Friday ProFile: Abe Lincoln, Jr.

President Abraham Lincoln wasn’t known for being a party starter. J.T. Duryea wrote, “In temper he was Earnest, yet controlled, frank, yet sufficiently guarded, patient, yet energetic, forgiving, yet just to himself.” Slow to act, Lincoln took his time and refrained from bold, brash behavior. Abraham Lincoln, Jr., on the other hand, is quite the firecracker. Born and bred in pre-Silicon Valley territory, he currently lives and works in New York City. While he pays the bills as a web designer for an e-commerce company, his alter ego is anything but 9 to 5 mundane. From street art to hardcore bands, Abe gets wild after hours.

Inspired by 70s Marvel Comics and Scooby Doo, Abe started scribbling when he was three years old. “The first thing I ever drew was Scooby Doo,” he recalls. “I had a Scooby Doo coloring book with tracing paper and I traced Scoob dead near perfectly. I went from that to pooping birds in 30 short years!” As a teenager, he tagged the suburbs with his local skate team. On the punk scene, wheatpastes, stencils, and stickers became familiar ways of advertising a show or protesting political issues. Following his teen years came a period of indoor creative activity. “I quit doing street art for a long time and got into artist multiples and production art,” he says. “I love having stuff fabricated and looking really high end.”
It was during this period that Abe earned his trademark moniker. “Before I was doing fancy arts and crafts for international patrons, I knew all these old punk dudes from the Black Flag days who had gone soft,” he says. “They were all into being singer songwriters with deep thoughts and acoustic guitars. At one point, I said, ‘Fuck this, I’m going to have to remind them what good music is all about.’” With no musical training whatsoever, he founded Gettysburg Express. Decked out as the 16^th President of the United States, he’d sing hardcore songs about the Civil War from Abe’s point of view. After a chance encounter with an editor of Details, Abe got press for his cracked out concept band. “I was photographed wearing a fake beard and a convict’s jumpsuit with a big gun silk-screened on the back.” At the end of their set, guitarist John Wilkes Boothe shot old Abe in the and sang the encore, “I Killed Abe Lincoln.”
The band didn’t last, but Abe moved on and channeled his quirky creativity into street art. “As an artist I had basically quit for ten years,” he explains. “I didn’t really resonate with anything out there. Fancy art didn’t speak to me. Although I still read Juxtapose every month, I was not of the pop surrealist style of art, either. I discovered Wooster Collective in 2003 and immediately found a group of artists with whom I connected.”

Beginning as a sticker artist, Abe’s style eventually incorporated other mediums. His work made its way to India, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, and most of Western Europe. As a resident of NYC, he confesses that the Big Apple is still is favorite place to work. What’s the most unusual location where you can find his work? “I put a combo of stickers up in a phone booth in the foot hills of the Indian Himalayas,” he responds. “I actually drew Char, my pooping bird, on a 10 rupee note and used it somewhere in the hills. Years later, a friend of mine was in the area and he got it back as change for some shit he bought. That was surreal and very cool.” He loves Char dearly, but sometimes repeating a character makes it tricky to stay original. “It can be a struggle to come up with fresh stuff using the same figure. Doing one vector character over and over again over the years can get pretty dull.”

Abe is a natural born hustler who never stops working. Tonight, his Handcrafted Vectors show opens at Seattle’s Schmancy Toys. Next on the bill is Fugue State Records, a collection of fake 7”s. He’s also working tour tee shirts, flyers, and stickers to accompany the records. Fans can support the project through KickStarter. Later in August, you’ll find his work at DDR Projects and a new music venue in Brooklyn. By the time October rolls around, he’ll have another show at Brooklyn’s Last Exit Bar. After that, who knows what’s in store for 2010.

And what’s in store for street art? “The hater in me calls street art Viral Marketing 2.0,” he smirks, “but I’m glad there are a lot of artists working out in the streets who can prove me wrong.” In ten years, he suggests, the medium might be played out and attracting little attention. However, the die-hards will stick around. “No matter what,” he adds, “the guys who are doing it for real will still be out there.”

If you like Abe's stuff, hit 'em up style on Flickr or Facebook. Thanks, Abe! If you're in Seattle, be sure to check out his show tonight.

June 2009: Djentrification in Japan

When I think of the future, I think of Japan. With its warp-speed pace and space-age electronics, I feel like Japan is already light years ahead of the States. The whole country must be carrying paper-thin cell phones and personal teleportation devices by now. While technology may be hyperadvanced, its fledgling street art scene is still growing. As he traveled through Asia, contributor Djentrification made stops in Korea and Japan. Today, we'll see some of his Japanese photos and hear what's going on in the Far East.

“One of the writers in the Japan pics is ADEKS. I met him in Seattle in 1995. He was giving out paint pens like a little Robin Hood and bombed Seattle like crazy. It was nasty, raw, and everywhere.”
“Last time I heard about him, he’d fell off a freeway overpass while he was painting and was static for a while. It’s interesting to see that he’s up a bit in Japan and some other countries, too.”
“There’s a writer named Pilfer up everywhere in Tokyo. That cat’s crazy!”
“You know what’s weird? Japan’s stickers and tags build up on one box over a few years. No one’s going over each other, and in the end it looks sweet. There’s a bunch of different stuff side by side and it’s all layered up. Lovely!”
“Graffiti and its cousins are flourishing in Asia. Birth pangs of the new communications are moving things along nicely.”

Thanks, D! For more info, check up on Djentrification on MySpace.

Friday ProFiles: Jon Burgerman

Sticker fiends can tag some unexpected locations: in alleyways, on billboards, even airplanes.  English artist Jon Burgerman cites that last place as his most unusual bombing location. He recalls, “The sticker survived the flight but its legs were missing.” While he leaves the tagging to others these days, Burgerman credits his foray into stickers with jump-starting his career. “A lot of my early success came from my stickers which helped establish my work, leading to professional commissions and the opportunity to exhibit my art,” he says. 

Since his early sticker days, Burgerman has branched out to include a wide variety of mediums and products. While he still produces stickers, his repertoire also includes customized skateboards, designer toys like the Burgertown Heroes collection, and color-your-own wallpaper which was exhibited at Britain’s Hay Festival. Provide the medium and he will decorate it. Originally from the UK’s Midlands, he now lives and works in Nottingham. As a child, he remembers drawing with family as his first artistic exposure. He recalls, “I would draw with my mom in our spare room before my brother was born. I drew an orange tree with pastels on blue sugar paper.” After graduating from university with a degree in fine art, he built his career online by showcasing his work on the Internet. Since then, word of mouth and a strong fan based helped the commissions roll in. Citing a laundry list of influences, he draws inspiration everywhere, from Barry McGee and Phil Frost to Cy Twombly and Picasso. He also extracts ideas from his surroundings. He says, “I’m inspired by so many things: street art, stickers, dirt, tissues, art, graphics, design, and listening to lots of music.” Over the years, his style has morphed and changed because, he adds, “I want to improve and develop. Also, I get bored easily.” His daily routine consists of “Work, eat, and snooze,” he says, adding, “I don’t think you ever really ‘turn off’ as an artist.” Although he sometimes works alone, he collaborates with other members of his “crew,” art collective Black Convoy, on a regular basis. While the specifics of his career plans are hazy, Burgerman insists, “I just want to maintain a career and keep working. That's all I really want to do and it's the only thing I'm 100% certain of.” However, he does dream of an interesting collaboration someday. According to his website, Burgerman says, “I think I’d like to work with a baker and design a series of character cakes and buns. People could buy them, look at them, get bored of them and then eat them. No waste and full bellies before bedtime. It’d be perfect!” Confections are perhaps the one medium he’s not yet tried. Although the scene may change over time, he believes that street art will remain a constant presence in daily like. “Perhaps new technologies will be utilised by some artists,” he predicts, “but there will always be paint and stickers.” All images courtesy of Jon Burgerman. For more information, see his website or Flickr.

Thanks so much, Jon! I'll be over on your side of the pond in about a week now! If anyone wants a post of their own, now's the time to do it! E-mail me or hit me up on MySpace for the details. Also, I'm packing my suitcase full of stickers to pass around, so let me know if you want yours included in the stash. Have a delightful weekend and I'll see you all back here on Monday.

April 2009: Tijuana with Luchuk

I hope to do some traveling this summer and Mexico is near the top of my list. Guess I should get a book and work on my Spanish, ja? I'd love to see some of these stickers if I go. Luchuk, a street artist from Tijuana, Mexico, shares his thoughts and stories about his work today. He writes:

“My name is Eder ‘Luchuk’ C.L. and I am from Tijuana, Mexico. I’ve studied graphic design and drawing since I was small. I always knew I wanted to devote myself to art. I draw fan art, comics, and cartoons. I’ve been doing street art for about four or five years. It’s addictive!” “When I’m not painting on the streets, I personally love painting in my room because it has everything I like. My small studio space is where everything comes to life.”  “Fortunately, I have never been caught, jaja! Getting away with it creates the rush you feel when you’re painting or gluing things in the street.I think the street is a giant canvas. It is the best space where you can express yourself and show your stuff to hundreds of people. Obviously, I respect locations like homes or private places.” 

 “I feel that if my characters express something. They express my feelings or emotions when I am sad, frustrated, angry, or melancholy. However, I want people to view them the way they want to see, not the way that makes sense to me.”

“I feel that here in Tijuana there's not much support for street art. However, there is a lot of good talent. My goal for the future is to expand to other areas and to do collaborations with other artists.”

“Right now, I'm doing a lot of large stencils, new sticker designs, wheat pasting posters, artwork made by pasting cardboard, decorating beer and wine bottles, drawing portraits for friends.” 

All images courtesy of Luchuk. For more information, visit his MySpace or blog.

Luchuk, gracias por su contribución! Me encantó sus fotos y historias. I'm off to New York tonight to visit my ladies and my favorite Ghanian will actually be in attendance! However, I promise to have your Friday ProFile ready and raring to go. Well, perhaps a little later in the morning than usual. We'll see. Have a good one!

February 2009: Biafra Inc. in Wisconsin and Beyond

Today, I want to apologize. Yesterday, I left an entire word out of a post. While readers could decipher the meaning behind the sentence, I’m not okay with this. Lately, I’ve been an intern, a publicist, and an editor for this blog. I think I temporarily forgot what I’m really trying to do. In the midst of recruiting artists and responding to e-mails, I forgot how to write! So to all my readers out there expecting something better, I’m sorry. I appreciate the comments letting me know what’s up and what needs to improve. In the future, I’ll stay on top of my work as long as you keep reading and spreading the word. Deal? Okay then! Time for the post. Today’s words and images come from Biafra Inc. in Wisconsin’s 920. He writes: 

“My whole artistic goal is to get people involved and into it.  I primarily use stickers to accomplish this mission. They’re fast and easy and they allow people to interact with them.”   “I’ve been told I have a distinct style, but I’m not really sure what it would be. I do a lot of big stickers and I use a lot of colour, but I’m not entirely sure if you’d call that a style. My work is more spontaneous and on the spot than anything. I just do what I can with what I have at the moment.” “I love street art, because it’s free art for people. There’s no admission cost, there aren’t any lines, and it’s a little treat in a rather dull urban environment.  I also really like the community. Everyone’s pushing the envelope and coming up with new stuff so it’s really inspiring.” “I do street art, because I love it. It’s also become sort of an addiction which might be bad, but whatever. I just like the feeling of putting stuff up. It’s hard to explain, I guess.”

No need to explain, Biafra! I get it. Thanks so much for sending your stuff. If you're in WI or the greater Wisconsin area, be sure to search around for these stickers. To cap off Wednesday's post, check this out. New York graffiti artist Earsnot expounds on tags, politics, and bedwetting? Be prepared for a little graphic drug use, gratuitous nudity, and a whole lot of musing on getting up. (Thanks to my sister Victoria for sending this clip my way!)  

February 2009: Willimantic

Two weeks ago, I took advantage of my day off and went for a hunt in Willimantic, CT. Prior to my adventure, I’d only seen The Figurehead Experiment in real life (check out the Hebron post back in February). Fortunately, Main Street did not disappoint and I added three new artists to my collection. Readers, meet Noxin, Ektin, and another unidentified writer. 

First, there’s Figurehead. This guy’s face is everywhere: staring down from one-way signs, checking you out at the crosswalk, even driving the local bus. Spanning across Connecticut and around the globe, the experiment is spreading worldwide.  

Then we’ve got Noxin. Made of equal parts Nixon and shifty CEOs, Noxin’s character is open to modification. Explore his Myspace for photos and updates. I am loving Ektin right now. Maybe it’s because he sent me stickers and I got to hold these creepy critters in my hands. Whatever the reason, I was delighted to find his stickers peering out from behind traffic signs, lurking on drainpipes, and grinning mischievously on mailboxes. There’s so much personality packed into this USPS sticker!

Finally, who makes this robot? He’s keeping Ektin’s critters under control and making sure people recycle, but who created him? If you’re out there reading this, hit me up and let me know who you are!

Thanks to all these artists for spicing up Main Street. An unexpected snowstorm cut my trip short, but I hope to collect more shots soon.

Also, hit up Figurehead on Myspace to snag a button.

February 2009: Providence

This past weekend, I popped over to Providence, Rhode Island, for a slice of Antonio's and a good hunt. (Yes, I am an Antonio's girl, but someday I would like to try Nice Slice just for comparison). Although it's quite small, Providence is one of my favorite cities. The neighborhoods are fairly walkable, there's great food everywhere you turn, and it's got a quirky style all its own. My only gripe is that the bus system is a tad pokey (I'm not trying to drive in a city). Yet if Providence offered me a decent job, I would probably take it in a heartbeat. (No offense, New York, but your hiring freeze is killing me softly).

I worked in Providence two summers ago and will share those photos at a later date. What interested me this time was the overwhelming presence of USPS mailing tags. Like Royal Air Mail stickers, USPS stickers are perfect pocket canvases. They feature plenty of white space and are free at any post office nation-wide. Today's post showcases the USPS sticker and the myriad of artistic possibilities it contains.

This ant is posted up on a parking sign outside of the Wickenden Street Utrecht outlet. The utility box next to it is covered in Shepard Fairey and other stickers.

Although it's a bit beat up, I liked the detailed work on this sticker. I found her on the back of a stop sign across from Rainbow Bicycles on Brook Street.

Simple but elegant. I forget where this one was located. Unfortunately, the sun was going down so some of these are a bit blurry.

I love this guy's face. Whoever makes these posted a bunch of other stickers and I think the the characters are fabulous.

I think this one is my favorite. Such an elaborate stencil style on such a small sticker. I found this one a crosswalk light on Charlesfield Street. There's so much going on in Providence right now and it's definitely worth a look. Thanks to Adam for bringing an extra camera (damn you, batteries) and jumping on top of walls to get a shot. You're the best! I think I'm going on a hunt this afternoon in uncharted territory (for me, anyway). We'll see what I dig up!

October 2008: Boston

Normally, I rep New York like it's my job; my heart beats for The Big Apple. But this week, I feel like Boston deserves its due. Therefore, we're doing back to back Boston posts. It's like "Buy One, Get One Free" half-gallons of ice cream. Or finding a forgotten 20 in a coat pocket. Or the lineup for Coachella this year. (Okay, THAT was an exaggeration). Here are some leftovers from my hunt last fall.

This first shot just makes me laugh. I'd love to find the artist and shake his or her hand because that's fine use of a Sharpie.

The people on this poster are a riot. I've never seen someone cradle a bomb with such tenderness before. Ah, the Bush Administration: thanks for all the great material. I was surprised by the amount of wheatpaste in Cambridge. While there were some stencils and stickers, pasted pictures dominated the landscape. Any reason why?

What am a looking at? A soup can/paint container/twist-off water bottle combo? Why the bird? This is one moment when I wish street art came with small plaques like museums.

Um, I think the message here is pretty clear. If a large Death-like figure with a skeletal face told me to do something, I'd probably listen. 'nough said.

I think I like these pictures so much not because they're revolutionary but because I remember them in the context of a really good weekend. I found them when I went up for Halloween, so the weather was cool but comfortable. We spent the weekend dressed up as cartoon characters and Jane Fonda impersonators, ate at a delicious Lebanese restaurant, and walked until I couldn't feel my legs. It seems like a quiet weekend but it was just what I needed at the time. Now that I'm buried under feet of snow, I remember those days fondly and look forward to a time when I'll be able to hunt for street art without a ski suit. Tomorrow, we're going someplace warmer in our first Asian post ever!

P.S. Congrats to my friend Will who just got a job in New York!

August 2006-Auckland and Wellington

Due to the chaotic nature of my work week, I'm keeping today's post short. Who knew that working two jobs, trying to move, and running a blog could be so time-consuming? Anyway, tomorrow's post will be much meatier (or starchier, for all you veggies). Today's post takes us to to cities in one of my favorite countries: New Zealand. 

Until this fall, I hadn't lived in the same place for more than 6 months since 2002. College and work took me across the globe and to a variety of locations. New Zealand made a big impression on me. First off, the country's landscape is absolutely breathtaking. Mountains, plains, glaciers, and beaches are all packed into this tiny country. I got to hike, run, dive, swim, and row my way around and captured a million breathtaking views. Secondly, Kiwi culture takes good times to another level. Between the rugby matches, hangis (Maori barbeques), and general New Zealand hospitality, I was never at a loss for fun or friends. Finally, New Zealand was the first place where I started to really document street art during my travels. My trips to Auckland and Wellington sparked the impetus that led to my photo collection and, ultimately, to this blog.

The first photo was taken behind a contemporary art museum in Auckland. I found it unusual because while the artist used tiles, the image screamed street art. The old school graffiti style coupled with the rigid structure of the tiles created an interesting look. 

The second photo was taken in an alley in Wellington. Normally, I don't gravitate towards tags. The combination of the tree, the bright wall, and the tags created an interested contrast that appealed to me at the time. I'd love to go back to New Zealand and properly explore for more street art. With its growing hip hop scene, there is a large traditional graffiti scene. I'd like to see if other street artists can infiltrate that scene and put up work of their own. Now all I need is time off and some funds. Anybody want to cut me a check? Leave your name and e-mail in the comments if you'd like to be my patron. Cheers.

December 2008-Montréal

How Canadians can go outside now is absolutely beyond me. When Canadians from the west go to Montréal to get warm, you know it's a cold winter. Clearly, I'm not as tough as my burly brothers and sisters to the north. I drive to work wearing a powder blue snowsuit from the 1970s. Running to the mailbox counts as an outdoor adventure nowadays and requires the use of a ski mask and boots. As I doze off to sleep under five downy blankets, I count the days 'til spring instead of sheep. So Yasmine, I salute you for venturing outside long enough to snap some photos. Today's ice-encrusted post comes to us from Montréal.

"I'm trying to think up eloquent things to write about these pieces, but really I just went camera-phone crazy. And I love art?"

"The owl on top of the elephant is pretty bomb. They're just peering out over hipster central (Plateau/Mile-End) on a main street, and in front of some hair salon (risquée!). There is a huge chance they put the ElephantOwl there themselves.  I know for a fact that most of the people who live in that area go to art school, and are always looking for ways to bank some cred. True story! So those guys (ElephantOwl) are what I call 'a commercial product of some art school genius'. I'm surprised Montréal's art is coming back around from the standard art we used to find on the streets. Things have gotten so mundane here lately."

"The next one I found in an alley-way, Montréal's secret city inside the city. I quite enjoy the random and unexpected. I found this bebe not two days after the ElephantOwl. Surprising! The reason I really like this one though is because I'm taking a German class. To be honest, once I learned 'schwarz' means black, I saw the black muscle baby and instantly thought... 'Schwarzwnegger'...'Arnold'... 'Ha-ha-ha, really guys, I'm not racist.' Yes. Easily amused."

Perhaps someone should make the Governator aware of how his awkward Austrian surname appears to translate? That's going to be an uncomfortable conversation. Thanks, Yas!

April 2007-Dublin

Although the quality of the photo is not the best, I love the story behind this skeleton. I found him scrawled on an abandoned building in the Ballymun section of Dublin. What was I doing scrounging around condemned property? Well, to be fair, it was not yet condemned when I set foot in it. While working for an Irish music magazine (shout out to Hot Press and their amazing staff!), I wrote a piece on a hotel in the top floor of an old housing project. Below is an excerpt from my HP article:

"Until last March, the likelihood of a hotel opening its doors in Ballymun was about as likely as Ireland winning the Euro Cup. For years, the neighborhood's reputation for crime and drug problems preceded it, fostering a host of negative stereotypes. Built in the 1960s, the Ballymun flats housed low-income families, many of who were removed from inner city areas during a period of "urban slum clearances". 

However, the area around the flats was not equipped with the amenities to properly serve the community. While the government spoke of schools, shops, and play areas, action did not match the rhetoric. Lack of basic services combined with high unemployment created one of Ireland's worst ghettos.

With little government assistance, the citizens of Ballymun took matters into their own hands. Starting in 1997, the Ballymun Regeneration Initiative set out to revive the local economy, improve housing conditions, and develop more community facilities. Then, in 2002, the group launched Breaking Ground, an organization committed to local art programs.

In 2006, Breaking Ground enlisted the help of Kilkenny artist Seamus Nolan. Nolan decided to look at the flats from a different perspective...Over a 10-month period, Nolan and his partner, Lisa Marie, and a team of local artists, worked together to prepare the Clarke Tower. A group of designers scoured the flats in search of abandoned objects to transform into furniture. With the exception of the beds, nearly everything in the hotel belonged to former tenants. 

The result is truly remarkable. Each room is stripped down to the bare essentials: a bed, a chair, the occasional side table. Everything is renewed; old books are transformed into chair seats and an old VCR, fitted with legs and a top, is reincarnated as a table. In the garden room, sweet-smelling flowers are potted in old cupboards. Wall decoration is sparse save for the occasional painting found in the abandoned flats and patches of wallpaper still clinging to the old concrete." --Duffy, Meg. "How Suite It Is." Hot Press Magazine, 2 May 2oo7: 25.

The towers have since been imploded to make space for new construction, but I just loved this sketch. I think I like him because he embodied my feelings about the hotel at the time: artistic and beautiful but a little bit creepy. Artistic space and bright rooms above were in juxtaposition with the derelict flats below, giving the space an odd undertone. The crux of Nolan's project also represents why I love street art so much. By thinking of the space in a completely new way, he was able to attract a crowd who otherwise would never set foot in Ballymun. I'm glad I captured this sucker before he got away.