Martha Cooper redux #ArtInTheStreets

Martha Cooper (credit: Hypebeast)

For next week's "Art in the Streets" exhibition at MOCA Martha Cooper is reunited with her Subway Art cohort, Henry Chalfont (albeit in separate rooms.) Although, this museum show is a major achievement, what could be considered a more ambitious project involving her work is happening in 'midtown' LA.

"Martha Cooper: Remix" is a mixed media show of her photos and on display at Carmichael Gallery in Culver City. As the name suggests the show involves taking her classic and well-known images and having them remixed by artists whom she has photographed or worked with over the years. Think of a 'who's who' of east coast graffiti artists: Bio, Nicer and B-Gee (TATS Cru,) Blade, Cey, Claw, Crash, Daze, Dr. Revolt, Futura, Lady Pink, Mare 139, Quik, Sharp and T-Kid. They are joined by John Ahearn (Charlie's brother,) Aiko, Mark Bode, Victor Castillo, Jane Dickson, Shepard Fairey, Logan Hicks, The London Police, Barry McGee, Nazza Stencil, Neck Face, Nunca, José Parlá, Kenny Scharf, Swoon and more.

The outcome is surprising, exciting and has produced some captivating images...

(credits: Hypebeast)

Read a great article about Martha Cooper and the show written by New York's Miss Rosen published by La Lettre de la Photographie.

“Artists I have had relationships with over the years and I thought it would be fun to have them make their own art that was based on my photos. Over the years a lot of artists have asked for permission to use my photographs in some form or another. While some photographers might not like this, I always felt flattered. Over the years I have seen a lot of flyers that have used my pictures in various ways. It is heartwarming to see a new generation of people using my work to make art.” Martha Cooper interviewed in La Lettre de la Photographie

Graffiti legends hit the MTA....one more week

DirtyPilot.com is exhibiting its new graffiti show, "Map Quest", online until November 7th...You have one more week to check out artwork from REVOLT, T-KID, COPE2, EWOK 5MH, GHOST, CRIME79, CES ONE, PART ONE, KR. ONE, YES2.

Map Quest is the closest these old skool graffiti greats will get to hitting the MTA (aka New York City subway!) In this collective show each artist has used a NYC transit map as a canvas for his graffiti. Check out the pics above.

If you have a few hundred bucks you can get yourself a piece of subway graffiti history.

View larger map - Brooklyn graffiti walking tour

I remember the first time I went to New York in the late 80s and saw the Lee (Quinones) piece down in a parking lot by Lafayette Street. Then I discovered the Hall of Fame over in Queens. Now it seems that Williamsburg has won the hearts of artists looking for larger spaces and peace and quiet to do their thing.

The "Off Manhattan" blog has an amazing article that lovingly documents some emerging and established artists' work in the fair borough of Brooklyn. It even has a Google map feature which I love. Hope you do too!


View Larger Map

Off Manhattan says: "How to get there: Take the L train from Union Square to Lorimer St - Metropolitain Ave Station. Then proceed on foot at your discretion with the self-guided tour of the featured graffiti sites. Print out this article and the map below to help guide you to the locations. Please note that graffiti is usually not permanent, so we cannot guarantee that all our sites are still in tact. On the other hand, new art is constantly being created—let us know in the comments if you discover anything new in the area!"




Throw-ups and Pieces from old-skooler T.Kid, Ghost, Os Gemeos, Armer, Peek/Funk (Pink and Smith), Diva and Aero/Teo

Murals by Ewok, LA-based Obey, T.Kid and R.Robots

Stencils by my mate Nick Walker and C215

Poster-work Faile, Obey, Elbow Toe, Judith Supine and OHM

T-Kid rocks the spot

The graff and music store 33Third is a hotspot for writers in LA. In the past it's brought old skool legend Cope2 to town and this Memorial Weekend T-Kid flew in from New York.

For the occasion, I took my photo canvas of a 1982 T-Kid mural painted on a #1 train (Broadway & 7Av Local) to get signed. There were some dope canvases for sale which got me excited, but I left the markers and fat caps alone ;)

Graffiti Love The LA graff scene was in full effect this weekend: there were guys, girls, young and old. And, as as it's LA, well rep'd by Latinos. The love for the artform is clear and local artists like LA's Mear One take graffiti to another level where it's hard, even for graffiti haters, not to give him a nod of respect!



Is it a bird? Is it a plane? There were some interesting characters at the event too. The caped crusader told me he was a 'character'. That didn't really tell me anything :) but I knew he and his mate freestyled (see video). I also met Tracy Wares, one of the producers on a film called Bomb It. It's a global look at graffiti and was premiered at New York's Tribeca Film Festival this past spring.