Albin Ray

Just came across the work of Albin Ray who was also at the recent BLK River Festival. It's refreshing to say the least to see someone working in the graffiti realm solely with legible text again.

I know, you are saying, 'hey what about readmorebooks, ripo, steve powers, or Mike Mills?' Sure, they are all amazing in their own right but there is a rad conceptual twist to Albin Ray that hints back to those beautiful early days of Samo tags in the east village.

Although Albin Ray says to be living between NYC and Vienna a majority of his work turns up in Bremen. Bremen, the same city that gives us Armsrock, Denis Vidinsky, Max Schaffer, and Gregor Gaida seems to be a rich street art city that leans heavily on its political and literate sensibilities.

Moving into the Scandinavian hinterlands of Bremen one confronts the work of Akay, Adams, and Tele who laid the foundation for conceptual, confrontational, poetic, and most important, legible work. These pioneers in street art used the public space for what most "street artist" claim to be doing... communicating to the public. Ironically, it seems like a majority of street art becomes insular in nature. Where once it began as a reclaiming of public space, now it is a refined language between street artists. This type of preaching to the choir is not necessarily a degrading factor but it is two-fold since it excludes some of the general public and tightens the aesthetical language of street art.

The other side of the coin is that as the aesthetic language of street art is further articulated, factions branch off and create their own dialects. Metaphor aside, we see this through the use of new materials and techniques (i.e. Aakash below or F.A.T. Lab with the Eye Writer).

So as we continue to move into the crazy world of capital "S" Street Art I'm excited to see the historical and traditional form of graffiti continue on in the work of Albin Ray.

Aakash Nihalani in India

Recently Aakash took his fluorescent tape and flew the coup. The New York street op art'er is on the road, first stopping off in Vienna for the BLK River Festival and now in New Delhi, India. You can follow is space shifting street tapings more on his flickr stream or his website.

REMED goes big in Serbia

The always impressive Remed just finished this mural called "The Only Truth" in Novi Sad, Serbia. Check out more of his work on his flickr stream.

Photo by JANA.

OS GEMEOS at the Brazilian Art Museum

As if they couldn't continue to wow us, the Brazilian Art Museum (MAB-FAAP) opened the doors last Sunday for Os Gemeos new show 'Vertigem' (english//vertigo). The show runs until December 13th so if you happen to be in Sao Paulo don’t miss it!

This amazing show is a follow up to their show at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil in Rio de Janeiro. Both shows are amazing testament to the ellaborate storytelling and intricate installations of the twins.


Photos courtesy of Lost Art

Dan Witz

If you're in the LA area check out Dan Witz upcoming show Dark Doings at the Carmichael Gallery running November 5th – December 3rd. Opening Reception is Thursday, November 5, 2009 from 7.00pm – 10.00pm. Or just wander some streets in Brooklyn and see it on your own time.

Also check out his rad looking book coming out on Ginko Press here.

NEVS in Hunters Point, SF

Playing with found wood down at Pelican Point.

CALMA // Stephen Doitschinoff

Just came across this great little video of Stephen Doitschinoff working in the town of Lençóis, Brasil. Great to see more work that builds off of its environment, folklore, and iconography.

You can buy his book here

Steven Powers

If you are anywhere near Philly get off Facebook NOW and go check this out. In West Philadelphia born and praised is Steven Powers new project "A Love Letter For You". It covers some 50 rooftops and walls along the Market elevated train between 63rd and 45th street.

Powers is a prominent sign painter most recently known for his work at Coney Island his Fulbright residency in Ireland and his penchant for spraying rollup doors under the guise of the Exterior Surface Protection Organization or ESPO as they pronounce it in the hood. For this project however Powers not only rippled the rooftop ponds with some wit and latex paint but started his own sign school and shop to provide training for area youth. I'm completely in awe of this type of local outreach and look forward to anything Powers-related in the coming months, years, and decades.

To read more about Steve's connection to the project and his trajectory from painting rooftops in '89 to ah, well painting rooftops in '09 read this awesome post by him.

This is by far the most inspiring public works project I've seen sprout up since I can remember!

Love Letter is an unprecedented public art project by Steve Powers and The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. It is funded by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative.

ps. interviews w/ S. Powers are ridiculous. check this one out with LAB magazine.