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Miami’s Museum of Graffiti.

1/23/2023

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​​The World’s First Museum Dedicated to Graffiti!
​Mission Statement
Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s in large cities all over the United States, children invented a new art form that started with writing their names on walls in their neighborhoods. 

Local governments launched cleaning campaigns and mandated that young writers be arrested for their vandalism, but the movement could not be stopped. Unrelenting young people forged ahead at a feverish pace with creative innovations and inspired generations of new practitioners.

In no time, the wall writings quickly developed to become more elaborate and decorative. Taking on unique and distinguishable signifies like arrows, crowns and other innovations through design and color, this became the blueprint for tags, throw-ups, masterpieces, and the elaborate works seen today.

Fifty years later, the Museum of Graffiti was formed to preserve graffiti’s history and celebrate its emergence in design, fashion, advertising, and galleries. The Museum experience includes an indoor exhibition space, eleven exterior murals, a fine art gallery, and a world-class gift shop stocked with limited edition merchandise and exclusive items from the world’s most talented graffiti artists.



Museum Programming
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SPRAY IT LOUD
GRAFFITI CLASS FOR BEGINNERS
(Every Saturday @ 5PM)
​


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KIDS’ GRAFFITI DRAWING CLASS
LED BY LOCAL ARTISTS
​(Every Sunday @ 10AM)

​

Featured Exhibitions

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From Vandals To Trend Setters...
​There is no complete story for the graffiti world as there are thousands of participants 
in the past and the present.
We are students as much as leaders in this global movement, sharing our enthusiasm 

as we present this exhibit.
Graffiti–the act of writing on walls–is an old practice traced back centuries to churches in England, visitors' names in the catacombs in Paris, and lewd jokes in Pompeii.
Humans have a need to leave public messages, always have and always will.


This exhibition celebrates the graffiti 

of our lifetime, the type of graffiti that has become a global movement and culture started by American children and teenagers.
Style writing or just plain writing 
is what
we 
call it from within the movement.

Today, writing can be found in just about 
every corner of the globe, 
from Helsinki and Berlin to Lima,
Melbourne, and Miami.
Cities have their own indigenous styles 

and passionate practitioners, 
working daily to be seen and heard.
Social media carries the names 

beyond the national barriers, 
but it wasn’t always that way.

Two cities can claim bragging rights to 
the birth of this new graffiti movement: Philadelphia and New York City. 
In the late 1960s both cities were home to teenagers who saw public walls and trains as a perfectly natural and acceptable place to sign their names, breaking the law but adding a new spin on the typical gang graffiti 
that was already present in the streets.
 These teenagers were bold, adventurous, and sought fame and recognition from their friends.

The global expansion of New York City’s 

graffiti style ​caused a stir in just about 
every city it appeared in. 
Trains and walls were covered, spray paint was stolen from shops, teenagers adopted the new cultural import, and adults had a hard time accepting it, leading to strict laws, 
arrests, and severe punishments. 
Of course, the writers suffered... 
but they also adapted, innovated, 
and changed to thrive and survive. 
Writers plotted and transformed the culture 
to their favor. Some took to graphic design, tattoo art, fashion design, and murals, 
while others turned to hidden walls 
or freight trains to pursue the writing tradition, and a few continued to paint trains 
accepting the risk of more severe penalties. These artists influenced the world and continue to impact popular culture today.
This is a small part of the story.

__________________
​


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​OLÉ  
A body of works by
ISE, FINOK, THIAGO NEVS, & SKOLAS
of Sao Paolo's VLOK Crew.
​

​
Ise, Thiago Nevs, Finok, and Skolas,
​while individually being studio artists,
​are all graffiti artists from São Paolo, Brazil.
The artists have come together as a collective, embodying four different generations of graffiti artists, to present a body of work that is not representative of their traditional graffiti
but rather communicates their shared life experiences as artists in their communities.

Their paintings depict self-portraits, street landscapes, and average citizens in an effort to highlight their deep love for all aspects
of the graffiti art movement,
not just the letters themselves.
The paintings, steeped in culture, present artifacts and symbols that are inherent in the fabric of both current daily life and history
in Brazil.  Soccer balls, Bahia bracelets, religious shrines, tags, and flying kites are all integrated in a way that convey
an admiration for a city rich in personality
that serves as their inspiration.  

The artists tap into folk art traditions and use colorful patterns, fabrics, found objects,
and assemblages to transport you to
Brazil and share some of the widely unknown and indigenous aspects of their nation
while also calling attention to the daily economic and social issues
​that are present today.

​__________________
​


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Writers on Wax:
​The Sound of Graffiti

An exhibition that pairs
the beats, basslines, imagination,
and expression of graffiti writers’
​who make both music
​and visual studio work.


Graffiti has historically been interconnected with certain types of music like punk rock, techno, and Hip-Hop. Commonalities like the use of public space, themes of rebellion and angst, and the “do it yourself” mindset are threads that run through the fabric of these art-forms. These congruities and the urban environment from which they originate have naturally led graffiti writers to experiment within these musical genres and vice versa.

Writers on Wax is a project created by Ruyzdael Music, a group of Dutch graffiti writers and creatives who saw the importance of compiling the music created by graffiti writers. Their vinyl-only project, Writers on Wax: The Sound of Graffiti, is a series of albums that feature exclusive tracks created by today’s leading visual graffiti artists from around the world – some who have alter-egos in the music world. All three of their vinyl music releases are on installed along with old-school turntables for your listening pleasure.

In the visual portion of the exhibition,
graffiti reigns supreme.
BLADE (Steven Ogburn, New York, b. 1957) via photographs by Martha Cooper,
DELTA (Boris Tellegen, Amsterdam, b. 1968),
NUG (Magnus Gustafsson, Sweden, b.1972), Paul Du Bois Reymond (Amsterdam, b.1974), and
PURE (Aindriais Dolan, New York, b.1969) each draw on their deep roots in graffiti
to present a wide range of styles
from pioneering lettering,
to using the spray paint medium
for abstraction,
to addressing the landscapes in which graffiti and their practitioners occupy,
and using the ornate aspects of graffiti
to create a composition.


Collectively, the pairing of the visual works
with the artist’s musical creations
provides a holistic snapshot of the
collective urban inspiration and output
​of these multidisciplinary artists.  


This program is supported as part of the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York.

__________________
​


The Museum of Graffiti exhibits, educates, and celebrates the thousands of graffiti artists who have transformed walls in our public spaces into vibrant masterpieces.
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A Purple Party… and a Princely Mural!

1/16/2023

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Murals On The Street!
"Many times I come across some really nice mural, or a hand painted sign out there that I want to share with you!
This one is from my dear friends Daniel and Lois who were back home in Minnesota last May and they sent me this great photo of the street party and unveiling of Hiero Veiga’s ​new mural of TAKAPrince Rogers Nelson-(TAFKAPrince!)" -RQ
​
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​Mural by 33-year-old Hiero Veiga, a Florida street painter known for the rendering on the exterior wall
of Miami’s Museum of Graffiti.
Organizers say the $500,000 Minneapolis project
​has been in the works for seven years.​

​June 3 2022
Purple party: Prince fans celebrate mural completion in downtown Mpls
By Tony Kiene
     On the same day that the Queen of England celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in London, Minneapolis honored its very own monarch: His Royal Badness, Prince Rogers Nelson. A 100-foot-tall mural of our favorite son, painted by internationally renowned artist Hiero Veiga, now looks out over the city’s entertainment district and the legendary music club that Prince established as an international landmark almost 40 years ago.
     Last night’s event, billed as the “Purple Block Party,” saw throngs of people descend on First Avenue North, including many Prince fans from out of state and around the world, here for this weekend’s Celebration 2022 at Paisley Park.
     A little after 9 pm, the dynamic duo behind the mural, also known as the “Crown Our Prince” project, graced the stage for the first time. With the blessings of Prince himself, it was Sharon Smith-Akinsanya, CEO of the Rae Mackenzie Group, and public art expert Joan Vorderbruggen, that conquered a multitude of roadblocks to successfully carry out this seven-year project “across the finish line.”
     Things became a little emotional when they introduced two of Prince’s sisters, Norrine and Tyka Nelson, each of whom spoke to the crowd.
     Tyka mentioned some of the many ways downtown has been important to their family through the years, recounting how she and Prince would often catch the #19 bus over North, and then, with transfers in hand, make a pit stop at Shinders bookstore on Hennepin Ave. before continuing on to their destination.
     Norrine Nelson spoke to the crowd, promising not to cry. She closed by telling those gathered to honor her older brother, “Thank you for loving him. He loved you.”
     Smith-Akinsanya and Vorderbruggen then returned, and after acknowledging the major sponsors, additional contributors, and the three photographers whose images served as the basis for the mural, further hyped up an already electric crowd, before introducing artist Hiero Veiga, 
     The unassuming and soft-spoken muralist did not address the audience, but no doubt felt its love and appreciation as he embraced Vorderbruggen and Smith-Akinsanya.
     Finally, as the opening chords of “Purple Rain” reverberated through the nearby streets and skies above Minneapolis, Veiga’s masterpiece was doused in brilliant light, officially dedicating the mural and fulfilling the promise to 'make Minneapolis shine purple.'
     DJ Mickey Breeze closed out the night with a more adventurous set the second time around consisting of a couple of classic Prince B-sides, including “Violet the Organ Grinder,” in which Prince repeatedly declares, “I’ll die, but I won’t go away.” That certainly rings true to all his fans. And though he didn’t end with it, Breeze’s inclusion of “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night,” recorded live in Paris on the 1986 Parade Tour, proved to be the perfect depiction of the night’s festivities.
Hiero Veiga
a Florida street painter known for the rendering on
the exterior wall of Miami’s Museum of Graffiti. 
​Bio 
“I am obsessed with the practice of my craft.” 
Hiero Veiga grew up in the small boxing town of Brockton, MA
and has been spray painting since he was 12 years old.
With over 21 years of experience, Hiero has evolved from writing graffiti to curating hyper-realistic pieces ranging from portraits, natural scenery, and psychedelic art.

Hiero’s unique perspective and experience of light and color is reflected in his distinctive compositions. His current personal work style involves abstract backgrounds and kaleidoscopic designs with Groucho glasses, chattering teeth,
and rubber ducks.

Hiero has participated in countless mural festivals and collaborated with numerous artists in his community. His most prominent works were done in participation with Pow Wow! Mural Festivals, including a mural displayed in the 
Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hiero is based in Florida, but you can find his work in the streets, businesses, and galleries across the United States, Jamaica, and Canada.
If you are interested in working with Hiero,
please fill out the contact form or directly send an email.

© 2022 HIERO VEIGA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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​Article By Tony Kiene
Tony Kiene’s experience in the Twin Cities nonprofit and entertainment industries includes work with Minneapolis Urban League, Penumbra Theatre, Hallie Q. Brown, and Pepé Music.
He welcomes reader responses to
​ 
tkiene@spokesman-recorder.com.
​
​Related Stories:
​
Artist Hiero Veiga now painting Prince mural in downtown Mpls

Honoring Prince: community reactions to new street sign and mural
​

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​“This all reminds me...
​ of the work Christina Rosenthal and I did
for Prince’s nightclub ’Glam-Slam’ in L.A.
​ and at his Paisley Park Studios in MN.
           Here’s a link to that project…" 
 
-RQ


​Glam Slam and Paisley Park Studios

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Faux Finishes, Part 1

1/9/2023

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Here is another one of my favorite books from my library...
“The Art of the Painted Finish
for Furniture and Decoration”
Antiquing, Lacquering, Gilding & The Great Impersonators
By Isabel O’Neil
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'The Art of Painted Finish for Furniture & Decoration: Antiquing, Lacquering, Gilding & the Great Impersonators' comes with 38 color plates, including 80 life-style samples,
and 100 how-to drawings.
Painted finishes can be applied almost everywhere -- on furniture, decorative objects, even the walls of rooms.
This book rescues and re-creates this nearly lost art
and does so with the realistic and practical use
of modern tools and materials.
Generously illustrated, this is a reference book,
studio manual, and art book all in one.
It is indispensable to professionals -- architects, interior designers and decorators, artists, art teachers and students, and furniture designers -- and to all those interested in arts, crafts and antiques. 
Table of Contents:
Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Color Plates
How to use this Book
Historical Background
___
Part I) Painting, Antiquing & Distressing: Mediums and Methods
Color
Preparation of Surface:
Basic Tools & Methods
Paint
Antiquing
Varnishes
Distressing

___
Part II) Glazes, Lacquer & Casein:
Old Techniques Updated
Glazes
History of Lacquer
 Lacquer Techniques
Casein

___
Part III) Leafing, Gilding and Burnishing: Traditional Techniques
Introduction
Mat Gilding
Antique Patina for Leaf
Burnishing

___
Part IV)    The Great Impersonators:
Faux Finishes
Introduction
Bamboo
Porphyry
Faux Marbre
Faux Tortoise Shell
Lapis Lazuli
Faux Bois
Malachite
Six Fantasies

___
Subject Outline
Craftsmen and Students workin the Color  Plates
Suggested Reading
About the Author

​     "Decorative painting is any painting that serves to adorn or embellish a surface with design motifs, decorative accents, trompe l’Oeil and/or painted faux finishes. The techniques of decorative painting are complex and require years of study and practice to master. 
     This book is based on the course of study devised through years of detailed instruction, research and experimentation at Isabel O’Neil’s Studio/Workshop. This well written book can take an absolute novice through the many levels of skill required for the creation of breathtakingly beautiful finishes.”
     -Roberto Quintana



​ISABEL O’NEIL
Isabel O’Neil (1908-1981) was an acclaimed authority in the field of decorative arts. A New York-based conservator, teacher, and inventor of painted finishes, she was often called upon to restore painted finishes on antique furnishings. She found great inspiration in the techniques and materials used by European craftsmen. 
 
The publication of her 1971 book, The Art of the Painted Finish for Furniture & Decoration, gave her further acclaim as an authority in painted finishes. Featuring more than one hundred and fifty finishes, it remains the standard for the most comprehensively-written reference and instructional guide on the subject.

 
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Murals in LA Lift the Voices of Iranian Protesters

1/2/2023

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Mural by Katrine Karimpour (photo Matt Stromberg/Hyperallergic)
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Article by Matt Stromberg 
​December 14, 2022
Murals by Iranian-American artists across the city are inescapable reminders of the regime’s ongoing brutality.
Drive north on Main Street through Los Angeles’s fashion district and a striking new mural is visible just past Interstate 10. Against a backdrop of green, white, and red — the colors of the Iranian flag — the faces of 13 women who have lost their lives at the hands of the Iranian regime are depicted in stark black and white. Below them, their names, and others, are written on the palms of outstretched hands. Most of them were killed during the recent protests in response to the September death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, who was detained by Iran’s morality police for not wearing her hijab correctly and died in custody. “Women, Life, Freedom,” the originally Kurdish slogan that has become a rallying cry for the protests, is written in English and Farsi.

The mural is the work of Katrine Karimpour,​ who was approached by her friend Mojgan of Mona_E_Arts with a concept for the mural and a connection to the owners of the building at 1605 S. Main Street. Karimpour created the image on her iPad and it was then printed on two large panels of weather-resistant paper and hung on the building’s southern facade on November 27. The mural is just one example of Iranian-American artists in Los Angeles showing solidarity with the protesters in Iran.

For Karimpour, it is also a way to express a connection with family, despite the tumult of revolution and emigration. Her late grandfather and mother fled Iran just before the 1979 Revolution. “When it started, they said they would come to the US for a week til it died down,” but they ended up staying,” she told Hyperallergic. “[The regime] took all my family’s belongings, everything my grandfather had worked for, everything he owned.” She says her grandfather wrote poetry; however, she couldn’t read it, since she was never taught Farsi. 
“Doing this, I thought about my baba the whole time,” Karimpour said of her work on the mural.

About 10 miles northwest of Karimpour’s mural, a nearly three-story-tall image of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini graces a wall in Fame Yard on Melrose, a hotspot for street art. Her hair, colored green, white, and red, spills out from her hijab, while the chains covering her head break apart.
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Mural by ​Cloe Hakakian​​ and Todd Goodman
(photo by and courtesy Impermanent Art)


Cloe Hakakian
https://www.instagram.com/cloehakakian/

https://beyondsquarefootage.com/beyondsquarefootage/2020/5/14/cleopatra-by-cloe-hakakian

Todd Goodman
https://todd-goodman-art.myshopify.com/
​

“I used to stay away from everything political, but this is personal for me. This is not political, it’s about basic human rights,” artist Cloe Hakakian, who created the mural with Todd Goodman, told Hyperallergic. ​Hakakian was born in the US to parents who had emigrated shortly before the revolution, “Otherwise I could have easily been one of those girls,” she said, referring to those killed in the recent demonstrations, 
who are in the hundreds.

​
Iran has already executed two people involved in the protests, with 25 others facing the death penalty, according to the Guardian. On Monday, Majidreza Rahnavard was publicly hanged from a crane in the city of Mashhad. He was accused of killing two members of the Basij militia. Last week, Mohsen Shekari was executed after he was convicted of “waging war against God” by a revolutionary court. He had been accused of blocking a street and injuring a militia member. Today, the United Nations announced its decision to remove Iran from its Commission on the Status of Women, thanks in part to campaigning by activists in the diaspora.

Since the mural went up in early October, Hakakian has shifted gears, connecting artists with building owners willing to offer up their walls for murals in support of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement through her​ “Murals for Freedom” website. The site lists murals across the globe, in San Diego; Washington, DC; London; Paris; Berlin; and Sydney, Australia. “Not all the artists are Iranian,” she notes. “It’s inspiring a lot of people outside of the community.”
​
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Mural by Rashin Kheiriyeh (courtesy Farhang Foundation)
Further West, in Santa Monica, the side of an office building now bears Rashin Kheiriyeh’s mural of a woman’s silhouetted head in profile, her hair rendered in sinuous, turquoise Persian calligraphy. Kheiriyeh created the mural before the death of Amini for a mural competition sponsored by the Farhang Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Iranian art and culture. After Amini’s death, Kheiriyeh posted an image of the mural to social media and added the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom.”

According to Alireza Ardekani, executive director of the Farhang Foundation, the group has other murals planned in Los Angeles in support of the movement, but has run up against a troubling issue with one artist selected for a mural at 1031 South Grand Avenue in Downtown LA. “The artist just informed me he’s under surveillance in Iran and being threatened. I offered to have the art anonymous, but his work is quite iconic,” Ardekani told Hyperallergic. “Murals are big in Iran. Before the uprising, artists had learned how to dance around red lines and go under the radar. Now they’re cracking down.”

Through these public artworks, artists in the Iranian diaspora are able to speak to — and amplify — those whose voices are being stifled.

“Culturally I felt very in the middle. This was something that could feel so personal to me, but this isn’t about just me. It’s about all the women who are fighting for their future and future generations,” Karimpour said. ​“What art can do is amplify those who are not being heard. We are their echoes.”
​
by Matt Stromberg December 14, 2022
https://hyperallergic.com/



​Murals for Freedom
https://www.muralsforfreedom.org/
https://www.muralsforfreedom.org/gallery

Murals for Freedom aims to amplify the silenced voices in Iran through art. All over the world, artists have painted murals commemorating the victims of the Islamic Republic of Iran's brutal regime. This project is about promoting freedom and spreading awareness. 

Get Involved
There are multiple ways to get involved!
Email muralsforfreedom@gmail.com to:

▪ Paint a mural.
▪ Offer a wall as a canvas.
▪ Volunteer.
▪ Inquire 

Submit a Mural!
If you have painted a mural and would like to submit it to the website, please fill out this form.

​
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Mural by Rashin Kheiriyeh
​Related
  • Artists Worldwide Demand Freedom for Iranian Women   September 28, 2022
  • Iranian Activists Stage “Die-In” at Met Museu   December 5, 2022
  • Artists Stage Mahsa Amini Protest at New York’s Guggenheim Museum ​    October 24, 2022




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Health Hazards Manual for Artists

12/26/2022

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​'Health Hazards Manual for Artists 
​
Paperback - Illustrated'

by Michael McCann Ph.D. (Author), 
​Angela Babin (Author)

​This is the trusted resource for working artists and art students written by the leading authority on these health hazards. Whether you work in painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, woodworking, textiles, computer, or children's art, this is the only reference book that covers all the dangers associated with metals, minerals, and chemicals.

​ With illustrations throughout, this first aid book shows how to treat injuries and work with proper caution while still being creative. Updates include new ventilation, photo processing, and computer systems. Whether you are a beginner or professional, this is a must for every school, art studio, and home.

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About the Author
MICHAEL MCCANN, Ph.D., C.I.H. is one of the world's leading authorities on health hazards in the arts . He was the founder and President of the Center for Safety in the Arts until it closed due to loss of funding in1995, and is author of the distinguished ARTIST BEWARE, the most exhaustive reference book on the subject of health hazards for artists.
​
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Remember!
Always read the Label.
When in doubt, wear gloves.
If you're outside, wear sunblock and cover up.
When you're prepping, wear a good mask and gloves.
If you're spraying, wear a respirator!
If your slinging paint, wear goggles!
The top step is NOT a step! REALLY!
If your dangling on the face of a building or wall, you should                probably have a harness of some type on, (or at 
least               handy... for when the 'clip-boards' show up.)
Don't do stupid stuff.

Keep a first aid kit in the truck, and water, and a fan. and salt              tablets.
Don't wear sandals or open-toed-foot-things on ladders and                scaffolding or planks!
Don't leave your tools lying around (or on ladders, bone-head!)

Don't let other people around you do stupid stuff.
Never say "Hey Guys, watch this!"

Don't smoke (anything!) around volatiles. 
Don't pick at anything with your gloves on. (you can usually                 rub an itch, but be careful!)
Don't text and paint!
          (Especially if you should be wearing a harness!)
When you drop your phone, just let it go!
          (Don't reach for it, especially at height or balancing.)

Be nice to the crew setting up the rig.
Always check the work of the crew setting up the rig.

Always check a plank and ladder-jack before you climb on it.
When you'r driving your lift around the mural sight, watch out               for 'Old-Guys' sitting on buckets! 

Don't bleed on the art-work!

Any other suggestions?
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Murals On The Street! Avenue 50 Studio/Gallery

12/19/2022

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​Many times when I'm out, I come across some really nice murals or hand painted signs out there that I want to share with you! So that is what this post is all about.
​
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So the other day I was out and about, and I saw this wild mural on the wall over at Avenue 50 Studio and Gallery. 

Avenue 50 Studio, Inc.
131 No. Avenue 50
Los Angeles, CA  90042
323/258-1435

www.avenue50studio.org
​
They were between exhibitions so I didn’t bother them,
but I later wrote and inquired about their mural.
​
​Here was their response:
     "Hello Roberto...
     That mural was painted, maybe around 2015, by 'Defer' with help from Juan Carlos Munoz Hernandez.  
     Juan Carlos is in the same crew that Defer is part of. 
     Juan had it painted for the exhibit he was in. It was all volunteer painted. They were so good to us."

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Defer / Alex Kizu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVC6K-uuZDk&t=56s
​"As a founding member of the respected crews K2S, STN & KGB, Alex “DEFER” Kizu (b. 1975) has been an integral part of the Los Angeles street art scene since the mid-1980s.
He is well known for his expertise in rendering beautifully complex letter-forms.
Alex Kizu’s work stems from his culture and connection to graffiti and the urban landscape, representing a profound artistic language which distorts the lines between street art and fine art. Kizu, aka Defer, was one of the pioneer members of the first generation of Los Angeles graffiti writers, and he has distilled the hand-style developed since his youth into abstract pieces that incorporate not only typographic but also cultural motifs, and complex patterning.
Kizu’s paintings are highly detailed examinations of line and color – frenetic structures that flow organically with multi-layered abstractions creating a borderless visual depth and complexity.
Interviews and work by Kizu have been included in a number of esteemed compendiums of graffiti art – a testament to Alex Kizu’s artistic stature in the realm of Los Angeles street art.

Whether it’s the LA-centric graffiti book,
 “Graffiti LA” by Steve Grody,
or the national scope covered in the recently released
 “The History of American Graffiti” by Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon,
Kizu’s influence on the visual language found in the
City of Angels cannot be overlooked."

-Fabien Castanier Gallery

https://www.castaniergallery.com/
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View Original Artworks and Prints by 'Defer'
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"DEFER’s typographic work is viewed as lyrical and beautiful. Also known as a 'handstyle', this specific expression speaks to the credibility of the original graffiti crews in Los Angeles and now bridges to a larger audience.
Currently Defer creates paintings that incorporate Japanese images with his handstyle resulting in exquisite art." 
​
- Brandy Shea Sweeney 

https://www.1xrun.com/artists/defer/
____________________
​


JUAN CARLOS MUÑOZ HERNANDEZ
American Sculptor and Painter
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cf9MwHq-EM

​Born in 1969, Juan Carlos Muñoz Hernandez was raised in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles where he was exposed to art at an early age, in the form of graffiti art and aerosol based mural paintings.
After being commissioned for his first public mural, his career progressed with further commissions and he was eventually selected, through a rigorous interview process,
by world-renowned sculptor Robert Graham to join the Museum of Contemporary Art’s “Torso Project” in 1992.

Muñoz Hernandez continues to work at the esteemed
Robert Graham Studio today, and has worked on several internationally acclaimed public works including
the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington D.C.,
Duke Ellington in New York, Charlie Parker in Kansas City,
and Our Lady of Angels Cathedral doors in Los Angeles, California. 

Muñoz Hernandez’s works range in materials from acrylic, ink, pigment on paper, wood, and canvas, to multi-dimensional cast and fabricated bronze, with patina and powder-coat. 
His work has been included in numerous museum and gallery shows over the past twenty years such as
The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art,
The Pasadena Museum of California Art
PMCA, OTIS Ben Maltz Gallery,
and The Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH). 
His work was also included in
The Getty Graffiti Black Book in 2013,
which featured the work of more than 150 of LA’s most influential graffiti artists, and was inspired by 16th century manuscripts held by the Getty Research Institute
called “Liber Amicorum” or “Book of Friends.” 
The Getty Graffiti Black Book was on display at
the El Segundo Museum of Art (ESMoA). 
In 2018, he held his first solo show at
Simard Bilodeau Contemporary.

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‘Espiritu Del Color’, by Muñoz Hernandez 18 x 18 x 1/64 in ; 45.72 x 45.72 x .04 cm Velvet Archival paper 25 limited addition prints
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‘Light Sound and Water #5’, by Muñoz Hernandez Stainless Steel, 11” x 6” x 22” Series : 2021
0 Comments

8 Artists to Fly to the Moon!

12/12/2022

2 Comments

 
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​“I love it when Art and Space Exploration converge!” -RQ 

Japanese billionaire unveils the 8 artists he'll fly to the moon on SpaceX's Starship dearMoon flight!

By Elizabeth Howell 
@Spacedotcom 
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A Japanese billionaire picked his crew-mates for the first-ever artist-centered mission! Yusaku Maezawa, who made his fortune as an online fashion retailer, announced the eight people who would be flying with him on the dearMoon mission, which aims to use a SpaceX Starship to fly around the moon as soon as next year.
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Check out their profiles here:  https://dearmoon.earth/
(Each member of the dearMoon crew was briefly quoted in a video)
The announcement was confirmed on Dodd's and Maezawa's Twitter feeds"I don't know what it's going to do to me emotionally, and I guess that's part of the adventure," Dodd says in the video. Adds Adam, "I expect that this mission will bring about many changes personally and professionally."
The video also includes several views of Starship under testing, including at least one of the static fires of the SpaceX system.
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(Just a good excuse to post a photo of a rocket blasting off! -RQ)
​The previously-announced 2023 launch date may push back substantially, however, as Starship has not yet been approved for an orbital journey around Earth, let alone a flight to the moon. 
The spaceship has been grounded for more than 18 months as SpaceX awaits approval from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding environmental assessment requirements at its Starbase launch location in South Texas.
​

​Related: SpaceX's Starship video animation is Tron meets Blade Runner in space


​Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of "Why Am I Taller?" (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a book about space medicine. 

Follow her on Twitter @howellspace. 

Follow on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook

Join on Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! 



2 Comments

Sayak Mitra: Muralist, Painter, Digital Artist.

12/5/2022

0 Comments

 
Here’s a guy to keep an eye on!
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Sayak says about his work:
“My main subject matter involves cultural nuance, political issues and social incidents, which are employed to establish discourse on the relationship between simple human emotions – love, happiness, agony –
​through the language of abstraction."
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‘Onlooker’ Inkjet print on Vinyl. Chader Haat, Kolkata. 2015
"Investigating human values in present time, I take ordinary mundane objects, scenes, symbols & characters, and introduce them as symbols of something much deeper.”
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“The multidisciplinary nature of my work
is inspired by fugacious exploration of human existence
​with an unrestricted palette."

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"Using representational elements in union
with repetitious forms,

I emphasize the pleasures of eternal entanglements."

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"I take from the world around me – whether it be semiotics
or journalistic materials like newspaper, magazine photos
or television news.

It could be something as banal as driving signs,
fashionable textile patterns,
or any significant infographic I find on my mobile app."

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"The complex union of incoherent images, vivid colors and layered application designed with both digital tools and paint brush, invite us to communicate.”
0 Comments

Octavia E. Butler Mural Honoring Sci-fi Genius...

11/28/2022

0 Comments

 
"A Lot has been going on over at the Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy since I painted their Octavia E. Butler mural for their Library in 2020! " -RQ
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"Octavia E. Butler is one of the first African American women to be recognized in the science fiction genre. 
She also exemplifies the integration of science with the arts and humanities, and the expression of STEAM-integrated learning. This mural makes someone with her genius relatable.
Middle school students (and really most people) can relate to the idea of feeling insecure or unmotivated when faced a large task, but you don’t have to be perfect to be great. Octavia Butler is proof that you can always get better, learn more, and achieve great things. She set a goal for herself and who she was going to become very early in her writing career, so we included statements from her notebooks in our mural to inspire our kids. You can set your sights on something and work towards it and actually realize it."
-Dr. Shannon Malone, Principal, Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy

First...

Their Library was named for their famous alumnus on September 8, 2022.

Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy renames library, 
creates mural to honor famous alumna and prolific sci-fi writer!

​​Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)
Board of Education
approved the school's proposal to rename their library in recognition of Octavia E. Butler.

Then...

​on Augest 8, they had a Science fiction Festival
AND
​Renamed the whole school
for Octavia E. Butler!
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The Washington Steam Multilingual Academy will now be known as:
The Octavia E. Butler Magnet

(following the Board of Education’s unanimous approval in February 2022.)
Octavia E. Butler Magnet
(formerly Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy)
is a middle school serving students in grades 6-8.

Certified by the National Institute for STEM Education.
We provide a rigorous Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics integrated curriculum which helps our students to become technologically literate problem solvers, logical thinkers, and innovators. 
​
The school is located at:
1505 North Marengo Avenue,
Pasadena, CA 91103.

And now!...

​ The New York Times has just printed an excellent article on the school, it’s renaming, my mural, and on
Octavia E. Butler's story. 
​

‘The Visions of Octavia Butler’
​By Lynell George 
a Los Angeles-based journalist, essayist and author.
Her latest book, “A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler,” was a 2020 finalist for the Hugo Award.

The visuals for this New York Times article and on-line project were created by converting scanned real-life objects, spaces and video footage into 3-D point clouds
by Ainslee Alem Robson
​Director/Writer/Media Artist,
https://www.ainsleealemrobson.com/
https://www.ainsleealemrobson.com/about

Octavia E. Butler mural courtesy Roberto Quintana
and the Octavia E. Butler Magnet School.

http://www.artandsoulproductions.com/octavia-e-butler-mural.html

"I really love everything Roberto has done at
​Altadena Arts Magnet / 
Octavia E. Butler Magnet School." 
-Shannon Mumolo, Coordinator:
Signature Programs, Pasadena Unified School District



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​Special ‘THANX’ To:

Head Librarian:
​Natalie Daily 

(daily.natalie@pusd.us)
Octavia E. Butler Library
Octavia E. Butler Magnet 
(formerly Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy)
  
And to:

Marcelle Hopkins
(marcelle.hopkins@nytimes.com)
Visual Editor, Special Projects
The New York Times



0 Comments

Quadrature Illusionism

11/14/2022

0 Comments

 
    "In fine art, the term quadratura describes a form of   illusionistic mural painting in which images of architectural features are painted onto walls or ceilings so that they seem to extend the real architecture of the room into an imaginary space beyond the confines of the actual wall or ceiling. The term can also apply to the illusionistic "opening up" of walls."
(From: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/painting/quadratura.htm)
​

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“Der Plessurfischer” by Fabian Bane Florin in Chur, Switzerland 
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Street Art by Edgar Müller
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Tracy Lee Stum
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Tracy Lee Stum

"Quadrature Illusionism is mainly associated with
Italian church 
fresco painting, notably that of the Baroque era. 
A particularly inspiring form of Christian art - and a key feature
of
Catholic Counter-Reformation Art (c.1560-1700) - this pure type of quadratura relies heavily on 17th-century theories of linear perspective but produces a more complete form uniting
architecture, painting and sculpture."

From: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/
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St. Maron’s prayer niche ceiling oculus: Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon / St. Peter’s Cathedral
“Oculus del Dio” by Roberto Quintana

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“The Threshold” by Roberto Quintana / Church of Religious Science, upper lobby landing.


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“Heimark Hacienda” by Laurence ‘Link” Linkus
0 Comments

“The Mural Artist’s Handbook” by Morgan Bricca

11/7/2022

0 Comments

 
Here is another one of my favorite books from my library:

“The Mural Artist’s Handbook”
by Morgan Bricca
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Are you ready to try your hand at painting a mural?
Have you wondered how to find clients who will pay you to paint?
In Morgan's handbook you will learn how to b
uild an art business
that is sustainable and fun!  


• Find clients
• Develop a site-specific design
• Select the right materials
• Block in a mural


"Morgan has done a great job of showing how she has created
a thriving business from her passion for painting murals!

 She gives excellent advise on the ins and outs of working by commission and maintaining your own creative vision at the same time." -Roberto
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I particularly like her
“Nature is Home”
Native Bird Murals
series

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Morgan has painted fifteen flower and bird murals
throughout Ilha das Flores in the Azores, Portugal
in the summer of 2017.

These murals were mainly hand painted on public buildings and ruins, most near the main town of Santa Cruz,
a town of about 900 residents.

(Read about her adventures with this project HERE !)
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​In addition to sharing her mural painting expertise
and talent through her “Handbook”
Morgan has an excellent
​ BLOG
on her website

https://muralartistshandbook.com/blog/


...and a fantastic PODCAST!
“If These Walls Could Talk”
  promoting the art of mural making and exploring
best practices for creating successful mural projects!
-Great Job Morgan-
(Check it Out!)

https://muralartistshandbook.com/podcast/

Also

Sign up for her monthly
Newsletter
and receive her latest news and updates
delivered directly to your inbox.

"I really enjoy following this generous and talented Muralista as she shares her creativity and vision for a better world
through mural painting!" -Roberto
​
0 Comments

Ian Roberts and the Search for Beauty

10/31/2022

0 Comments

 
Are you into landscape painting?
I know I am!

So here’s a link to some of my landscape paintings
​and drawings.
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’Stunt Road Up Two Miles’ Roberto Quintana, Acrylics on Canvas


​Ian Roberts
is into landscape painting too!

Sign up for his Weekly newsletter
and FANTASTIC Video tutorials.


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Ian Roberts has been painting for over 40 years.
He attended the New School of Art and
​the Ontario College of Art in Toronto.

He also studied figure painting in Florence, Italy.
He now teaches plein air painting in the U.S. through his school 'Atelier Saint-Luc',
named after the patron saint of painters,
​in Los Angeles, California.
​

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​Each week Ian shares a 5-7 minutes video on some aspect
of composition and how it plays a foundational role
in our painting.
"This Guy really knows his stuff!
(and He shares all the Tricks of the Trade.)
I’ve been following Ian for many years now and I always learn something new from him!" -RQ

​
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​He also has an excellent Video series:
“The Search for Beauty”
One artist’s journey to understand beauty

https://thesearchforbeauty.com/videos/


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Plus…
He has written TWO of my favorite books in my library!!




“Mastering Composition”
Techniques and principles
to dramatically improve
​your painting
​

by Ian Roberts
​

(40 minute video included)

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AND…


“Creative Authenticity”
16 Principles to Clarify and Deepen Your Artistic Vision
​
by Ian Roberts






​If all that's not enough!
​​He has also produced several other videos:
​

Mastering Composition from Photos:
​Light & Shadow
,

Mastering Composition from Photos: Landscape Painting
​

 Mastering Composition,

 Plein Air Painting, 

Design,

Color, 




0 Comments

Bombing Science and Fuse Awr

10/24/2022

0 Comments

 
Here's an interview of Fuse Awr
(from the 'Bombing Science' Blog)
Awr is a Los Angeles graffiti artist 
who began painting
​in the 1980s, before relocating 
to Colorado in the 1990s.
INTERVIEW: FUSE AWR MSK
https://www.bombingscience.com/interview-fuse-awr-msk/
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"Native Son (This Saint Flyod)” 2016, aerosol on stucco, El Mac and Fuse Awr.
This mural is a collaboration with El Mac.
​​

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Bombing Science ​is a web site
all about Graffiti Art!

     Bombing Science has been a great source for graffiti pictures since 1998 and a complete online graffiti supplies store.
     They are the official retailer and distributor for some of the most popular graffiti products such as: Molotow premium paint, DANG, Ironlak, Flame Paint, Krink markers and many more.
     They pride themselves on supporting graffiti artists from around the world, giving them exposure in their graffiti blog and supplying them with the finest tools.


​
Check out their Graffiti Photo Library…

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​​And...  they have Links to 60 different graffiti street art walking tours ​around the world!
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Plus a good Tutorial for beginners…
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    1. Intro
    "Graffiti techniques and tricks have grown tremendously over the years, and from its underground roots on the gritty streets, they’ve been past on and developed through word of mouth for years. But here at Bombing Science, we want to share our experience and knowledge of graffiti with you. We came up with some in depth analysis and some of the fundamentals of the graff game in this graffiti tutorial, all to help you master the craft. Nothing can bring you those super sharp outlines and flawless colour schemes quite like going out there and getting your hands messy. We explore the theory and some tips (literally) behind the essentials of graffiti. You’ll learn how to paint a graffiti piece from start to finish.
    We start off breaking down the basics of graffiti tools, from can control to cap selection, these are the essentials that everything else will be based on. Once that’s wrapped up, we jump into letter structure, the foundation of any graff piece,  from tags to burners. Once letter structure is established, style is then explored creating a sense of originality to a piece or throwie. From there we delve into the intricacies of the trade,  from extensions to cut backs, we cover them all so you can get a feel for when to use what, and why. Finally we jump into little tricks that often go overlooked but can come in handy in a big way."
  • 2. Can Control
  • 3. Letter Structure and Style
  • 4. Colour Theory and Fills
  • 5. Extra Doodads
  • 6. Backgrounds and Forcefields
  • 7. Tricks of the Trade
  (I especially like Mr. Ferocious’s techniques for extending the last bit of paint in the can or the trays when your on-site! -RQ)


And they also have...
​

a forum​,​
https://www.bombingscience.com/graffitiforum/

and a shop!
https://shop.bombingscience.com/

Including FREE​ stuff!
https://shop.bombingscience.com/free-graffiti-supplies

They also have a great Blog...
with more Interviews, Reviews of supplies, featured artists, and videos!

https://www.bombingscience.com/

Check it out!
​Peace and Love -RQ



0 Comments

DCA Call for Muralists/Murals

10/17/2022

0 Comments

 
“Hey Folks!
The Mail-Room just sent this down to my desk!

It looks time sensitive
so I'm passing it along to you.
No good pictures but a lot of good info.”  -RQ
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​Call for Muralists and Mural Restoration and Conservation Projects
DEADLINE: 
Nov 13, 2022 - 11:59 pm
​

Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is seeking muralists to propose their own historically significant murals located in the City of Los Angeles that need conservation. The mural conservation proposal must include a paid youth apprenticeship opportunity for young people from the mural’s local neighborhood. Selected mural conservation projects should also depict the social justice theme(s) of the mural, notable cultural figures, or important histories that are meaningful to residents.

Preservation of these historic murals will serve as cultural markers, connect them to the social justice themes of today, and inspire multiple conversations between the past and the present.


AMOUNT: $10,000 to $25,000, all inclusive


GRANTING ORGANIZATION: City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Public Art Division


DEADLINE: Nov 13, 2022 - 11:59 pm


STATUS: Open


CONTACT: For technical guidance with the Airtable platform, visit Airtable’s support page.
For questions about this RFP, please contact Yami Duarte, DCA Public Art Division, at: dca.publicart@lacity.org with subject line “DCA Mural Works.”

For project goals, criteria, eligibility, budget, selection process, workshop info, and how to apply download the RFP below.
​

Resources/Links
  • Request for Proposals  <RFP here!
  • Application Portal​​
CONTACT:
Department of Cultural Affairs
City of Los Angeles
https://culturela.org/
201 North Figueroa Street, Suite 1400
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213 202 5500


MURALS   
The Citywide Mural Program seeks to establish a comprehensive network of mural activity and engagement by muralists, property owners, community stakeholders, educators, technicians, technologists, and preservationists in an effort to stimulate Los Angeles’ mural resurgence.
 
GOALS
  • To preserve, conserve, and restore historically significant murals throughout the City with an emphasis on City-sponsored murals;
  • To produce new murals that re-engage communities, especially youth, and create new opportunities for muralists;
  • To provide technical assistance, training, and workshops for muralists as well as interested community members and stakeholders; and,
  • To support mural documentation, presentation, and engagement activities that are interactive, educational, and/or cultural tourism opportunities related to murals.

The City of Los Angeles occasionally sends out requests for proposals or qualifications for public art opportunities. 
Find out more about these artist opportunities:

Sign Up

​​

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the City’s Mural Ordinance and why was it established?

The City’s Mural Ordinance is local legislation adopted by the Mayor and City Council related to existing murals and the creation of new murals in Los Angeles. 
The Mural Ordinance was established in order to: 
1) Lift the 2002 ban on murals on private property, 
2) Differentiate new and existing murals from current prohibitions that apply to outdoor advertisements, 
3) Create a mural registration process, and 4) Increase public access to and community participation in the creation of original works of art.



Does the City provide any funding support for new murals?
The Department of Cultural Affairs is working with each Council Office to provide funding for Council District-Specific mural related projects. 
To find your Council District representative, go to:

 https://www.lacity.org/government/popular-information/elected-officials/city-council. 

(To be notified of Calls for Artists, please join our mailing list.)



What is an Original Art Mural?
The Mural Ordinance defines an Original Art Mural as:
”A one-of-a-kind, hand-painted, hand-tiled, or digitally printed image on the exterior wall of a building that does not contain any commercial message. 
For definition purposes, a commercial message is any message that advertises a business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced or sold.”
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​
​
​What is a Vintage Original Art Mural?

A Vintage Original Art Mural is a mural that existed or was created prior to October 12, 2013.
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​
​What does the Vintage Art Mural registration process entail?

Murals with documented proof of existence prior to October 12, 2013 are deemed Vintage Original Art Murals are considered registered murals by the Department of Cultural Affairs. The DCA manages a mural database which can verify the mural’s date of creation. However, murals that are not registered in the DCA’s mural database may register with a Vintage Art Mural Application. Property owners and artists are encouraged to register. There is no fee for Vintage Art Mural Registration.


Who do I contact if a mural in my community needs to be maintained, restored and/or is in need of graffiti removal?
Please call our Public Art Division’s main line: 213-202-5555.
Email is preferred including background information, address, and an image of the mural to:
               murals@lacity.org


Where do I get information about the City’s Mural Ordinance?
For information about the City’s Mural Ordinance and guidance on the mural registration process, please call the Public Art Division, DCA at: 213-202-5544 or send an email to:            murals@lacity.org



What is the timeline for the individual artist grant programs? When can proposals be submitted, and what is the submission deadline?
The guidelines and forms for the AIR and COLA grants programs are posted on DCA’s website in the first week of September each year. 
The deadline for submitting a proposal for either grants program is the fourth Friday of October of each year.
Thats this Friday, 
October 28! 
Better get on it!!

​BE IN THE LOOP!
Receive notes about art, culture,
​and creativity ​in LA!


​​
Department of Cultural Affairs, 
City of Los Angeles

 dca.digital@lacity.org
https://culturela.org/


0 Comments

Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles

10/10/2022

2 Comments

 
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​

The 
Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles maintains a FREE database of Los Angeles' Mural History linking artists, murals and neighborhoods.
​      The foundation of this database was shaped by Robin Dunitz' book "Street Gallery", the first true compilation of Los Angeles public murals.
      The MCLA website allows submissions of murals created recently in Los Angeles, forming an ever growing archive joining the historic with the new.

“The MCLA site can be searched by Mural Location, Artist, Type, or Title.” -RQ

​​The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 86231, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0231
Phone:
(213) 291-1811
Email:
muralconservancyLA@gmail.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/muralconservancy
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/themcla



​And here’s the book the collection was originally based on
(one of my favorites)


​
"Street Gallery

Guide to over 1000 Los Angeles Murals"
by Robin Dunitz (Author)
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With a foreword by Adolfo V. Nodal.
431 pages including an index with artists biographies and a bibliography.
​A comprehensive listing with maps showing the locations and in some cases a brief description and/or a color photo of the more than 1,000 murals of Los Angeles and its surrounding neighborhoods. 
2 Comments

John Singer Sargent's Murals at the Boston Public Library

10/3/2022

0 Comments

 
Here's a good follow up to the earlier post I did on 
​
Edwin Austin Abbey's murals:
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John Singer Sargent’s mural cycle 
'Triumph of Religion'


"Check out these lectures sponsored by
​the Boston Public Library!"

The Sargent Lecture Series:
New Interpretations of Sargent’s Murals
at Boston Public Library

 

John Singer Sargent’s mural cycle at the Central Library
in Copley Square, spanned twenty-nine years of the prolific artist’s career between 1890 and 1919.
A century after a public controversy around Sargent’s 1919 installation reached a peak in 1922, Boston Public Library gathered a group of conservators, historians, curators, and authors in May 2022 to revisit this significant project in Sargent’s life and to offer new interpretations
​of the murals.
The talks make connections across local and international collections and resources to promote the further study and discussion of Sargent’s library works.


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New Interpretations of Sargent’s Masterwork at Boston Public Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbXGHv4_e9I
​

May 9, 2022  Meghan Weeks

      Join BPL’s Curator of Interpretation for a virtual exploration of John Singer Sargent’s Triumph of Religion mural cycle at the Boston Public Library.
​      This introductory lecture will examine the evolution of the project over three decades between 1890 and 1919, and offer fresh insights into the visual study of these masterful murals on public display.
​

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Reflections on the Restoration
of John Sargent's Murals at the
​Boston Public Library

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj0F0x2jzr8&t=8s


May 10, 2022  Gianfranco Pocobene and Kate Smith

      In 2003-2004, the Straus Center for Conservation undertook the comprehensive conservation and restoration of the Sargent murals which also included in depth technical analysis of the artist's painting techniques.
      This talk focuses on some of the more complex treatment issues that conservators faced during the fifteen-month project.
​
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Sourcing the Madonna of Sorrows: Painting, Sculpture and Sargent’s Spanish Photographs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfMej2a_cw0
​

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Chloe Sharpe introduced by Richard Ormond


      Sargent’s Madonna of Sorrows, installed in 1916, was the culmination of over twenty years of research into Spanish religious iconography for the Boston Library murals.
      The painter’s fascination with the spiritual power and rich materiality of Spanish art led him to amass a significant collection of photographs of sculptures, which has only recently been rediscovered in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
      This lecture explores the significance of these and other sources for interpreting the murals’ meanings.


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​More images of Sargent's mural panels at Boston Public Library are available at Digital Commonwealth.

and more videos!


The Uncanny Sargent: The View from Conservation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS52Nxdj2kI


Lecture: Richard Ormond on John Singer Sargent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOuD5oZZQf8&t=7s



​

0 Comments

El Mac / Miles MacGregor : Muralist / Artist

9/26/2022

2 Comments

 
O.K., so here’s another amazing Muralist and Artist out there that I’ld like to share with you all:
https://elmac.net/
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"Ánimo Sin Fronteras" (Spirit Without Borders), 2014, aerosol
Painted in downtown El Paso, Texas.
​This mural represents resilience and strength,
and complements the fighting spirit
of the classic boxing mural next to it.
The figure is based on a man named Melchor Flores,
who has been fighting to get answers and justice
for his son who was picked up and disappeared by police
​in Nuevo León in 2009.
In honor of all those who fight for justice.
​
​
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"Abuelita of Presidio" 2018, aerosol on metal
Mural located on the US-Mexico border and commissioned
by the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs.
A binational gesture of goodwill painted on a ten-story high water tank in the remote border community of Presidio, Texas, facing its southern neighbor Ojinaga, Chihuahua, and bearing the likeness of a humble local resident named Linda.
​


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"Native Son (This Saint Flyod)” 2016, aerosol on stucco
Commissioned for The Manitou Art Center (The MAC)
in Manitou Springs, Colorado.
The mural is a collaboration with FUSE AWR,
a Los Angeles graffiti veteran artist
who began painting in the 1980s before relocating
​to Colorado in the 1990s.

The mural depicts legendary and reclusive local artist
Floyd Tunson (born 1947), who had a retrospective at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center a couple years before
EL MAC's exhibition there in 2015.
Tunson is a Colorado native who has been creating art in his Manitou Springs studio for over 30 years.

"It was a pleasure getting to know him, and I would consider him one of the most inspiring and interesting people I've met.
​I recognize in him a deep love for creation, experimentation, and a certain shared philosophy that art and life are inseparable." -
​EL MAC
​

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"El Regalo Mágico” 2016, aerosol enamel & ceramic tile on brick
 Located in the East Harlem section of New York City
in collaboration with Celso González and Roberto Biaggi
of CERO Design, Puerto Rico.
The title of the mural,
"El Regalo Mágico / The Magic Gift"
refers to the gift of inspiration.
The figure is based on respected Nuyorican author
Nicholasa Mohr, who lives nearby, and is known for being one of the first widely published Latina authors
in the United States.

Cero's part, the geometric infinity pattern that forms a halo around the figure, is composed entirely of tile mosaic.
The mural is located in "El Barrio", East Harlem,
on the side of a large elementary school
at 111th Street and Lexington Avenue.

The mural was created as part of a public arts project
called MonumentArt, curated by Celso Gonzalez.

​

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"Our Lady of Aalborg" 2013, aerosol
Painted in Aalborg, Denmark
while there for a solo show at Galerie Wolfsen.
The mural is across the street from the maternity ward of Aalborg University Hospital,
so an iconic symbol of motherly love
seemed appropriate for this location. 
​


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"Tower of Songs" 2017, aerosol and acrylic on brick
A massive tribute to Leonard Cohen
commissioned by the City of Montreal and MU
​in cooperation with the Cohen family.



Paintings:  Aerosol/Indoors
https://elmac.net/aerosol-indoors
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​
​
​ 19 Videos​! about El Mac / https://elmac.net/videos-
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El Mac, Retna and Kofie were commissioned to create a mural for the Manifest Equality Event
held in Hollywood, California in March, 2010.

The mural was painted over three weeks after completion without notice or warning
​by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences!

​
About EL MAC (Miles MacGregor):
    An internationally renowned artist born and based in Los Angeles. He began painting both smaller indoor works as well as public murals and graffiti in Phoenix in the mid 1990s, and since that time has developed his unique visual aesthetic and rendering style which utilizes repeating contour patterns. His work draws on influences from classical European art, social realism, symbolism and devotional art, as well as the Chicano and Mexican culture he grew up around. He is best known for his meticulous paintings and large-scale murals exploring feminine beauty and honoring ordinary, overlooked, or marginalized people. He has been commissioned to paint all over the world, for museums, universities and other cultural institutions, including the Groeninge Museum (Belgium), San José Museum of Art (California), Northeastern University (Boston), University of California (San Diego), QAGoMA (Brisbane), Fondazione PRADA (Italy), and the Mexican secretariat of Foreign Affairs, as well as murals in Belgium, Cambodia, Cuba, Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Morocco, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Viet Nam. For over twenty years he has aimed "to uplift and inspire through careful, perfectionist renderings of both the sublime and the humble".

​
All images copyright MAC ART LLC ©MMXXII
2 Comments

Anamorphic illusions

9/19/2022

2 Comments

 
Anamorphic illusionism:
             anamorphic | ˈanəˈˌmôrfik | adjective
Denoting or relating to a distorted projection or drawing that appears normal when viewed from a particular point-of-view.

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VF Corporation headquarter’s office in Switzerland. By the collective Truly Design – Urban Artists.


​
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Felice Varini is a Swiss artist who paints on architectural and urban spaces,


​
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http://www.varini.org/

​
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By muralist Peeta
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​​Portuguese artist 
Sergio Odeith creates remarkable anamorphic murals that appear to pop out of the walls on which they are painted. Odeith began making graffiti in the 1980s, before branching out into large-scale murals and his signature anamorphic works.​
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​
​And of course a few murals by the Queen of 3D
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Pandora
Tracy Lee Stum
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Tracy Lee Stum:
“Today, artists have a wide range of tools to achieve what’s called contemporary anamorphic art, a designed method or technology used to create the illusion of 3D on 2D surfaces. It’s a method of drawing founded on the geometry of perspective, often using photography or computer programs as tools to achieve the final chalk-and-paint illusion.”




2 Comments

Roberto visits ’The Cheech”!

9/12/2022

1 Comment

 
"Man!...
​You gotta be careful going into Riverside these days!
I just went to 'the Cheech'
and look what happened to me!!"
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 “The Arrest of the Paleteros”, by  Frank Romero, 1996, part of The Cheech Marin Collection of the Riverside Art Museum
Here I am getting arrested with the Paleteros!
​...and all I wanted was a popsicle!!


Videos:

‘The Chicano Collection’
____
CHICANITAS: Small Paintings from
​the Cheech Marin Collection

____
CHEECH MARIN : UP IN ART
____
Cheech Marin - An Interpretation of a Culture Through Chicano Art
​


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​
​​​‘The Cheech’ is a public-private partnership between the Riverside Art Museum (RAM), the City of Riverside,
and comedian Cheech Marin,
one of the world’s foremost collectors of Chicano art.

‘The Cheech’ will be the center of Chicano art,
not only for painting, but for sculpture, photography,
​and video arts as well.

​
The 61,420 -square-foot
(get it!) center is displaying hundreds of paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures
​ by many artists, including:

 Patssi Valdez,  
Sandy Rodriguez, 
Carlos Almaraz, 
Frank Romero,
Judithe Hernández, 
and
Gilbert “Magú” Luján.

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A significant portion of this collection will always be exhibited and can continue to be toured at venues across the nation and throughout the world!
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Located in Riverside’s downtown historic core adjacent to The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in the cultural hub of Inland Southern California.​
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Students and faculty from five local colleges and universities will research and learn about the finest private collection of Chicano art in the U.S.
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“Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective” June 18, 2022 - January 22, 2023
Upstairs they had a FANTASTIC collection of
​glass sculpture by 
‘The de la Torre Brothers’.

Exhibition: June 18, 2022–January 22, 2023
The exhibition is a thematic retrospective on the artistic and exploratory trajectory of Einar and Jamex de la Torre, the two siblings that comprise this artistic duo known as The de la Torre Brothers. Einar and Jamex were born in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1963 and 1960, respectively, but they have navigated life on both sides
of the border since they were very young.
Due to their bi-national and bi-cultural background, their work has been interpreted through the lenses of border art and Chicano art
for the past couple of decades.
The brothers use an array of materials and techniques
that range from the mastering of glass blowing to the more recent practice of lenticular printing, signaling to an appreciation of
traditional crafts as well as to an interest in technology and popular mass-produced objects.

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There was even an
“Olmec-Planetary-Exploration-Rover”
on display!
"Man! Those pre-Columbians were WAY more advanced
than I thought!! I wanted to learn more about all this…
but they didn’t have a catalogue or brochures or pamphlets
​or any supporting materials!
(And I couldn’t find anything on their website!)
Must be REALLY Top Secret!

Oh well, “Que sera', sera'!"


But... 
the most outstanding piece in the whole show
was this one by 
John Valadez!
(a realist painter and muralist who takes as his subjects the urban landscape and people ​of Los Angeles.)
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John Valadez, ‘Getting Them Out of the Car’ (1984), Pastel on Paper, 100” x 37.5” (8.33’ x 3.12’) [ 2.54m x 0.95m ]
A very large pastel drawing on paper!
​"Really quite stunning!

I’ll have to do a separate post on Valadez and his murals
on a later post!" -RQ

​
Exhibition: June 18, 2022–June 18, 2023
Cheech Collects weaves a story of Cheech Marin’s efforts as a passionate and laser-focused collector, exploring the making of a major collection from the first works acquired through the most recent acquisitions. This inaugural exhibition is a celebration of the foremost champion of the Chicano School of Art. Unflinching in his faith and commitment to the excellence of this art, Marin does not bother with past debates on the legitimacy of this art movement but dares to posit that it is the most significant American art movement to date. The creation of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture furthers his advocacy and will continue to shape the art world’s perceptions and understanding of Chicano art. Inarguably, Marin’s efforts have brought unprecedented attention to Chicana/o art with exhibitions of and loans from his collection to over 50 museums nationally and internationally. The inaugural exhibition features almost 120 works from Marin’s generous gift of over 500 works to the Riverside Art Museum as well as from his personal collection. It includes iconic works that have toured in Chicano Visions, among other notable exhibitions, works that have not often been exhibited, and some that will be on view for the very first time, reflecting a 40-year span of art production. A second iteration of the inaugural exhibition will open in December of 2022.


LOCATION & PARKING
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum is located at 3581 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, CA, 92501, on the corner of Mission Inn Ave. and Orange St.
Metered street and lot parking is available along Mission Inn Ave. Click here for more information and a map of parking areas located downtown.
Many large-scale downtown events occur along Mission Inn Ave. throughout the year. Please be advised that street closures regularly take place during these events, e.g., Festival of Lights, Dia de los Muertos, etc., which will affect parking and drop-off/pick-up. We thank you for your understanding.
"Nice Job, Homey!
(Except for the catalogue thing.)" -RQ
1 Comment

The Painter’s Craft

9/5/2022

0 Comments

 
“Here are two of my favorite books from my library… ”
​“The Painter’s Craft”
An introduction to artists’ methods and materials
By Ralph Mayer
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The author is regarded with respect by artists in all fields. In this book he concentrates his attention upon the practicing painter, the hobbyist and the student and supplies a unique guide to the crafts of painting, dealing expertly with the ingredients of pigments, carriers and grounds, and the ways in which these materials are applied. It is an authoritative treatment of the techniques of painting, concerning the mechanics rather than the aesthetics of these skills.
Contents:
     1)  Introduction
     2)  Color
     3) Pigments
     4). Grounds
     5). Oil Painting
     6). Tempera Painting
     7). Aqueous Paints
     8). Pastel
     9)  Mural Painting
     10) Synthetic mediums
     11) Studio and Equipment


When I am asked what to do to learn the basics of mural painting, I say get a job prepping for a good all-around House-painter. Then, after you have been fired from a few jobs, and you have learned how to prep and work with gallons of paint, how to carry ladders and set scaffolding,
and how to fix a few mistakes...
I used to say "get a job as a scenic artist",
but that’s way too old school now.
(I don’t think those jobs even exist anymore!) 

So now I just say "...get Ralph’s books." -RQ
​

Also by this Author:
“The Artist’s Handbook”
​of materials and techniques

By Ralph Mayer
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Since 1940, when it was originally published, The Artist's Handbook has been indispensable for thousands of practicing artists and art students. The book has remained continuously in print through many editions and has sold more than a quarter of a million copies.

It is, as American Artist Magazine calls it, the "artist's bible," an invaluable reference for the painter, sculptor, and printmaker. During the past few years, however, new art movements and new research have led to many changes in the technology of artist's materials. With the assistance of Mayer's widow, Bena, and his colleagues, Viking and Steven Sheehan, Director of the Ralph Mayer Center at Yale University, have prepared this latest revision of the book, which is now completely updated and expanded.


The Handbook does retain its original, user-friendly format. Mayer intended that this encyclopedic volume be referred to frequently, and he therefore gave specific, practical advice on every aspect of his subject. In addition, he compiled valuable lists for the artist: retail sources for materials, a pigment catalog, a bibliography, and an extensive appendix. The detailed index makes all of this information immediately accessible.
0 Comments

JOHN PUGH / Narrative Illusionism

8/29/2022

1 Comment

 
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"Pool of Thought"
John Pugh, Trompe L'oeil Artist,
American Muralist, Optical Illusion Painter, has created
​more than 200 murals and is considered to be
the leading proponent, authority, and practitioner of
​Narrative Illusionism.

​
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JOHN has been creating murals since the late 1970s.
He attended California State University Chico,
receiving his BA in 1983 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2003. He has received numerous public and private commissions in the United States, Taiwan, and New Zealand.
John lives in Santa Cruz, California.
​Visit www.illusion-art.com
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    John Pugh's murals appear in more than 30 cities throughout the country, including San Francisco, Miami, Honolulu, and Anchorage.
Pugh's work has been featured in publications worldwide, including Time magazine, Artweek, Art Business News,
the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times,
​and the San Francisco Examiner.

​

"Okay, So here is another great book for the library!":
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“The Murals of John Pugh: Beyond Trompe l'Oeil”
                by Kevin Bruce

    A full-color collection of master trompe l'oeil muralist John Pugh's art, alongside detailed analysis - from conception to unveiling - with an emphasis on how his work relates to and enhances its setting. Includes more than 40 full-color photos of the murals depicting architectural, natural, and pictorial settings.
    This full-color collection showcases Pugh's most famous pieces, discusses how he revitalized the trompe l'oeil ("trick of the eye") genre into a vital mode of artistic expression, and illuminates the artist's creative process from sketch to finished mural.
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"River of Mercy"
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      “For more than three decades, world-renowned trompe l’oeil artist John Pugh has engaged and captivated the public with large-scale mural projects in spaces across the world, including San Francisco, Miami, and New York, as well as Taiwan, Mexico, and New Zealand. His “trick of the eye” murals cleverly fool the viewer into seeing a modern facade’s broken wall revealing Greek columns or a woman reading in a cafe. But Pugh’s paintings also capture the imagination and engage the mind. Within a framework of artfully rendered illusionary space, he orchestrates layers of historical, social, and mythical commentary that challenge the viewer to find deeper levels of meaning.
     With a body of work now exceeding 200 murals, Pugh has been instrumental in revitalizing the trompe l’oeil genre, turning it into a legitimate and vital mode of artistic expression that is both aesthetically and intellectually challenging.
     In Pugh’s own words:
 ‘It can link people together, stimulate a sense of pride within the community, and introduce the viewer to new ideas and perspectives.' ”     
     -Kevin Bruce, (Author of The Murals of John Pugh: Beyond Trompe L’oeil, 2006) is a native Californian born in San Francisco in 1941. He is currently engaged as an art historian and author with a focus on chronicling the contemporary mural. He resides with his wife and fellow mural archivist, Pauline, in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Berkeley, California.
​

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'Light Walk"
1 Comment

Michael Carter / pendulum painting

8/22/2022

0 Comments

 
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‘Solstice’ 2017 48x34, Acrylic on Canvas by Michael Carter
Michael Carter, b. 1975, Cambridge, MA, lives and works in Los Angeles, CA, he received a MFA from Claremont Graduate University.
​
His work is an investigation into metaphysical theories of art and the cultural history of science, philosophy, and religion.
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Recent exhibitions include:
Seasons, Los Angeles, CA; ​Hansell Art Gallery of the Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles, CA;
​JOAN, Los Angeles, CA; Nicodim Gallery, Los Angeles, CA and Bucharest, RO; Laband Gallery at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA; the Art Gallery at Glendale Community College, Glendale, CA; Machine Project, Los Angeles, CA; Steve Turner, Los Angeles, CA; and Roberts Projects, Culver City, CA.
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‘Making Space’ -Glendale Community College, December 4, 2017
 ‘Making Space’, sited off an elevated footbridge connecting the Science and Humanities buildings on the campus of Glendale Community College, is a practical investigation into the possibility of universals today. What are the conditions that connect us in the human experience? Gravity is one such condition—an ever-present force that intimately effects our lives yet also is responsible for shaping planets, forming solar systems, and structuring our galaxy. The pendulum is a highly sensitive instrument that facilitates a personal collaboration with this cosmic-scale phenomena. The pendulum series is an encouragement to question a mechanistic understanding of reality and recall to our awareness the infinitely receding and never-crossed boundary of the unknowable.
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​​'Out of Discord Comes the Most Beautiful Harmony'
Philosophical Research Society
October 10, 2018

'Out of Discord Comes the Most Beautiful Harmony' is the simultaneous creation of a cosmic mandala by a monumental-sized 'pendulagraph' and a healing sound-bath by quartz-crystal singing bowls. Together with artist and metaphysician Michael Carter and sound-bowl practitioner Kristin Palombo, the audience will contribute their vibrational presence in seeking to harmonize the impersonal, cosmic law of gravitation and the felt experience of pure sound vibration. 'Out of Discord Comes the Most Beautiful Harmony' proposes the possibility of unifying the grand opposites of our shared reality: finite and infinite; subjectivity and objectivity; form and emptiness; masculine and feminine; cosmic and terrestrial; law and chaos. In this unified field, our consciousness can travel into altered states of being, opening the doors to new conditions of mental and spiritual experience.
Out of Discord Comes the Most Beautiful Harmony
Philosophical Research Society, October 10, 2018



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“MICHAEL CARTER: THE SPIRITUAL IN ART"
March 18, 2021
"EMS visited the studio in February 2021 and produced this
17 minute short film. I discuss the origins of my work with the pendulum, Thought-Forms and Theosophy, my performances at the Philosophical Research Society and Nicodim Gallery
, and preview new work." -
Michael Carter

Watch “MICHAEL CARTER: THE SPIRITUAL IN ART”
0 Comments

UNIVERSITY AND PARK AVENUE MURAL PROJECT

8/15/2022

0 Comments

 
The Riverside Art Museum
(RAM)


Riverside’s Eastside community has a rich history of diverse residents coming together to make their neighborhoods spaces where families can gather, connect, and feel safe. The Riverside Art Museum proudly  supports an artist-in-residence program with Juan Navarro who works with residents and non-profit organizations to beautify and transform spaces throughout the Riverside Eastside.
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During October 2021’s Artswalk, Juan Navarro, the lead artist on the University and Park Avenue Mural Project, took over RAM’s Instagram, live, with all the participating artists: Adrian Boyer, John Cuevas, C. Matthew Luther, Robin Luther, and Daniel Toledo to celebrate this new community mural project located at the gateway to the Eastside, at Arci’s Candy at 2870 University Avenue.
​
​
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Take a ride with Juan Navarro through Eastside Riverside
​to see the University and Park Avenue mural!

0 Comments

Break-Through Murals!

8/8/2022

0 Comments

 
Break-Throughs are playful illusions utilizing the wall-surface as a design element to create an opening or a break-away effect, thereby revealing a hidden world or an emerging subject. Break-Throughs often incorporate linear perspective techniques, trompe l’oeil and/or faux finishes, quadrature Illusionism, and/or anamorphic effects.
I’ll do future posts on all of these Illusion techniques.
Here are a few examples:
​

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John Pugh: Taylor Hall, California State University, Chico, California
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Roberto Quintana for Carrow’s restaurant interior
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Roberto Quintana: private residence entryway
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Roberto Quintana: Oculus ceiling mural for Tourmaline Studios
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Morgan Mural Studios: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
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Tracy Lee Stum: Raider Power
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Roberto Quintana: Grand American Fare/ Paddy Boots, Denver, Colorado
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Boss Graphics
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Roberto Quintana for Boss Graphics
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Laurence ‘Link’ Linkus: ‘An Hows Yur...?’ for Grand American Fare
0 Comments

A Purple Portrait!

8/1/2022

2 Comments

 
I just put the finishing touches on this portrait
of my beloved, Susan.

It is an Oil painting on a canvas panel, about 24”x18”
​
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     Susan liked to wear and surround herself with purples, so I chose a split-primary color scheme using Ultramarine Blue (semi-transparent) and Quinacridone Red (semi-transparent), which when mixed together makes a very lively Purple, with a tad of Burnt Umber (a purple-like earth tone) and a micro-tad of Perylene Black (semi-transparent). The Perylene is a greenish-black used as a foil against the Quinacridone. I prefer using Lead-White when mixing flesh tones because it is more transparent than Titanium-White, and doesn’t make for ‘chalky’ colors.
    The difficult task was to paint a 'Purple Portrait' which didn’t look ghoulish, and to try and capture Susan’s big ‘toothy’ smile, which I love so much and which was such a joyous aspect of who she was, while not turning her beautiful grin into 'a Grin'.
     I started this during the last year that she was with us and I have been noodling with it until just recently when I added the Black and Burnt-Umber to the background behind her jaw and neck. At some point you just have to let go... and call it ‘done’.

​
Susan My Beloved,
​Farewell...

​

On a forgotten journey
to somewhere once
a long time ago
I found myself
distracted by a beautiful
wildflower,
bright and true,

growing amid the roses.
I came to you
down by the river
like a perfect Fool
as Parsifal to Blanchefleur.
Your scent filled my senses
and I became drunk with you!
And dreamed…
The Drunkards’ Dream
of hearth and home
and contentment.
My cup overflowing
as you poured your love into me.
Your love transformed me.
Transformed my World.
Transformed my Universe.
My Forever Love.
My all. 
My ally.

My Wild Iris
Mi Corazon.

...But now the banquet is over,
the courtyard stands empty
the drawbridge withdrawn.
The Grail Castle has vanished!
Now I know the treachery
of the lost precious.
The bewilderment of Parsifal
abandoned and lost
in a wilderness of pain and sorrow.
Now I know the despair of Rumi
at the murder and loss
of Shams of Tabriz.
Queen of my heart
My Forever Love.
My Perfect, Perfect Love.
I miss you so much…
Without you
I am like a speck of dust
blown away
in the breeze...



​


2 Comments
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       ...to Roberto's Blog!

      "Duit-On-Mon-Dai"
     
        Roberto has been pestering the ‘Marketing’ staff here at Art and Soul for some time now to get together with ‘Research and Development’ to come up with a fun way for him to share all the great work out there of all the many other talented muralists and artists he's been "influenced by" over the years. ‘Sales’ was totally against the idea! ("How could that possibly improve the bottom-line?!"). ‘Marketing’ remains split, as usual ("We need more data"). ‘R&D’ thought it might be a fun way to "show off a little", and to showcase all those great ideas they keep finding out there on the internet. ‘HR’ said it might be a good way to keep 'The Crew' distracted ("Since they are all so bored since Covid hit, and Roberto is spending more and more time in his studio working on all those silly little easel paintings").
    'The Crew' said: ’'Sure, We've got nothing else going on …but only if we get to share stuff about technique, materials, and equipment." ‘Receivables’ said: "It obviously won’t make more work for us, so why not!". 'Legal' said: "No Way! You are NOT going to reveal where you steal all your ideas from!" (Although Roberto values their legal advice, He rarely listen’s  to their hysterics anyway). So... here we are! Welcome to Roberto’s new blog:
     
     "Duit-On-Mon-Dai"
    ​
         "As the title implies, I will post once a week (on Monday, more or less). Feel free to leave a family friendly comment. Dialogue and praise is encouraged. Creativity, passion and wonder should be expected. Politics and personal grievances hopefully kept to private emails. And please… no Whining! and no sales pitches either (you can make your own damn blog for that).
       I expect to start becoming a little more savvy with all this social media stuff, but for now ‘Bookmark’ my website and check back every once in a while. I hope you will find it interesting. Don’t be too persnickety over my whimsical spelling and creative punctuations either, my
    Editorial Department is not what it used to be… I am seriously understaffed these days."   
     Peace and Love...
    ​     -Roberto Quintana, WFA

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Permission Statement: The contents of this web site are protected under copyright and other intellectual property laws. All images and text on this web site are copyright 1980-2021 Roberto Quintana dba Art & Soul Productions and/or their respective owners. All of the artwork on this web site has been hand-painted and/or designed by Roberto Quintana, one of his talented associates, or provided by an affiliate or a client. No portion of this web site may be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold, or otherwise exploited without the express written consent of Roberto Quintana. Any artwork on this web site that resembles your wonderful and precious artwork is purely accidental, and a huge coincidence, really. Oh, and any representation or likeness to anyone famous, living or otherwise, is most likely also an accident. Every effort has been made to give credit where it is due to clients, associates, and affiliates. If I have left you out please contact the studio, let's get this straightened out right away! Students and teachers may quote images or text for their non-commercial school activities. You also have my permission to quote images or text on your non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you notify me by e-mail, give credit on your site, and provide a link back to this web site. For use of text or images in traditional, or non-traditional print media, or for commercial licensing rights, please e-mail the studio for permissions.