downtown

GROWING BUZZ OF STREET ART BIZ SAYS KCET



The Growing Buzz of Street Art Biz

"Never mind restoring a Los Angeles art aesthetic. Downtown seems determined to be "The Mural Economic Capital Of The World."
After its underground beginnings during 1970s New York, the last decade has seen street art become a close working partner with entrepreneurship. In many cases that includes murals. It's a delicate balance of commentary and business fueled by pop-art populism.
First, one has to admit that ethnic-based murals sometimes keeps its distance, since most of that authorship prefer to voice the underserved. Street art, on the other hand, is about city residency and experience -- or at least visitation rights by suburbanites -- without needing an exclusive tie to ethnicity.
That broader appeal works on several levels. When it borders on the fringe of fine art in urban public space, an urgent primal coded message is found on dinged abandoned blocks, passing on a secret to those looking for it. When it's placed on a large wall, it's pointed out as public art, and in Los Angeles, part of a larger legacy.
When street art killer bees pollinate the street art movement by blogging and tweeting out global images, it creates a demand, as seen in April around downtown Los Angeles.
During Art Walk, Brit Week opened at Farmer's And Merchant's Bank to bring awareness to creativity and innovation between Britain and the U.S. This lead-in to this Summer's Olympic Games in London will have the T4C Artists Competition Closing Ceremony and Art Battle LA,billed as a live competition "between four notorious names in the London and Los Angeles street and graffiti art scenes." Los Angeles' Man One and Mear One will be pitted against UK's Inkie and Eine on Thursday, April 26, at the Continental Gallery (408 S. Spring Street) to paint on recycled furniture pieces designed by Christopher Guy.
That project shows how Los Angeles packages street art as a creative import for the city."

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ALL CITY CANVAS: MEXICO CITY

We are proud supporters of this mural festival ALL CITY CANVAS taking place in Mexico City starting next week.

Check out the sick lineup of international artists taking part:


**Exclusive: We will be showing footage of all the murals created during this festival at our opening reception for "Mission Accomplished" on May 5th, so be there!


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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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Ten years ago renowned graffiti artist and Los Angeles native Man One founded Crewest Gallery in Alhambra, CA, just a few minutes east of Downtown. Crewest was founded with the mission to legitimatize graffiti art by giving talented graffiti artists a professional forum in which to showcase their art while simultaneously educating the broader art community and general public about the richness, complexity and technicality of graffiti art.

Now, in 2012, graffiti art is hot. Graffiti art is showing in museums and on television. Graffiti art is on fashion and architecture. Graffiti artists are having gallery shows and being collected all over the world. In fact, last year, one of the largest and most attended shows in the history of MOCA in Los Angeles was a graffiti art exhibit called ART IN THE STREETS, which ran from April through August in 2011 and made news worldwide.  Man One and Crewest Gallery blazed the trails that helped to make things like this possible for graffiti artists and their art form.

In the book Graffiti L.A., street art documentarian Steve Grody listed the opening of Crewest Gallery as a milestone event in the history of graffiti art in Los Angeles. 

The evidence is clear. Over the last ten years, Crewest has helped many great artists gain notoriety and a bigger audience.  These artists include Patrick Martinez, Marka27, Siner, Victor Sepulveda, Sacred194, Syndrome, Cope2, Greg "Craola" Simkins, Kofie Augustine, WERC, Mear One, Asylm, Vyal One,  T-Kid, Ces and on and on.

Established and renowned artists who have exhibited at Crewest over the years include Chaz Bojorquez, George Yepes, Syd Mead, Estevan Oriol, Eriberto Oriol, Gusmano Cesaretti and international artists such as Daim & Seak (Germany), SOT & ICY (Iranian street artists), Dabs & Myla (Australia) had their first U.S. showings at Crewest.

Artists that will show at MISSION ACCOMPLISHED in May include:
AISE, ALEX "DEFER" KIZU, BRANDED, BRON THERON, CAB, CHAZ BOJORQUEZ, DAVE KAWANO, DCYPHER, EDGAR HOILL, ERIBERTO ORIOL, EVAN ESK, EYE ONE, FLYCAT, GEORGE CLINTON, GEORGE YEPES, GONZO247, GREGG STONE, GUSTAVO ALBERTO GARCIA VACA, HASTE, HECTOR “HEX TGO” RIOS, HUIT, JOHN CARR, JUAN CARLOS "HEAVEN" MUNOZ, KOFIE, MARIA KANE, MAX NEUTRA, MEAR ONE, MICHAEL PIZARRO, MR. PUPPET, MR.WANY, OSCAR MAGALLANES, OVERTON LOYD, PABLO CRISTI, RAPTUZ, RITZY PERIWINKLE, ROME, SAHL, SAND ONE, SCOTCH, SHERM, SKET, SLOKE, CRISTIAN “SMEAR” GHEORGHIU, STEVE GRODY, STEVE MARTINEZ, STREET PHANTOM, SYNDROME, VYAL ONE, AND MORE…

In the Front Room Man One “A DECADE OF GRAFFITI SPIRITS”:
As the founder and creative director for Crewest since its inception, Man One has predicted the rise of graffiti art as a viable and collectible art form.

As part of Crewest's 10 Year Anniversary exhibition, Man One will be featuring a mini-solo exhibit in the Front Room of the gallery showing the direction of his newest body of work.
  
Show runs alongside "Mission Accomplished!" from May 5th - 27th, 2012

Important Date Info:
“Mission Accomplished” and “A Decade of Graffiti Spirits” opens to the public 
Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 7-10pm.

Artwalk event takes place Thursday, May 10, 2012.  Exhibits close on May 27, 2012


Location Info:
Crewest Gallery, 110 Winston St., Los Angeles, CA  90013, 213-627-8272, info@crewest.com.

About Crewest:  Crewest Gallery is celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary in May 2012.  Crewest Gallery caters to art that speaks to the heart, soul and mind. Its mission is to bring raw and powerful artwork to the people of Los Angeles. The purpose of Crewest is to promote gifted artists whose work may be too edgy and non-conventional for other venues. Crewest Gallery was founded in 2001 by graffiti artist Man One to provide a legitimate venue for the most talented underground artists, known and unknown, from the West Coast and beyond. From graffiti to digital art, paint to sculpture, Crewest showcases artists and exhibits that are most current, relevant and happening now. Crewest comprises 2100 sq. ft. and is located in Gallery Row, downtown Los  Angeles. Crewest is available for private events, branded entertainment and production shoots for film or television. Website:  www.crewest.com

SINERLANDIA + PAINTED BEAUTY OPENING NITE

Saturday April 7th, 2012
Two debut solo shows opened up last Saturday nite

Sinerlandia by Siner
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Painted Beauty by Michael Pizarro
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Peeps came out -
Chicks:
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Dudes:
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Art by Siner:
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View all of Siner's work in the show


Art by Michael Pizarro:
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View all of Michael Pizarro's work in the show


Show runs through April 29, 2012

Slideshow below + more opening nite pics on Flickr


Interested in any of the art?
Contact us:
info@crewest.com


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PAINTED BEAUTY


Available artwork on slideshow below or click to view on Flickr:


Crewest is proud to announce Painted Beauty, the solo debut of Michael Pizzaro.  


There comes a time when you simply just cannot define beauty, 
but you must acknowledge its presence. Michael Pizzaro does just that
with his new series Painted Beauty

#PaintedBeauty by Michael Pizarro opens tmw! 4/7/12

With his ability to capture beauty 
and using the slender shape of the skateboard as a canvas, Pizzaro
conveys to the viewer that not only is there the image of beauty but
 that there is a shape to it as well.

Painted Beauty opens Saturday, April 7, 2012 and will be on view through April 29, 2012.  Opening Reception from 7 to 10 pm with live beats by DJ Phyz Ed and refreshments provided by Roaring Lion and Jarritos. Painted Beauy will be open during the Downtown Artwalk on Thursday, April 12, 2012 from 7 to 10pm.


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SINERLANDIA


Available artwork slideshow below or click to Flickr:



Crewest is very proud to announce Siner will be debuting his first ever solo exhibit "Sinerlandia" on April 7th, 2012 at Crewest Gallery.

The exhibit will feature original artwork which proudly echoes the Los Angeles cultural landscape and street aesthetic.

For this show, Siner exhibits both the beauty of the tag, lettering style, and character involvement which is the basis for Los Angeles graffiti. He takes the viewer on a journey through the streets of South Central Los Angeles with art based on L.A. street culture.  While both forms of art exist on the streets, whether in the form of graffiti art on the wall or in the form of everyday street life of the Angelino, Siner is allowing the viewer to take an up close look into LA’s vivid cultural heritage as he sees it.

Born and raised in Los Angeles California, Siner has become one of the most influential writers on the L.A. scene and is best known for his intricate letter structure and free form flow. In the mid 1980’s Siner and his brother Sane started writing and founded the infamous LTS (Last To Survive) crew. He was heavily influenced by L.A. street culture and the Chicano muralists. Using Aztec, Mayan, and Mexican pop culture imagery, Siner reflects what it is like to have a sense of pride in one’s self and a respect for one’s cultural heritage.

Sinerlandia opens Saturday, April 7, 2012 and will be on view through April 29, 2012.  Opening Reception from 7 to 10 pm with live beats by DJ Phyz Ed and refreshments provided by Roaring Lion and Jarritos. Sinerlandia will be open during the Downtown Artwalk on Thursday, April 12, 2012 from 7 to 10pm.



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ARTIST TALK: OSCAR MAGALLANES

Papel-Y-Madera-Artist-Talk-Flyer

Join us on Sunday March 25th from 2-3pm and learn about the incredible work on our walls from our current show "Papel y Madera" by the artist and curator Oscar Magallanes and Self Help Graphics Program Manager Joel Garcia.

Come early to view the work and stay for the talk.
Light refreshments and drinks.

FREE and open to the public:
rsvp@crewest.com

Regular Gallery Hours:
Tue-Thur: Noon - 7pm
Fri & Sat: Noon - 8pm
Sun: Noon - 6pm
or by appointment only.
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PAPEL Y MADERA: OPENING NITE PICS + ART

Papel-Y-Madera-WLogosMagallanes_MorningPrayerEstrella Alta CalifasSMLHeuristic_11Iconic-ChicanismoOG Mascara Jaguar
Heuristic_10With Laws Like TheseOG Mascara AguilaFlores Para Juarez_Sml

Click here for more event pics and to view all the art: PAPEL Y MADERA
Check out these pics of Oscar Magallanes' work and all the supporters, friends and fans that showed up.


In attendance, John Carr, El Mac, Vyal, Joel "Rage" Garcia, Raul "Frame" Gamboa, Man One, Eriberto and Angelica Oriol and Isabel Reyes to name a few.




Providing inspiration to the next generation:



Show runs through April 1st.
Click on pics to view more on our Flickr page.

More info or to purchase work:
info@crewest.com

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PAPEL Y MADERA VIDEO RECAP


Oscar Magallanes "Papel Y Madera" Crewest Gallery from Alex Rodriguez on Vimeo.


A quick rundown of the "Papel Y Madera" Show 
@ Crewest Gallery DTLA
March 3rd 2012

Works By:
Oscar Magallanes
oscarmagallanes.com

Beat Credits:
Aspect 1: aspect1.bandcamp.com/
Dj Noha: djnoha.bandcamp.com/

Camera/Editor
Alex Rodriguez alexrodriguez9801@gmail.com


Show runs through April 1st, 2012


More info:
www.Crewest.com




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CREWEST 2012 CALENDAR


We are very happy to announce our upcoming exhibits in the Main Gallery and in the Front Room for 2012. Take a look, see who is showing and get ready for an awesome year at Crewest.

For general inquiries, email us at info@crewest.com.

For press inquiries, email Luna George at luna@crewest.com.



Month
In the Main Gallery
In the Front Room

March

de Papel y Madera
Curated by Oscar Magallanes

Oscar Magallanes

April

Sinerlandia
Solo Show Featuring Works by Siner

Michael Pizarro
May

Mission Accomplished
Crewest 10th Year Anniversary Show
Man One
June
Comic Art Show
Axis
July
Marka27 Solo Show
Problak
August
WERC Solo Show
Relic
September
Hector "HEX TGO" Rios
Solo Show
Satterugly
October
TBA
TBA
November
Top of the Dome
Maria Kane & George Yepes
December
TBA
TBA

PAPEL Y MADERA





Papel y Madera


Curated by Oscar Magallanes













Crewest gallery presents works on paper and wood by Oscar
Magallanes along with curated prints from the Self Help Graphics and Art
collection by the following:  El Mac, Chaz Bojorquez, Mear, Vyal, John Carr, Salomón
Huerta, and others...





Date Info:


Opening Reception: 


Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 6 to 10 pm. 


Curator in attendance. 
With Dj Phyz Ed spinning live.





Artwalk Night: 


Thursday, March 8, 2012 from 6 to 10 pm. 


With Dj Phyz Ed spinning live.





Exhibit Closes:


Sunday, April 1, 2012





Websites:





For questions, email us at info@crewest.com


 


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More pics on our Flickr

GRAFFITI ON 10S

Graffiti on 10s by Crewest
(Graffiti on 10s, a photo by Crewest on Flickr.)
Broadway Night Out + Yakin Works + 360Magazine in association with Crewest present:

Graffiti on 10s: The Artwalk Afterparty

With live painting by: ELSE
Live body art by: HYDRA and TUNA

Loft 560
560 S. Main St., #10s
(@6th Street)
DTLA!

Thursday Feb.9th
9pm

Open bar from 9-10pm
sponsored by Asahi

RSVP: Broadwaynightout@gmail.com

See you there!
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"BUY PRODUCT" A SOLO SHOW BY TWO RABBITS

Two Rabbits Solo Show "Buy Product" Opens:
Thursday, January 12, 2012 from 6 – 10 pm during the Downtown Artwalk

Crewest has just opened a third room to our gallery space namely “The Front Room”, making it now a larger, high ceiling, 3 room gallery space. A new solo show by a special guest artist will open in The Front Room every artwalk night. Come out this coming artwalk to view "Buy Product" a Solo Show by Two Rabbits.

Buy Product” will feature the latest work of Two Rabbits which drastically focuses on the repurposing of their by-product. From their test prints to their mixing sticks, Two Rabbits see the chaos and beauty of their artistic endeavors in everything that's left over. Two Rabbits have taken what many consider to be useless scrap and turned it into beautiful works of color and shape to display.


“Buy Product” will be on display from January 12 through February 5, 2012


About Two Rabbits:
Two Rabbits Studios is a design firm, commercial screen print shop, and fine art studio ran by Los Angeles-based artists Mike Thacker and Bob Motown. Since 2007, the pair have designed and printed hundreds of rock posters and promotional pieces for movies and video games. Two Rabbits started small in a North Hollywood backyard—less than five years later, and they've been featured in galleries, Flatstock poster shows, and craft fairs in the United States and UK. They've worked with Warner Music Group and concert promoters Goldenvoice for artists ranging from Skrillex to  Wu Tang to Portishead. Recently, Thacker and Motown's focus has been on fine art pieces that reflect upon their hand-printed process and design.

Their work can be seen at: http://www.tworabbitsstudios.com/.


FOR QUESTIONS OR INFO ON “BUY PRODUCT”, PLEASE EMAIL US AT INFO@CREWEST.COM

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GREGG STONE - THE AVENUES


Recently sold work:

"THE AVENUES" by Gregg Stone
Avenue-FOAcopy

Gregg Stone resides in southern Orange County with a longstanding artistic career in watercolor, gouache, ink, and airbrush. 
 After graduating from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena with a bachelor's degree in fine arts (BFA) in 1978, Stone became a successful freelance illustrator
His current work in mixed-media paintings blend cultural and architectural treasures along the byways of border region
Hispanic communities into painterly narratives of everyday street life.
Paint It Black

Tat2 Louie


or contact us at:
art@crewestgallery.com

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JULES MUCK - SEX FIEND


Recently sold work:

"Sex Fiend" by Jules Muck
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Jules Muck started doing graffiti in Europe and great Britain almost twenty years ago. Muck began bombing in New York in the late 90s where she was discovered by Lady Pink who took her on as an apprentice for the next 4 years.

Under her tag name Muck she has shown at Tokyo Big Site, the Bronx Museum of Art, the Weisman Museum in Minneapolis and the Fuse Gallery in New York.


or contact us at:
art@crewestgallery.com

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ESTRIA INVITATIONAL GRAFFITI BATTLE @ CREWEST

 

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The 5th Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle

Partners With Crewest Gallery In Downtown Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA - July 21, 2011 - The 5th Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle, a nationwide urban art competition that honors and advances creativity in the Hip Hop arts, is partnering with Crewest Gallery, downtown Los Angeles’ leading graffiti and street art gallery. The event will take place on Saturday, August 13, 2011 on 110 Winston St. in front of Crewest, from 12-6pm. There will be 12 artists competing for a chance to advance to the final battle in Oakland, CA this fall. Artists competing in the competition will be announced as the battle day approaches.

"We are very excited to be partnering up with the Estria Foundation in hosting this incredible event for the first time in Los Angeles. The Graffiti Battle will bring together some of our city's most talented artists and hundreds of fans to experience a unique block party event in front of our Downtown gallery for all to experience.We can't wait for the creativity and enthusiasm that this event will bring to our City and most especially to our local youth." - ManOne (Founder Crewest Gallery)

In addition to the Graffiti Battle, a Black Book Battle will be happening simultaneously and will hold three categories - Youth (12-21), Adult (21+), and a Women’s only division. To participate in the Black Book Battle you must sign up the day of the event. The first 30 to sign up will receive a Crescent Graffiti Paper Sketch Pad to use in the battle, (all supplies will be provided to participants).

Event Schedule:

12-6pm Graffiti Battle

2-4:30pm Black Book Battle (artists sign up before 1:30pm to enter competition)

Artists competing in the LA Battle will be announced in August. Interested artists can sign up to compete at www.estriabattle.com. Sponsors for the Los Angeles Battle include MTN Colors, Fatcap.com, Crescent’s Graffiti Paper, and Cukui Clothing.

About Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle: The Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle is a national urban art competition that honors and advances creativity in the Hip Hop arts. The battle was founded in 2007 by graffiti art living legend Estria Miyashiro and arts educator Jason Mateo. Through this art form of messaging, the competition encourages graffiti writers to communicate social justice issues and empower communities with spirit and beauty. The graffiti battle is a project of the Estria Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Oakland, CA. www.estriabattle.com

About The Estria Foundation: The Estria Foundation was founded by Estria Miyashiro and Jeremy LaTrasse in 2010 and is a community-based organization dedicated to lasting systemic and social change. Through workshops, speaking engagements, projects, and events, the foundation is committed to creating public art advocating justice and peace in under-served communities worldwide. www.estria.org

About Crewest Gallery: Crewest is a gallery that supports some of the most talented underground artists from the West Coast and beyond. The gallery's focus is on urban & graffiti art created through painting, sculpture, digital, and print medias. All of the exhibits housed at Crewest deal with what is current, and significant within the realm of the urban art experience. Hours of operation are Tues. thru Thurs.: noon – 7pm, Fri. and Sat.: 12pm -8pm, Sun.: Noon – 6pm and Closed Mondays (except by appointment only). Visit the gallery online at: www.crewest.com.

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UPCOMING: EYE TO EYE

 

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EYE TO EYE

Bridging the gap between graffiti and art

Crewest and L. Croskey/Cannibal Flower would like to present "Eye to Eye" - a group show that finds graffiti artists and painters playing on common ground through the shared aesthetic principles of movement, color, and energy. This eclectic group of artists can evoke the visceral energy of a full burner within a gallery setting. It is not about graffiti, it is about the emotion of graffiti. The artists listed are all local Angelenos, some recognized, and some that deserve recognition, the latter being another purpose of this show – to introduce into the scene some new talent; to shed some new light into the walls.

Exhibiting Artists:                                                                                             Bill McEvoy, Brendan Tierney, Cody Lusby, David Cooley, Deryke Cardenas, Djembe and Canvas, Euth, Gregory Rodriguez, Gustavo Munoz, Gustavo Rimada, JoKa, Kelly Berg, L.Croskey, Michael Christy, Phil Santos, Preston Thomas, Rafael Isaac Delgado Jr., Steven Lopez, Tony Venegas


SAVE THESE DATES!
Opening Reception: August, 6, 2011, From 6-10 pm
With beats by DJ Phyz Ed
On view through August 28, 2011
Artwalk Night: August, 11, 2011

 

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VINYL WALK WED. JUNE 29TH @ CREWEST


Hey everyone once a month Crewest is now hosting a music night for music lovers and art lovers to come on down to the gallery and to enjoy a kickin atmosphere filled with DJ's, art, artistic speakers and more.

So if you are down for the good vibes join us Wed. June 29th from 7-9 pm for what we call "Vinyl Walk".

On June 29th you can enjoy live beats by resident DJ Phyz Ed, live art by Felicia of Jazmin and artistic speakers design by A.T. Also to pump things up a notch Vinyl Walk will also be featuring guest DJ's Josh One and DJ Mr. Choc.

Vibe with us on June 29th!

www.twitter.com/vinylwalk


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