2013 Art Scene Begins! Martha Cooper & PRINT at Woodward Gallery & new LES Pieces!

The 2013 art scene begins with a bang!  Barely a week into the year and I meet one of my art-superheors; the legandary photographer Martha Cooper!  And, hit a huge gallery show, same night - PRINT!  First, the Woodward Gallery launched the 2012 Art Season with a survey of different achievements of printed technique as catalyst in artwork.  Martha Cooper was there.  I met her, spoke with her and shot these quick photos.  I was in awe.  Who is Martha Cooper?  Seriously?  (And you say you love photography and art!?)  Martha is a mega famous photojournalist best known for her endless work photographing the graffiti artists of the 70's and 80's.    
The artists all trusted in her work, allowing her into their inner circle; late nights paintings the trains, buildings and everything in between.  Dondi, Blade, the list goes on.  She showed up at Woodward to see what the latest and greatest artists are doing these days. And, I shoot these simple photos.

The exhibit features blueprint, newsprint, xerox, lithography, screenprinting, woodtype, monotype, giclee, etching and other methods by a variety of artists.  Big names included Gaia, Swoon, Army Of One, El Celso Mel Ramos, Stikmann and many of the greats such as Warhol, Basquiat, Paul Gauguin, Gerhard Richter, Rauschenberg, David Hockney, Sol LeWitt, Keith Haring and many, many more.  

Army of One with Martha

Martha figuring out Instagram on her cell, artist Adam Dare

Adam Dare & SinXero

Piece by Army Of One

Gaia's "Carrier Pigeon"

Swoon's "Girl"

Martha photographing the guys via Instagram

You have until February 22, 2013 to see this event.  Visit the gallery at 133 Eldridge and/or www.woodwardgallery.net

Random street art coolness from the Lower East Side...

 Grand & Wooster, one of my favorite long standing mural sections; Fairey on one end and look close OptimoNYC all the way on the right...

 Icy and Sot

 

New Russell King pieces in Soho, above News Box/Village Voice, below another great one on Wooster.

Nick Walker Features Diane Pernet (Again!) at Hotel Chantelle on Ludow!

....and let's hope this one stays up!  Nick featured legendary  Diane Pernet this summer in Chelsea and the owner of the door painted over it within hours.  Hopefully, not this time. I was not going to chance it. (I dashed to this NEW door in Chinatown yesterday in the rain to shoot immediately. I was almost late for the Graffiti Legends /Post Graffiti panel discussion at the New Museum.) That's how great this piece is in person, the details! Go see it now! 

Wait. Don't know who Diane is?  You should. See the link below.  

Also, see Nick's others (I LOVE NY and NY Vandals) on Ludlow & Delancy, you can catch four Nick's within a block or two.  I love that. 

Visit and join a killer fashion, style, design and art blog (and travel to Europe daily here) at http://www.ashadedviewonfashion.com/

To see more of legendary Nick Walker look here: 

http://www.theartofnickwalker.com/

It's A Street Art Summer! Best of the Best: "LADIES FIRST" in Harlem Showcases First ALL Female Artists!

The lazy days of summer are providing some amazing street art happenings all over the city! Been in Harlem lately?  I have not, but couldn't wait to go up this past weekend for the "LADIES FIRST" all female graffiti art exhibition, in Sugar Hill.   It was an amazing treat to meet almost all of the artists at the Azucarera NYC Gallery as they and James Top Productions presented the event at 414 West 145th.  The show of talent runs through Sept. 3, 2012 and features the first ever (in the area), group of international, all female graffiti artists that were especially chosen for this showcase.  

Left to right, Marthalicia Matarrita, Danielle Mastrion & Scratch (Jenny Norberg)

Featured artist include Scratch, Danielle Mastrion, Marthalicia Matarrita, Grape 897, Diva, Vik, Erotica 67, Dollface, PinkEye, Mythe, Am, Erin Yoshi, QA, Elan, Redy Roc Red and Shiro (all the way from Japan in town for this event and the Times Sq. Japan Fundraiser, that post is tomorrow!)   Uptown NYC gave birth to art in the early 1970's as Barbara 62, Eva 62 and Stoney contributed to the evolution in those early years. Today you can see the new premier artists continuing the tradition with beautiful works on canvas, ready to be taken home.

Queen Andrea's Dynamo

Works above (all three) from Scratch

Left to right; Shiro, Kristen & Scratch

Nothing represented the good ol' days like....

Shiro and views of her work;Sharku (Guy) & Mikaeri - Bijin (lady) - and her kicks above....

Matarrita & her works...

"Did you catch it yet? Amazing designs by PINK EYE above, visit www.igotpinkeye.com for more info.

Danielle Mastrion's "Stay High 149" - If you love this you should see her tribute to the Beastie Boys in the E. Village!

Art by Redy Roc Reds above; No Parking & Subway Sign

Artist Elan and her work

Dogs like street art too!

For more info and profiles on the ladies visit: http://www.jamestopproductions.com/events.html . Also learn more about legendary graffiti artist James Top and his tours, projects and much more on the above website.  If you love street art, you need to know James --and these ladies of course.

The Azucarera Gallery, 414 West 145th (basement level)

Show runs through September 3, 2012. Don't wait, catch it now and take home a piece of history!