Younity “Heart And Soul” Book Launch and Exhibition
I’m very excited about this. I’m a member of a collective called Younity. It’s made up of amazing female artists, graf writers, urban and avant garde painters, all different types of artists. All women. And the founders, Toofly and Alice Mizrachi, have published a book with art from all of us inside it. The art opening and book launch are the same day same time, with the book being released in an exhibition which is showing the actual original works that are featured in the book. That’s on October 17th. So there will be proper invitations for that etc. Meanwhile, I just wanted to tell you about it and also give props to Lafamiliazine and Jeff at Studiolightroom.com for posting about this show and book launch on their own websites. You all are the best!
XO dreX
Here’s the actual press release with all the deets on it:
YOUNITY PRESENTS:
HEART & SOUL, AN ART EXHIBITION & BOOK LAUNCH
– Second Annual Exhibit Features 60 Avant-Garde Urban
Contemporary Female Artists –
Queens, NY (August 2008)— We are excited to announce the second annual YOUNITY art exhibition entitled Heart & Soul opening on October 17th, 2008 at Alphabeta in Greenpoint Brooklyn. As a celebratory theme between 60 international artists on what they identify as “heart and soul,” the exhibit promises an urban landscape installation piece that unifies and pushes the boundaries of graffiti, photography, urban arts and fine arts. In addition, YOUNITY will launch Heart and Soul; a book featuring works from all exhibitors including: Lady Pink, Martha Cooper and Swoon. With so very few art books that explicitly showcase women’s urban contemporary art, Heart and Soul will debut as authentic niche material needed in the ever-expanding art industry. Artists Alice Mizrachi and TOOFLY, founders of YOUNITY, look to harnesses the empowerment of established and aspiring young artists through expressive art.
YOUNITY is the first ever international women’s urban contemporary art collective that brings female artists into a global networking system as a means to create art exhibitions, installations, books and a much needed archive of women’s urban contemporary art. With the success of their premiere exhibit, The C R O S S O V E R, YOUNITY has become a sought after collective devoted to women with an inherent need to perfect their craft through self-expression, surpass male dominance and pass the torch on to younger female artists. For this project, only 60 out of 300 female urban artists were selected to participate with styles that range from hand-styles, graphics and collage to abstract riffs on the female identity, the urban habitat, life and love.
The Heart and Soul book is comprised of 60 artworks formatted onto a 5×8 inch postcard-style flipbook. It is the first publication in the YOUNITY collector’s book series that will showcase the works of varying members of the collective.
At the exhibition, all of original images featured in Heart & Soul will be framed and displayed as part of an indoor/outdoor site specific installation that pays homage to the urban landscape. The collective also includes world-renowned artists MAD C (Germany), Aiko Nakagawa (Japan), Faith47 (South Africa), Krista Franklin (Chicago) and Diana McClure (NYC), among others. Books and artwork will be on view and for sale at the Heart & Soul Exhibition and Book Launch and online at www.theyounity.com.
YOUNITY’s Heart & Soul Exhibition and Book Launch
PRESS HOUR: 7pm-8pm Opening Reception: 8pm – 10pm
October 17, 2008 ALPHABETA 70 Greenpoint Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
PRESS & SPONSOR INQUIRIES:
Shana Louallen: shanalovespr@gmail.com
Official Younity Website
Technorati Tags: toofly, alice mizrachi, younity, heart and soul, brooklyn, williamsburg, greenpoint, art show, opening, press release, artist reception, book launch, urban art, urban artists, avant-garde art, street art, graffiti, collective
Back from Seattle!
As some or most of you already know, I was just in Seattle for an amazing group show featuring Jef Aerosol, Massrad, Soule, Asher, Littlegirllost, Cash, Joab, and me.
*note: i stupidly changed the res on the above pic to 72 ppi without looking to see how small it would make the photo. so here’s a postage stamp sized image of the show.
Here’s my contribution to the show:
If you’ve never been to Seattle, it’s really a beautiful city.
The show was fantastic. I got to meet some artists I’ve been wanting to meet for a long time, as well as see some friends I’ve missed.
And of course there was the requisite tourist stuff I HAD to do or ELSE.
For those of you in and around Seattle, the “Spray it Don’t Say it” show will be up through the first week of September. So it’s not too late to check it out if you missed the opening. If you need details, let me know and I’ll hook you up.
More soon…
XO dreXeL
Technorati Tags: seattle, group show, artist reception, bherd, bherd studios, spray it don’t say it, jef aerosol, soule, massrad, asher, cash, littlegirllost, joab, graffiti, hiphop culture, urban artists
Midoma Art Opening
Thanks to everyone who made it out to my opening last night at Midoma Gallery. It was really a good time. I had some great surprises from people I’ve been wanting to meet, people I already know and even some surprise family members who I haven’t seen in YEARS. Here are some pics…
emily, me, drew (my press agent) and fabian (my stylist)
fabian, tmnk (amazing artist and friend of mine) and meeee.
“Smack is a Vampire” – 4′ x 5′ mixed media on canvas
“Rearview” – 4′ x 5′ mixed media on canvas
the new ring made for me by my girl B.
Technorati Tags: midoma, midoma gallery, nyc, manhattan, artist reception, opening, mixed media, art, painting, spray paint, harlem, billie holiday, baltimore, bmore, tmnk, nobody, 5150, andrew odom, emily clark, fabian, b
I’m on the Cover!!!
My first official publication. I’m on the cover of Freestyle The Mag. It’s an online magazine, it’s cool as hell and if you click on the image I made it a link so you can check it out or purchase it…you know…if you wanna.
XO dreXeL
Technorati Tags: freestyle, freestyle the mag, magazine, publication, culture, hip hop, art
meLTdOWn artist reception
Well, I’ve been busy painting and getting ready for my upcoming show. The last post is a new piece that will be seen for the first time in this new show. There are more that aren’t ready to be posted yet, too. But they’ll be there at the show.
Here’s the invitation to the show for you, because of COURSE you’re invited. Just click on the Going.com badge to read the details and/or to RSVP for the show. Drop by and say hi if you can.
Ok back to painting…
XO dreXeL
Technorati Tags: art show, artist reception, midoma gallery, mixed media paintings, art, painting, collage, nyc, gallery
somebody likes me
after weeks of waiting with my fingers crossed to find out if the piece i submitted to Brooklyn Academy of Music/Brooklyn Art Project’s “connected unconscious” exhibition would be accepted, i found out today the answer is YES!!!! i’m really excited about it. it’s a show i really wanted to be part of, with other artists i really want to meet. so here’s the invitation. if you’re on my email list, i’m sure you’ll be getting separate invitations, but if not, feel free to rsvp right from here.
more news coming soon…
love, dreXeL
Technorati Tags: art, painting, art show, group show, new york, nyc, new york city, brooklyn, brooklyn art project, bap, brooklyn academy of music, bam, connected unconscious, artist reception, opening reception
The Man behind the Graff
People all over NYC know RESKEW, the graffiti writer. Famous, infamous, whatever. He’s definitely known and his tags and pieces can be seen all over the city, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. This piece below was done by Ski (top left), RESKEW (top right) and 2esae (bottom). You can check out more of Ski and 2esae’s art work from my art links. Sweet truck, huh?
Anyway, possibly less people know RESKEW as Miles Wickham, artist. He’s good people, a real talented artist and my friend. AND I’m co-curating his first solo show this Thursday in the East Village. So I thought I’d just give him mad props on my blog and let you all in on it.
Here’s the link to the event. Check it out, and of course, if you’re in the NYC area this Thursday stop by Sapphire Lounge! Meet the man, the myth, the legend…
Technorati Tags: art, art show, artist reception, sapphire lounge, miles wickham, resk, reskew, acc, graffiti, nyc, east village, art opening, artist, no toys
My First Going.com Event
Here it is…
Come or like Ol’ Dirty said…
Technorati Tags: art, art show, art opening, hope lounge, brooklyn, nyc, going.com, artist reception, drexel, Jae9, Esen, kerst cobain, aaron ginsberg, zahra tangorra, WOWCH, disco liberation front
I Love You, Johnny
Today is Johnny Cash’s birthday. I love that man like crazy and it got me thinking about how he actually makes me proud to be an American. Growing up I wasn’t very patriotic. I wasn’t anti, I was just…ambivalent, I suppose. But thinking about it, there are a few things that definitely make me proud to be American. Here’s the short list:
1. The existence of NYC
2. Specifically, the existence of Brooklyn
3. Johnny Cash
4. Hip Hop
5. Pop art and culture
There are probably a few more things, but those are the first ones I thought of. And I know I’m not alone in being so proud of Johnny Cash. It’s practically un-American to not like him. NOONE talks shit about Johnny Cash. Or Elvis. And that’s how it should be.
Happy birthday, man. We miss ya. XOXO
Technorati Tags: johnny cash, pop culture, dead musicians, america
Art Show Pic
(originally uploaded by jcn.)
This is actually the only pic I have of opening night at my show. It was taken by my friend, Jesse…the link to his gallery is above. Guess I was just too busy shmoozing to bother taking photos. Glad SOMEONE was on the ball that night. Thanks Jesse. You da bestest.
XO Erica
Technorati Tags: art, art show, art opening, sapphire lounge, nyc, east village, painting, collage, spray paint, mixed media