WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (OF THE STREET)

As we know, Flavorwire comes up with some awesome things to share on their site, particularly when it comes to public art. Recently I stumbled across a post Flavorwire did about incredible street art projects . . . we'll call it sidewalks gone wild. The round up featured a number of amazing and inventive  interventions into common streets all over the world. Here are some of my favorites:



Hyper realistic street and illusionistic paintings . . . good for photo ops and freaking out your friends!




A trampoline sidewalk . . . not very practical but super fun!




Giant monopoly . . . living in NYC we already have Lexington, now bring on Reading Railroad!




A bouncy bridge across the Seine . . . just put away your keys before stepping on. :)





And last, but certainly not least, a sidewalk and staircase in the middle of a lake . . . beautiful and poetic no?

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS: NYC SPRING AND SUMMER 2014

Being an art nerd and proud resident of New York City, I love a good public art project that interacts with its urban surroundings. Luckily  there are many such works in New York to get excited about in the next few months—here are some of my favorites below.

Olaf Breuning, Clouds, for The Public Art Fund | Central Park South and 59th Street | March 4 - August 24 | The latest installment in the Central Park 'plaza', Clouds is 35' tall aluminum and wood sculpture is meant to resemble the childlike imagination and naiveté of school play backdrops.

Zilvinas Kempinas, Scarecrow, for Socrates Sculpture Park | Long Island City, Queens | May 11 - August 3 | This will be the largest installation in Socrates Sculpture Park history (250' long and 13' high) and Kempinas's first major outdoor work in the United States. Site-specific and made from stainless steel poles strung with mylar ribbon, it will respond to the expansive horizontality of the surrounding land while echoing the shimmering movement of the nearby East River.

Ed Ruscha, Honey I Twisted Through More Damn Traffic Today for High Line Art | Next to the High Line at West 22nd Street | May 2014 - May 2015 | Ed Ruscha is one of my favorite artists (and a major part of my dissertation) and this work, incredibly!, represents Ruscha's first public commission in New York! It's a perfect combination of the artist's interest in advertising sloganeering, cheeky humor, text as visual form, and the realities of modern, urban life. Plus, isn't it much more interesting to look at than another boring billboard?

Matt Felsen, Lost Landmarks, for Parsons Design + Technology Masters Program | West 42nd Street, Between 5th & 6th Avenues | May 10 only! | A very cool project by grad student Matt Felson, Lost Landmarks introduces modern technology into historic Tower Optical viewers to literally help you see into the past. Looking through the viewer lets you see iconic landmarks that are no longer there; previous landmarks featured for one day only have included the 9th Regiment Armory (April 26) and the old Grand Central terminals (May 3). Check out the view from West 42nd Street this Saturday, May 10 for the project's last installment. (More details @LostLandmarks on Twitter).

CDR Studio, Governor's Cup, for the Figment Arts Festival | Governor's Island* | June 7-8 (but maybe longer?) | Made from 30,000 recycled cups culled from venues all across New York, this crazy pavilion will house the very cool and interactive Figment Arts Festival this summer. The thousands of cups will be attached through thousands of zip ties (NYCers love using those for art!) to craft a wild serpentine pattern that will wrap around trees, move with the wind, and all around respond to the environment. (The concept reminds me a lot of the fabulous Tara Donovan's work; if it's half as good as her stuff, the piece should be incredible.)

Kara Walker, A Subtlety or The Marvelous Sugar Baby for Creative Time | Domino Sugar Factory, Williamsburg, Brooklyn | May 10 - July 6 | Probably one of the most anticipated art events of the summer, famed political artist Kara Walker is working with Creative Time to call forth the powerful (and exploitative) history of the workers at the old Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn. Details as to the actual physical nature of the installation have been kept hush hush, but knowing Walker's work it promises to be expansive, thought-provoking and visually arresting.

UPDATE: Creative Time just released a newsletter with this preview photo of the Walker work and a link to this recent New York Times review of the show by Blake Gopnik. The work looks to be a colossal 'negress' sphinx coated in sugar; incredible!

UPDATE x 2: Reading Gopnik's article called forth the underlying comments about blue collar labor and manufacturing history in the US; on that level, this work is remarkably similar to Ann Hamilton's incredible indigo blue installation for the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC in 1991, a touchstone for the first wave of American installation art.

*There will be a ton of new public art on Governor's Island this summer; read about some other projects here.

ANOTHER REASON TO SMILE ON FRIDAY

I recently come across a great website that focuses on inventive, inspirational and just darn cool street art (Cool street art?  Isn't that redundant?) called "The Wooster Collective".  Though this photo is not necessarily the "best" piece of street art featured on the site, it is pretty funny.  Maybe hardware stores should start printing some of those square plastic signs with this phrase on it?  

LITTLE PEOPLE: A TINY STREET ART PROJECT

     

I think street art is incredible.  Slinkachu's "Little People" series is the best example I have found (of late) that deftly highlights the best qualities of street art: the unexpected, the humorous, and the poignant.  This piece, called "Small Gods", shows two tiny figures (presumably an angel and a devil) arguing in front of a cathedral.  The photograph on the right illuminates the scale of the piece - so small and yet so devilishly (yes, I went there) clever.  Use the link above to follow Slinkachu's blog of his tiny people placements.  As seen in Dwell Magazine's March 2008 issue.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: ART INTERVENTION

For the next three weeks I am off on an adventure—the best adventure possible! I am getting hitched, an amazing event and process that has inspired my ongoing series of posts called The Wedding Files. While I am on my honeymoon I will be featuring some of my favorite posts from past years (including this street-side number from September 2010) to tide you over until I return. Hope you enjoy them!

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I have been bookmarking a lot of videos about super cool street art recently. Here are three of my favorites I thought I would share with you. Enjoy!

Some background on the project:

"In 2007, the New York City Transit Authority began installing LED signs on subway platforms that display estimated wait times for arriving trains. Unfortunately the information is little more than trivia: except for a few stations, it is only visible to travelers after they’ve paid their fare, so the data has little bearing on commuter decision-making.
Their primary effect, then, is to erode faith in the system, to create expectations that can’t always be met, to raise false hopes, and to erase the mystery and magic of the wondrous system that transports more than five million riders a day.
These LED signs also threaten historical social behaviors, rendering obsolete the time-honored New York tradition of leaning over the platform edge with the hope of glimpsing headlights from an approaching train.
The Spoiler Alert signs warn waiting riders of this potentially unwanted information – allowing them to avert their eyes so they may preserve their spirit of adventure – while still leaving visible the data for travelers who wish to ruin the surprise for themselves.

Learn more about Jason Eppink (a major player in my favorite group: Improv Everywhere) and his other projects here. Found via the awesome Subway Art Blog.

Some background on the project:

"This summer mural painter Matt W. Moore created a series of live painting performances on walls in MARSEILLE, LYON, and PARIS. Directors Le Groupuscule captured the evolution of each mural, gathering over 700,000 pictures, that were edited as a stop-motion animation to an unreleased track by Monsieur Monsieur to create this music video. This collaboration of 3 artistic disciplines to make walls dance is part of the global initiative : Let's Colour Project."

Learn more about the collaborating artists here (in French) or here. Found via Wooster Collective.

 

Some background on the project:

"Multipraktik is a multi-disciplinary platform motivated by the pursuit of new practices at the crossover between design, photography, video production, music, events and art. We operate as an evergrowing collective of designers, artists, musicians, producers and programers. We create teams based on projects and with each project we try to challenge conventional approaches. This project was organized cross-slovenian street TapeArt actions with different artists (in particular Fejzo & Luka Ursic) as part of the new campaign for Orto (Simobil)."

Get more information on Multipraktik and the artists here and here (website under construction). Found via Wooster Collective.

ART INTERVENTION

I have been bookmarking a lot of videos about super cool street art recently. Here are three of my favorites I thought I would share with you. Enjoy!

Some background on the project:

"In 2007, the New York City Transit Authority began installing LED signs on subway platforms that display estimated wait times for arriving trains. Unfortunately the information is little more than trivia: except for a few stations, it is only visible to travelers after they’ve paid their fare, so the data has little bearing on commuter decision-making.
Their primary effect, then, is to erode faith in the system, to create expectations that can’t always be met, to raise false hopes, and to erase the mystery and magic of the wondrous system that transports more than five million riders a day.
These LED signs also threaten historical social behaviors, rendering obsolete the time-honored New York tradition of leaning over the platform edge with the hope of glimpsing headlights from an approaching train.
The Spoiler Alert signs warn waiting riders of this potentially unwanted information – allowing them to avert their eyes so they may preserve their spirit of adventure – while still leaving visible the data for travelers who wish to ruin the surprise for themselves.

Learn more about Jason Eppink (a major player in my favorite group: Improv Everywhere) and his other projects here. Found via the awesome Subway Art Blog.

Some background on the project:

"This summer mural painter Matt W. Moore created a series of live painting performances on walls in MARSEILLE, LYON, and PARIS. Directors Le Groupuscule captured the evolution of each mural, gathering over 700,000 pictures, that were edited as a stop-motion animation to an unreleased track by Monsieur Monsieur to create this music video. This collaboration of 3 artistic disciplines to make walls dance is part of the global initiative : Let's Colour Project."

Learn more about the collaborating artists here (in French) or here. Found via Wooster Collective.

Some background on the project:

"Multipraktik is a multi-disciplinary platform motivated by the pursuit of new practices at the crossover between design, photography, video production, music, events and art. We operate as an evergrowing collective of designers, artists, musicians, producers and programers. We create teams based on projects and with each project we try to challenge conventional approaches. This project was organized cross-slovenian street TapeArt actions with different artists (in particular Fejzo & Luka Ursic) as part of the new campaign for Orto (Simobil)."

Get more information on Multipraktik and the artists here and here (website under construction). Found via Wooster Collective.

THE BEST

Amazing.  Not only is the stencil perfectly cut and perfectly placed, the photo aptly captures the wonder passersby feel when they are confronted with truly clever street art.  Work like this is like a little gift to anyone who comes across it.  Many people think of graffiti as the work of a moment.  I think this piece proves that great street art is carefully considered, created and composed.

Photo via Wooster Collective.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: THE BEST

For the next three weeks I am off on an adventure—the best adventure possible! I am getting hitched, an amazing event and process that has inspired my ongoing series of posts called The Wedding Files. While I am on my honeymoon I will be featuring some of my favorite posts from past years (including this one from way back in March 2008) to tide you over until I return. Hope you enjoy them!

Amazing.  Not only is the stencil perfectly cut and perfectly placed, the photo aptly captures the wonder passersby feel when they are confronted with truly clever street art.  Work like this is like a little gift to anyone who comes across it.  Many people think of graffiti as the work of a moment.  I think this piece proves that great street art is carefully considered, created and composed.

Photo via Wooster Collective.

HOORAY FOR A 20x200 GIVEAWAY!

If you are even an occasional reader of the obsessive imagist you know that I love 20x200. I mean love. I have bought a ton of their prints—for myself, for my family, for my friends. Not only are their prices amazing (depending on the size of the print prices range from $20-$2000), but the artists they feature are awesome A-listers. Check out my (numerous!) posts about 20x200 here.

So imagine my super giddy nerdy excitement when the lovely Danielle at 20x200 offered to do a giveaway with the o.i. to celebrate the start of Armory Week!* Sweet!

On offer for two lucky readers is a 20x200 Armory Week Survival Kit, which includes:

+ Altoids: Freshen up before saying 'hi' to your favorite artist or chatting up that cute gallery guy/girl.
+ Orabrush: Ditto—you can't make a first impression a second time.
+ illy issimo: Drink up and re-caffeinate on the fly.
+ Popchips: Eat up and refuel whilst gallery hopping.
+ West Elm tape measure & level: Measure up with pocket-size art hanging essentials.
+ West Elm discount card: Stock up from one of our fave frame sources.
+ BAMart Auction Invite: Culture up at one of our fave institutions.
+ Art Fag City + Hyperallergic Event Guides: Read up and be in the know on what's happening.
+ 20x200's Map of the 2011 New York Art Fairs (above): A work of art right in your bag!

This year's map is drawn by the inimitable Wendy MacNaughton.
+ 20x200 Magic Fortune Teller: Thrill your friends with amazing feats of art market prognostication!

+ A ticket to the Pulse Art Fair, where 20x200 is exhibiting this week!

So how do you get in on the action? By doing two simple steps:

1. Go to the 20x200 website and pick our your favorite piece or artist.

2. Come back here and leave a comment with your choice (please include your email so I can contact you if you win!). That's it!

Want to increase your chances? Become a follower of the o.i. on twitter (@katiejosephson) and you will be entered twice! Already a follower? Tweet (or retweet) about the giveaway and I will enter you twice too.

Two winners will be picked tomorrow (Friday, March 4) at 2pm here on the blog. Good luck!

In the meantime, go check out the 20x200 booth at the PULSE art fair!

PULSE NEW YORK
125 W 18th Street, New York, NY
Booth #b-4
Thursday, March 3: 1 p.m.–8 p.m.
Friday, March 4 + Saturday, March 5: noon–8 p.m.
Sunday, March 6: noon–5 p.m.

*Unfamiliar with Armory Week? It's an annual art world extravaganza where gallerists come from all over to show the latest and greatest from their favorite artists. The Armory Show—and many other wonderful shows that happen at the same time—pretty much takes over New York City during the first week of March. This year it runs from March 3-6.

Please note: winners in the NYC area will receive the full kit. Winners outside the metro area (or not visiting during Armory Week) will simply receive a 20x200 tote bag.

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP

I went with a friend this weekend to see this new documentary about street art: "Exit Through the Gift Shop". It was fabulous. Very funny. Very cool. And a real treat for art nerds like me who have been following some of these street artists for a long time. The film takes you behind the scenes with artists like Shepard Fairey, Space Invade, Swoon, and Banksy, showing you how they work and tag. Living in New York and being a graduate student, I am very wary about dropping $13-$16 to see a movie. This one, however, was well worth the expense.

The movie is still only playing in select cities; check out the release schedule and get more information here.

INSPIRATION IN THE CRACKS AND SCRATCHES: OAKOAK

You know I am a sucker for clever street art (check these out) and these pieces by OakOak, a French "artist who likes to play with urban elements" are no exception. I love how he sees the hidden potential in every crack and scuff in the street, bringing in our favorite characters (Calvin & Hobbes!) for new adventures.Check out more cool things from OakOak here.
(Thanks to TwistedSifter for the tip.)

GOLDENSTACH IS MY CHICKEN SOUP

  
  
  

So I am home sick today (stupid sore throat ruining my food service) and am contenting myself with researching "GoldenStash": a street artist here in Boston that I have recently seen everywhere!  The first photo (top left) was taken by me at the corner of Commonwealth and Fordham St. in Allston.  The remaining photos I found in the GoldenStash Flickr album here.  Interested in finding out more?  I also found a video piece on GoldenStash, done by the Boston Pheonix, here.  Since I have long wanted to start stickering myself, I am using GoldenStash as my Boston inspiration and will keep photographing his work whenever I come across it.

I have recently encountered a couple of really great pieces of street art and have decided to post a semi-regular "Boston Underground" segment.  Consider this volume 1.

TINY STREET ART

I have long been enamored with the work of street artist Slinkachu. Slinkachu situates the tiny figurines he has made in cleverly constructed vignettes in public places. A drain pipe becomes a secret lair, a bottle cap becomes a jacuzzi, a soda can becomes a place of great worship . . . and al of it becomes fabulous! His website (here) shows readers the mini installation and its larger location, reminding us just how easy it would be walk past one of these little wonders.

This morning I came across this sweet video, by Vimeo user 'Yo Man', which also uses little figurines in the manner of Slinkachu. The plot line is simple, but the movement of the cars and figures is superb. Hope you like it!

More videos by 'Yo Man' here.

(p.s. I knew I had posted about Slinkachu before! Check out my previous post here.)

WEEKEND UPDATE (PART TWO): HIGHLINE AND BOTTINO

The second, and final, part of my weekend update involves a recap of my trip to the Highline and picnic in a Chelsea park. I wanted to take my boyfriend on an excursion there because, although he has lived in New York for almost a year, he has never been to the Highline! Needless to say he loved it. Given the gorgeous weather, the Highline was an absolutely spectacular place to spend an afternoon strolling. The landscaping looks beautifully understated: lush grasses paired with sweet groups of wildflowers. Lovely!

Our walk turned delicious when we encountered the People's Pops stand on the Chelsea Market overpass. Sitting in this shady part of the Highline, my boyfriend and I enjoyed two amazing popsicles: blueberry-plum and apricot-sour cherry. A-mazing! People's Pops never lets me down.

After the Highline we wandered through the streets of Chelsea, coming across this awesome wall of street art and finally ending at Bottino's take out window. Bottino is a staple for italian food in Chelsea and their "take out" window sells absolutely outstanding (and fairly reasonably priced) sandwiches and salads. Yum!! I enjoyed a smoked proscuitto sandwich with tomatoes, arugula and asiago cheese while my boyfriend had a pork sandwich with horseradish mayo and arugula. So, so good. We paired it with one of the most delicious juices I have ever had--Red Jacket Farm's "Summer Blend" of apple and lemon juice--and ate it all under the leafy canopy of the beautiful Clemente Moore Park. All in all, fabulous food for a fabulous afternoon!

Learn more about the Highline here, Bottino here and Red Jacket farms here.