800lb Blog { from 800lb Artists }

Deitch as Ayatollah

2011-02-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

"An anonymous L.A. street artist spoke out Thursday about MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch's decision to paint over another artist's mural that he had commissioned -- making a statement in the form of a provocative piece of guerrilla poster art glued to the exterior wall of the restaurant Zip Fusion Sushi on Traction Avenue and Third Street in Little Tokyo...The anonymous artist asked a friend, John Carr -- a political poster artist himself and part of the street art collective Yo! Peace -- to relay a statement about the new mural to Culture Monster: 'A giant antiwar mural right in the heart of L.A.’s political district was erased by the museum staff just after it was finished. MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch claimed it was potentially offensive to the community. Can there be a more perfect example of censorship? Does it not border on Orwellianism to call it something else?"'"

Read the Los Angeles Times article HERE.

800lb Artist Pablo Power interviewed on ArtCards

2011-02-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

"Pablo Power merges text, photography and painting to echo the ephemeral life of the unseen. Passionate about documenting not only the lives but also the lifestyles found just outside city limits, Power submerses himself in grimy subculture and finds that it isn’t so bad." Check out the rest HERE.

Blu's mural censored by MOCA

2011-02-03T08:23:00.000-08:00

Shepherd Fairey's take: "I’m not a fan of censorship but that is why I, and many of the other artists of the show, chose to engage in street art for its democracy and lack of bureaucracy …
However, a museum is a different context with different concerns. It would be tragic for the break through of a street art /graffiti show at a respected institution like MOCA to be sabotaged by public outcry over perceived antagonism or insensitivity in Blu’s mural. Graffiti is enough of a contentious issue already. The situation is unfortunate but I understand MOCA’s decision. Sometimes I think it is better to take the high road and forfeit a battle but keep pushing to win the war."

See our artist's work at Splashlight

2011-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

We've had two parties at Splashlight (75 Varick) and the art is still making the space look sweet. Go check it out until the end of February.

Check out some pics on facebook (and while you're at it become a fan): HERE and HERE.

Eco Artist

2010-04-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

Although the party has passed, we still wanted to post about Inhabitat’s 5th Birthday Bash featuring DJ M11X, 800lb Artist Mikal Hameed. Inhabit is a weblog devoted to green design. Mikal, being an eco artist and a great DJ with an eco friendly sound system, was an obvious choice to make the party jump.

Using Real Artists in Advertising - Josh Goldstein

2010-04-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

In 2009, Target commissioned Josh Goldstein, one of four other collage artists, to create a New York City themed billboard using the Target bull's-eye in Times Square. When the billboards came down in October, 2009, the vinyl was used by designer Anna Sui to create 1,600 awesome tote bags. Not only is this kind of advertising environmental but also a breath of fresh air amongst the sameness of most advertising campaigns.

Check out the handbags on the Target website HERE.

Steven Cogle, Shine on Sierra Leone and Celebrity Apprentice

2010-04-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

Steven Cogle's piece Sierra Leone adorns the office of the charity Shine on Sierra Leone. Yesterday on Celebrity Apprentice, Victoria Secret model Selita Ebanks, who is playing for the charity, delivered her winnings personally to the office. Check out Steven's piece starting at 80:40.

Daniel Oglander write-up on The Rabbit Press

2010-04-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

"While on vacation in Mexico, Daniel was pursuing another passion of his- exploring abandoned houses- when he came across “a mountain of books, photos and printing blocks.” The discovery consumed the majority of his vacation and inspired him to develop his signature style. He has since continued this passion for plundering (some call it recycling) here in Nashville and the surrounding land."

Read the whole article HERE.

Find out more about Daniel on 800lb Artists HERE.

Great Interview with Ellis Gallagher on Street | Talk NY EP5

2010-04-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

Steven Cogle Painting Live

2010-04-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

Shot and edited by Charlotte Gaspard in 2008.

Mikal Hameed in Excess and Environment: Sustainability in a World of Consumption

2010-04-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Info: The presence of excess exists in our day-to-day lives, but often hides behind masks of disposal systems, social acceptance, and misinformation. The exhibit explores the idea of the impact of excess on our natural environment both visually and theoretically. The art involved will relate to the effect of mass consumption and waste on the environment. All sales of art will benefit the non-profit organization, Arts for Global Justice.

Opening:
Friday, April 16th 2010 from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
AE Studios LIC, 39-06 Crescent Street (off the corner of 39th Ave.)
Long Island City, Queens, NY 11101

Exhibit will be open by appointment from April 16th - April 23rd
Free admission
212-537-5869

Nathan Pickett Interviewed in Juxtapoz Magazine

2010-04-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

"Searching for the 'good life' is the driving factor in my art making. Art is my life and I treat both, my life and my art, as if I'm breathing my last breath into it. I don't half-a$$ anything. I'm creating multi-dimensional conversations and stories that are complex and simple, ugly and beautiful, rich and poor."

Check out the rest of the interview HERE.
For more on Nathan check him out on 800lb Artists HERE.

Samuel & Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War

2010-04-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

"Suspenseful, stirring, and surprising from the opening moment straight through to the end, Samuel and Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War is a uniquely theatrical, thrilling, and terribly moving show."
Check out the rest of the review HERE.

Marc Bovino co-wrote, created and acts in the show. An artist in many forms. If you'd like to check it out buy tickets HERE.

Check out a great interview with Marc about the show HERE.

To see more of Marc's art check him out on 800lb Artists HERE.

I Spy Ellis Gallagher

2010-04-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

Ellis Gallagher makes an appearance in the trailer for the new Banksy movie Exit Through The Gift Shop (at 0:14). Check out the trailer below:

Nathan Pickett Painting Live

2010-04-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

Our first event and the last stop for Mikal Hameed's Urban Audio Manifesto had Nathan Pickett painting live at Kingdom in Williamsburg:

Mikal Hameed Video from Medicine Agency

2010-04-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

Mikal Hameed on Thinking Design | McCulley Design Lab

2010-04-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

"New York-based Mikal Hameed aka M11X reinvents how we see, hear, and interact with art. Through his interactive “plug and play” musical chairs, he gives his audience the opportunity to plug in their smart devices (vinyl, phones, mp3, ipods, etc) and rock out in style."

Check out the whole article HERE.
For more on Mikal check him out on 800lb Artists HERE.

Urban Audio Manifesto #4

2010-03-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Our first event and the last stop on Mikal Hameed's Urban Audio Manifesto #4:

Ellis Gallagher in Juxtapoz Magazine

2010-03-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

"Ellis G: Boston and Beyond. 'By now we have all heard about Ellis Gallagher,' writes Alan Bortman for Dirty Pilot. 'A native New Yorker who creates chalk etchings of shadows of everyday, urban street objects.'"

Check out the write up HERE.
For more on Ellis check him out on 800lb Artists HERE.

Nathan Pickett gets loose at Graffiti Kings launch party

2010-03-15T12:51:00.001-07:00

Urban Audio Manifesto

2010-03-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

“Mikal Hameed creates original large-scale sound sculptures and mixed media sound paintings using a combination of reclaimed mid-century modern furniture and vintage electronics. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Mikal’s sound sculptures recently received worldwide acclaim by top taste-makers Juztapoz, Hypebeast, Slamxhype and many more. Medicine Agency is proud to bring this breakthrough artist his first show in San Francisco.

Join us on January 8th, 2010 for a night of fun, art, sounds, friends, and an interactive audio experience! Attendees are encouraged to bring their MP3 players & even vinyl in order to get the full experience of his work.”

Medicine Agency: 1262 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

For more stuff from Mikal check him out on 800lb Artists HERE.