Spotted: Kane One

So you've heard of Banksy, but have you heard of Kane One?

One of Cook County's finest, Kane One has been an active graffiti artist here since 1989. In the past two decades he has been a member of Def Con 5, Dirty Thirty, and Just 4 Fun crews.

Photo by A Syn from http://www.flickr.com/photos/24293932@N00/4133163414/

But don't just think of him as a vandal. Kane One has a Bachelor in Fine Arts and a Masters of Art in Teaching from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has also been teaching a course called 'History of Graffiti" at SAIC and he curated a Chicago group graffiti/street art exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art this past June.

Photo by thedwarves from http://www.flickr.com/photos/41418570@N03/3818570786

Check out this video on Vimeo of Kane One talking about his art and showing the process of painting a wall!

Kane One @ The Bread Factory from Kane One on Vimeo.

Graffiti Fine Art

Photographer, filmmaker, and all around "cool guy", Jared Levy put out a documentary just a few years ago called, Graffiti Fine Art.
This film is about the nature of fine art, graffiti, and how these two worlds have molded and intertwined together.

If you haven't seen this film yet, here is your opportunity. The IPaintMyMind Gallery at the Green Exchange in Logan Square will be showcasing the film on Friday November 15th. The event is 21+ and there will be free beer, wine, and snacks.  The event is from 5-9pm with an opening set by DJ Sean Doe and then the film screening will begin at 7:15pm.

Here is the flyer for the event this weekend:

Graffiti Fine Art trailer: 

Spotted: Hebru Brantley

This Bronzeville/Douglas native who still lives and works in Chicago is one of the most publicly respected and recognized graffiti artists. 

Photo by Onasis from http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/chicago-artist-hebru-brantley-hosts-pop-up-shop-during-lollapalooza/

His own statement claims that his style derives from "graffiti-worn buildings and sneaker-hung telephone poles honoring memories of local legends." (Isn't that what he is??)  Mythological heroes in cartoons and comic books are what inspired him to tell stories through his art.

From DoctorStick on http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorstick/7625720382/

Bothered by black exploitation and science fiction in movies and on TV when he was younger, Brantley started to express himself visually. Among his influences are Romare Bearden, Keith Haring, Basquiat, and black folt art.

Poster by Hebru Brantley from http://theboard.lollapalooza.com/showthread.php?776-20th-Anniversary-Commerative-Poster

One thing that Brantley is very notorious for is his use of different surfaces and media including wood, spray paint, coffee, and tea. Even thought he has moved on from tagging walls to canvas art, he will always be remembered for his anime-like pieces in Chicago.

From http://themadeblog.com/tag/wicker/

Hebru Brantley has had his work exhibited in Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, L.A. & New York. Two of his pieces are currently being featured at the American Embassy in Stockholm throughout the remainder of the year. He has also worked for people/companies including: Lollapalooza, Jay Z, Nike, & Life + Times.

From http://tullman.blogspot.com/2011/11/tullman-collection-artist-hebru.html

BOREDgames

Last summer, new street artist, 'Bored' turned the streets of Chicago into it's very own Monopoly game.
It wasn't just spray paint and stencils...this was 3D.

This artist (or artists) bombed Logan Square and apparently other parts of the city throughout a few month period. When asked about the project by a journalist, Bored said, "the goal of this entire project has been to present something different than a stencil painted on the ground or a poster pasted to a wall. Something 3-dimensional that can be picked up, beaten down, kicked, yanked, grabbed, and broken. And if someone ever put forth the effort to remove it, like a weed it will always grow back. And if left alone it will evolve into something different."

Names on the property cards, Community Chest, and Chance cards were changed a bit to reflect the area. For example, there is no Albany Avenue in the real Monopoly game, but there is in Logan Square! Some Chance cards included real-word messages such as a Go To Jail card for "public douchebaggery" and a marriage proposal to a very lucky Carissa.

From http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/07/new-street-artist-bored-turns-chicago-sidewalks-into-an-alternative-monopoly-game/

From http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/07/new-street-artist-bored-turns-chicago-sidewalks-into-an-alternative-monopoly-game/

From http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/07/new-street-artist-bored-turns-chicago-sidewalks-into-an-alternative-monopoly-game/

For more info and photos visit Colossal 

what are people saying?

"Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don't come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they're having a piss."

 -Banksy, Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall

"Graffiti is not about clean lines, pretty colors and beautiful blends. Graffiti is my life's turbulence explored on a wall.

-Mint Serf

"Everyone has to scratch on walls somewhere or they go crazy."

-Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion

"Some people have become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place."

-Banksy, Wall and Piece

"Graffiti is beautiful; like a brick in the face of a cop."

 -Hunter S. Thompson

i wanted to clear something up..

I figured that many of you may be getting confused with my use of both "graffiti" and "street art" throughout my posts.
Let me apologize for not being clear. They technically are two different things.

Shylo Bisnett, writer for 'Gapers Block' web publication, provides a well-written description of the difference between graffiti artists and street artists.
She says that graffiti artists employ stylized typography, painting techniques, and inventive sites such as freight trains and mural-friendly walls. They use quick thinking when they are designing and usually stay anonymous.
Bisnett describes street artists as those who pre plan for their installations. Street artists also usually use more tools for their pieces than graffiti artists do. "In Chicago, street artists use anything from stickers to newsprint to plywood to break up the urban everyday."

backstory

Graffiti has been around forever. Cavemen scratched pictures of animals and battles in their caves and the ancient Romans carved on monuments and walls all over their cities. Even after Mount Vesuvius erupted, graffiti was found in Pompeii. Magic spells, curses written in Latin, declarations of love, political slogans, and even famous literary quotes were found on the walls of the city. Writings of religion and politics have been found in what is now modern day Syria, Iraq, and Jordan that back up between 1st century BC and 4th century AD. Where ever it may have been, people all over the world have been leaving their stories along their routes of travel since the beginning of time.

From http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/photos/?c=y&articleID=99324199&page=1

Modern day graffiti as we know it started in NYC in the '70s. Some artists would choose a name or a "tag", usually short so that it could be written quickly. Many times, the names represented what part of the city they came from. 

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicagocoldwar/

This art form spread like wildfire to places like L.A., Dallas, and Chicago by the late '80s.

Street gangs in Chicago began using graffiti to mark what they thought was their territory and to threaten rival gang members.

From http://badatsports.com/tags/graffiti-art/

Modern day graffiti as we know it started in NYC in the '70s. Some artists would choose a name or a "tag", usually short so that it could be written quickly. Many times, the names represented what part of the city they came from.  Modern day graffiti as we know it started in NYC in the '70s. Some artists would choose a name or a "tag", usually short so that it could be written quickly. Many times, the names represented what part of the city they came from.  Modern day graffiti as we know it started in NYC in the '70s. Some artists would choose a name or a "tag", usually short so that it could be written quickly. Many times, the names represented what part of the city they came from. 

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Here is a really great video on some of the history of graffiti. Although it is not specific to Chicago, there is some good information as well as interesting photos.