JONATHAN LeVINE GALLERY presents E PLURIBUS VENOM NEW WORKS BY SHEPARD FAIREY A SOLO EXHIBITION

The title E Pluribus Venom which translates Out of many, poison is derived from ‘E Pluribus Unum’ (out of many, one) an early motto adopted by the U.S. Government which appears on U.S. coins and dollar bills. In the opinion of artist Shepard Fairey, many becoming one, or a loss of power and influence of the individual in favour of homogeny is a symptom of a society in decline. ‘E Pluribus Venom’ could be interpreted as saying both that there is poison in the American system and that many individuals are motivated by venom and anger toward this system.

‘E Pluribus Venom’ is comprised of artworks designed to question the symbols and methods of the American machine and American dream and also celebrate those who oppose blind nationalism and war. Some of Fairey’s works use currency motifs or a Norman Rockwell aesthetic to employ the graphic language of the subjects they critique.

Other works use a blend of Art Nouveau, hippie, and revolutionary propaganda styles to celebrate subjects advocating peace. The art addresses monolithic institutional power and authority and the role of counter culture and independent individuals to question the dominant paradigm. Shepard Fairey’s new body of work contains politically-charged paint, screen print, stencil, and collage mixed media pieces which use metaphor, humour, and seductive decorative elements to deliver provocative but beautiful results. These works blur the perceived barriers between propaganda and escapist decoration, political responsibility and humour with the intent of stimulating both viscerally and intellectually.

Dumbo Installation Space Reception presented by JUXTAPOZ and SWINDLE Thursday, June 21st from 7-11pm
Installation Space is on view until July 6th 81 Front Street (at the corner of Washington St) Dumbo (Brooklyn), NY 11201

For more info please visit http://www.jonathanlevinegallery.com/shepardfairey/ or www.obeygiant.com

Say hi to this nocturnal Sydney based street artist. He's got a show coming up at Monster Children that you need to see...

Kill Pixie is a prominent street artist from Sydney. Besides trawling the dark streets at night with a can in his hand, this young chap also also works indoors on these great canvas works as seen below and has shown them throughout galleries in his native Australia. He's also got a show coming up at Monster Children on the 19th of July, and a collaboration show with Edward Woodley on the 21st of September at the Don't Come gallery in Melbourne.

Check out full interview over at fecal face

An experimental journey in the freestyle, unconscious mind

Mr Basista, ex Juice FM host, Freestyle lyricist and longtime Defcon artist, presents his debut solo album THUNK.

THUNK is a daring debut solo project, an all out bold collection of tracks, captivating and fresh. THUNK beats comprise powerful funk and hip hop influenced sounds and samples, combining them fluently in a jazz atmosphere which is complimented by interjecting frank, rhythmical lyrics. THUNK is written, produced and performed by the extra ordinary talent, Mr Basista.

Mr Basista (Big. In. Japan., Defcon) has previously recorded and released critically acclaimed tracks alongside Fenna Rhodes and The True ingredients as well as featuring on mix tapes ‘Play times Over’ &‘Hiphoperation’(Chameleon Records) and for Baggy Flag Records alongside UK rap heavyweights Supa Nova, Wordsmith & Dr Syntax.

THUNK provides a fun and funky soundscape for listener’s ears, Basista begs us to revel and roll in funk and electro indie without ever sacrificing his hip hop roots. Upbeat tracks Booda and Bait King featuring hard funky horns and shuffling keys will be banging DJ favourites, and wouldn’t sound out of place played at a funky house or disco club night. In contrast the honest imagery & flowing rhymes in ‘Dad and Me’ will satisfy all the head nod hip hoppers out there.

For any one who believes the UK rap scene takes itself too seriously, for any one who believes we need a fresh perspective. We have found the man for the job.

THUNK, by Mr Basista is OUT NOW and available to buy from: www.mrbasista.co.uk or www.roughtrade.com

Having been behind the lens in Iraq, Bosnia, Syria and Afghanistan, Luca Faccio is no stranger to finding himself in the most intense situations of conflict and human endurance.

His ground-breaking 'Image Transfer Pyongyang/Vienna' allowed him again to push the boundaries of photography, art and international relations. Stepping behind the closed borders of North Korea, Luca shot the people and country in way never permitted before.

It's one of the first times that the world outside North Korea has been given an insight into the ordinary people without the usual focus on its politics, dictatorship or atomic weapons development. As well as the interview, we get pulled into Luca's work with his strikingly absorbing Horizon gallery, featuring shots he took in North Korea.

lomography.com/broadenyourhorizon?goto=lucafaccio

One of the many great things about having a new born baby boy are the presents...

Check out my mans Baby Air Force 1 Sneakers... Awsome huh?

Thanks Marteous!!?

Art Battles is a live-art competition where artists create work side- by-side in front of a live audience. For six years Art Battles have been a platform for talented artists to showcase their skills in and around NYC in a most unique setting and under tremendous pressure to perform. There's no time to sleep on your ideas, no chance to mull the nuance of each brush stroke. No, with Art Battles, time is as much of the essence as is inspiration and talent.

In May 2007, MTV hosted Art Battles live on the picturesque MTV outdoor deck overlooking Times Square. That evening, 12 artists vied for a chance to have their art displayed in Times Square for public judging.

After almost two hours of paint-induced frenzy, eight finalists were chosen:

Concep, Nick Poe, Leif McIlwaine, Martina Kubinyi, Ben Angotti, Brian Ermanski, Kevin Ragnott and Megan Whitman.

Now, the artwork they created during that Art Battles session has been reproduced onto shades that hang in the MTV TRL studio windows high above Broadway, the most famous street in the world. These artists are veterans of the Art Battles that have been staged all over New York.

The only difference is that this time, the ultimate art jury is you.

Check out the eight finalists and see their work. And be sure to watch the video montage of the May 4 event to see what they did to get into the finals. Art Battles are as much about the finished pieces as they are about the personality and performance of the artist in the moment.

After you've gotten to know the artists and their work, cast a vote for your favorite and tune into TRL on June 11 when the ultimate winner is unveiled LIVE! The winner gets the coveted center shade in our studio windows and bragging rights.

You decide who has the illiest painting skills and whom deserves the title of the 1st MTV Art Battle.

HISTORY:
Created by Sean Bono, Art Battles began in 2001 on a small lot on 45 E. Houston Street in downtown New York City. Since then, there has been tremendous organic growth in the movement with artists battling independently all over the world. It is a means of breaking down the boundaries of elitism and making art more social and tangible to everyone.

At its most basic, Art Battles are a competition in which two or more artists compete against one another in front of a live audience. Painting or drawing on canvas, they strive to create their best piece of artwork in the moment. The artists are limited only by the amount of time each has to complete their painting.

The true essence of Art Battles is the unearthing of the struggle an artist experiences when confronted with an unfamiliar atmosphere and an audience. It is here that the balance of raw talent, creativity and ingenuity can trump an opponent. To the viewer, this is the beauty of watching an Art Battle unfold, often unpredictably.

The connection the viewer feels after being part of the creation process is what compels them to choose their favorite at the end of every competition, with the winners judged as much on the quality of their art piece as they are for their performance in the heat of battle and their personality.

For more information on Art Battles check out www.artbattles.com.

THE FOUNDER
Sean Bono moved to New York City in 2000 from neighboring New Jersey in pursuit of a future in art. He made his first big splash in the NYC art scene at 19 years old, as the creator of Art Battles, a live competitive art show he staged in a junkyard gallery/ performance space in downtown Manhattan. Sean's skills have since become polished, yet still maintains an explosive painting style. At 25 years old Bono is an artist with a very exciting career to come.