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
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!