05/15/13 9:00am
Image courtesy of Lori Zimmer, Art Nerd New York

Image courtesy of Lori Zimmer, Art Nerd New York

ICY (born 1985) and SOT (born 1991) are stencil artists from Tabriz, Iran. Their works are about peace, war, love, hate, hope, despair, children, human rights and Iranian culture. The two brothers have held numerous exhibitions and unofficial street works in Iran and foreign countries. You can view more of what they have been up to in the states recently in their latest East middle west tour / San Francisco/Los Angeles/Houston/Chicago facebook album.

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05/13/13 12:00pm
Spain Rodriguez Mural in the Central Terminal Building. Photos by Tullis Johnson, Courtesy of the Burchfield Penney Art Center

Spain Rodriguez Mural in the Central Terminal Building. Photos by Tullis Johnson, Courtesy of the Burchfield Penney Art Center

Buffalo, New York is typically known for only a handful of things: being a casualty of the decline of the American steel industry, chicken wings, an embarrassing football team. But recently Buffalo has begun to receive recognition of a new sort-respect for its art scene. Quietly, over decades, Buffalo has become home to a strong community of hard-working and talented artists. For the last several years American Style Magazine has ranked the Queen City among the top mid-sized cities in the nation to visit to see and experience art. But one does not necessarily have to visit one of Buffalo’s many independent galleries or one of its respected museums to see great art. All you need to to do is wander down the street.

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05/08/13 1:00pm

Michael De Feo’s street art flowers bring smiles to people everywhere they sprout up. The oversized blooms can be seen around New York City, but like any ephemeral art, are often covered over.

Image Courtesy of Lori Zimmer, Art Nerd New York, artnerdnewyork.com

Image Courtesy of Lori Zimmer, Art Nerd New York

Not so with this one above SVA’s Dorm on 23rd. High above the street, De Feo’s flower stands protected against the grubby hands of other street artists, and has been going strong since the summer of 1994!!

His studio art is pretty incredible, too.

Who: Michael De Feo

What: Flower

Where: above 209 E 23rd St

More info

05/02/13 2:05pm

Stephen Powers aka ESPO’s Love Letter to Brooklyn is confusing at first sight. His expertly meticulous style of sign painting seems like a vintage advertisement on the side of Macy’s downtown Brooklyn at a glance, until you actually read the words and realize it is not. Called Love Letter to Brooklyn, the parking garage is emblazoned with text and phrases from conversations Powers and his crew had with local residents.

Image Courtesy of Lori Zimmer, Art Nerd New York

Image Courtesy of Lori Zimmer, Art Nerd New York

The project involved the Brooklyn community, using feedback and input to help shape how project would look. The result is a sonnet for Brooklyn, a sort of cleaned up version of graffiti, larger than life.

Image Courtesy of Lori Zimmer, Art Nerd New York

Image Courtesy of Lori Zimmer, Art Nerd New York

ESPO initially made the incredible Love Letter to Philadelphia project, where he painted abandoned buildings along the elevated train in West Philadelphia. Read more about the skybridges of New York City.

What: Love Letter to Brooklyn

Who: Steve Powers aka ESPO

Where: Macy’s Garage, 422 Fulton St, Brooklyn

More Info

04/28/13 1:46pm

5Pointz_InsidePhoto Source: woodenddesigner

The round-up of our favorite links this week curated by the Untapped Cities’ staff includes the fate of 5Pointz in Long Island City and a park modeled after a city.

NEW YORK

Happy 100th anniversary to the Woolworth building. Did you know this historic building includes a pool in the sub-basement? [NY Historical Society]

The fate of 5Pointz in Long Island City has been decided. Take a look at the new redevelopment plans. [Curbed]

PARIS

In his series SkyArt, French artist Thomas Lamadieu is inspired by the empty spaces of sky that form between city buildings. [Good]

EuropaCity, one of the largest developments between Paris and Roissy in France, is to be modeled after a city. [Atlantic Cities]

GLOBAL

In Mont-St.Michel, a $285 million restoration project is causing confusion and anger among locals. [NY Times]

Europe is incredibly diverse and expansive. When planning your next trip, consider incorporating one of these seven notable walks. [NY Times]

03/13/13 9:11am
5Pointz Aerosol Art Center

5Pointz Aerosol Art Center

This weekend I had the opportunity to take a SideTour experience of 5Pointz Art Center, an outdoor art exhibit space in Long Island City, Queens where artists from around the world paint on the walls of a 200,000-square-foot factory building complex. Our guide was Meres One, a talented artist and the curator of 5pointz, which is nicknamed “The Institute of Higher Burnin.” Meres is an engaging guide, and has a way of making the artwork come alive as he shares stories of artists, often with themes of personal loss and overcoming obstacles such as medical illness that effected the creative process. (more…)