5Pointz: “The Institute of Higher Burnin’” or the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, Inc. is an outdoor art exhibit space in Long Island City, New York, considered to be the world’s premiere “graffiti Mecca”, where aerosol artists from around the globe paint colorful pieces on the walls of a 200,000-square-foot factory building.

The complex owned by Long Island developer Jerry Wolkoff houses the Crane Street Studios in which 200 artists pay below market rents for studio space. In 2009 a 450-square-foot studio was listed as renting for $600/month.

The name 5Pointz signifies the five boroughs coming together as one but, because of its reputation as an epicenter of the graffiti scene, the industrial complex has actually united aerosol artists from across the world. Legendary writers from Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, and all over the United States have painted on the building walls, including Stay High 149, Tracy 168, Cope2, Part, and Tats Cru.

It was announced in March 2011 that Wolkoff plans to redevelop the property to build high-rise residential towers, putting the future of 5Pointz in jeopardy. Over the past five years they say real estate has gone up from $60 to $100 a square foot, making the real 5Pointz’s 200,000 square metres potentially worth $20m.

David Wolkoff, Jerry’s son, says their plans to build rental apartments in the space would include a street artist programme at ground level. He says that the demolition of the building is “unlikely to be this year”, but would be soon. Wolkoff, who has promised to retain a wall for artists to use, said “when the time comes” he would approach Meres to see if they might be able to work on something together.

“I know they’re upset that the building is coming down, and we are really appreciative of all the artists’ work there,” he said. “But the world changes.”

More articles on this issue:

• Queens Graffiti Landmark 5 Pointz is Set to be Demolished in 2013
• 5Pointz: New Yorkers prepare to say goodbye to a slice of hip-hop history
• New Yorkers Might Lose An Integral Piece Of Street Art And Hip-Hop History

• Currently 2.9/5 Stars.
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Primul numar al Revistei COMICS pe anul acesta si deja al saptelea numar in total reuneste pagini de comics si benzi desenate a nu mai putin de 22 de autori romani: Alex Tamba, Alice Rapceanu, Adrian Serghie, Andrei Puica, Costel BD, Cristinel Zaharie, Cristian Mindrut, Doru Axinte, Gavrila Alexandra, Ionut Popescu, Mihai Ionescu, Matei Branea, Nicolae Negura, Octav Ungureanu, Raluca Z., Serban Andreescu, Sorin Pintilii, Silviu Cadia, Sickboy, Toma, Vlad Forsea si Xiusha.

Lansarea va avea loc vineri, 27 ianuarie, ora 19:00 la Galeria SAINT INK (str. Doamnei nr.3) unde va asteptam cu o mini-expozitie semnata Xiusha si un nou album de buzunar scos de Toma de la comics.cevamarunt.ro. Vor fi jocuri si boardgames de la tarabadejocuri.ro, reviste de la comicbookcity.ro, produse de la tanaaa.ro cat si cea mai noua colectie Boule.

Varianta tiparita a revistei poate fi comandata de aici. Acest numar a fost realizat cu sprijinul comicbookcity.ro.

Oldschool graffiti “Hall of Fame” from Bacau, Romania.
Pieces from the late 90s + 2000-2004!
More photos from Bacau can be seen here.

Expozitia de street-art COSMONOTRIPS, sustinuta de Allan Dalla alaturi de alti zece artisti contemporani. Vernisajul va avea loc pe 25 noiembrie la Atelierul de Productie si va incepe de la ora 18:00.

Claustrofobie geometrica, cubismodelic, platometry, “lotus printre blocuri”, kaleidoscope, street heart, iluzie narcotica, beige in stripes, icosaedru, uleiuri spatiale, power in flower, monocrom vs. explozie solara, turkish turquoise, muhamad dali, ura neighbourhood, green seahorses, hip pop art, acril citric, reflexie stelara, streetmetry si cubofizica!

Allan Dalla prezinta reflexia lucrurilor si starilor prezentate mai sus intr-o galerie de arta contemporana si street-art in premiera in Romania. Explozia vizuala COSMONOTRIPS va fi gazduita de Atelierul de Productie. Vernisajul si petrecerea vor avea loc vineri, 25 Noiembrie. Experienta va fi desavarsita de aportul a inca zece artisti vizuali.

Artistul isi compune personajul prin fragmentarea lui in forme abstracte cu nuante suprarealiste, exprimandu-si optiunea catre un univers psihedelic, conturat in siluete cubiste.

Proiectul COSMONOTRIPS este completat de abordarile alternative ale lui Kero, Alexandra Maftei, Seyr, Dragos Epure, Tudor Arsintescu, Homeboy, Lumin, Sasha Daria, Nego si Last.

Expozitia se deschide la ora 18:00 acompaniata muzical de Rufi & Scz.zr, EsQu, Relish, Andu Simion, Horia si Minus, iar vizual de 360 VIEW. Vernisajul este urmat de un party surpriza care incepe de la ora 23:00.

In rezumat, ce se va intampla vineri, 25 noiembrie, la Atelierul de Productie:

18:00
- Expozitie Allan Dalla impreuna cu Kero, Alexandra Maftei, Seyr, Dragos Epure, Tudor Arsintescu, Homeboy, Lumin, Sasha Daria, Nego si Last
- Muzica in timpul expozitiei:Rufi & Scz.zr, EsQu, Relish, Andu Simion, Horia, Minus
- Proiectii vizuale in timpul expozitiei: 360 VIEW

23:00
- Petrecere surpriza

In cele 6 numere de pana acum Revista COMICS a publicat in paginile ei 37 de autori romani de benzi desenate, de la tineri amatori, care publica pentru prima data, pana la artisti consacrati in domeniu, a organizat ateliere de benzi desenate si expozitii in Bucuresti, Cluj si Constanta, cele mai recente fiind expozitiile semnate Puiu Manu si Matty Aslan la Galeria Saint Ink, din Bucuresti. Revista a fost prezenta si la cateva targuri de carte din Europa si a ajuns chiar si la Comic Con New York.

Revista COMICS nr. 6 va fi lansata joi, 3 noiembrie, la deschiderea Salonului European de Banda Desenata editia a doua, ce va avea loc in perioada 3-20 noiembrie la Foto Anexa (calea Mosilor 62-68).

La acest numar au contribuit: Andrei Moldovan, Andreea Chirica, Cristinel Zaharie, Ionut Popescu, Ileana Surducan, Laurentiu Butuc, Mihai Ionescu, Matei Branea, Mihai Grajdeanu, Nicolae Negura, Octav Ungureanu, Paun Florin, Raluca Z., Veronica Solomon, Vlad Forsea si Xiusha.

Varianta tiparita a revistei poate fi comandata de aici.

Alexandre Le Grand, who rediscovered the recipe for the famous Benedictine liqueur in 1863, had a passion for the arts in all its forms but especially contemporary art, since it was he who called upon artists from his generation to sublimate his liqueur.

The links between art and the Benedictine still exist today: as Alexander Le Grand set out to do then, the Palais Benedictine continues today by offering visitors contemporary art shows. As part of this program, the Palais opens its doors to Jace, a renowned graffiti artist.

Jace’s artistic talent has amused the island of the Reunion for more than 20 years through his mascot “gouzou”, a little round inexpressive egg-headed character. Jace builds his own non-conformist universe by diverting daily elements in unexpected places.

The modest 80′s artist is considered today as the absolute must in Ultramarine Street Art. His passion for travelling has brought him to the creation of an original project based on human values: donation, respect, openness and sharing.

Therefore, he has decided to give life to his “gouzous” by spray painting them on Madagascan pirogue sails. He also uses local pigments and tar, traditionally used by the local fishermen on their sails. A pure alchemy for the fishermen and their families.

Finished in January this year, this great project is being exhibited at the Flamboyant Palais as well as the artist’s latest works on canvas which characterise the wide range of his art.

Her name is TIMOI. She became active in 1995; although drawing had always been part of her life it wasn’t until she moved to Los Angeles from Guatemala in 1990 that I was introduced to Graffiti art. She couldn’t keep her eyes from the art on the freeways, windows, poles, billboards, letters and characters telling stories.

Ayer LTS defined graffiti for her. She didn’t grow up on graffiti magazines or books so she based everything on what she saw on her daily commute in LA. Growing up in LA county she was really inspired by crews like LTS, KOG, TKO, MSK, AWR, WCA, RTN and artists like Tribe, Zes, Retna, Gkae, Chaka, Oiler, Cre8, Mear, Verse, Aybon, Atlas, Klean and Revok.

Other artists in the graffiti realm she admires are Banksy, Saber, Lady Pink, Jerk, Jel, Aroe Msk, Cope2, Indie184, Craola, Rime, ROID, Kween, Askew, Ezra, Chor Boogie, Augor, Apex, Risk, Seak, Os Gemeos, Nina, Vulcan, Chaka, Charlie DTK, Dream DTK and many others. The reason why she likes these artists as well is because they define graffiti and spray can art to her. As simple or intricate these artists are passionate about what they do/did.

Photos taken by Pep Williams.
Website: timoi.com

TIMOI quotes

• I believe the tag is a seed that can one day become a beautiful fruitful tree if given the opportunity.
• I love Graffiti and there is no doubt or fear about it. Graffiti is my life and being a female is like the ‘a la mode’ on an apple pie.
• I do not allow myself to be limited by what others might consider good or bad ‘for a girl’. Such comments usually come from ignorant individuals who just don’t know any better.

Instead of criminalizing graffiti artists, we should be given scholarships and grants to grow.

• I love Graffiti and there is no doubt or fear about it. Graffiti is my life and being a female is like the ‘a la mode’ on an apple pie.
• As corporations profit from the commercialization of graffiti, the ones who are practitioners of the art who profit from their own culture are seldom.

What, you may ask, is reverse graffiti? It’s like regular graffiti, only you use a pressure washer instead of spray paint.

Allan Dalla, impreuna cu cei mai activi artisti ai strazii de la noi, pregateste o explozie vizuala luna aceasta!
In curand: expozitia de street-art COSMONOTRIPS, un eveniment unic in Romania.

Mai multe detalii saptamana viitoare ;)

Heliana, Saddo, Noper, Sinboy, Pisica Patrata si Nicu Duta au aprins orasul in culori!

Te-ai saturat sa ii auzi pe altii cum isi dau cu parerea despre agitatia orasului, cladirile gri si stilul de viata urban? Atunci e momentul sa auzi despre “City of Energy”, un nou concept sustinut de Enel.

“City of Energy” este un proiect adresat comunitatilor urbane, pasionatilor de skateboarding si tinerilor creativi.

Îti place sa iesi cu rolele, bicla, skate-ul sau sa te plimbi pur si simplu in oras? Atunci stii ce inseamna identitatea urbana!

Fa din oras o sursa de inspiratie, intra pe Facebook, uploadeaza lucrarea ta pe Enel Sharing Romania si poti fi selectat printre cei 10 participanti la concursul de live painting din Tineretului Skate Park.

Fa cel mai bun desen, arata ce inseamna stilul urban pentru tine, iar juriul te va alege printre primii 4 castigatori. Castiga 2000 RON de buzunar si posibilitatea de a decora peretele uneia dintre statiile de transformare Enel.