News

As Street Art Goes Commercial, A Resistance Raises a Real Stink

Posted on by Mike

As Street Art Goes Commercial, a Resistance Raises a Real Stink

                                                                           By Colin Moynihan

                                                                           June 28, 2007

The covert campaign targeting street art began about seven months ago, with blobs of paint that appeared overnight, obscuring murals and wheat-pasted art on walls in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. Arcane messages were pasted at the sites, but it was difficult to ask for an explanation. The author was never identified.  Then in November, during a panel discussion on women and graffiti that included a street artist called Swoon, a figure wearing a hooded sweatshirt flung a sheaf of fliers using similar language from a balcony overlooking an auditorium at the Brooklyn Museum. Swoon was among those whose work had previously been struck by paint, and some couldn’t help wondering whether the person who threw the fliers was also the Splasher, as the perpetrator of the paint attacks had come to be known.  (Read Full Article)

Someone To Splash Over Me? New Shepard Fairey Flicks

Posted on by Mike

Someone To Splash Over Me? New Shepard Fairey Flicks

                                June 26, 2007

                               By Camille Dodero

So much going on in the street game that we couldn’t stay on the bench anymore; had to come out of retirement like these other attention-mongering media manipulators. Got a lot to say about this whole thing, but let’s start with the good. Shepard Fairey’s been back in town for two mega-publicized shows, so he’s been running around and pasting up on New York’s outdoor walls. We all knew this was going to happen, especially when Fairey showed off a little fighting spirit when he was quoted in the big ol’ NYMag Splasher piece (thanks for the unidentified quote!) about coming back to town and getting up: (Read full article)

The Baird Jones Review – Shepard Fairey Speaks About Arson Charges

Posted on by Mike

 Coagula Art Journal

June 26, 2007

by Baird Jones

At the Jonathan Levine Gallery on West 20th St. at his solo show graffiti artist Shepard Fairey said, “When I confronted James Cooper I said, ‘I don’t know you, you don’t know me. I have put together a very time-consuming art show that required an incredible amount of energy and money to produce. I provided free alcohol, free entertainment, it is a free event. Great deejays, you are here to sabotage it. All I can say is that with my street art I know what the consequences are if I get caught and I hope you knew what the consequences might be if you got caught. If the book get thrown at you, I feel a little bad, but not that bad.”

(Read Full Article)

This gag sure stinks: Artist turns up nose as bomb ploy flops

Posted on by Mike

This gag sure stinks: Artist turns up nose as bomb ploy flops

June 23, 2007

BY PETER KADUSHIN, VERONIKA BELENKAYA and ROBERT F. MOORE
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

A young man and his pal tried to light a stink bomb at a crowded Brooklyn art show, prompting the evacuation of more than 600 people, authorities said yesterday.

After the fuse was ignited, one suspect, Alan Cooper, 24, cowered in a corner at the Front St. warehouse in DUMBO just after 11p.m. Thursday before security staff pounced on him and a deejay stamped out the flame, witnesses said.

(Read Full Article)

Good Shepard

Posted on by Mike

Good Shepard

 June 23, 2007

 by Juliana Bunim

Everyone knows to “Obey the Giant.” The stickers, t-shirts and posters baring this slogan are plastered all around the world, and feature a black-and-white illustration of Andre the Giant, the late 500-pound professional wrest­ler. They’re easy to identify, but their creator, graffiti artist Shepard Fairey, isn’t quite as simple to spot.

Fairey, 37, started out painting on the sides of buildings and on bridges, but has since added galleries to his hit list and has seen his career skyrocket. These days, his propaganda-themed multi-media illustrations have garnered not only a major following, but also $40,000 price tags.

Beginning June 22, Fairey brings his work to DUMBO — and this time it’s going on the inside of the buildings. His show, titled “E Pluribus Venom” (meaning, “Out of many, poison”) is part of a dual exhibition running at 81 Front St. and at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery in Chelsea.

(Read Full Article)

Bags To Be Checked at Tonight at Opening!!!!

Posted on by Mike

Hello Everyone,

Due to the incident that happened on Thursday night at the opening reception in DUMBO, Brooklyn, the NYPD is asking that we implement a few changes for tonight’s opening.

Bags and backpacks will be searched by security before entering the building. Please don’t bring any spray paint, markers, or anything that could be flammable.

Security will be letting people in a few at a time to avoid
over-crowding in the gallery and elevators.

Because of these changes we anticipate that there will be a line outside of the building to get in. We encourage you to arrive as close to the 5pm starting time as possible to avoid a long wait. We have increased the opening hours to try to accomodate everyone.

Please be patient with our staff and security tonight. We are working very hard to create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.

E Pluribus Venom new works by Shepard Fairey and Space Cadets new works by Souther Salazar will be on view until July 21st.

Shepard Fairey’s exhibition in DUMBO, Brooklyn will be on view until July 7th.

Please visit our website for more information.

Cheers,

Jonathan LeVine

DJ scratches ‘bomber’: Keen-eyed spinner may have caught ‘Splasher’

Posted on by Mike

DJ scratches ‘bomber’: Keen-eyed spinner may have caught ‘Splasher’

June 22nd, 2007
by Juliana Bunim
for The Brooklyn Paper
 

A quick-acting disc jockey saved the day — and quite possibly helped catch the art world’s elusive Splasher — at Thursday night’s glitzy opening to graffiti legend Shepard Fairey’s DUMBO installation after one of the guests attempted to light a flammable device amidst a crowd of 500 street-art lovers.

DJ 10 Fingers first spotted the would-be “art critic” as he prepared to ignite what cops called a “flammable device” towards the end of the opening of Fairey’s “E Pluribus Venom” show at 81 Front St. at around 11 pm. A witness said the quick-acting disc jockey subdued the man just in time.

A half-hour later, the bomb squad rushed to the scene to “investigate some sort of flammable device,” and arrested the alleged would-be bomber, said an NYPD spokesperson.

The suspect, whom police said was from Bushwick, was charged with reckless endangerment and attempted arson, which carries a maximum of 15 years in jail.

(Read Full Article)

‘Giant’ guerrilla artist busts out with ‘E Pluribus Venom’

Posted on by Mike

‘Giant’ guerrilla artist busts out with ‘E Pluribus Venom’

 June 21, 2007

By Megan McGinley

Once recognized solely for his ubiquitous guerrilla street art, featuring the face of Andre the Giant in his “The Medium is the Message” and “Obey Giant” campaigns, artist Shepard Fairey is now preparing to exhibit what he has dubbed his landmark show.

The show, “E Pluribus Venom,” features over 100 pieces in two galleries — one in Chelsea and the other at the DUMBO Installation Space, 81 Front St.

The Brooklyn show runs June 21 to July 6 and features five large murals and roughly 32 framed works. You can also witness the artist as DJ at an open reception on June 21 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., along with DJs Cosmo Baker and 10 Fingers.

(Read Full Article)

 

E Pluribus Venom: New Works by Shepard Fairey

Posted on by Mike

E Pluribus Venom: New Works by Shepard Fairey

                                                                                      June 20, 2007

The title E Pluribus Venom which translates Out of many, poison is derived from ‘E Pluribus Unum’ (out of many, one) an early motto adopted by the U.S. Government which appears on U.S. coins and dollar bills. In the opinion of artist Shepard Fairey, many becoming one, or a loss of power and influence of the individual in favour of homogeny is a symptom of a society in decline. ‘E Pluribus Venom’ could be interpreted as saying both that there is poison in the American system and that many individuals are motivated by venom and anger toward this system. (Read full article)

New Mark Ryden and Camille Rose Garcia Books at the Gallery Store!

Posted on by Mike

Mark Ryden Fushigi Circus – $35.00

A red clothbound collection of the works of Mark Ryden.  This is the second printing with only 15,000 copies in the US!  Click here to purchase.

Tragic Kingdom: The Magical Art of Camille Rose Garcia – $39.95

This large, lavishly produced hardcover serves as the catalog for Camille Rose Garcia’s first solo museum show outside of Los Angeles. Tragic Kingdom surveys her work with an emphasis on her most recent creations, showcasing paintings, drawings, sketchbooks, prints, and more.   This catalog is co-publiished with the San Jose Museum of Art.  The exhibition runs from Sunday, May 13, 2007 through Sunday, September 23, 2007.  Click here to purchase.

 

Shepard Fairey and Souther Salazar at Jonathan LeVine

Posted on by Mike

Shepard Fairey, Souther Salazar at Jonathan LeVine

                                                          May 29, 2007

Running from June 23 to July 21, 2007, New York’s Jonathan LeVine Gallery will host an exhibit of Shepard Fairey’s artwork titled E Pluribus Venom. Fairey, best known for his "propaganda engineering" and stencil-esque renditions of Andre the Giant for his Obey Giant campaign, will show pieces that include paintings, mixed media, screen prints, album covers, and more. (Read full article)