The Bench

The last graffiti artist

2008-05-13T08:36:00.001-09:00

- Ruskig and Angest, in Malmo

Color - It's okay to express yourself, in the closet or garage

2008-05-10T22:17:00.003-09:00

Just ask the Swiss Embassy.

"Perhaps we need to follow the example of the Swiss embassy in London, where a recent much-publicized party revealed a secret that its staff had enjoyed privately for years - its underground parking garage is not a dull white wasteland but a place full of colour and commentary.

"In 2001, then-ambassador Bruno Spinner had invited local graffiti artists to create what was supposed to be a temporary installation, but it proved too irresistible to whitewash."

[...]

"Back at the Swiss embassy in London, one of the contributing artists, Banksy, has become so famous in the seven years since the graffiti installation was created that his part of it (which includes 21 profiles of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin sporting a Mohawk and a Mona Lisa with a rifle range stencilled on her forehead) is estimated to be worth �1-million."

"Which is, no doubt, a lot more valuable than all of the granite, marble and embellishments in the embassy's front hall put together."

Of course, there's no photo in the article. And the article goes on about the adventures of conservative people painting bright colors in closets for secret thrills. London does seem the perfect place for a Banksy in the old pantry or a perky little painted car park.

Go ahead ... live a little. Gray is for battleships.

Daniel Dociu - Guild Wars artist

2008-05-10T11:42:00.003-09:00

Extraordinary game illustration you really should see, in an interview with its creator, Daniel Dociu on BLDG. As you marvel at the deep worlds he's created, consider that he's doing it with little more than his big imagination, a little charcoal, and Photoshop.

Blek le Rat - new book

2008-05-08T23:58:00.005-09:00

Blek le Rat - Getting Through the Walls, published by Thames & Hudson.

Blek le Rat is one of the most influential figures in the world of street art, who is said to have inspired Banksy.

Also, photos of his installation from May 7 at The Conran Shop, Fulham Road, London, by Paul Jenkins.

These look to be pasted up stenciled material of some kind.

Thanks to Mark and Amy.

Interview with MICO

2008-05-08T22:00:00.000-09:00

Free Daze (UK)

2008-05-08T21:10:00.002-09:00

Graffiti writer Daze (Gary Shields) from the UK was jailed in March for 28 months at Ayr Sheriff Court. This was for eight offences.

A protest and appeal are aimed at getting this ridiculously long sentence reduced. See the link for details and current petitions.

[Note that this is not the same Daze whose painting appears on Art Crimes' front page this month.]

Time-lapse Slick/Persue/Brisk/OG Able

2008-05-08T20:13:00.002-09:00

fun in Southern California

The Gateway project: Crol and Werk with Victor Ochoa

2008-05-06T23:56:00.004-09:00

Os Gemeos - pictures from their Madrid show

2008-05-06T20:54:00.002-09:00

These photos of the February show in Madrid make it obvious why Os Gemeos are so popular. Their work is just plain fun -- both for them and for the lucky audience.

Invader in Kathmandu

2008-05-04T16:24:00.000-09:00

Miss Van

2008-05-03T11:31:00.001-09:00

Miss Van has some nice things on show and for sale here.

Graffiti LA

2008-05-03T11:04:00.004-09:00

This great website supports the book of the same name. There is lots of LA history online here, and it's a great read. The book is amazing and huge. You must get one. It has more than 900 pictures, including a CD-ROM. The website has additional material and commentary.

Estria's skinny cap (stencil tip) tutorial [updated]

2008-05-03T10:40:00.007-09:00

Correct info, from the site: "In 1986 Crayone TWS and Razor KTD first introduced Estria to the Skinny Cap. Razor was the first to conceive of it." (San Francisco Bay Area)

This type of detail cap has spread to Europe and beyond over the decades.

Here's the first public tutorial on home made skinny caps.

Be forewarned: Using these can be incredibly messy. You will get paint all over yourself until you get the hang of it. Wear gloves and trashed shoes. On the upside, you'll have plenty of loose paint for those nice splatter effects.

Twist (Barry McGee) interview

2008-05-03T10:25:00.001-09:00

via Rory Ahern - VICE/VBS.tv

London: Ron English billboards

2008-05-03T10:20:00.002-09:00

Overnight two RON ENGLISH billboards have appeared in West London.

The exact locations are:

1) the corner of Harrow Road and Hythe Road (next to the Texaco station)

2) outside Willesden tube station.

[please send photos!!]

also, from Elms Lesters Painting room (where they are now showing)

The Adam and Ron show catalogue

Hundreds of fans queued for the catalogue signing, here at the gallery this
morning, with Adam Neate and Ron English.

Unsigned catalogues are still available from the gallery or by post.

Ring the gallery on 00 44 20 7836 6747 to reserve one.

The show continues until Saturday 31st. May.

Opening hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 12 - 6pm
Thursdays 'til 9pm

See the link for upcoming London show info: Delta, WK Interact, Anthony Lister, Jose Parla!

London: Banksy tunnel - this weekend only [updated]

2008-05-03T10:16:00.003-09:00

"Graffiti artist Banksy has turned a south London tunnel into a half-mile long exhibition space, but the elusive artist kept its location secret until the last minute, reported the BBC. Banksy marshaled more than three dozen international artists for what he's calling the "Cans Festival" ? and is encouraging visitors to contribute their own graffiti starting Saturday.

Members of the public are being invited to take part in Banksy's latest project in London, as an army of graffiti writers turn a whole street into an art exhibition. "

More: www.thecansfestival.com

UPDATE: on Flickr

Apple photobooks 20% off until May 11 (USA only)

2008-04-27T10:22:00.003-09:00

I've heard these are really nice looking, but I haven't made one yet. It's supposed to be super easy to make photobooks with iPhoto and there's a tutorial here on Apple.com

Another article about graffiti innovations

2008-04-27T09:21:00.004-09:00

Breakthroughs? You be the judge. Some cool stuff in there for sure, but plenty to get riled about as well. As a commenter put it, graffiti is usually associated with "a certain demographic" but apparently when people of other demographics do it, it's cool. Can you smell the racism there?

Cristopher Cichocki

2008-04-19T23:12:00.002-09:00

Tasty. Cristopher's work must be seen because words can't do it any justice.
Tip: the small pictures are clickable.

Benelux B-Boy Battle Winners

2008-04-18T10:21:00.002-09:00

See the link above for all the available videos from the battle. Here's a taste:

Sky-High Ads Float Like Clouds

2008-04-17T20:48:00.002-09:00

A new kind of skywriting. Foam logos floating around ... hmmm.

via bldgblog

The war that lasts another 6 months, then another 6

2008-04-17T14:31:00.003-09:00

MoveOn is a political action committee that is antiwar, pro-environment and active on progressive issues. They make it easy to send email to your Congresscritters and they buy advertising to help educate Americans on important issues. They endorsed Obama this year by popular demand (landslide) from a majority of their members, even though they normally don't pick a candidate. And best of all, they'd rather have your signature on petitions than your money.

Teen falls through roof in Melbourne

2008-04-14T21:27:00.002-09:00

"A TEENAGE boy suffered a broken jaw, smashed teeth and fractures to his legs and wrists when he fell through a fibre glass roof while out graffitiing property in Melbourne.

Police said the 14-year-old was seriously injured in the fall in Mentone, in Melbourne's southeast, about 2am (AEST) today.

The boy had been graffitiing the rear sections of buildings in Como Parade at the time, police said. He was walking across a section of fibre glass roofing when he fell through it, about six metres to the ground.

Police spokesman Senior Constable Wayne Wilson said another boy, 13, called an ambulance, and the injured teenager was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital.

Police are yet to speak to the boy and have not charged him. "

Another lucky rotten-roof survivor.

Be careful out there. Never trust a roof. Always have a lookout.

We sure hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Banksy vs CCTV

2008-04-14T21:01:00.001-09:00

Fotolog continues to delete writers' sites

2008-04-11T11:16:00.004-09:00

I think I've said this before, but it is only getting worse, so I'll say it again: Fotolog seems to have a special hatred for graffiti artists, because it routinely closes their sites without warning (and we hope that's the worst thing they do). I suggest all you folks with fotologs go to Flickr instead.

Wherever you do it, make sure you keep copies of your photos, because most companies can't be trusted to keep them safe, and it's a hassle to download them one at a time too.