November 2009: Martin Sobey in NYC

When you think of street art, what comes to mind: spray paint? Wheatpaste? Stickers? What about origami? NoHo-based artist Martin Sobey expands the definition of street art with his awe-inspiring collages. Whether he's covering a wall, a pole, or the side of a bridge, his intricate collages capture the eye and the imagination. He writes:

"I started doing street art about 2 1/2 years ago, but I've been interested in graffiti and public art for years. I work by myself- it just happens that way because of the nature of my stuff- but I have no problems working with friends and assistants on large scale projects. I'm also open to collaborations and I love interactive stuff."
"My style developed, like most people's, over time. Before I started making the art I'm doing now, I was on a path towards commercial photography. As that career path started to feel insurmountable (considering the film to digital change-over that most photographers have gone through), I started making abstract photographs with my first point-and-shoot 5.3 MP digital camera, a gift. I really clung to the notion that I could make this non-objective art for free- no film or processing fees, etc. As my aesthetic grew stronger, so did my ideas about art and photography. Eventually I started working using multiple photographs and then to the outdoors. I also take the works down after they have deteriorated for a while. Photographing the works is just another aspect of the art."
"I make everything in my studio in NoHo, in Manhattan, NY - which is like my second home. From there it goes into the public realm, usually in my neighborhood. I like to be present in the area- an actual artist who is not necessarily anonymous. I enjoy the dialogue with strangers that starts when I'm installing or photographing the art. The kind of work I do can be done anywhere, though. I love working in nature too and I've done a few installations in Northern California, Connecticut and Utah."
"I recently took part in an event called 'Public Ad Campaign' in New York- an illegal takeover of more than 100 street level billboards by over 100 artists, that are currently being used for advertising posters, but also illegally- supposedly- because the owners haven't got the permits from the city. Anyway, when all was said and done, I got busted by 2 cop cars 6 blocks away from the site! Hell yes, it was worth it!"
"I've always got something cooking, but my direction is more towards larger scale works, and implementing more of the ideas I haven't had a chance to get to yet!"

Thanks, Martin! If you've got any Connecticut installations planned, let a sister know! For more information, visit his blog.

Happy Birthday, Illicit!

One year ago today, I decided to start this blog. To be honest, I wasn't in a good place at the time. I needed to channel my frustration into something positive. A year later, I can't believe this project's momentum. We've got readers across the globe who check in daily for new photos and stories.

For today's post, I'm keeping the words to a minimum. I want to feature photos from my friend Ben. He exemplifies the reason I continue to blog: his excitement and enthusiasm about street art is infectious. He's always looking for new ways to tweak his style. To all those readers like Ben, thank you! To say thanks, here is a birthday gift for you: if you send me your address in an e-mail before midnight EST, I'll send you a surprise 'Thank You' gift. It may be small, but I completely appreciate your support! Now, on to the eye candy.

Thank you all for a wonderful year. If you have any suggestions for year two, leave me a note in the comments!

In The Headlines

After a ridiculous week, I needed a weekend filled with sleep and little motion. Hopefully, I'm recharged enough to function on a human level. I am QUITE excited about tomorrow, though: the blog officially turns one year old. That's right, kids, 365 days ago tomorrow, I threw this jammy jam out there and hit the ground running. Check for a special post on Tuesday with some birthday goodies that you, too, can cash in on. In the meantime, here are the headlines.

I dig Goons's stop-motion animation in this Orbit clip.

In the midst of Art Basel's indoor activities, "Primary Flight" at the Wynwood Walls capture the best of the festival's street art.

In London, Mutate Britain's "One Foot in the Grove" exhibit runs through December 20.

CNN pays attention to urban knitters like Knitta.

Omino 71 interviewed Leg on his blog.

When this comes out, I MUST get a copy: British filmmakers created a documentary about Israeli artist Know Hope.

Belfast turns to stenciling to get the message out about responsible drinking. Will people listen?

On a slightly unrelated note, the folks at InSound will host a pop-up shop at 303 Grand St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from December 17-21. You can pick up all sorts of music related goodies and sheer audio awesomeness. Do it.

Friday ProFile: Filippo Minelli

Filippo Minelli is not a lemming. From a young age, his rebellious activities stood out in the crowd. “In preschool, I put a steak in a vegetarian’s coffee and milk,” he laughs. As he grew older he discovered graffiti and put that rebellious spunk to good use. “When I was 12, I had an art teacher who loved graffiti,” he recalls. “Then I started noticing some of them in my city, especially the political ones, and started painting around, too.” For the past 13 years, he’s covered the streets of Franciacorta, Italy, with his gigantic text.

Fortunately, Minelli’s never faced law enforcement issues while he’s out bombing. While he usually paints alone, he understands the appeal of having a crew for backup. “Crews are for people who are together and pushing each other to get up. It’s more about getting up friendship,” he says, “so it's ok if you try to get out of your social situation for a period of your life.”
In the past, Minelli’s taken some heat from older graff artists for his new-school style. However, he’s learned to brush it off. For him, it’s all about enjoyment. “Graffiti is rage and style together, a kind of a war,” he explains. “I think it's a strong social expression. I don't know exactly what street art is because there's a lot of confusion around it. I'm not that interested in ‘graphic-designers’ painting black-and-white characters with no sense for the fun of doing it.”
“I'm meeting a lot of people from all over the world and that's amazing,” he insists. “I’ve been in many places. Till now, Bamako is just the best: easy people, trees in the streets, lot of markets, cheap life, the river, some good clubs and restaurants. On the streets, there's not a lot of graffiti or street art, just posters with images of famous rappers downloaded from the ‘net.”
No matter where he is, Minelli loves telling viewers to wake up. “I’d like to tell people ‘Go fuck yourself and go get a job!’ I love being rude sometimes to get the viewer’s attention.” In the future, he wants to keep living the life. "I am so grateful to taste great food all over the world, to own a studio in the same area where friends produce some of the world's finest wine and to have the possibility of doing my things with less compromises than before," he confesses. With each massive piece, he tries to push the envelope a tad further, making the street art scene "a bit more interesting than before."
Grazie, Filippo! For more gigantic texts, check out his website. After work today, I'm going to sleep for what seems like the first time in a week. Goodnight and good weekend!

November 2009: Richt in Bristol

The weather's getting colder in this hemisphere, but fortunately Bristol-based artist Richt knows how to paint inside and out. If you flip through his Flickr, you'll see some amazing commissions in a variety of locations. (The holidays are coming, man, and I sure could use a mural in my place. Just sayin'.) However, he also likes to paint en plein air. He writes:

"If I paint in the street, I usually paint with 45rpm, who is also based in Bristol, and Sums. Both of them are in my crew called 'WHAT'. I think I started in 2001."
"Practice makes perfect: years of sketchbook development and a lot of time trying to perfect my lines helped me get better."
"I love painting anywhere where I get a lot of time and space to concentrate. I don't like painting in the same places all the time."
"One time, I painted in an abandoned building which had some people living in it. One had a metal bar and was really pissed off. They also had a designated room for shitting. Me and RPM were also once forced to put up the names of a guy's mates who were in prison. We threw their names up on the wall; that was fun."

"I am going to Amsterdam in December to paint a store inside and out. I also have an upcoming exhibition in Barcelona next year."

Thanks, Richt! Good luck with the trip and the show. For more updates, check his website or peep his Flickr.

November 2009: Seher One in Mexico City

I'm on a Mexico City kick this week. Today, Seher One checks in from El Abismo. Born and raised in Mexico, he's represented el Distrito Federal for the past eight years with his colorful street pieces. In between playing football and spending time with his daughter, he found a second to drop us a line. He writes:

”Seher is an ambiguous word. It is used mainly in the Middle East. In Arabia, it is a common name with a magic meaning, denoting a mystical act chained to the aura of people, like a halo around us.‘Seher’ is synonymous with ‘prophet’. When I began painting, I needed a new name, a name that identified me and just talked about my work. I started to find different words linked with ‘magic’ before I reached Seher. I’ve been Seher One for 8 years.”
"I try to put significant personal elements against a backdrop of my childhood. There are works in which the saturation of items is huge to the point that reading becomes slow and chaotic. It gives the viewer a moment to think about each of the elements and shapes. I have elements that are repeated throughout my work: a carton of milk, pumpkins, peyote, flowers, animals, skulls. Each has a specific meaning. The milk carton brings more memories of my brother who is a cornerstone in my work."
"When I was a child, it gave me great pleasure to draw; my favorite characters were imaginary. I really like fantasy stories and since I grew up walking the streets, I liked seeing the painted walls. When I went to high school, I met a couple of fellows who were devoted to graffiti and that completely woke me the encouragement to do things on the street. I started to create handmade stickers, posters and then came the mixed technique for murals. Most of my work is based on spontaneity. It is difficult to create and control the balance because there are colors that are fighting to be together and require organization. In some cases, when I create a preliminary sketch, it is only black and white. Color is added depending on my mood or on the message."
"In Mexico, the street art scene has great distribution and I think that it continues to grow. A few years ago, the streets had so many stickers or posters. Today, people who did not believe in the medium before enjoy it now. It is no longer just the traditional graffiti but a very interesting mix between art and design is reflected in the new generation. Still, there is much conflict in street art even if you do it legally. I do not find as much trouble spot. The biggest challenge is to leave a message or feeling good on the wall."
"I want to transmit a good mood through color. I want to reflect their lives or illustrate part of a small momentary fantasy world. Each item to see figuratively lift them to a small episode in their lives. II hope people will take the time to think and play with their perception of things and believe that everything is in sync: movement, time, and space."

Gracias, Seher! For more photos check his MySpace and subscribe to his blog for more updates.

November 2009: Dhear in Mexico City

When the weather gets chilly, I dream of warmer weather. Mexico City is pretty tempting because it's got everything I need: good food, toasty temperatures, and amazing street art. If I had the cash, I'd be there in a second. Dhear's photos make me want to book a flight immediately. Today, he checks in from the City of Palaces to share a bit about his work. He writes:

" I was a thirteen-year-old high school student when I started with graffiti. I would do graffiti every weekend. Then I became interested in painting, and so I started to apply these techniques to graffiti, and vice versa. I consider myself an autodidact."
"When I'm painting on streets I don't think I'm doing street art. My sources come from graffiti, so I paint graffiti. I usually paint by myself."
"It all starts in my head, then it goes to paper. Then it is a long, meticulous process with clay, light table, taking pictures, or working on hues with Photoshop; it is exhausting, but I'm always satisified with the results. If I'm not, I destroy it and start it again."
"Things can get crazy out in the street. When I was 13 years old, I was tagging a phone and some dude broke my nose and some teeth. When I was 19, I fell in a hole and fucked up my right arm. Then there are always problems with the police..."
"Nowadays I'm still painting on the streets, drawing, and doing some design work to earn my living. I'm working on a project of my own characters and letters for canvases and street. The name of the project is called 'Vakterya.'"

Gracias, Dhear! For more photos, visit his Flickr page.