Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Ladies Who Aren't Afraid to Get Dirty


Yesterday, during the Democratic National Convention, I think that we may have put a crack in the proverbial "glass ceiling" Hillary Clinton was officially nominated as the first woman to win a major party nomination for the presidency. It has taken us a while, but here we finally are. As small and overdue as that crack may be, it gives me a glimmer of hope that gender equality may one day be a reality. The days when strong, outspoken women like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have anecdotes of systemic gender discrimination that plagued her throughout her life will be long gone. Stories like the one about Claressa Shileds, who during the 2012 Olympics in London won the Gold medal for boxing, will be a thing of the past. Claressa was told that in order to possibly acquire sponsors, she needed to be "less angry," and needed to "stop saying she liked to beat people up." I wonder how well that would have gone over with Muhammad Ali.

So, in keeping with the theme of "I'm a woman, hear me roar," I decided that showcasing some kick-ass ladies in the male dominated world of street art was not only appropriate, but a MUST! 

Alice Pasquini



Alice Mizrachi

A photo posted by Alice Mizrachi (@am_nyc) on

Maya Hayuk

A photo posted by mayahayuk (@mayahayuk) on

 

SWOON


These are just some of the ladies making a name for themselves. I hope you enjoy their work as much as I do. Look out for the 8-year-old street artist who goes by the name of Lola. Perhaps our future isn't as dark as it appears!

A photo posted by Alice Pasquini (@alicepasquini) on

Monday, July 25, 2016

Immigration: An Essay

I am mad, mad as hell, and the worst part is, it feels like there is nothing I or anyone can do to stop this.

The campaign of "he who shall remain nameless" came full circle on July 21st as the Republican National Convention came to an end. The comments he made during his nomination acceptance speech were reminiscent of the statements he made last year when he launched his campaign, and announced that all Mexican immigrants are "rapists" and "criminals." 

As he is relentless in delivering his hateful rhetoric that all immigrants are rapists and criminals, I too have an obligation to make anyone who will listen understand that it's simply not true. I can't sit here and produce data in pie charts and graphs, although the data does exist here, and here. All I can do is tell you my personal experience being a daughter of immigrant parents and the stories of those I've encountered along the way.

I came to the United States at the age of two. My parents had green cards and later became United States citizens. I was fortunate to enjoy the privileges that come with having a legal status. However, I know and refuse to be oblivious to the struggles of those Latinx, whose only crime is the pursuit of the "American Dream." The hope of a better life for their families has been the motivating force to leave everything behind in their countries of origin and come to a country that often times is not very welcoming to immigrants, despite America being built on the very foundation of immigration

Every day on my way to drop my daughter off at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt station in Queens, I drive by a particular street near 74th street and Broadway. Every single day, regardless of the blistering heat or punishing cold, men stand on this corner, as early as dawn, in hopes to be selected to work for the day. 

Liberty Island, NYC 2016 | Picture by Katherine Gomez
These "day laborers," most of Mexican decent, wake up every morning just like you and I do, except we wake up knowing, roughly, what our day will bring. On the other hand, these men wake up with a full day of uncertainty ahead of them. Some will be "fortunate" to be picked up by someone who will undoubtedly pay them well below minimum wage for their labor, and no OSHA regulations for mandated breaks. The working environment may bring its own set of perils and uncertainty, as the conditions are often hazardous and safety regulations are usually not adhered to.

Some will go back home, having waited all day, with nothing to show for; others with only the one meal provided by the charitable work started by Jorge Munoz. A bad day at the office for these men can also mean not coming home at all. By the virtue of standing on this corner, well known by immigration authorities as a congregation spot for undocumented day laborers, they are at risk of being picked up by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrested, and most likely, deported. Take into consideration that some of these men may be the sole provider of the household state-side or in their country of origin. The families will unboudtebly be economically affected. All the possibilites of a day at the office are bleak, to say the least.  

Therefore, I urge you that next time you hear that 180,000 undocumented immigrants are roaming the streets to attack unsuspected citizens, please think about the gross generalization of this unfounded statement, concede that perhaps the majority are searching and working hard for the same dreams that you and I have for our families. But most importantly, remember that our nation was built on the premise of welcoming "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free" to our shores. 








   

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Street art As Social Commentary

Friday, July 15th was a momentous occasion in our home. It felt like the culmination of years of hard work and proving you are worthy of finally being accepted into a very elite club. My boyfriend became a United States Citizen.

The naturalization ceremony and Oath of Allegiance was very emotional, seeing people from so many different nationalities, all dressed in their Sunday best. Some overcome with joy had tears streaming down their face as they recited the oath in front of the judge precising over the ceremony and their loved ones. But on that morning, what really hit us in "the feels" was a mural on our way to 26 Federal Plaza.
Tribeca, NYC 2016 | Photo by Katherine Gomez

As we walked to the building, we encountered, on the corner of Franklin Street and Church Street, a 90-foot installation of a group of kids who looked like they were from a different era. The piece was so impressive, it stopped us dead in our tracks. Luckily, we had some time on our hands before the ceremony started. We sat on the stoop of a restaurant right in front and started researching about the piece. 

The piece turned out to be part of the Unframed: Ellis Island series installation by the French artist JR. The piece depicts the faces of children who arrived at Ellis Island in 1909 after escaping warfare, poverty, and hunger. Those faces staring back at us were no different than us. Their stories over a century ago are no different than the stories we have to tell today; stories of struggle, risk, discrimination, poverty and hard work.

For us, sitting there on that particular day was symbolic. We felt these immigrant children were passing the torch onto us, that now we had achieved the American Dream and were part of the narrative. We somehow had a double obligation; first, to uphold the values and sovereignty of our new nation and homeland, and second, to stand up for those who are currently here pursuing the American Dream and those who have yet to step foot on our shores.

Man can not live on art alone. I am just as passionate about the topic of immigration as I am about street art. Stay tuned as I will be putting together an essay on immigration that I hope you will consider.     

Monday, July 18, 2016

Andres Taborda AKA Caput Cauda Draconis

I am super excited to have met, through a mutual acquaintance, a very talented street artist by the name of Andres Taborda aka Caput Cauda Draconis. He is a Colombian born street artist raised in Queens, NY. He is currently working on a custom handmade laser assisted jewelry line for his own brand Spectradimension. Below is a clip of a promotional video for the launch of his Etsy shop, which features some of the pieces from his collection. 

But before there was jewelry, there were spray cans, concrete walls and some good old vandal nights. 

KG: How did you become interested in street art? And how did you make the jump from admirer to actual producer of street art/graffiti 

AGT: I made the jump the moment we first drove through the streets of Queens the day I got to this country, back in 1992. I was drawn in by all the graffiti and writing on rooftops, mailboxes, light poles, and any other object that made part of that environment. It was a colorful chaos of urban decay and human expression in complete clash. I knew immediately that I was going to be part of that. So, by my first day of school I was already thinking of how I was going to learn and submerge myself in graffiti. 

KG: Have you ever painted vandal?

AGT: Yeah, vandal all the way, not to take away from street art but the rush that comes from bombing or tagging was put in me at a very young age, so it was a rush to go out there late at night and climb rooftops and fences, break into private property or hitting up the subway tunnels, vans, box trucks. You name it, if it was outside we were tagging it. Times have changed and now it's more widely accepted even, I guess this generation grew up with it so now we embrace it. 

KG: How do you describe your style?

AGT: Style... I think it comes from influences of all kinds: cities, objects, artists. Over the years I have managed to be influenced by the places I've lived and the culture that surrounds me. My work has chunks and bits of experiences and trials and errors. I am Influenced by colors and flow. I am also obsessed with surrealism, so I kind of merge some of these feelings and visions to paint.

KG: Where are you focusing your energy today?

AGT: That's the beauty of being an artist, you are always evolving and exploring new things. My biggest passion is taking a white wall (or any lame color) and give it life, a new life. A place where someone might stop and take a picture or just to make your city beautiful and pleasant. So, in that quest, I am expanding my horizons and having fun with installations, because what was a simple wall can become an interactive piece of art. Now you can engage people in a way in which they take part in the piece, so using all your spaces and creating space where there is none and exploring new ideas of interaction is where I want to continue to focus.

KG: Does your work have a message or a meaning? 

AGT: No, my work does not have any deep meanings or offer any transcending value to your life.The message is simple: derp. My art is based of silly characters and moments, where they find themselves in funny situations and just making it fun and exaggerated. I don't expect people to walk away having an opinion about my art or the content of it, but more like an experience because there is so much to look at in my artwork that I don't want your brain to interrupt your eyes.

Thanks to Andres for sharing his work and taking the time to share his experiences. Best of luck on all future endeavors and keep creating beautiful things. 

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Dump Trump

Chinatown, NYC 2016 || Photo by Katherine Gomez
I will try to keep my loath, hate and contempt for Mr. Donald Dump, I mean Mr. Donald Trump, to myself. But really, don't you think Hanksy captured his essence well? 

Hanksy is an annonymous satirical artist who has managed to combine in his pieces the work of British street artist, Banksy, with the face of famous American actor Tom Hanks. However, for this mural, Hanksy has taken on "The Donald," and it is much more than just paint on the wall. 

Hanksy painted this mural after Trump announced his decision to run for President. The thought of a Trump Presidency scared Hanksy enough to turn his street art mural into activism. Hanksy launched, as he calls it, a "grassroots (bowel) movement" to boycott the now Republican party nominee from becoming the next POTUS. 

The Dump Across America movement showed up with the DOODOOBOYS, as the small army is called, carrying the dump-trump illustration along with the #dumptrump posters in New Hampshire and North Carolina during the primaries, but unfortunately, he won both primaries and here we are today. Most recently, the Dump Across America army has protested outside many of the Trump properties here in NYC, including one of the Trump properties where Donald Trump lives. 

I started wondering, more like wishing, will the DOODOOBOYS and the Dump Across America movement make an appearance at The National Republican Convention this week? So, I took to my favorite blog, Instagrafite to ask the question. Haven't heard back from them, but will update once I do. 

If you need your Dump Across America poster, lawn signs, buttons and such be sure to visit the Dump Across America site.

Typography: A How-To

They say that those who can not do, teach. Well, in my case, I blog
Original Art work by CSG
since I am not an artist. I am merely a lover of all things related to art. I decided to showcase the art of a talented young lady, my daughter. She is currently working on learning typography, which is closely related to the various fonts used in street art. 


Today she will be showing us how to do a simple typography lettering project. Below is a time-lapse video of the finished project and the step by step process.

Note: You can use any wide tip marker. Crayola classic markers are preferred. 


 



Step 1 : A thick up-stroke starting from the bottom of the left leg of the letter H. The thick line can be made using the flat sides of the marker. This transitions into a thinner down-stroke curve. The thin line can be made using the tip of the marker.


Step 2 : Going from a little below the loop of the left leg, a thin up-stroke then a thicker down-stroke. Now you have your first letter!


Step 3 : Next is the letter E. To start, make a thin up stroke. This will connect your H to your E.


Step 4 : Make a thick loop from the end of your first line. It is okay if the two are disconnected, the thick down-stroke later will fix this. 


Step 5 : Continue the thick down-stroke from the loop you just made. As you finish off the loop, apply less pressure to the marker to get a thinner line. Now you have your letter E.


Step 6: Similar to the letter E, create a thin up-stroke line first to connect letters. 


Step 7 : The letter L is really similar to the letter E in the way it loops. The only difference is the the loop for the L is longer. Since this is the case, you can repeat steps 3 and 4 but with a longer loop. 


 Step 8 : Repeat this a second time for your second L in Hello. 


 Step 9 : The final letter, letter O. Start with a thick down-stroke, applying less pressure as you get to the right side. 


Step 10 : Keep the thin line going until you reach the loop at the top. From the top of the loop, make a thick down stroke and finish off the letter. 


Step 11 : Add details as you'd like. Add a thick line at the bottom as a simple detail too if you'd like. This is the finished piece.


Thanks to my very special guest for doing this awesome how-to project.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

The L.I.S.A Project

Little Italy, NYC 2013 || Photo by Katherine Gome
Temper Tot by Ron English can be seen at 114 Mulbery Street, NYC
In the neighborhood known as "Little Italy" of the Lower East Side, there is a non-profit organization whose aim is to create the first and only mural district in Manhattan. The L.I.S.A Project brings artists of different backgrounds to display their art on the walls on or near Mulberry Street. 

The idea behind this project was to reinvigorate "Little Italy" by bringing tourists and locals alike to patronize the many restaurants in the area, while the L.I.S.A Project took care of providing some great street art. For about five years, they have been using a vacant lot on Mulberry Street that has been affectionately named the "Temper Tot Lot," as there is a large mural of a muscular baby created by Ron English

In the Temper Tot Lot, they have been hosting summer parties that bring together street art crews from around the city to create work
Little Italy, NYC 2013 || Photo by Katherine Gomez
2nd place winners of the 2013 L.I.S.A. Project mural battle

that meets various criteria and to "battle" out for the bragging rights of being the event winner. The event is a combination of live DJs, food, and very talented artists, which makes for a very fun time. But like all good things, they must come to an end. The Temper Tot lot is being developed and the L.I.S.A. Project is losing their space. Actually, just today I found out why they are losing the lot, but I'm not sure if they have secured another location or if their project will continue. I sent them an email on their site but have not received a response, so I decided to send them a post on their Facebook page. I will update as I get more information


It's important to note that this area has been rapidly gentrified since the mid 2000's. This caused the National Trust for Historic Preservation to add this area on the list of America's Most Endangered Places. I'm sure we will see another Starbucks, Duane Reade or another big box store in this lot.  

Saturday, July 9, 2016

5 Pointz According to Wikipedia

Today I remembered that I am a Wiki contributor. Woohoo! A few weeks ago, I took it upon myself to make an entry into Wikipedia regarding 5 Pointz, and so, today, I went back to check if my small contribution on the 5 Pointz Wiki was still there, or if it had been removed or modified in any way. 
 As the new curator for the Phun Factory, DiLillo was adamant to not use the word “graffiti” to refer to the work displayed at the Phun Factory, as “graffiti” had long been associated with crime and gang activity. In an effort to legitimize the art movement and set a distance from the negative connotation, he imposed strict rules for future projects. His rules included that none of the artwork submitted or showcased, would depict gang related symbols. Additionally, if any of the artists' tags were found in the neighborhood or neighboring communities, their work would be immediately removed. DiLillo was also credited by some young artists as the motivation for getting their GEDs and discouraging them from breaking the law.[12][13]
To my surprise, it was not removed or changed! I'm glad to see that the entry hasn't been removed or altered, as Mr. DiLillo was an integral part of this now defunct mecca of street art. His involvement with the youth of the LIC and Ridgewood neighborhoods was particularly important for the surrounding communities to embrace the work he was doing. 

Wark Rocinha

Feeling pretty down today with all the crappy news and the violence that we are unleashing on one another, so I'm trying to stay away from any news outlets and thinking happy thoughts today. Those thoughts usually include thinking about places I have traveled to and the really awesome people I have met along the way, which got me thinking about Wark.

Remember a few weeks ago I posted about 5 Brazilian artists whose names you should know? Well, one of those artists is Marcos Rodrigo aka Wark. He is the founder of Instituto Wark, a school for children in the favela of Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro. At Instituto Wark, they learn and practice art making. Wark and his students create public murals depicting the achievements of the residents of one of the most impoverished communities of Rio de Janeiro. 

Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro
Photo by Katherine Gomez
I had the pleasure of meeting Wark, his wife, and adorable daughter in their very humble studio/home in the Rocinha Favela. His signature characters are depicted as angels. They are usually families with halos. Wark depicts these scenes primarily in his own impoverished and crime ridden community as a contradiction to what the rest of Rio believes and publicizes  about the residents of Rocinha. He wants the children of Rocinha to grow up to see themselves as those"angels" rather than as thugs. In the favela of Rocinha, there are enough bad role models for children, but wark is trying to change that. He wants to give them an opportunity for a better life by sharing his love of street art with them. Some of his students have gone on to be prominent street artists and teach classes to other students. 

One of the most striking things about Wark is that his work and talent is deserving of pursuing international fame, as other big names emerging from Brazil. Yet, he has no interest or desire in doing so. His fame and glory will come from saving as many kids from the grips of drugs, drug dealing, and crime through art as he can.

I shall concentrate on thinking about all the beautiful people who are committed to making the world a better place so my heart doesn't continue to ache. 

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Vhils - Carving Life from Cement

When we speak about the medium employed by street artists, we often think about spray cans as a means to bring a piece to life, but Vhils implements very different tools to bring his murals to life. Alexander Farto aka Vhils is a Lisbon born artist who uses chisels, drills, drill bits, and hammers to carve and chisel pieces out of walls to create the expressive and highly detailed faces in his murals.  

In the video below, Vhils talks about his early influence. He describes seeing murals depicting the propaganda of the left wing revolutionary movement in the 70's. Vhils also credits his father, who was a social activist, as influential in his work. The influence of his activist father is palpable in the pieces he creates, as he says:
The faces are big part of my work. They humanize the place. You put a face in a place, people can relate to it. Carving a wall, scratching a wall with the face of a person; it's kind of poetic in the sense that people carve their own cities, and cities are carved by the same people.
Vhils speaks about the evolution of his work, which started with graffiti at 13 years old. As his style evolved, he moved to stenciling, but then he thought, "Why should I be one more layer on top of all these layers?" This led him to his current style of carving the walls to produce his realistic portraits. 


Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2015 || Photo by Katherine Gomez
Vhills is without a doubt one of my favorite artists. I have been following his work for sometime now. I had the pleasure of seeing his beautiful work while on a street art tour in Rio de Janeiro. Interestingly enough, his art is so subtle that you can miss it amidst all the visually loud street art competing for your attention. It wasn't until Nina pointed out the beautiful portrait on the side of a modest apartment building near the metro station - Estação Siqueira Campos in Rio de Janeiro. At that moment, I was struck by the emotion on this face looking back at me. Then I stepped back to appreciate that every detail on this face is composed of a carving on the wall. You just can't help but appreciate the intensity of the labor. The piece is unassuming, yet its features are gentle and its detailing powerful.

Hope you enjoy the video and the work of Vhils!



Monday, July 4, 2016

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Gantry State Park, NY 2015 || Photo by Katherine Gomez
In case you are home alone, for whatever reason on this 4th of July weekend, while all your friends and relatives are out basking in the sun or barbecuing, I have put together a list of links to keep you entertained. Perhaps your interest is peeked by a particular artist as some of the sites show work artists have done around the globe, so you can feel like you took a trip without leaving your couch. Hopefully these links will motivate you to get out in search of some undiscovered street art in your own hood.  

Global Street Art

As a follow up to my last post, I wanted to share a link from globalstreetart.com, which features an extensive gallery collection on the work of Fumeroism; it contains approximately 89 images of work he has done in different parts of the world. By clicking on each image, you will get information on the piece such as location and the date it was created. This site has broken down the navigation based on location, so you can see some of the work displayed in places such as London, Manila, Bordeux, Tel Aviv, among many others. Very cool site, it's like a vacation without leaving home. 

Streetsy

Streetsy.com allows amateur photographers or artists to upload pictures of street art they come across within their communities. When a picture is uploaded, it should contain the artist's name (if known), location, and why they think the piece is important. Artists can also promote their work on this site. This site allows us to travel to lesser known parts of the world where street art is being displayed, but probably would never get the exposure. It's thanks to sites like streetsy.com that we can enjoy these visual treats. 

Get started browsing these two links as they have ample content to explore. I will try to keep this list updated as I come across sites worth sharing.

 


The Grandpa by Fumero

How appropriate that on a 4th of July weekend when we celebrate our independence and the ideals we value as Americans, that I would stumble upon this piece by Fumero. "The Grandfather" is a tribute to the hardworking, patriotic veterans and first generation immigrants who from the beginning have made America great, time and time again.
 
New York City 2016 || Photo by Katherine Gomez
The Grandfather by NYC based artists Fumero.

When I spotted this piece, my eyes immediately traveled to the writing:
My Grandpa spoke French, Italian, Spanish and English with a perfect New York Accent.
If the meaning behind the message isn't clear, let me explain. Our iconic and often mocked New York accent isn't a specific or repeatable recipe, but rather a dash, a pinch, and a sprinkle of all the ethnicities and languages that are found in each of the boroughs of NYC. Hard working immigrant families in search for the elusive "American Dream" have contributed, depending on their language, to the infusion of the accent. So, whatever version of English you hear on a NYC street, THAT is what a real New York accent sounds like. 

The eyes undoubtedly travel to the center of the mural, where it is difficult to ignore the aspects of traditional art the piece displays. Techniques taken from traditional art forms, like realism and abstraction have been incorporated to produce the intricate details of "The Grandfather." After all, Fumero has successfully bridged his street art style with the fine arts.  The portrait of Fumero's grandfather is a beautiful composition of color and shapes that gives the face life-like expression. 

If you are out and about, I hope you will make it a point to see this piece for yourself. It's a museum experience (FOR FREE) right on the corner of 2nd Avenue and E. Houston Street, on the side of the Avalon Chemist building wall.

Happy 4th of July!