Who would do such a thing? The mural of Ol’ Dirty Bastard in Bed Stuy recently got licked with a paint roller, covering Ol Dirty’s mug and probably rendering the welfare card completely invalid. It was just last summer that the mural was painted by Victor Goldfeld on Putnam and Franklin Avenues. So who done it?
This afternoon the 3rd annual Alleykitten race took place in Manhattan. It’s the last race of the year and meant to be extra welcoming to folks who have never raced, usually don’t race, or race and don’t place. As in past years, there was a good turnout and it was great seeing plenty of new and old faces. The race finished up at Continuum Cycles, then Lakeside Lounge for champagne prizes and sparkling cider for the 16 year old who kicked ass. Thanks to Dan C for keeping the race going this year.
Click here for more photos of the Alleykitten race.
More photos and recap:
Recap from Prolly
Photos from Team Six
In October, the American Apparel billboard on Allen and Houston Streets, then picturing an ass shot of a topless woman wearing AA leggings, was spray painted with the message “Gee, I wonder why women get raped.” The ad was soon replaced and nothing was heard of it until now, when someone claiming responsibility wrote Jezebel to say:
First off, i’m not a graf writer. Honestly, I was just reacting to the constantly degrading images of women that AA creates. That ad in particular - headless, bent over, composed so that the focus was irrefutable… I went home, grabbed some spraypaint, took the train back and waited until 4am to climb the scaffolding.
We admire the determination in going all the way home then coming back for some billboard modifications, but it’s nearly 2008, so better make it a resolution to be prepared and always keep spraypaint on hand.
Photograph by GammaBlog on Flickr
Today is also the last day to check out the paintings of Norbert Bisky at Leo Koenig Inc. (545 West 23rd Street).
“Previously known for his paintings depicting predominately blond-haired blue-eyed boys engaged in feats of endurance, athleticism and occasional debauchery, Bisky’s new works extends his vocabulary towards a new intensity. These paintings are both visually and thematically more aggressive. It is as if the violence and confrontation that was seething just beneath the surface in his previous series of works, has finally erupted, unfettered, onto the canvas.
His figures, in many cases are floating, falling, tumbling, without any gravitational axis. Untethered to the earth, they inhabit a landscape thoroughly in flux. The tumult surrounding the figures is punctuated by the cross pollination of cues from Christian ideology, art history, gay culture, pornography and apocalyptic visions. The feigned utopia and ideal previously referenced in his work has all but evaporated.”
Tomorrow is your last chance to see ‘The Streets of Europe’ in person at the Jonathan Levine Gallery (529 West 20th Street, 9E). The show features stencils, paintings, video installations, and sculptures from the street artists Blek le Rat, Blu, Bo130, D*Face, Microbo and Space Invader. While street art enthusiasts will feel familiar with some of the work, it’s definitely worth an up close look.
Check out more photos of the exhibit.
Carts of Brooklyn: IDIOTAROD NYC
Get Your team together now!
What you need for an idiotarod team:
5 idiots.
1 Shopping cart.
Fabulous Uniforms.
$25 team registration fee
Optional: Coach, support staff, manager, agent, publicist, mascot.
Encouraged: Diabolical sabotage strategy
Go to Carts of Brooklyn for registration and details.
Theme Magazine has a good interview with artist/designer Tobias Wong, by Rob Walker no less.
That question hits an important point in my work (and pet peeve), because many people are always interested in how I get work out there, financially. And it’s quite simple. If there’s something I really believe in, I just find a way to make it happen. No daily Starbucks (US$4) or cigs ($8) or dining out ($20), and before you know it you’ve got the money to do something.
It’s a total mistake to paint a mural for a mexican joint, even Chipotle, without including some taco and burrito characters. Everyone knows that.
