Viewpoints / Recap: Dran –‘Public Execution’ pop up show in Soho, London (Part II)

February 24, 2015, 8:57 am

≫ Next: Invader Continues Space Invasion

≪ Previous: POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: HotTea

$

0

0

AM recently covered the opening and first week of the last show by Dran, which was hosted by Pictures On Walls and closed on Saturday 21 February. The uniqueness of Public Execution is that it was produced by the artist — bit by bit and in public view — over the course of its duration. A white space filled with spraypainted images of blank canvases on Day 1 evolved into a picture-rich multicoloured venue on Day 17, the grand finale. Some visitors have referred to it as an art show in reverse, although we believe "art show prequel" is more accurate. The setting up and creation of works for the exhibition arguably became the exhibition itself. In essence, Public Execution could be described quite fairly as a performance art project. Our previous post featured photographs of the event taken on Days 1, 2 and 7. There now follows additional progress shots from Days 9 and 13 (respectively, 13 and 17 February). Day 9 (13 February) [caption id="attachment_271282" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Rnouna Boy' (Snot / Mucus Boy)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271278" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Mister Brick'[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271277" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Sunset'[/caption] . A painting we were especially drawn to is Sunset, which is either optimistically hopeful or ominous and foreboding, depending on the viewer's frame of mind. Shown from the back, a lion sits side by side with an antelope covered in bloody claw marks. Together they gaze at a setting sun. The lion's front leg is wrapped around the shoulder of its natural prey in a manner which may be affectionate and protective, perhaps after the two have made their peace following a chase and battle. Alternatively, that same gesture can be interpreted as controlling and sinister. Ambiguity is what offers Sunset its greatest strength. This image was later also chosen for a nine-colour, varied limited edition, screen and stencil-sprayed print. It was one of two sold-out print releases by POW on 21 February, the last day of the exhibition. [caption id="attachment_271283" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Work painted on shop ceiling.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271285" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The artist at work, photographed with his prior consent.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271279" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Clown a la Rose'[/caption] . Clown a la Rose immediately reminded us of the annoyingly cheerful command, "Turn that frown upside down." Although far from being our favourite work, we appreciated the technical challenge Dran embraced with this piece. Given it was painted directly on the wall, and not on some movable base that could later be upturned, the artist pushed himself to compose an inverted image — much easier said than done. [caption id="attachment_271280" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Jean Rachid Newton' (a.k.a. 'Bon Jour')[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271286" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Jean Rachin Newton' (detail)[/caption] . Day 13 (17 February) [caption id="attachment_271291" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'It's Broken'[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271295" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Presumably, a work painted on 14 February.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271296" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Loading 2%.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271293" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Le Daltonisme' (left) and work in progress.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271292" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'I've Got You!'[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271299" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Les Tourterelles' (The Turtledoves)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271353" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Revolution' (detail)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271302" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 'Keep Clear'[/caption] [caption id="attachment_271300" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Works in progress.[/caption] . We'll follow up shortly with a third post of commentary, and snapshots taken on Days 16 and 17 (respectively, 20 and 21 February) — being the final two days of Public Execution. Text and photographs by Patrick Nguyen.

---

Invader Continues Space Invasion

February 24, 2015, 12:15 pm

≫ Next: Studio Visit: Matzu / Tomokazu Matsuyama –“Come with me” @ Gallery Wendi Norris

≪ Previous: Viewpoints / Recap: Dran –‘Public Execution’ pop up show in Soho, London (Part II)

$

0

0

After taking his own work up to space and living up to his moniker, Invader has recently expanded his activities to spread his work further along similar lines. Not only has the French street artist put up his signature tiled mosaics up at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne and Euro Space Center in Belgium (above), but it also looks like one of his pieces has made it up with an astronaut to the International Space Station. Discuss Invader here.

Studio Visit: Matzu / Tomokazu Matsuyama –“Come with me” @ Gallery Wendi Norris

February 24, 2015, 7:30 pm

≫ Next: POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Ernest Zacharevic

≪ Previous: Invader Continues Space Invasion

$

0

0

While preparing for his next big solo at Gallery Wendi Norris in San Francisco, Tomokazu Matsuyama (interviewed) recently hosted a studio visit from prolific art patron Swizz Beatz. While one of the pieces glimpsed in the New York-based artist's workspace will end up in the record producer's collection, the photos sent us reveals some of what Matzu has been working on for Come with me, his planned third solo with the Bay Area gallery. The exhibition opening on March 12th will feature paintings rendered in his signature aesthetic as well as debut a new series of steel sculptures. Discuss Matzu here.

POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Ernest Zacharevic

February 25, 2015, 8:24 am

≫ Next: Streets / Videos: Banksy (Gaza)

≪ Previous: Studio Visit: Matzu / Tomokazu Matsuyama –“Come with me” @ Gallery Wendi Norris

$

0

0

While most artists were painting large murals at one location, Ernest Zacharevic contributed to POW! WOW! Hawaii (more coverage here) with several smaller interventions scattered around town, making visitors go on a real hunt for his work. Due to their nature, a few of them actually got buffed soon after their creation, but some of them stayed up waiting for people to discover them. The first piece he created was on the side of the bridge on Ala Moana Blvd at the beginning of Waikiki. The Lithuanian artist painted one of his recognizable kid characters, wearing an Aloha shirt and holding a finishing pole attached with a string to an old rusty half-submerged shopping cart. The use of location, found objects and different mediums made this piece very effective. On the same location he painted a small collaboration with Strok, adding a sleeping Homer Simpson in between his stenciled characters and their long shades. Another Simpson inspired piece he painted using a wall light as part of the image, making it look like a TV in front of which Homer fell a sleep on his couch. He also painted a simple, childish robot using piping and industrial elements, but that piece was buffed very quick,  as well as a text only piece saying "Aloha," but in a Coca-Cola font. Another kid piece he created was done at the Lana Lane festival base, showing him  coming out of a wall. Again, the incorporation of existing elements resulted in a very effective piece, which actually depicted the son of another participating artist, Fafi. On a wooden wall inside Ward Mall, Zacharevic also painted this lovely chalk piece showing owls sitting on a wire next to each other, with one of them lonely on the side, cuddling up next to a phone booth. Finally, on the last day of the festival, he created this fantastic collaboration with Olek, showing two kids sitting on a hammock between two palms. Smartly using these trees that were growing in front of his wall, he referenced photos of local kids in his homeland of Malaysia, and Olek added a crotchet hammock, completing this original piece and making it one of the stand out works of the event. Photo credit: artist & @arrestedmotion_sal. Discuss POW! WOW! Hawaii here. Discuss Ernest Zacharevic here.

Streets / Videos: Banksy (Gaza)

February 25, 2015, 3:21 pm

≫ Next: Streets: Reka (Rome)

≪ Previous: POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Ernest Zacharevic

$

0

0

After several months of silence, the world wide phenomenon that is Banksy just updated his official website with a new series of works recently created in occupied Gaza. In his sharp and critical style, Mr B. has put ups some meaningful pieces including a cat playing with iron wire from destroyed homes, an image of the weeping Niobe, a Greek goddess that was punished for pride in her children, a watchtower being used as a merry go-round, and finally a strong message that states "If we wash our hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless we side with the powerful - we don't remain neutral." Accompanied with a "promotional video" for Gaza, which in his ironic style describes the place as an appealing travel destination, this series once again proves the well deserved reputation the artist has had for years. While each of the pieces are meaningful and on point, the greatest value of these new works is the fact that he is using his art superstar popularity to attract the attention of the media to the parts of the world that desperately need it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e2dShY8jIo Discuss Banksy here.

Streets: Reka (Rome)

February 26, 2015, 4:00 am

≫ Next: POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Esao Andrews & Aaron Horkey

≪ Previous: Streets / Videos: Banksy (Gaza)

$

0

0

James Reka was recently in Tormarancia, Rome, painting a new mural on a residential building. Entitled Natura Morta (Still Life), the finished piece is a great example of all the qualities of Reka's work - skilled spray control that results in sharp, crispy lines and perfect shapes, a good feel for colors and use of facade color as a background, as well as neat incorporation of architectural elements in his work. In this particular piece, the Berlin-based artist demonstrates the effectiveness of his visual language created over the years. Through abstract, almost geometrical shapes, he constructs objects and elements that are instantly recognizable, giving the work multiple layers. While abstract at first, the mural slowly becomes clear once the shapes overlap and depict classic still life elements, such as fruits, a chalice, a bust, etc...

POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Esao Andrews & Aaron Horkey

February 26, 2015, 6:36 pm

≫ Next: Streets: Blu (Bolivia)

≪ Previous: Streets: Reka (Rome)

$

0

0

Arguably one of the best murals created at this year's POW! WOW! Hawaii (more coverage here) and one of the most unusual and interesting collaborations was the one by Esao Andrews and Aaron Horkey. None of the artists are really known for their mural skills or even large scale works, so it was interesting to watch their talents pulling off one of the most detailed and exceptional pieces created. Painting on the facade of Fresh Cafe in Kaka'ako, this was Esao's second ever mural he's worked on, while for Aaron this meant he was picking up spray paint after some 15 years since the last time he used the medium. Using the spray can in place of the tip of a pen, he worked 4-5 long days adding shading, texture and countless little details with his distinctive line work. At the same time, Esao was recreating his surrealist painting style with the use of the spray can, applying different new tricks he learned and discovered along the way. Even though technically a beginner with this medium, his more experienced colleagues had a hard time believing that someone with such little experience could pull off such incredible work. The final striking image blends the two styles perfectly in a dynamic, fantasy scene in which Horkey's sea monsters are emerging underneath Andrews' old wooden ship. This piece was also a nice introduction to a two man show these two artists will have in September at Thinkspace in Los Angeles. Photo credit: @arrestedmotion_sal & @arrestedmotion_sleepboy. Discuss Esao Andrews here. Discuss Aaron Horkey here.

Streets: Blu (Bolivia)

February 27, 2015, 8:52 am

≫ Next: Studio Visits / Previews: Kenny Scharf –“Born Again” @ Honor Fraser Gallery

≪ Previous: POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Esao Andrews & Aaron Horkey

$

0

0

It looks like Italian street savant Blu has began his swing through the Americas with a mural in Bolivia. The quickly painted wall again provides biting social commentary on the value of people in the country when weighed against the value placed on money. Next up for Blu will be work for the MANIFESTO street initiative in Mexico. Discuss Blu here.

---

Studio Visits / Previews: Kenny Scharf –“Born Again” @ Honor Fraser Gallery

February 28, 2015, 12:40 pm

≫ Next: Overtime: Feb 23 – March 1

≪ Previous: Streets: Blu (Bolivia)

$

0

0

Tonight at Honor Fraser Gallery, Kenny Scharf (interviewed) will be presenting his latest solo exhibition to his fans in Los Angeles. The new showing promises to be a diverse one, ranging from a fresh set of paintings, a selection of rarely shown early videos and collage, to his never exhibited before assemblages. The new Born Again series sees the Scharf repurposing and painting over discarded artwork, which you can see him working on in the studio visit photos here. Also rounding things out will be a series of installations where the aforementioned videos will be shown. Photo credit: Birdman Photos. Discuss Kenny Scharf here.

Overtime: Feb 23 – March 1

March 1, 2015, 4:12 am

≫ Next: Alex Chinneck –“Pick Yourself Up and Pull Yourself Together”

≪ Previous: Studio Visits / Previews: Kenny Scharf –“Born Again” @ Honor Fraser Gallery

$

0

0

More stories from the week that ended March 1 (click on bolded words for more information):

• First Jeff Koons public art sculpture acquired by a city to go up in front of new arena in downtown Sacramento.
• RIP: Leonard Nimoy, who died at the age of 83. The famous actor was also a photographer, collector, and arts supporter.
• RIP: Edward Albers, who died at the age of 59 after a fire in his apartment building.
• Previously missing Picasso painting resurfaces after it is shipped to US under false pretenses and seized.
• Spanish police arrest brothers that sold a fake Goya painting and were paid with photocopied cash.
• Yves Bouvier arrested in Monaco over alleged price-fixing scam. Victims include Dmitry Rybolovlev.
• Restitution of art seized by Cuban authorities in the 1960s no closer to return to respective artists.
• NY Times takes a look at theories surrounding the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist.
• ISIS burns thousands of books in Iraq in act of libricide. They also destroy priceless works at Mosul museum.
• Dean Levin sues Robert Blumenthal for $200,000 due to unpaid show. Robert Blumenthal countersues the artist for $300k, saying he is owed unfulfilled artwork.
• Germany is sued in U.S. court by Jewish claimants over medieval treasure acquired by Nazis.
• Christie's sued by Elizabeth Taylor Trust over $8mil lot sale that was rescinded.
• Larry Gagosian will not allow anyone to photograph his new mansion.
• Henry Moore's daughter Mary Moore says that Damien Hirst set back art by 100 years.
• Numbers still show that NYC galleries still low on female artists in their rosters.
• Marcato Capital Management accuses Sotheby's board and management of "willful neglect".
• Bjarne Melgaard’s current show at the Munch Museum drawing heavy criticism from the media.
• Jeremy Deller withdraws his name from cultural boycott campaign of Israel.
• Is Xu Yong's book featuring 35mm negatives of the Tiananmen Square protest political or just an art book?
• Museo Jumex cancels Hermann Nitsch show and museum director Patrick Charpenel resigns.
• Barberini Museum founding director Peter Joch resigns.
• Elda Oreto's characters The Secret Lodge book may resemble real life artists (Petra Cortright, Artie Vierkant) too closely.
• US returns to Italy a Giambattista Tiepolo painting and an ancient Etruscan bronze statuette of Herakles.
• Getty Conservation Institute and LA city launch historicplacesla.org, an online inventory of sites with cultural significance.
• Toledo Museum of Art to return stolen artifact to Gotha Museum.
• Stedelijk Museum opens exhibition that publicizes its doubts about rights to works in its collection.
• Barnes Foundation has discovered it owns two previously unknown Cézanne sketches on the backs of two watercolors.
• The Whitney Plantation is the first slavery museum in America.
• Museum of the Bible, $400mil. enterprise funded by Hobby Lobby President Steve Green, undergoes construction.
• Rothschild family donating items to Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
• Wellcome Collection's exhibition Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime explores history, science and art of forensic medicine.
• Artis receives a $1mil gift from an anonymous donor.
• Rouen to open Historial Jeanne d’Arc, a museum dedicated to tracing the history of Joan of Arc.
• Roberta Smith reviews Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic show at the Brooklyn Museum.
• David Salle writes about MoMA's The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World.
• WSJ reviews the New Museum Triennial. Scott Indrisek also takes a look. Paddy Johnson also visits and writes about the show. Blake Gopnik and Christian Viveros-Fauné give their thoughts on the show.
• The Havana Biennial will include work by 120 artists from about 40 countries.
• WSJ profiles the late Robert Fraser.
• More lawyers involved nowadays in art collecting transactions.
• ArtNews details how Peter Lik came to the $6.5mil. sale number for his supposed record-setting photograph. What people are saying about Peter Lik.
• Profile of Marina Abramovic and the economics of the performance art market.
• Ben Brown talks about art fairs and how they benefit his art dealing business.
• Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Storer home sale sets record price for a Wright house at $6.8mil.
• Cait Munro lists 14 Young New York Art Dealers To Watch.
• Los Angeles Magazine profiles Stefan Simchowitz. How Stefan Simchowitz has helped Zachary Armstrong's career.
• The Daniel Rolnik Gallery mentioned in LA Canvas.
• Art in America interviews Pierre Huyghe.
• Sarah Meyohas selling BitchCoins, which can be collected and exchanged for her work.
• Kazuo Shiraga undergoes period of rediscovery.
• Milo Moiré walks around LWL Museum for Art and Culture nude as part of performance.
• Phaidon profiles JR.
• Abby Warhola producing a Andy Warhol documentary film featuring interviews with family members.
• Ai Weiwei interviews Zhao Zhao for Flaunt Magazine.
• Art Spiegelman, Dave Eggers, and more named members of American Academy of Arts and Letters.
• NY Times profile of Peter Lik. The photographer lists a house of his for sale in Maui.
• Phaidon discusses the Minimalism movement.
• New Hot Chip CD cover features bespoke printed artwork by Nick Relph.
• Niagara Falls freezes over and creates massive natural ice sculptures.
• One-eared cat named Van Gogh makes artwork.

Alex Chinneck –“Pick Yourself Up and Pull Yourself Together”

March 1, 2015, 8:22 am

≫ Next: Studio Visits: Christian Rex van Minnen

≪ Previous: Overtime: Feb 23 – March 1

$

0

0

British artist Alex Chinneck has put together another mindbending installation  a little different than the modified structures we have seen from him before (see melting & upside-down house). Created in a car park at London's Southbank Centre, the piece features what appears to be a peeling away asphalt surface with a car still on top of it but upside down. Sadly, Pick Yourself Up and Pull Yourself Together was only on view through February 25th but enjoy the photos below... The Hackney-based artist states - "While I am most excited by the hidden engineering and complex manipulation of concealed steel, others will simply enjoy the accessible theatricality of the illusion at play. Photos via Dezeen (through Juxtapoz). Discuss Alex Chinneck here.

Studio Visits: Christian Rex van Minnen

March 3, 2015, 8:12 pm

≫ Next: Streets: Blu (Mexico City)

≪ Previous: Alex Chinneck –“Pick Yourself Up and Pull Yourself Together”

$

0

0

AM recently had the privilege to visit Christian Rex van Minnen's studio in Brooklyn and see several pieces he was working on as well as some previously undisclosed paintings. We also had a chance to talk to the him about his beginnings in the art world, the influence of the Golden Dutch Age on his work, the origin of his grotesque portraits, tattoos, the Internet and NYC art week. Christian Rex Van Minnen is self taught painter, which is hard to believe once you see his skills with oils. As a fan of Golden Dutch Age, which was an important part of art history on many levels, he learned how to paint using book reproductions as his reference. After years of mastering his technique at his home in Colorado, he eventually traveled to Amsterdam and got to see some of the works in person for the first time. There, he realized he went over board with his execution, as unlike reproduction photos, the actual paintings weren't as perfect and you could clearly see the brush strokes and human hand behind them. This mistake though allowed Van Minnen to start exploring painting in a new direction. Tackling the phenomenon of pareidolia, he focused on creating work that balances between abstraction and realism. Using his meticulous painting skills along with the ability to let go of pre-programmed ideas of how certain things can look like, his works are basically photorealistic abstractions. Using basic shapes and textures, his paintings look familiar and recognizable, while actually being completely abstract and surreal. By adding a layer of tattoos to almost finished works, both portraits and still life ones, he actually adds another interference layer of the story to his works. He is basically creating three different ways to view the painting - as a narrative provided by the tattoos, a meditation on the form that hosts the tattoos, and the union of the two. His works are often seen as haunting, bizarre or even disturbing, and it wasn't until he started sharing works online and getting appreciation from a wider crowd that he felt comfortable with what he was making. When we visited his studio, Van Minnen was working on two large still life works that were going to Pulse Art Fair, where he will be showing with Pouslen Gallery from Copenhagen. Also, he will take part in a Poulsen group show at the Lodge Gallery during that week. These new pieces are a continuation of some narrative issues he's been working out, along with some technical experiments, layering the bright hi-chroma underpainting integrated with the traditional techniques. Though primarily visually and technically striking, his oils often carry a strong message. One of the recurring subjects is the connection between the Dutch Golden Age and the birth of the slave trade. He further elaborates - "I'm making work about it and thinking about how that implicates me. In a time when everyone wants to say 'That's not me,' I'm just not sure I can wash my hands clean of it." Discuss Christian Rex van Minnen here.

Streets: Blu (Mexico City)

March 3, 2015, 8:28 pm

≫ Next: Studio Visits: Junko Mizuno

≪ Previous: Studio Visits: Christian Rex van Minnen

$

0

0

While much of street art these days is primarily decorative and created with a purpose of promoting an event, art show, or commercial endeavor, there are still artists out there that are using the streets as a powerful medium for sharing information and making statements. One of those artist is Blu, who is currently traveling around the America's and creating engaged works. After recently visiting Bolivia (covered), he just finished another strong and meaningful piece in Mexico City, where he was invited by Fifty24Mx for their ManifestoMx project. The idea behind this initiative is to address the social and political situation in ‪Mexico‬, through large murals painted by a select group of artists. The contribution from the Italian muralist features the colors of the Mexican flag being created out of (green) dollar bills, some rolled up for snorting cocaine (white), and finally a pool of blood (red). This entire scene is heavily guarded by an army of toy soldiers, symbolizing the state and the government protecting the drug trafficking. Always on point and direct with his work, Blu once again hits you where it hurts the most. Along with his dedication to reveal injustice and the struggle of the oppressed, he also showed his dedication to creating art by painting this large and elaborate piece while hanging on ropes. Photos via the artist. Discuss Blu here.

Studio Visits: Junko Mizuno

March 4, 2015, 1:13 pm

≫ Next: POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Doze Green

≪ Previous: Streets: Blu (Mexico City)

$

0

0

Leading up to her current showing at Narwhal Contemporary in Toronto, we stopped by the studio of Junko Mizuno in San Francisco to learn more about her work environment and to see some of the works in progress. Using acrylic, ink, and graphite, the Japanese artists creates recognizable cute, grotesque, and provocative imagery that has a mixture of influences from pop culture to manga. You can see more of the work created for the show here, but can also glimpse some of the pieces that were painted based around a theme of "dark and erotic food fetishes that views eating as a metaphor for female sexual appetite and power." Photo credit: Ken Harman. Discuss Junko Mizuno here.

POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Doze Green

March 4, 2015, 9:26 pm

≫ Next: Streets: Usugrow (Marrakech)

≪ Previous: Studio Visits: Junko Mizuno

$

0

0

Working on probably the biggest wall of this year's POW! WOW! Hawaii (more coverage here), the legendary Doze Green and his team painted a mural with warm tones showing his signature characters in action. Using his recognizable line work and intuitive style, the artist who made his name on the streets of NYC came up with an interesting composition on a long wall. Spending days doing the fill ins and shading the large, almost tribal like characters, the sight of his mural slowly turned into a neighborhood attraction with local community. Often having his art friends and fans visiting at work, Doze was pretty relaxed working his way through this piece, meeting people, chatting, and genuinely having fun while creating this large mural. Photo credit: @arrestedmotion_sal & Brandon Shigeta (finished image). Discuss POW! WOW! Hawaii here. Discuss Doze Green here.

---

Streets: Usugrow (Marrakech)

March 5, 2015, 11:12 pm

≫ Next: Streets: RISK (Los Angeles)

≪ Previous: POW! WOW! ’15 / Streets: Doze Green

$

0

0

Last month, the facade of the well known Cafe Des Epices in Marrakech, Morocco was painted over with the street calligraphy of Usugrow. Curated by Valerie Liais du Rocher of Studio IWA with support from Upper Playground, the Japanese artist left his mark in the heart of the Medina at in Rahba Kedima spice square covering one side of the rooftop structure with his signature script. Photo credit: Raphael Liais (via Upper Playground). Discuss Usugrow here.

Streets: RISK (Los Angeles)

March 6, 2015, 9:27 pm

≫ Next: Overtime: March 2 – March 8

≪ Previous: Streets: Usugrow (Marrakech)

$

0

0

The offices of Rock Paper Scissors, a post production company located on the Westside recently had the locally-based RISK work on two walls for them. The building had quite a bit of history associated with it as he and other graffiti artists had painted it 24 years ago when it was owned by Sylvester Stallone. For this particular project, some of the iconic original elements were left while some of the original artists and new friends added to the new mural. Using RISK's signature "beautifully destroyed" color field as the background, Abel, Nathan Ota, Sel Dog, Sonny Boy, Severe, and Vyal worked their magic on the wall. Check it out on Cloverfield and Broadway in Santa Monica, CA. Photo credit: Birdman Photos. Discuss RISK here.

Overtime: March 2 – March 8

March 8, 2015, 4:30 am

≫ Next: Streets: DALeast (Delhi)

≪ Previous: Streets: RISK (Los Angeles)

$

0

0

More stories from the week that ended March 8 (click on bolded words for more information):

• Four terminally ill patients see Rembrandt exhibition courtesy of Ambulance Wish Foundation charity.
• Bail for Yves Bouvier set at €10mil.
• 15 historic artifacts stolen from Château de Fontainebleau in smash and grab burglary.
• An Oscar Murillo canvas may have been stolen from MoMA show.
• World's priciest cheese slicer designed by Rodrigo Otazu and Boska Holland stolen from Amsterdam Cheese Museum.
• Islamic State extremists attack 3,000-year-old ancient city of Nimrud with bulldozers.
• Recep Tayyip Erdogan to pay Mehmet Aksoy 10,000 Turkish Lira in compensation after calling his sculpture a “monstrosity”.
• Bjarne Melgaard show at Munch Museum receives police complaints.
• Austrian panel rules against returning Klimt frieze to heirs of the original Jewish owner.
• Yves Bouvier out on €10mil. bail.
• Jerry Saltz gets banned from Facebook. He discusses his banishment and his time on Facebook.
• The World Press Photo competition disqualifies winner Giovanni Troilo because he staged shots.
• Sotheby's profits fell 9% in 2014.
• Almost half of Miami's art institutions are without directors.
• Anne Sinclair talks about turning down a chance to pose for Picasso.
• Artnet's list of ten women artists that are breaking social taboos.
• Some online protesting Sacramento's decision to purchase Jeff Koons sculpture for public art display.
• André Saraiva criticized for defacing rocks in Joshua Tree National Park.
• Germany's last Banksy street piece is vandalized.
• Monica Lewinsky scandal hinted at in painted portrait of Bill Clinton by Nelson Shanks.
• Forbes's 2015 ranking of billionaires includes many art world players.
• William Louis-Dreyfus to gift the proceeds from sales of his art collection to the Harlem Children's Zone.
• More of the world's hotels are considering the quality of their art collection.
• Arts Council of Wales plans five-year, £20mil fund for artists to work with disadvantaged pupils.
• Peter Norton donates forty-one works (including Gober, Wool, Kelley, Aitken, Eisenman) to Rose Art Museum.
• Lucian Freud collection of Frank Auerbach works to be distributed to institutions across UK in lieu of inheritance tax.
• Museo Reina Sofía acquired 26 artworks reaching a combined price of €348,884 at ARCO art fair.
• Bauhaus Museum to be constructed in Dessau.
• Ben Davis reviews the Björk show at MoMA. Artnews also has a review. Ryu Spaeth gives his thoughts on The Week. Hyperallergic crew has a conversation about it.
• Oakland pushing for George Lucas museum.
• Visitors can touch copies of masterpieces at Museo del Prado.
• Iraq's national museum officially reopens in Baghdad, 12 years after it was closed in aftermath of war.
• High Line to host year-long art+nature exhibition titled Panorama.
• Cindy Sherman and Jeff Koons each donate 50 works to US embassies and consulates.
• Josef and Anni Albers Foundation supports Toshiko Mori-designed artist residency in Senegal.
• Timeout chooses the 100 best paintings in New York. Paper Magazine's list of 20 art shows to see in NYC this spring.
• List of artists announced for the 2015 Venice Biennale.
• Gerhard Richter aghast at his auction prices and think prices will correct one day.
• Kenny Schachter writes about the state of the art market.
• A look at who benefits the most from the art market boom at auction.
• Major 1958 Mark Rothko piece from Baden-Baden coming up for Christie's.
• Marilyn Monroe’s final photo-shoot images by Bert Stern to be auctioned by Heritage Auctions Texas.
• Artnet's guide to what is being shown in New York during Armory Arts Week. Brian Boucher has his choices for the 10 best artworks at Armory.
• A look at which art fairs around the world are the most well attended.
• Cool Hunting provides their highlights from the SPRING/BREAK Art Show. Artinfo also provides its picks.
• Judd Tully's sales report from the Armory Show art fair. He also has a report from Armory Show Modern.
• Katya Kazakina's sales report for Bloomberg at the New York art fairs.
• T Magazine writes about the Independent Fair. ARTnews visits the fair as well.
• List of galleries showing at Art Basel 2015 is released.
• The expansion of the art market into artists in their second childhood.
• The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the younger generation of Chinese art collectors.
• Larry Gagosian puts on two museum-quality shows with former MoMA curators at his galleries.
• Harper's Books doing a three-day popup in Manhattan.
• Artnet's list of the top 100 most collectible living artists for March 2015.
• Phaidon takes a brief look at the Dada movement.
• Ai Weiwei talks about working with Hollywood remotely from China.
• The mutually influential relationship between John Cage and Robert Rauschenberg.
• Jeff Koons triples the production capacity of his advanced technology stone workshop in Pennsylvania.
• Jenny Holzer will design part of NY's first significant AIDS memorial in the West Village.
• Scott Indrisek interviews Athena Papadopoulos.
• Wade Guyton interviews Judith Eisler at Gavlak, LA, in Interview Magazine.
• Dazed takes a look at Amalia Ulman.
• Tatiana Trouvé's public art sculpture in Central Park, NY.
• Hunter Drohojowska-Philp looks at the John Currin show at Gagosian Gallery.
• Dustin Yellin shreds $10k cash to be used in eight artworks.
• Isa Genzken makes paintings using currency.
• Profile of Mel Ramos.
• Wolfgang Tillmans wins 2015 Hasselblad Award.
• Shapero Modern to exhibit controversial Chapman Brothers explicit film.
• Review of Leo Gabin's show at Elizabeth Dee.
• John Baldessari and Ed Ruscha list their choices for LA's brightest creative talent.
• Artspace interviews Shamim Momin about LAND and LA.
• About Leonard Nimoy's one-man play about Vincent van Gogh and his brother.
• Noah Hamilton raises money to pay his tuition by starting a fundraiser and selling his artwork online.
• Roger White's new art travel book The Contemporaries: Travels in the 21st-Century Art World.
• Petra Collins shoots some photographs at The Standard.
• New Angel Otero print available from Artspace.
• Sir Mitchell has some timed-edition prints available on his site.

Streets: DALeast (Delhi)

March 10, 2015, 8:58 am

≫ Next: Streets: Seth Globepainter (Paris)

≪ Previous: Overtime: March 2 – March 8

$

0

0

A few months after his last solo show in NYC (covered), DALeast (interviewed) went on a two month trip around China, Tibet and India. He timed his travels to arrive in Delhi on time to participate in the local St+Art Project with a fresh mural. Inspired by his personal experiences during the trip around Asia, especially India, the new piece represents the everyday chaos and crowds, yet all being functional and organized to some extent. The image of the chaotic flock of birds refers to such a state - "people, cars, cows, dust, agendas, directions, wishes, hopes, gains and losses, all we can think of in the human world is manifested there, and the stream of it all is mixed up in the air." The deeper story behind this effective image of birds flying through an arched window is the question of "where are we going to and where/when is the end." Unlike his usual works showing one major character, this piece feels much lighter and almost detached form the surface. This is mostly due to strong contrast between the black birds and pink background, and even more so - the very effective perspective and shading details he achieved. Discuss DALeast here.

Streets: Seth Globepainter (Paris)

March 10, 2015, 8:44 pm

≫ Next: Overtime: March 9 – March 15

≪ Previous: Streets: DALeast (Delhi)

$

0

0

After constantly traveling around the world, Seth Globepainter is currently staying in Paris and working on his upcoming solo show opening on March 20th with Itinerrance Gallery. The artist used this opportunity to finally take his part in the legendary Le Mur project by creating a fresh mural in his hometown last weekend. Le Mur is an ongoing art program where every two week a new artist paints a billboard panel on Oberkampf street in the French capital. Last Saturday, Seth took advantage of the sunny weather and worked his way through this new piece. Depicting a pile of characters, jammed inside the work space, the French artist showed some of the most recognizable elements of his work - his love for colors, use of thin spray paint lines, and the ability to adjust to a space he works with. By adding one of the characters outside of the box, he cleverly achieved the perspective effect that completes the piece. Discuss Seth Globepainter here.