Sunday, July 28, 2013

"United We Paint 2013" - Huge Hit In Brooklyn With George Colon, James "Sexer" Rodriguez & More Legendary Artists!

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, AlizĂ©, 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....
Freddie "Death 149" Venezia

Rodney "Panic" Rodriguez"



Joseph Meloy




William Power


Carlos "Ral" Ramos 

Above; Carlos "Ral" Ramos, Henry Pase" Clements & Miguel "Score" Rivera

Kenji Python" Takabayashi


Shawn "Site" Mack

LunAtik DJ / Aka Czar 174


The seven above; John "KWON" Flathers

Jonathan "Meres" Cohen (You should know him from 5 Pointz!)

George "Aim" Colon

Charles "Flip" Henry & Chris "Poet" Paone


Above John Paul O'Grodnick & James Rodriguez


Luis "Zimad" Lamboy

James "Sexer" Rodriguez

George Colon (second from left), James, far right
It's not a party until we get the books out!
Meres and Will Power
If you see something you must have email me back and I will gladly put you in touch with the artist. 
Looking forward to the next event gentlemen!