Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Writing's on the Wall


Work continues on my Graffiti collaboration with Julie Prichard and Lynne Hoppe. My Graffiti Wall is being built slowly, brick by brick, on my 3 foot by 3 foot canvas.


Each brick is collaged using papers altered by Lynne, Julie and Myself.




In the end, there will be 93 bricks in this wall. And once completed...the graffiti will begin!

For inspiration, I recently went to an exhibit at the Helen Beck Gallery in NYC called Whole in the Wall. The show highlights the work of American and European street artists from the 1970s to today.




My favorite part of the show was a room mixing urban street art with ornate, antique furniture. The contrast packed a wallop and yet blended seamlessly.




Sharp: Juice Got Juice

Henry Chalfant: Kel/Crash

Sharp: T.C.B.


Blek Le Rat: detail from Urban Angel

Daze: detail from Untitled 2007

Blek Le Rat: detail from Homeless in NYC

Daze: detail from Journey Part 2

36 comments:

Mary S. Hunt said...

OH OH
this looks so amazing!
I am liking graffiti these days
that step will add such dimension to the piece...
the end results are going to keep everyone looking and looking into the wall for a long time..
so much to see already,
but with layers added...mmh mmh
what a creation this will be!

Lost Aussie said...

Very cool show, I am going to try and see if I can catch this one!

ooglebloops said...

Your graffiti canvas is a great idea!!It looks good now - I can just imagine when it is complete! Or is it ever complete.....?

Kelly Kilmer said...

Love YOUR graff wall!!!

Cool shots of a cool looking show! thank you for posting!!!

Erin Perry said...

What a great collaboration! CAn't wait to see the finale.
Erin in Morro Bay

ArtPropelled said...

The graffiti wall is already stunning. Can't wait to see it completed.

Love the antiques alongside street art. As you said, it packs a wallop! I like the way that sounds...wallop!

lynne h said...

seth, your graffiti wall is looking great! i can't tell you how gratifying it is to sit here and see snippets of pieces i sent you. i remember making them and i'm right back there with the process. it was winter then!! it's smile-making that you're posting your progress now, as i'm close to posting the most completed version of my 'wall' yet!

oh, and the street art exhibit looks fabulous! all of it, but especially love the juxtaposition of the fancy old furniture with it.

Julie Prichard said...

ohhh hohoho!! Awesome wall, Seth!!!!

I have mine up on the wall..but it needs a little more paint..will post soon..

And we already spoke about the exhibit....amazing..I am so glad you got to see it!

notmassproduced said...

nice work. i love graffitti - especially the now faded 'if you live here you're a wanker' sprayed on my garden gate a few years back. i was delighted.

Unknown said...

Very nice....I like the wall idea

lyle baxter said...

love those bricks. I can see other uses aside from walls! dont tempt me! lyle

Kim Palmer said...

The graffiti canvas looks like a fun idea, can't wait to see the outcome. Another fab exhibition too, the piece aginst the furniture really pops! Funny how the old and the new can work so well together! Love the detail shots too Seth, some wonderful work in this. Oh, by the way isn't Gabby's box wonderful!

Leslie said...

Looking good Seth. It'll be fun to see the finished canvas too. Thanks for the photos of the street art show.

deb said...

there is always something worth the visit whenever I stop by here. Thanks for today's inspiration

Anonymous said...

I love it when New Yorkers get out and roll around in their city's Treasures.
You're VERY good at that. As for your collaboration?......
a brilliant blending of three amazing and delightful Art Sparks.

Terry said...

The graffiti wall just leaves me saying wow. Wow. wow. You continue to astound me with your work.

Bridget said...

This is really an interesting direction . . . it's really inspiring to see the role that collaboration plays in your work, how you're always letting in new influences and taking your work in new directions. Love it!

Susan Tuttle said...

This graffiti wall is such a cool concept Seth!

marianne said...

thanks for sharing- very very cool stuff! can't wait to see where the grafitti canvas goes-

Gaby Bee said...

Your graffiti wall is amazing, Seth! What a fun idea. Can't wait to see the finished canvas. You are such an inspiration!
Thanks for posting these gorgeous pics of the street art show. Really cool stuff. I wish I lived closer...I would LOVE to visit this exhibition.
Thank you also for the new active link to my Blog on your sidebar. I feel really honored!
Gaby xoxox

Gillian McMurray said...

Your wall is beautiful. Love all those colours. There are some amazing street artists out there. Thatnks for sharing the pictures that the rest of us can't get to see.

daya saraswati dasi said...

wow, i LOVE your graffiti wall!!! want to do that with my students! can't wait to see how you finish it... i have an airbrush machine at school and never use it. will have to figure out a way to use it for a project like this. so totally cool... thanks for the inspiration - yet again:)
peace, j

Anonymous said...

Seth this colab your working on is fantastic and inspiring. It's given me a bunch of ideas. I have been teaching a stencil and spray paint class and to start off with collage is genus. THANKS!

3rdEyeMuse said...

with every step of the graffiti wall I think, "no, no, no! you simply can't be ripping up all those glorious little pieces ...", and then you do ... and then I SEE ... looking forward to the completed 93 ... AND what comes next.

thanks for sharing scenes from the show. :)

Anonova said...

I looks like the most amazing quilt! Thanks for sharing the progress shots. :)

Joy said...

Hi, thank you so much for your much appreciated comment -- what a great start to my weekend :D The graffiti wall is so amazing, what a fab idea! What talent & so inspiring. Can't wait to see the finished creation.
Take care.

reagan said...

This was just what I needed. It's too hot to be outside so this little art show hit the spot! As always, amazing work Seth and I can't wait to see how your wall ends up.

Unknown said...

Your wall is going to be amazing, well it already is! Great inspiration at yet another exhibit I'll have to miss. :( Thanks for taking us on a tour!

vivian said...

great work seth... loving the graffiti..

Unknown said...

Fantastic!! Your graffiti wall is looking great and once it's done and you get to start making your marks...great idea!!

I adore the graffiti paired with the ornate decorations...just love it all...

jennifer lorton said...

So cool!!! I'm so into this, love it!

Chris said...

Hi, Seth. This is a beautiful piece. Thank you for sharing the progression of it. I look forward...

I would love to see that show.

Caterina Giglio said...

So glad you met with my dear friend Sarah and I am assuming Seppie and the boys too? Your graff wall is abfab and what a great creation and idea! cat

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful piece! i adore it already but cannot wait to see it complete.

thank you for all of the great additional photos too! i wish summer weren't such a busy time of year because i could just camp out here for many hours a day.

Fran Meneley said...

What a great place to live! You have all this amazing art just outside your door. A walk, a bus or subway stop away. Out here in provincial land we have sky and vistas, but nothing like this. Oooo and ahhh - what a powerful juxtaposition. Thanks for this share too! xo fran

Ro Bruhn said...

All of the magnificent colour Seth. I've come to the conclusion that colour jumps out at me way before I even look at the design. Their combinations seem to have far more impact than their shape, to my brain anyway.