The New-Clear Option

Root of a Revolution

Daryll McCray better known as Cornbread began writing in the slums of Philadelphia in 1968. Forty years later he is recognized as one of the original writers of american graffiti. Prior to his public expression of love and despair, there were few signs that suggested the global profusion of mass culture art that is grafffiti today.

Empire Blues

But graffiti is nothing new. It has been a vehicle for dissemination of discontent for centuries. Writing in the streets has also been an affront to absolute power but more importantly it has been a bitter tincture for countless individuals in coping with disenfranchisement, destitute and oppression at the hands of authoritarianism.

Message in a Spray Can

Why are some messages deems acceptable but rebuttals are not tolerated? Because graffiti is about destruction of the fragile facade of a rosy-colored reality propagated by the status quo.

Fairey Tale

The definition of expression has broadened to include previously black-listed forms. The visual component of graffiti has become the imagery of the masses. You will be hard pressed to find someone who does not recognize the poster that got Obama elected. Yet few have processed the fact that the creator of such a powerful image considers himself a graffiti artist.

Hierarchical Haring

Global trends are unstoppable, as we see from the migration of humans from Mexico or the degradation of the environment. Trend of this magnitude become overwhelming only to those who are unable to recognize the sources of the dynamic as they are incapable of understanding that mega-trends can only be steered towards a desired result. No less than a mega-trend, hip-hop culture of graffiti art has insinuated itself worldwide. And not a minute so soon.

Beautiful Banski

The power of street art lies in the surprise. To inadvertently wander upon an indelible image with social and political relevance is priceless. Of course corporate interest do not want unsanctioned public commentary that questions their construct. This is because one of the pillars of graffiti is the destruction of illusion with the vandalizing of the vortex that vilifies true artistic expression and funnels all its resources to perpetuating the myth of Freedom. If you were charged with keeping order would you tolerate those who rattle the cages of oppression? Would you be the one to cast the first stone?

Hebrew Hammer

This is the face of the new urban swamp. Miami does not exist in a bubble. Today is a great day for Primary Flight, champions for the cause to create a museum of the streets. Indeed the metro-dade sign police must be spinning its wheels to identify what is sanctioned and what is not. The thrill of illicit art may be gone but the remnants of power process persist.

Prodigious Playground

Urban decay is on the rise but don't blame me. In these tough economic times, folks need to let off a little steam. What better way than to take an abandoned cola distribution plan and bomb it to high heaven.

Krylon Coalescence

From the ashes of our economic depression rise a flock of flaming phoenix to usher in the proliferation of the peoples art. I should have bought stock in spray paint before the crash.

The Next Generation

The youth remind us what most geezers conveniently forget. The rebellious young artist can not be broken by propaganda devised to induce complacency using fear to persuade the lowly masses. We are told that graffiti is bad and billboards are good. I say the graffiti is misunderstood and billboards are visual pollution.

Snuff is Enough

Why not take a moment to reflect on the reasons why mega-trends are unstoppable. What are the root causes for expressions of discontent? Why is hip-hop so wildly popular worldwide?

Why is the power elite freaking out about Wikileaks? As Wikileaks continues to reveal the hypocrisy and dirty laundry of world power players, it becomes obvious that the time is ripe to do some laundry and see what comes out in the wash.

No Brittos Here

By now hundreds and thousands of visitors to Miami have experienced first-hand the awesome embrace of street art that currently defines the Miami Arts Awakening movement in the swamp. Little did county official with their Romero imagine that they would be upstaged and left in the dust by the formidable force of the people's art.

Nouveau Murals

Graffiti is not just bubble letters and nasty bombings. It has morphed into a exquisite expression of the richness of our culture. Graffiti is the language of the street and it belongs to you. Like a crazy cousin who you cant help but love, graffiti is now woven into the fabric of our society and it is wildly beautiful (most of the time).

Shaman Scharf

At the Wynwood Walls you will find the starting point for a tour of street art like no other in South Florida. This is the real deal folks, family friendly and most empowering.

Retna of the Mind

Open you hearts and read the message in the spray can. Graffiti is no longer a four letter word. It is the work of your friends and neighbors in the arts community who have stepped up to the wall to say, "Justice for All".

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BaselArt: Before n After

Prizma-colored Splendor

With the anticipation of Art Basel Week 2010, here is a harbinger post for the artificiality of such an event. With all the hullabaloo expected, it is easy to ignore the permanent Miami for the other 51 weeks in the swamp.

Made in Dade

Much of South Florida is a variegated landscape of affluence and destitute. We have established and packaged the background for the kabuki kaleidoscopic attraction that lures art aficionados from all corners of the globe to converge here and mingle among a myriad of special events and sideshows of the new. One rather astute observer describes the panorama here as "... mostly swamp, interrupted by attempts at architecture."

Not a Decade Too Soon

Sanctioned murals are coloring the cityscape into a literal museum of the street. How cool is that! But with the validation of street art comes a diminishing of the thrill that has propelled much of the precursors of what is finally happening. It is one thing to create at your leisure under the umbrella of legitimacy but it is historically something else to dart across the night shadows or the glare of sunshine and avoid the graffiti police hellbent on hampering your creative spirit.

Little Puerto Rico

While much of our beloved city still looks like this...

Our sentimental swamp is looking more like this.

Key individuals are always at a premium for they are the movers, shakers and deal makers that prop up the rest of the circumventing circus. One such luminary is well recognized for his enduring contribution to the betterment of Miami. No it is not Marco Rubio nor Duane Wade.

A Patron for Our Times

One man can make a difference. While there are wads of wealthy folk out there, you will be hard pressed to find even a hand-full that support the arts consistently. The magnanimous Tony Goldman is a beacon of benevolence to scores of talented artist from the streets of Miami and around the globe. In his silver years Tony is truly a tiger.

English Spoken Here

At his Wynwood Walls Complex you can groove on the fancy work of Ron English, DearRainDrop, Shepard Fairey and many others.

Stop Thinking, Start Feeling

We are also fortunate to have the iconic Kenny Scharf here. Kenny speaks the language of global freedom and as the apostle of FUN he professes a powerful message to each individual whose eyes are peeked to the cosmic truths of our very beings. The power of NOW.

Airstream for Humanity

For Walter the groundskeeper, it was a day of mixed emotions when we humbly petitioned him to relinquish his humble adobe to the greater cause for the beatification of his home and hood. I trust the art spirits are looking down on him with blessings and a better fortune.

Extreme Makeover

The Airstream trailer looked like this...

...now it looks like this.

Before...

...After

Visit the Kenny Scharf Cosmic Cavern Airstream for ABMB at the Wynwood Walls and have a pizza at Joe's.

Tidy Bowl, Bro!

So it is that Basel has the uncanny ability to transform a place and its people, not just for one week but for the next generation.

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earn extra cash, doing nothing

The ClearChannel Choice

In these tough economic times, with skyrocketing inflation and stagnant wages, some intrepid and well situated folk are offsetting their property tax costs with the leasing of roof-space for giant billboards. The APD's (approved propaganda devices) must comply with the strict county sign ordinance. Once kosher, APDs provide a revenue stream while you slumber in front of the flat-screen. But be warned would-be-creative landlords, ironically if you choose to adorn the exterior walls of your building with graffitiesque murals without a permit, a courtesy notice/fine from the sign police will soon be levied.

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Basel Bonanza Closing

Movies about the art world are almost always really boring. It was not easy to make a film about an artist like Jean Michele Basquait, but Julian Schnabel did a very nice job. It is near impossible to paint an accurate picture of all that transpires in Miami during Art Basel Week but some one ought to chronicle what might be called the Ultimate Artzyfest.

Ask anyone, art should be left to the professionals. Swiss cheese may be full of holes but there are no people more skilled at nurturing a growing world of art makers and appreciators than the Basel organizers. It takes a willingness... and wads of cheese.

Art Miami Fair display was several notches above your average arts & crafts street fairs. The dirt on canvas Basquit portrait was one of many varied works that compelled a respectable crowd to see more. And more there was all over town from north beach to downtown and moral gables.

There are basically three kinds of works, The Good, The Very Good and The Drop Dead Great Stuff. Many clever works using optical illusions were show stopping clever. This tunnel was no more flat than the swamp is, but it's schtick has staying power.

Back at the Big Show, unsuspecting firstimers are always taken aback when turning a corner and are suddenly face to face with these gems of illusionary quirk. I want one.

Over at Scope Art Fair this unfortunate chap is either someones grandpa, a collector, or a piece of art. You pick.

The artist eyeballed, contemplates a shiny thing.

There may be an army of these flamboyant characters of just two, cause they seem to be everywhere at once. No they are not the reincarnation of the Scull Sisters, but definitely channeling the same great creative spirit.

Pixie with pigeon feet at the Big Show. Very cute bronze not to be taken lightly.

Over at the Art Asia, there were some fascinating works from our brethren from the far east, non more potent a symbol than this field of red from where the sun rises in the west.
Collectors who sunk a big chunk on Chinese art are still holding, waiting for foreign markets to wake up again.

Back at the Big Show for a second look-see, First Lady Michele Obama was spotted offering her blessings and assurance of plenty of parking to all Americans and Europeans travelers alike.

Up the beach to the Grolsch fueled NADA fair at the fountainbluish Deuville Hotel, local art community icons, Scott Murrey and Grela of Wet Heat Film Projects mingled nicely with other cutting edge gallerists from around the world here to offer their treasures to throngs of art lovers.

This painting at Scope is powerful in that it portrays the current condition in the art markets...
that being one of vaporized superheros where only the power-suits remain as a reminder to the viewer that even the invincible can be deflated by the almighty frivolity of the art world.

This clever piece at NADA speaks for itself. Love that.

You're gonna need gallons of Tang to get you through all the hoohaa of Art Week.
Giant Kenny Scharf canvas at The Big Show.

Perfectly Swampy photo collage at Art Miami. I want it.

Expanded PolystYrene was widely seen in use by a myriad of artist, including this elegant french gallery at Art Miami. I did not invent styrofoam but have been using it long enough to earn the title Prince of American Marble.

This rag-tag clan of artzy types had a great booth at Scope, I think they were living there for the week.

Street Art is everywhere and thanks to Tony Goldman and Jeffery Deitch much of the urban masterpieces on his Wynwood properties will not be subject to the county's insidious Sign Ordinance bushit. Graffiti is here to stay and not a century too soon. This is the new face of miami.

The City and Beaches really need to clean up their act. Traffic congestion due to the relentless road work was a cluster-flub of civic embarrassment and waisted time for many visitors on VIP schedules.

This install in Wynwood is so Miami it is swampy good.

Back in the old country they are still showing us how it's done.

For now until next year the art season in the swamp is closed, hurray for natives.

God Bless Art

Meanwhile Visit the Swampspace Gallery Cookie Show - open till December 20th.


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