ART & FASHION SALON: July 2013

Last week one of the great, legendary graffiti artists, Joey "SERVE" Vega released his "blackbook" to us appropriately entitled "THE ULTIMATE BLACK BOOK VOL. 1." This truly detailed and amazing collection of his decades of artwork is bound in a sleek, hardcover book with scented marker paper - a very unique surprise. The pages are filled corner to corner of remarkable pieces adorned by Serve's commentary and his great depth. Below you will see photos of original art framed on the walls of Tuff City (Essex St.), that have then been published into the book. This is one book/piece of art you must get before they are gone, you will cherish it forever.

Have a look at the art, the book and the evening...

The outside back wall / train by SERVE, below the inside gallery...

The Blackbook is available at Tuffcity Books, http://www.tuffcitybooks.com 17 Essex St. shop and 650 Fordham Road in the Bronx, stop into the Essex location to see the art that is also for sale. Again, don't wait to grab this one, it's a treasure!

Last weekend a group of beyond talented and passionate street and graffiti artists came together for a three day long collaborative exhibit in Dumbo (Brooklyn), entitled "UNITED WE PAINT." The mega show was organized by George Colon and James Rodriguez and included legendary painters and emerging artists who are strongly making their marks in the New York art world. As you scroll through the photos below you'll recognize some of the greats from "back in the day" who are still stronger than ever and artists who have been decorating our streets over the past couple years.

About the artists / organizers:
George "AIM" Colon; An old school graffiti artist form Williamsburg, Brooklyn who was a young man in the 70's with boundless creative energy, the streets and subway trains of NYC became his playground. Part of one of the largest graffiti crews, "SSB", graffiti "saved Colons life" as it gave him a family, a voice, safety and freedom of expression. A mechanical draftsman today who owns a successful tile and marble company in Florida, he has implemented his passion for the arts in all fields he endures. He paints on boards, canvases and legalized commission walls today (of course, no longer trains), and his organization "SSB Productions" promotes urban art and graffiti events for the youth to nurture their artist expressions with confidence.

James "Sexer" Rodriguez; The mega-talented artist known as “Sexer” from Bronx, NY has been painting since age 6 and at age 10 his artwork was on display at Gimbels Department store in New York City, a year later he illustrated a childen’s book “In The Money Hunt.” Fast forward a few years and while avoiding the law, partook in the subway and street challenges to tag his name and further his street art presence, (naming first influences as Daze and Doze Green among others.) His graffiti influenced and inspired his artistic future as he became an Art Director at the age of 22 for a successful advertising and sales promotion agency. After 10 years he ventured into commercial design for many years and later continued education at F.I.T. and Parsons. James currently has done design work for brands such as Perrier, Beefeater Gin, Alizé, Chipwich, Millay Colony for The Arts, RuPaul, Evyan Perfumes, Cointreau Liqueur, Taittinger Champagne, Doubletree by Hilton, Best Western Hotels, among others.

In 2011, he exhibited in 4 different galleries throughout Central Florida, as well as 2 separate gallery shows during the world famous Art Basel Miami. (I look back to my most favorite pieces at one of the Basel galleries in 2011, "animals on the subway" - and they were done by James, of course.) In 2012 he exhibited in various venues including the U.S. and Moscow, Russia. His work also exhibited in Geneva, Switzerland during February 2013 and has exhibits scheduled for September and November 2013 in NYC. You can read much more about his career and follow him at http://www.sexerart.com.

Here's a look at the superb UNITED WE PAINT opening night....