the hundreds of refugees being displaced as part of a different kind of pre-Olympic clean-up campaign, and literally painted out of the picture.

PHOTOS BY HOOKED

SOURCE ARRESTED

STIK FACEBOOK

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:22:01 +0100 Preview: Thinkspace Five Year Anniversary Show http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/preview-thinkspace-five-year-anniversary-show/ Natalia Fabia Coming this Saturday night, our friends at the Thinkspace Gallery will be holding their Five Year Anniversary Show. As you might expect, with their storied history and drawing from their large roster of artists, the group show is shaping up to be pretty epic. It looks like all the artists are putting some of their best work together - see the Natalia Fabia’s (interviewed) piece above - so make sure you attend the opening on November 6th! We have more preview images for you after the jump, but please also check Sour Harvest as they are interviewing the artists in the show one by one with their “Five Years, Five Questions” feature. Discuss this show here.

Natalia Fabia

Natalia Fabia

Coming this Saturday night, our friends at the Thinkspace Gallery will be holding their Five Year Anniversary Show. As you might expect, with their storied history and drawing from their large roster of artists, the group show is shaping up to be pretty epic. It looks like all the artists are putting some of their best work together - see the Natalia Fabia’s (interviewed) piece above - so make sure you attend the opening on November 6th!

We have more preview images for you after the jump, but please also check Sour Harvest as they are interviewing the artists in the show one by one with their “Five Years, Five Questions” feature.


 

 

Discuss this show here.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:00:25 +0100 Outline issue 3 announcement http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/outline-issue-3-announcement/ Outline Magazine is coming out with their third issue! If you want to send youre flix, please check the details after the jump: Read more »Original post blogged on MONTANA-CANS.COM.

Outline Magazine is coming out with their third issue! If you want to send youre flix, please check the details after the jump:


 

 

Read more »

<small>Original post blogged on MONTANA-CANS.COM.</small>

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:33:39 +0100 Oliver Kray for Audi http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/oliver-kray-for-audi/ German artist Oliver Kray did a huge billboard for Audi near the Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, see the video after the jump

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German artist Oliver Kray did a huge billboard for Audi near the Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, see the video after the jump



 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:25:06 +0100 Black book Comp. http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/black-book-comp/ I was asked recently to judge a Black Book Competition for my good friend over at http://www.zapgraffiti.co.uk/ Here are the results. Go and check the Zap site for the rest of the entrys and loads of other good stuff!!

I was asked recently to judge a Black Book Competition for my good friend over at www.zapgraffiti.co.uk

Here are the results.

Go and check the Zap site for the rest of the entrys and loads of other good stuff!!

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:43:12 +0100 Runners http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/runners/ Stoled from ToyBetterKnow

Stoled from ToyBetterKnow

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:33:10 +0100 Real Life Banksy http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/real-life-banksy/ Someone recreated a Banksy stencil in real life. Banksy’s legal team will probably try to sue them now.

Someone recreated a Banksy stencil in real life. Banksy’s legal team will probably try to sue them now.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:11:36 +0100 Ben Eine - South Africa - art pack http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/ben-eine-south-africa-art-pack/ The last time we hung out with Ben Eine was when he was painting the “Alphabet Street” in London. Take a look this nice project as he painted over some large vats with “FAIR SPONTANEOUS PASSIONATE CHANGE THE WORLD AND CELEBRATE.” BEN EINE ART PACK 1 ART PACK 2 ART PACK 3 SITE SOURCE ARRESTED

einesa

beine01

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The last time we hung out with Ben Eine was when he was painting the “Alphabet Street” in London. Take a look this nice project as he painted over some large vats with “FAIR SPONTANEOUS PASSIONATE CHANGE THE WORLD AND CELEBRATE.”

BEN EINE ART PACK 1 ART PACK 2

ART PACK 3

SITE

SOURCE ARRESTED

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:02:56 +0100 Releases / Giveaway: Von - “Animals: Collector’s Edition Box Set” & “Lion 01″ Print http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/releases-giveaway-von-animals-collectors-edition-box-set-lion-01-print/ Von, or HelloVon (interviewed) has released a pretty nice set of prints entitled “Animals: Collector’s Edition Box Set”.  Each of the boxes are handmade with the set coming in an edition of 50 and priced at £225. Sized at 40cm x 30cm, each print is signed and numbered and is based on his Animal Series. To make things a little more interesting, there are five original drawings from Von inserted randomly if you are feeling lucky. These are available for purchase here for those interested. Even more exciting, Von has graciously offered to giveaway one of his “Lion 01″ prints (seen after the jump), an image from the set but released separately in a bigger edition and size - A2 and in an edition of 95.  All you need to do is leave a comment here, on the Artchival Forum contest thread, or on our facebook as to which image from the Animal Series you enjoyed the most and why - we will be picking a winner at random. More detailed images of the prints after the jump… Discuss Von here.

Von, or HelloVon (interviewed) has released a pretty nice set of prints entitled “Animals: Collector’s Edition Box Set”.  Each of the boxes are handmade with the set coming in an edition of 50 and priced at £225. Sized at 40cm x 30cm, each print is signed and numbered and is based on his Animal Series. To make things a little more interesting, there are five original drawings from Von inserted randomly if you are feeling lucky. These are available for purchase here for those interested.

Even more exciting, Von has graciously offered to giveaway one of his “Lion 01″ prints (seen after the jump), an image from the set but released separately in a bigger edition and size - A2 and in an edition of 95.  All you need to do is leave a comment here, on the Artchival Forum contest thread, or on our facebook as to which image from the Animal Series you enjoyed the most and why - we will be picking a winner at random.

More detailed images of the prints after the jump…

 

 

Discuss Von here.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:00:03 +0100 Finished Doorway http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/finished-doorway/ Spent lastnight painting the entrance to Upper Playground. We have posters to go behind the glass in the doors so when thats done i’ll get the photos up.

Spent lastnight painting the entrance to Upper Playground. We have posters to go behind the glass in the doors so when thats done i’ll get the photos up.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:16:50 +0100 LX One & Remi/Rough in Strasbourg http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/lx-one-remirough-in-strasbourg/ “On arrival, the usual European hospitality was prevalent. Picked up from the airport, taken for a cheeky breakfast and then to the wall… Also at the wall was the legendary Antistatik from the Orbit119 Collective and Parisian Installation artist; Charles Monteverdi… We proceeded to freestyle the biggest freestyle wall I’ve ever painted. The result was completed in just over 3 hours, just in time to enter the boat behind us and hear Outlines and the amazing Sovnger smashing the decks until the early hours! I managed to stay awake for 23 hours and still managed to get up and paint a second wall with LX One the following day.” See the full report with photos here

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“On arrival, the usual European hospitality was prevalent. Picked up from the airport, taken for a cheeky breakfast and then to the wall… Also at the wall was the legendary Antistatik from the Orbit119 Collective and Parisian Installation artist; Charles Monteverdi… We proceeded to freestyle the biggest freestyle wall I’ve ever painted. The result was completed in just over 3 hours, just in time to enter the boat behind us and hear Outlines and the amazing Sovnger smashing the decks until the early hours! I managed to stay awake for 23 hours and still managed to get up and paint a second wall with LX One the following day.”

See the full report with photos here

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:59:48 +0100 http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/-3ee786db8b/ Looks like there’s some bombing going on in San Francisco along with the rioting… This site has a link to a live feed of the police scanner if you want an alternative to Shania covers.


Looks like there’s some bombing going on in San Francisco along with the rioting…

This site has a link to a live feed of the police scanner if you want an alternative to Shania covers.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:20:57 +0100 DIZEBI INTERVENTION IN ZARAUTZ http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/dizebi-intervention-in-zarautz/ DIZEBI, graffiti writer and member of the Extralargos crew, left us with an interesting urban instalation last summer. He used his “legal” name for the traveling exposition KUTXA KULTUR ZIRKUITOA (the Kutxa cultural circuit). He went through 325 boxes of Hardcore, giving form and life to his work in the town of Zarautz. Here´s the result… Apparently, the expo will continue, so watch out for news to come. Thanks Igor! Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Post this to MySpace Email this to a friend? Subscribe to the comments for this post?

DIZEBI, graffiti writer and member of the Extralargos crew, left us with an interesting urban instalation last summer. He used his “legal” name for the traveling exposition KUTXA KULTUR ZIRKUITOA (the Kutxa cultural circuit).

He went through 325 boxes of Hardcore, giving form and life to his work in the town of Zarautz. Here´s the result…

Apparently, the expo will continue, so watch out for news to come.

Thanks Igor!

 

 

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:50:08 +0100 Preview: Sanrio 50th Anniversary Group Show http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/preview-sanrio-50th-anniversary-group-show/ Remember last year’s 35th birthday bash for Hello Kitty (covered)? Well, if you enjoyed that, then you will be excited to know it’s almost time for another Sanrio show. This time, it’s for the 50th anniversary of the company and yes, that means all your favorite characters are free game for the artists like the Badtz Maru incarnation from Travis Louie (interviewed) seen above. Of course, the group show won’t be the only festivities held at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica starting November 12th. “Small Gift Los Angeles” will also feature a character product retrospective, pop-up shop, interactive activities and special event programming, all in a carnival style theme. More preview images and details after the jump… Eric Joyner Small Gift Los Angeles will include: * Midway Carnival — a game booth area featuring classic characters will include Hello Kitty’s Spilled Milk Bottle Toss, Little Twin Stars Shooting Stars, Tuxedosam Bowtie Bounce, Chocopand Dough Toss, Hangyodon Ring Fling, Landry Lucky Duckies, and Sanrio Friends Spin ‘n’ Win Wheel, a Japanese activity corner, a retro videogame arcade, photo booths and a ferris wheel with multiple characters represented on the cars. Two 9-hole miniature golf courses celebrating Sanrio’s legacy of characters will round out the midway fun! * Food Extravaganza — the “mobile food court” of food trucks will be a centerpiece of Small Gift Los Angeles, with many different trucks visiting over the 10 days, including The Grilled Cheese Truck. In addition, cream puff gurus Beard Papa’s will have a booth for the duration of Small Gift Los Angeles and have developed a special Hello Kitty flavor ? a yummy strawberry flavored cream puff with sprinkles. Also on sale, an eco-friendly, co-branded Beard Papa’s/Hello Kitty tote created by Beard Papa’s to commemorate the event. Yogurtland will also staff a booth throughout Small Gift Los Angeles, offering a variety of special yogurt flavors and toppings tied back to Hello Kitty®, My Melody®, Keroppi®, and Chococat® * Pop Up Shop — in addition to playing, participating and previewing, guests of Sanrio will also have the opportunity to purchase specially created and selected commemorative product in the Small Gift Los Angeles pop-up shop. Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary marks the first time that so many of the characters have appeared together and there are a variety of must-have, collectible pieces including iPhone cases and laptop cases, t-shirts, tin lunch boxes, tote bags, bobbleheads, plush, a commemorative 50th Anniversary book and much, much more. * Events Within the Main Event — special parties and events will abound over the 10 days of Small Gift Los Angeles. The themed “I Heart Nerds” party hosted by Sanrio and Loungefly and “Kitty in Pink ? Retro 80s Prom Party” offer fans a chance to dress up, have fun and compete for ‘best-dressed’ prizes. Workshops will include Sushi Bento Box making, Sunae (Japanese sand art), cupcake decorating, jewelry and craft making with participating artists, and an intro to Hello Kitty Beauty by Sephora. Tickets will be available for purchase prior to events and workshops on brownpapertickets.com. Sanrio will also host groups of children with L.A. Works throughout Small Gift Los Angeles. * Special Partnerships — many special partners will be on hand throughout Small Gift Los Angeles to participate in this massive celebration. Various models of the newly launched Hello Kitty Smart Cars will be on display, inviting fans to hop inside, explore, and snap pictures. New partner Sephora will give fans a sneak peek of their soon-to-launch “Hello Kitty Beauty” collection featuring a luxurious line of cosmetics and collectible accessories. Discuss this show here.

Remember last year’s 35th birthday bash for Hello Kitty (covered)? Well, if you enjoyed that, then you will be excited to know it’s almost time for another Sanrio show. This time, it’s for the 50th anniversary of the company and yes, that means all your favorite characters are free game for the artists like the Badtz Maru incarnation from Travis Louie (interviewed) seen above.

Of course, the group show won’t be the only festivities held at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica starting November 12th. “Small Gift Los Angeles” will also feature a character product retrospective, pop-up shop, interactive activities and special event programming, all in a carnival style theme.

More preview images and details after the jump…

Eric Joyner

Eric Joyner

Small Gift Los Angeles will include:

* Midway Carnival — a game booth area featuring classic characters will include Hello Kitty’s Spilled Milk Bottle Toss, Little Twin Stars Shooting Stars, Tuxedosam Bowtie Bounce, Chocopand Dough Toss, Hangyodon Ring Fling, Landry Lucky Duckies, and Sanrio Friends Spin ‘n’ Win Wheel, a Japanese activity corner, a retro videogame arcade, photo booths and a ferris wheel with multiple characters represented on the cars. Two 9-hole miniature golf courses celebrating Sanrio’s legacy of characters will round out the midway fun!

* Food Extravaganza — the “mobile food court” of food trucks will be a centerpiece of Small Gift Los Angeles, with many different trucks visiting over the 10 days, including The Grilled Cheese Truck. In addition, cream puff gurus Beard Papa’s will have a booth for the duration of Small Gift Los Angeles and have developed a special Hello Kitty flavor ? a yummy strawberry flavored cream puff with sprinkles. Also on sale, an eco-friendly, co-branded Beard Papa’s/Hello Kitty tote created by Beard Papa’s to commemorate the event. Yogurtland will also staff a booth throughout Small Gift Los Angeles, offering a variety of special yogurt flavors and toppings tied back to Hello Kitty®, My Melody®, Keroppi®, and Chococat®

* Pop Up Shop — in addition to playing, participating and previewing, guests of Sanrio will also have the opportunity to purchase specially created and selected commemorative product in the Small Gift Los Angeles pop-up shop. Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary marks the first time that so many of the characters have appeared together and there are a variety of must-have, collectible pieces including iPhone cases and laptop cases, t-shirts, tin lunch boxes, tote bags, bobbleheads, plush, a commemorative 50th Anniversary book and much, much more.

* Events Within the Main Event — special parties and events will abound over the 10 days of Small Gift Los Angeles. The themed “I Heart Nerds” party hosted by Sanrio and Loungefly and “Kitty in Pink ? Retro 80s Prom Party” offer fans a chance to dress up, have fun and compete for ‘best-dressed’ prizes. Workshops will include Sushi Bento Box making, Sunae (Japanese sand art), cupcake decorating, jewelry and craft making with participating artists, and an intro to Hello Kitty Beauty by Sephora. Tickets will be available for purchase prior to events and workshops on brownpapertickets.com. Sanrio will also host groups of children with L.A. Works throughout Small Gift Los Angeles.

* Special Partnerships — many special partners will be on hand throughout Small Gift Los Angeles to participate in this massive celebration. Various models of the newly launched Hello Kitty Smart Cars will be on display, inviting fans to hop inside, explore, and snap pictures. New partner Sephora will give fans a sneak peek of their soon-to-launch “Hello Kitty Beauty” collection featuring a luxurious line of cosmetics and collectible accessories.

 

 

Discuss this show here.

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:00:26 +0100 Shots Of Completed Melrose Flag Wall…Saber & Shepard Fairey http://www.graphotism.com/bench/article/shots-of-completed-melrose-flag-wallsaber-shepard-fairey/ Mr. Fairey invited me to paint this wall on Melrose right across from Fairfax High. Of course I was exited about the challenge. It seemed perfect considering we both have been playing with the image of Old Glory.  Next Flag will be ten times bigger. The American Flag as an abstract image has endless possibilities…………….. Photography By Todd Mazer- ARRESTED MOTION HYPEBEAST KNOWN GALLERY- Exclusive Black And White Shots OBEYGIANT

1.melroseflag.web

Mr. Fairey invited me to paint this wall on Melrose right across from Fairfax High. Of course I was exited about the challenge. It seemed perfect considering we both have been playing with the image of Old Glory.  Next Flag will be ten times bigger. The American Flag as an abstract image has endless possibilities……………..

 

 

Photography By Todd Mazer-

ARRESTED MOTION

HYPEBEAST

KNOWN GALLERY- Exclusive Black And White Shots

OBEYGIANT

 

]]> Benchtalk Tue, 02 Nov 2010 09:29:00 +0100