How to Write an #Art Review http://t.co/4NWsbMan

Which City Has The Best Street Art - LA, NYC, or London? (PHOTOS)

These are 3 of the lamest graffiti works I've seen. Blogs were the source for the images and there were many better choices to go with when I checked out the blog sites. For those that live in or visited either NYC, LA, or London you know they have way better works than what there 3 pics shown here. Why only 3 to begin with anyway? There are several other countries around the world that have a thriving graffiti scene that would allow this post to at least feature a top 10. This article could have been way better.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Exhibit wanting to turn street lights into stars is up, but did it light up visitors?

Given how I was working on a constellation series about a year ago, I was assuming James Holland's application of constellations in his street photos would evoke some meaning. Shame on me for having expectations!

The photographs of city lights were beautiful and simple on their own. However, the "connect the dots" aspect of the work made it seem immature. The result just looked like an extended glares from street lights. James' created the lines by drawing on a glass clamped to the camera lens. Interesting technique.

Even though the end results weren't moving, as a New Yorker, the purpose of this series of works is not lost on me.

(c) James Holland "Would You Asterism"

"Without the opportunity to see natural constellations, he would link streetlights together in his mind, turning an ordinary view into something fantastical" Press release

In cities like New York, it is difficult to see the stars. The only time the city goes dark is if there's a blackout otherwise, people's windows, cars, billboards, store fronts, etc are always lite up. Street lights and city lights illuminate surroundings instead of the stars or the moon.

If have seen the exhibit as well, feel free to share your thoughts.

Envoy Enterprises is located at 131 Christie Street. Lights will do dark on "Sky Lines" on August 28th.

His work is beyond just painting "stuff"

Ever walk into a room that was no longer lived in, say in an old house, where it still felt like a presence was there?

Can you imagine capturing that feeling in a painting? Matt Klos is capable of doing just that.

"Baltimore based painter Matt Klos paints familiar spaces caught in the act of existing". Press release

When moving his family into a house that had already been part of the family's, the option was presented to toss anything that wasn't needed. Most items that weren't being used were moved to the basement which has enough room to serve as a studio for Matt.

The initial glance at the postcard promoting the exhibit first struck me as stuff that he painted. Stuff put in a basement or garage somewhere. Instead, there was an experience awaiting me once I entered the gallery.

His paintings managed to have soul. 

My brain wasn't trying to figure out context or try to make sense of what it was seeing. Looking at the work was an experience that brought my mind to a place where no thinking was needed.

"Treasure Chest" (c) Matt Klos http://www.mattklos.com

His oil paintings in the gallery ranged from small to large which provided a balance of being up close to a work or being a few steps away. The small paintings were about 4'' x 6'' and larger works of about 19'' x 30''. The surfaces used for his work included panel, linen, museum board, cigar box lids and copper. Each had this air about them that you weren't alone.

The viewer wasn't just looking at a painting of something but rather experiencing it (I know right...how many times am I going to say that). How did he do that? I think it was because he was painting things that had a personal meaning to him.  It wasn't just stuff. If the objects could speak, they would have a story to tell. Each has a past and had a purpose. Matt is skillful enough to capture that essence in his work. Very well done.

Check out the work on Matt's website http://www.mattklos.com  to see more of his intimate work.

Matt Klos' "Keeping Things" exhibit on view until August 21st, is at the Prince Street Gallery located at 520 West 25th street, 4th floor.

Reality bites until you throw some cartoons into the mix

Wouldn't your world be more interesting with a couple of cartoons stirring things up? Well if you don't expect that to happen while sober, check out Josama Madera's work at Collective Consciousness in DUMBO (10 Jay Street, Suite 605, Brooklyn, NY) through August 31st. You can't get any closer than this show to see Gary Coleman dressed in an Alf costume (remember the show "Alf" 80's peoples?). Also where else would you see Speedy Gonzalez jumping a subway turnstile huh?

For this and other pics from the opening reception, visit:

http://ccnyc-events.blogspot.com/2010/08/eyecon-cept-nyc-great-success-amazing.html

Josama's painting technique can be described as 'rough around the edges' where a fair amount of dry brushing creates a cray-pas look and feel. It is quite interesting and shows how versatile oil paints are. With this technique Josama uses, he enhances the feeling of the streets.

It's not pretty, it's rough and tumble and may not always be that pleasing to the eye, but that's the world you are in for it's up to you to survive.

In the world Josama created for the viewers, he makes it more enjoyable place to be...well maybe not so much. In bodegas, subways, on building stoops and street corners, Josama includes the imaginary characters children in these environments escape to via their television.

There is no divide anymore in Josama's work: real and fantasy collide in an amusing and sometimes disturbing way.

In one painting, there are Care Bears passed out in a subway car. In another Mickey Mouse looks to be falling down the stairs after drinking too much. A shoot out in front of a store involves Bugs Bunny in another painting of Josama's. Then Tom from "Tom and Jerry" is wielding a knife above the head of Pink Panther.

Seeing his work was certainly an experience. His work is fun, disturbing, rough, affordable and certainly memoriable. Check it out if you can either by visiting the gallery or visiting his website (http://ripjosama.com).

Peace out.