ART CRIMES!

James Top will debut his first solo exhibit, Afrology on Friday, February 22nd, 2008, 6pm-Midnight. The exhibit consists of seventeen variations of the 1970’s hairstyle, the “Afro”, filled with humorous and serious messages about being an African American man through the eyes of James Top.

James Top is a fantastic New York City train muralist who has converted his massive art pieces onto canvas for prestigious exhibits all over the world. Today, he is teaching a very controversial graffiti class at Hostos College in the Bronx. Although James is currently the subject of a county-wide debate on teaching “illegal” art, he is successfully pushing forward on executing his first solo exhibit in New York City.

Afrology will also serve as an example to young aspiring artists, proving that graffiti art can be legal, well-received and above all, respected.

On Friday, February 22, 2008 please come by the Essex Street Gallery, located on 27 1/2 Essex Street, to view Afrology from 6pm to Midnight.

January 31, 2008 — February 23, 2008
76 Grand Street, New York

Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far, an interactive exhibition by Stefan Sagmeister, opens at Deitch Projects on January 31, 2008. The exhibition will include works that have a life of their own, transforming throughout the exhibition as viewers engage with them. Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far is timed to coincide with the release of a new book of the same title, which surveys Sagmeister’s illustrious career.

Stefan Sagmeister is one of today’s most innovative and influential graphic designers. His conception and application of graphic design goes above and beyond traditional notions of the practice, taking it to the realm of performative and conceptual art, painting and sculpture. Sagmeister is most widely known for his album cover artwork for bands like The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads and Lou Reed, and for books, like Mariko Mori’s Wave UFO for the Kunsthaus Bregenz, which function as sculptural objects.

You would be right to call Michael Alan a prolific artist. He’s working hard to make his mark and when he’s not busy in his studio, he’s leading Draw-a-thon, a weekly figure drawing session. Unlike the staid model sessions of art schools everywhere, Michael and his crew of models, actors and musicians don’t just sit their like pieces of meat. They interact and perform for your drawing pleasure. For nine hours. This work ethic is a holdover from the days and long nights he painted New York City as the graffiti artist FADE. Though his studio art shares little style with his graffiti, it continues to challenge New Yorkers to escape the ordinary. Recently Michael took a minute to tell us about “Draw-a-thing,” his solo show opening tomorrow at McCaig & Welles Gallery in Williamsburg.

Continue reading: Michael Alan: Draw-a-thing

Beyond the bland commercial graffiti covering Arizona’s All City NRG drink, there was something bothering us with the logo, namely that it appears to read ‘Alt City’. The lowercase ‘L’ has an unnecessary loop on top that doesn’t look right and we aren’t just seeing things. You Thought We Wouldn’t Notice, the website that exposes companies who rip off artists, points out that someone did a hasty job ripping off being inspired by the ‘Dutch Masters’ logo (an Amsterdam hip hop group from the mid nineties, not the blunt wraps). The logo was published in a 2002 collection of contemporary logo designs called Los Logos, that you too can pilfer for designs to sell to beverage companies.

Also, here is further evidence that graffiti and energy drinks don’t mix well at all. Remember kids, do your fill-in before your final outline.

Bryan went to a wrestling match in Brooklyn and took some beautiful photos of Lucifer Darkside, The Southener (who wore a noose around his neck), Lucious Lance, Mad Dog and Tiberious beating the snot out of each other.

Photo by Love Bryan

McCaig & Welles Gallery presents

Michael Alan
Draw-A-THING

50 small works, 15 mixed media on wood, small sculptures, 40 framed and unframed drawings, canvas and music

Live performance by Michael Alan and Asereht at 8pm. Open to the public to draw.

Opening is 7-10pm Friday February 1st
129 roebling, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L train to Bedford 3 blocks over
Show will be up February 1 through 12, 2008.