BASELGEDDON: A Novela The Book...

 So here is a little low down on this years project...

     BASELGEDDON: A Novela. A full color 8.5x11" 64 page soft cover art book which chronicles the 2013 Art Basel Wynwood Street Scene. This photo-journal was exclusively photographed and written by Andrew Kaufman. The edition is limited to 500 signed and numbered copies that will have a silk screened translucent vellum dust jacket. Available now. Reserve your copy.

     Artists included: A SQUID CALLED SEBASTIAN, REST, JAZ, MURO ONE, MAKATRON, TXEMY, INO, BEN EINE, FIVE8, OMEN, VOGUE, ESTRIA, JASE, SP1, POGO, TIMMY DUB, IVAN ROQUE, LINZ, GNS, KOMIK, ATOMIK, DVS, MIRO, SMELLS, THOR, FIB, KASHINK, ALEXIS DIAZ, AUBS, KAZILLA, NOAH LEVY, TUBS, BHAKTI BAXTER, NYCHOS, ROB FOGLE, FREEK, PIXELPANCHO, JEREMY SHANTZ, CHRISTOPHER MASLOW, MR. D, DEITY, SONNI, GOOD AND SHIDDY, EOIN, TOO FLY, LEZA, INTERESNI KAZKI, GARBAGE BEAUTY, GG, ZIP ART, SHERYO, THE YOK and OLIVER CLEGG.


Read More

BASELGEDDON: EOIN Q&A

November 4, 2014.

TEN QUESTIONS:

What do you write? Are you in a crew?

     My letterform pieces are just simply my name - EOIN. I work alone most of the time but I'm also in a crew based in LA - COI.

In what city did you start painting in the streets? Do you feel your work has influenced the community in return? If so, how? Is there a relationship between the artist and the community in which they work?

     I actually started painting walls in a small rural town here in Ireland not a city. Obviously, because it is a small town it was immediately noticed and the majority of the feedback I have gotten along the way in most of the places I have been has been positive. I think there can be a relationship between the artwork and the community rather than the artist and the community. The artist leaves their mark behind, some people will remember the artist personally but the artwork is what the people will form a connection to most of the time.

Did you go to school or are you self taught? 

     I went to college in Wales,UK. My degree is in Fine Art Sculpture. It's hard to tell what has been taught throughout my life and what I have learned myself.

How did you get started in the arts and why?

     I have been creating art for as long as I can remember, back to some of my earliest memories. It has been in my life for so long and such and integral part that I can't really imagine my life without art. So asking why, is like asking why do you breathe?

How long have you been working in the streets?

     Apart from running around tagging as a teenager I've only been working outdoors now for maybe 3 or 4 years.

Who or what inspires you the most?

     The concept of light, depth, movement and journey is what pushes me.

What should the general public know about street art? What stereotype about street art/graffiti do you hate the most?

     I don't really hate anything about it, everyone has their own take on what they see, some people hate tags, some people can see the skill involved in them, others hate on full production walls and artwork not created with a certain material but I think most people will agree that a bit of color, whether it is a hand painted sign or a masterpiece, in their lives is better than grey. That and the idea that all street artists have curly mustaches and all graffiti writers are thugs!

Are you a full time artist? Do you have a day job? Is it best to be full time artist or not worry about it and make your $$$ elsewhere, that way you can paint what and how you want, which one offers a more creative outlook?

     I have been fortunate to have found the opportunities I have had over the past few years so that I can do this full time. There is no right or wrong way to do it as long as you are creating and pushing yourself. Obviously not having to work 9-5 leaves you far more time to be creative but there is also a whole other spectrum of things that need your attention as well as actually producing work. I think it depends what role art plays in your life.

What are you working on now? 

     I am currently working on a new body of work in the studio and am starting to further my exploration of light, depth, movement and journey.

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish by putting your work in the street?

     I hope to move and inspire people to reflect and connect.

Thank you,

EOIN

ArtByEoin

BASELGEDDON: FIVE8 Q&A

What are you working on now? 

     Winter is fast approaching here in Quebec. Right now I’m gathering and storing nuts for the hibernation. It’s about 5-6 months where exterior murals are not an option unless I travel to warmer climate. I’ve been sitting on an acrylic portrait series I would like to get back to. I’m also starting work on a neon sign project, which is still in the research phase. 


Read More

I'M IN MIAMI BITCH! AMOS Q&A

January 21, 2014.

Nip slip.

AK: What do you write? Are you in a crew?

 AM: I'm the Almighty Master Of Style AMOS from the FS, DTT & WGE fraternal orders of fresh. 

AK: In what city did you start painting in the streets? Do you feel your work has influenced the community in return? If so, how? Is there a relationship between the artist and the community in which they work?

AM: I initially started painting the streets of Miami. As far as my work "influencing" the community, I mean, they're not changing the city logo because of me, but as far as the graff community, I see people using more patterns and prints in their work. Although, I didn’t invent the cheetah or zebra print, that’s God's design, so I can't take all the credit. I just incorporate that into my work.  As far as a relationship, everything has a cause and effect. I've seen people walk by my work and take pictures and pose with my pieces and I've seen city employees/ business owners buffing stuff I've done, so, there's that. 

AK: Did you go to school or are you self taught? 

AM: I didn't go to school for art and there's no school for graffiti. I started "writing" when I was really young. But I consider the actual starting point of my graff career when I started writing AMOS which was 1994. I wasn't necessarily self taught either. I looked to the older more experienced writers in my crew for knowledge. But it wasn't a lot of "how do you do that?" or "what should I do here?" it was more observing what they did and how they did it. Because, for whatever reason, we never helped each other like that. No one ever did my fills or my outline. We always tried to burn one another. It was a kinda sink or swim mentality. We still try to burn each other every time we paint. Its competitive, but I think it brings the best outta people. 

 AK: How did you get started in the arts and why?

AM: My start into the "art world" was in 2004 when I did my first gallery show. I still have mixed feelings about that event. I was doing graffiti pieces on canvas and weird designs on mirrors and bullshit. I didn't do any "fine art" for the public after that. I just did  graffiti canvases once or twice a year for friends mostly. It wasn't until 2012 that I started to do canvases again for the public and for sale. 

 AK: How long have you been working in the streets?

AM:  I consider anything legal or illegal to be putting in work. Marker/paint tags, stickers, fill-ins, rollers, pieces etc., its all work. People who do this usually enjoy their work, but it doesn't mean its not work. All that stuff is a mission and requires time and effort. But to answer your question, officially since 1994. 

AK: Who or What inspires you the most?

AM: EVERYTHING, EVERYONE. I look at a cinnamon bun and think "that swirl would be a dope fill." I watch Sponge Bob with my son and think "those colors are fresh together." I see a lady on the bus with a wild pattern on her dress and I think "how can I incorporate that into my work." Nothing is off limits and for me that's fun and liberating. I can do whatever I want, its mine.

AK: What should the general public know about street art? What stereotype about street art/graffiti do you hate the most?

AM: Street art is any art done in the city streets (ie. knitting stop sign poles, hieroglyphics on the side of buildings, graffiti). City landscapes have become the canvas for all types of artist now a days. THAT FACT, can be directly attributed to graffiti. We are the artists that have been doing that and that did it first. Now in saying that I know, for a fact, that some hard core, player, thug types are saying "Maaan, I ain't no muthafucking artist son! I'm a muufucking vandal yo!!" But you're not. You're a fucking artist. You're not going around town, traveling to different cities breaking windows, spray painting dicks on peoples cars, and then taking pictures of it, documenting your breaking windows & dicks on cars career. Be real. You've carefully picked or were given a name, you pick your colors, practice writing it and then risked your freedom to do it. The only reason you're a "vandal" is because it’s illegal to do your art on property that ain't yours. So relax guyyyyy, you're just a rebel artista. 

AK: Are you a full time artist? Do you have a day job? Is it best to be full time artist or not worry about it and make your $$$ elsewhere, that way you can paint what and how you want, which one offers a more creative outlook?

AM: I am a full time artist and I have a job. Is it best to be one or the other or both is a personal question for each individual. Because you have a "day job" won't necessarily make you less creative or vis versa. I paint whatever I want. BUT, if you are a full time artist who just paints what people want and not your own flavor, I don't feel that’s a much of a career. It's all about creative freedom, then again, the almighty dollar dictates a lot of peoples motivation, bills, kids, responsibilities, lifestyle... you know?

AK: What are you working on now? (Please provide a photograph)

 AM: Since 2013 I've been working on a series called "The American Experiment". Its a collection of canvases painted with spray paint, acrylic and liquid wax. I've extracted elements from my experience with graffiti combined it with a pop-fauvist color palette creating a fun retro futuristic feel. I use a variety of designs and colors and an equal amount space for each to coexist and hopefully compliment each other... like the concept of the social salad bowl that is America.  

AK: What do you hope to achieve or accomplish by putting your work in the street?

AM: I use the streets as my personal black book. There isn't a design or character in my canvases that I haven't done on a wall or train first. The street keeps me humble. It reminds me that there is always more to do, more to paint, its never enough. The REAL satisfaction I get from painting in the streets is representing my crews. It's who I truly do it for. Every time we paint we definitely send each other fliks and talk about how lucky the other guy wasn’t there cause he woulda gotten BURNED! 

Peace to all my crews and to the culture, and respect to those who show it,

AMOS

 Check out more of AMOS' work on Instagram