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Video Jaz X Mexico

Graffuturism — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:16:56 +0000

JAZ EN MÉXICO from Filmaciones de la Ciudad on Vimeo.

Interesting video from the artist Jaz as he discusses some important issues involving graffiti. He touches on Post Graffiti, Post Muralism, and Graffiti’s tendency as he puts it “To keep representing a Narrow Circle”. By shifting out of a traditional graffiti world where letters are your subject, Jaz decides to embrace figures and representational imagery in his graffiti.

There is an interesting scene in the video where Jaz is shot while viewing the monumental mural “New Democracy” in the Palace of Fine Arts Mexico City. The artist reflects upon a mural painted by one of the Masters Siqueiros. Siqueiros one of the most influential Muralist of the past century, and known for the Mexican Muralist Movement was also one of the first artists to experiment with spraying paint on a wall.

Whether graffiti was the influence or the initial spark, it is clear that new paradigms are being established. Graffiti continues to influence and evolve past letters and more traditional styles. We won’t call Jaz a street artist although most of you might embrace that title. I say a new painter is establishing himself as a graffiti artist. He states in the video “But the main idea about graffiti is to work in the street” which is a important point.

When watching people label street art versus graffiti, they might not understand or care to take the time to differentiate these two labels. Does history of the writer influence this? Does it matter? We think it does. An artist who has started his career painting graffiti versus in a studio, painting canvases or drawing on paper rather than in the streets. These artists have a very different understanding about graffiti and street art. It might be more sociably acceptable to take on the street artist label, but most do so at a disservice to documenting the true lineage of our artform. There are those that tagged walls and then painted beautiful murals with figures and narrative themes. Then there are those that learned in a classroom or in their studio and were inspired to take their work outdoors. We are not arguing the fact of which is better, or deserves more prestige. We only ask that you take the time to get it right when documenting an artist.

When an artist talks about post graffiti and reasons whey they feel that some of the traditions of graffiti might hold it back. We feel its a valid point, and one that comes from a graffiti artist that has been influenced directly by graffiti. Where an artist decides to evolve, or chooses what to paint is a whole different story. We will be talking more about these topics throughout the year, and will have some features about this subject in the future. We thought it would be a good time to just get some discussion started since this Jaz video brought up some great points.

Gilbert 1 “The Arising” New works

Graffuturism — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:44:32 +0000

Here are pictures of a group of work Gilbert 1 has been working on. The work titled “The Arising” in the artist’s words “As I was sketching a few graphic shapes for future collages based on colored papers, volumes literally burst out of my cardboard supports, like a truth suddenly coming out. Molten dynamic masses sprang between my fingers, out of my flat drawings, still ardent.” A great mixture of elements Gilbert 1 utilizes his skill in creating shape through geometry to create actual form. As the drawings and color assemblage push themselves off the page and into a 3 dimensional existence, a progressive new form of work is created. We Really like were Gilbert 1 is headed with these new mix media models. We will keep you posted.

Haze “S-IZM” New Print Release at Known Gallery

Graffuturism — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:23:40 +0000

Haze just dropped this beautiful serigraph print titled “S-IZM”. This print is part of the Known Gallery Print Release Project. Haze pulls his best out for this print. Clean minimal aesthetics with maximum effect. Make sure to go to Known Gallery store to get one before they sell out. Here is a brief quote about the print.

“I produced this edition with Modern Multiples, who have been in the print game for decades,
working with a long list of artists that includes the stunning new museum quality works by Saber, Chaz and Retna.
They have a policy of working hands on in the studio alongside the artists they support,
and I was blessed with the opportunity to roll through and knock these pieces out while I was in town.”

Remi Rough Update New works

Graffuturism — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:54:10 +0000

Remi Rough – Fire Stone Wall – One Year On from Unit44 on Vimeo.

Remi Rough has been his usual busy self painting, printing and collaborating. We figured we would do an update of all his current projects. First Remi recently finished a mural installation at unit 44 as part of their 1 year birthday celebration. In the second set of pictures Remi recently collaborated with David Shillinglaw on this private commission for a collector titled ‘Neon Flesh Tones’. The final pictures are from his recent Print release which you can get here through Whisper Fine Art. The silkscreen print titled “known” is in Remi’s clean minimal style utilizing a great composition. Enjoy.

New Walls Zoer CSX

Graffuturism — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:37:51 +0000

Zoer has been getting busy. Looking over these pictures there is not much I can say. Ill try. Zoer is bringing it all, detail, abstract, letters, with a modern feel. Clean yet dirty, Zoer pushes into some promising directions with his recent walls. We are Looking forward to seeing what Zoer has in store for 2012. If these walls are a precursor it looks like more heat.

Exhibit Pictures Mode2 & Stash Galleri Kleerup

Graffuturism — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:48:04 +0000

Mode 2 and Stash recently Exhibited in Stockholm Sweden at Galleri Kleerup. Stash showcases some new abstract works while Mode 2 comes strong with his signature figurative work. I really like the gestural paintings from Mode 2. Here is a quote from stash below about the show.

“What happens when your shipping company messes up and doesn’t deliver; leaving you stranded and empty-handed? How are you going to do that show? Well, in our line of work; we improvise. This is not to say that we do any old crap to fill in, or get into some kind of uncontrolled panic. From a tag which would take just five seconds, to a full colour piece which could take five hours, the goal has always been to show the best of our abilities.

We would go to train yards without sketches or any preconceptions, and we´ll let the setting and the pressure of the illegality, as well as the near-darkness, inspire and guide us in our noble endeavour. These conditions of urgency have often shaped and moulded our form of expression, opening up new avenues and showing us new directions to follow…”

- Stash, January 2012

108 + Cecotto No Title Gallery Opening Pics and Video

Graffuturism — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:21:47 +0000

Intro: 108 + Cecotto from notitlegallery on Vimeo.

No Title Gallery just released a video and some pictures documenting their recent exhibition featuring artists 108 & Mark Cecotto. 108′s work has intrigued us so it was great to see his work in a show. The work of 108, sublime black shapes painted on walls are a trademark from the artist. These minimal yet unsettling paintings of 108 sit silent floating on walls like urban glaciers. Mixing in some geometric elements 108 builds upon his dark cloud like forms. It was interesting to see how his work would move indoors and onto a canvas. After looking over the opening pictures courtesy of the gallery, it would seem they havn’t lost much impact being confined between 4 walls instead of on them. All around a great mixture of paintings and mixed media works from both artists. Great show!

“21 January 2012 to February 21, 2012 Space Pelodrilli host the exhibition “INTRO” of 108 and Mark Cecotto, which has as its second in a series of exhibitions sponsored by No Title Gallery, a project that brings together artists in exhibitions “two “, with the intention of bringing artists and different art forms, triggering innovative and creative synergies.”

Marco Pho Grassi works in Progress

Graffuturism — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:15:30 +0000

The talented Marco Pho Grassi has been in the studio working on some monumental new work. Portions of the work will be part of a private collection in Washington D.C. Marco Pho Grassi works not only in paint but also in texture and atmosphere. His paintings are built as much as they are painted through numerous layers and textures. A master at manipulating paint and creating powerful paintings Marco Pho Grassi is a force to be reckoned with. With roots in graffiti and coming from a family with a deep art history, Grassi carries the torch of modern abstract expressionism with a new narrative. “First of all any possible misunderstandings must be cleared. Grassi’s choice of expression must not merely be cataloged under the word “painting”: his fondness for certain simple and “used” materials should not be labelled “postdadaism”; his energetic stroke shouldn’t be limited to a non-figurative heritage. His references are not purely pictorial, but also pictorial. For instance, his way of creating movement on the surface by applying signs is a clear recall of oriental ideogramic writing, explicit above all in the manner of a recurring “tag”, which works as a signature: like a seal it’s not simply an abstract motif, but it’s a kind of “logo” made of the signature “PHO”. And there’s more. These elements are not sufficient to outline the range of expression which this style of painting is part of, or rather, the poetic humus from which it is born.” all pictures courtesy of the artist and G.Arienti

Know your Rights!- right!? Pt-1

Mare139 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:58:54 +0000

Recently as I was doing some research I came across a designers site that had a rug for sale that had the exact style of my friend Keen One, I thought to myself how unlikely that he would do such a commercial project so I passed the link for confirmation. As it turned out it wasn’t an agreed upon collaboration but an artistic infringement by the designer. Since the work was painted on a wall in public they must have assumed the artist had no rights to said work since it may or may not have been legal and decided to use for their own commercial and financial gain.

Keens Punk Roc piece was done in London 2010, by virtue of him posting it on Flikr it had some copyright protection, to what degree I don’t know but it becomes a matter of public record at that point. He contacted the designer and agreed to an equity deal and name recognition of the work. This is an example of a broader issue we must openly address among ourselves as we continue to produce work in public which then gets consumed and repurposed in many formats from books, blogs, tee shirts, paintings etc. It is worth Googling ones self and or graffiti/street art rugs, furnishings, tees, etc to see if you have been lifted. Recently we had two very hi profile infringement issues worth noting, the J-LO/Fiat commercial in which TATS CRU had to sue for copyright infringement- see clip below-

I spoke to Bio today regarding this issue and plan to have a follow up to this post regarding how TATS CRU deals with these types of matters and how we can best understand the protection we have as public artists. He tells me this happens often and that there are protective measures one can take and tells me to share this link- US Copyright office.

Another resource for those of you ‘fine artist’ (lol) is Artists Rights Society (ARS) which is the preeminent copyright, licensing, and monitoring organization for visual artists in the United States. Founded in 1987, ARS represents the intellectual property rights interests of over 50,000 visual artists and estates of visual artists from around the world (painters, sculptors, photographers, architects and others).

There was another matter of infringement within the community that brought up an even more heated debate, the MSK and Fab5 Freddy paintings. It is common knowledge that graffiti art is and was built upon its own consumption, tutelage, and repurposing, these are the foundations of our art form since day one but at a certain point an etiquette was established regarding being influenced and biting style, the more established writers, especially in my affiliations fought fist to cuffs regarding the breach of our styles. Yet we can’t forget how we managed to get as good as we did, we bit, we refreshed and updated styles from the masters of our time in order to push the art ahead.

WIth the Fab5 paintings there came a newer issue to contend with in our contemporary space. The debate is what is being influenced by anothers work and what is infringement, what are the new street rules and gallery rules that apply. Revok put out a very heated statement about this and others followed suit… For more info peep Jersey Joe- Rimes blog where the debate continues.

I believe Fab5 and the artists have had dialogue and worked it out. Surely Fab knows the rules and thought based on how we came up that appropriation was part of the game, but the game dun changed and his high profile put him in the scope of LA’s most renown writing crew MSK. This is an important issue to look at and consider before you apply someone else’s name or imagery to their work, there are limitations to how we can use other artists works to express our own. I know I personally have tagged up other graffiti writers in my works since the early 80s, this is homage to my culture and friends, other times I use their names as the narrative of the work and or tags as undercoating where they are less pronounced. I once saw my tag on an Os Gemeos painting at DIetch Projects, Ive seen it on Lady Pinks canvases, to me its understood that they are paying homage to the culture they love so it is acceptable.

Should someone directly lift my work I know I would take issue particularly if it is for profit and does not credit nor benefit me. This is why I draw on these examples so we can openly debate the rules and learn how best to address these matters as they present themselves.

-Mare139

JOSHUA MAYS “LOVE AND MOMENTUM” Video Preview

Graffuturism — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:48:29 +0000

JOSHUA MAYS “LOVE AND MOMENTUM” PT.3 from SCOTT LA ROCKWELL on Vimeo.

Joshua Mays “Love & Momentum” Pt.2 from SCOTT LA ROCKWELL on Vimeo.

The talented Joshua Mays is getting ready for an upcoming exhibit titled “Love and Momentum” at Betti Ono Gallery. Good friend to the site Scott La Rockwell of Rockwell Creative has been filming and releasing updates of the video footage in 5 parts that will be part of a final feature on the artist. Joshua Mays is a talented emerging artist from the San Francisco Bay Area. Strong lines and beautifully rendered figures, Joshua is able to paint a very personal message in his work. We look forward to seeing the upcoming exhibit, till then enjoy the videos.

GF