The Ramones

    

                  



                      

We just finished watching the End of the Century The Story of the Ramones ,a documentary about the Ramones, the Punk Band that was over the top talented. Joey Ramone had his own way to be in this world and music was his expression that gave him a way to be in this crazy world. The band members in the Ramones had their own personalities and performed in clubs in NYC and the USA. They toured Europe and other countries and were highly regarded as the great punk band. What I love about the Ramones is that they kept it real and gave 100% to their music. Yoshitomo Nara has been very influenced by punk and the Ramones and above you will see his character Ramona a tribute to the great Ramones. Artists influence each other all the time.

Time for the Harvest Festival

                       


                               

It is time  for the Arroyo Grande Harvest Festival. This is number 74 and it happens this weekend Sept 23 and 24. Come out to the Arroyo Grande Pavilion and Farmers Market and enjoy great crafts and lots of entertainment. Be AG proud and attend our local festival. This will get you in the mood for falling back.

SABER

           


        

                    

SABER's work is unreal. I can identify with his grey tones pallet. I appreciate black and white photography and love to see tones of grey. Grey is a great inlay to the RISK and REVOK walls. As a kid, SABER was obsessed with Robotech, Transformers, and Gothic churches. If you go to SABER's blog you can read an enlightening article about his experiences painting on the same walls as RISK and REVOK two of the great graffiti artists highlighted in the Art in the Streets show. SABER talks about only painting when he is in the flow otherwise he is not as satisfied. The worst thing you can do is ask an artist, " are you going to paint today?" They will paint when they darn well feel like it. Stupid question. The title of his wall is "sacred trash' because it represents the two sides of Graffiti, 'sacred' or 'disposable.' SABER is a former SF Art Institute guy experienced in painting and letter-based metal sculpture.

Who Is BLU?

                               

BLU is an Italian street artist who became famous in 1999. He is from Bologne and he uses house paint and large rollers mounted on top of telescopic sticks to make his art. He paints huge human figures, sometimes sarcastic and occasionally dramatic. There is a short animated film Muto (2008), a wall -painted animation with music by Andrea Martignoni that I highly recommend. He did the money over casket wall for the MOCA for Art in the Streets that he was asked to remove before the show. He seemed to handle to the removal of the wall with grace. His paintings can go from landscape to urban. He is motivated by the belief in an open source philosophy. I like his work and I would enjoy him as one of our dinner guests one evening.

RISK is RISKY

       

                  

Kelly Graval, aka RISK moved to LA at the age of sixteen. His lettering style is classic New York, but his contrasting colors is pure California style. In 1988 RISK was the first Angeleno to paint a New York subway train. In High School RISK got a scholarship to the Pasadena Art Institute.  He has worked on movie sets and one of Michael Jackson's music videos, "The Way You Make Me Feel." He has also done music videos for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ice Cube and Bad Religion. He is an entrepreneur of the clothing line Third Rail. RISK has also done work for Hot Rod Magazine. He has an awesome web page and you can purchase a print of one of his letters from his art wall at Art In The Streets. He is a force to be reckoned with.

      

RAMMELLZEE

                     





We lost this talented art rap pioneer in 2010. He was a rapper, painter, and sculptor. If he were alive Dan would have liked to meet him. His work was so out there he scared me with all the three dimensional  science fiction figures coming at you in the fluorescent room of the Art In The Streets Show. His music was playing as you walked around his black light room. Dan kept going back for more. Rammellzee believed that lettering "could liberate the mystical power of the alphabet." He had 21 masks that he designed that he wore for music and art venues. He was directed in Stranger Than Paradise by Jim Jarmusch. He was influential to the Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill. Rammellzee's name remains a secret to only his closest friends. Wild man Rammellzee will not be forgotten.

Stelios Faitakis

                                      

Stelios Faitakis was raised in Athens and attended the Athens School of Fine Arts where his signature style was painting murals with these incredible gold backgrounds. He references many cultures in his work: Japanese, Brazilian, Mexican, Persian, Tibetan, and Eastern European. The technical complexity of his murals has developed to the point that it is difficult to paint them outdoors; however, he still paints outside. I think of all the worldly travels my friends Regina, Lorie, and Nena have done and I think they would appreciate his intricate color palette. I think his work is stunning.

REVOK

                                

                        



REVOK did an unforgettable wall with SABER,  and RISK that was fantastic. I kept walking back to that wall to see the three styles blended together and study the detailing of the wall. The wall had incredible improvisation and you could feel the energy of the three artists on the wall. REVOK is in his 30s and he was born in Riverside, California. By the time he was twenty years old he was noticed in the street art world in LA, Nashville, Atlanta, and Miami. His writing style got noticed in SF and it was called 'cyber-cholo" graffiti. He is one of the most imitated writers of today. He has traveled to China, South Korea, Japan, Canada, and Australia. His street art has been displayed at dizzying heights. In 2007 he painted a pink billboard advertising Takashi Murakami's show at the MOCA and for whatever reason it was removed. The moment it was removed from the MOCA Murakami wanted it for his collection. Quite a compliment to the artist REVOK.