Jesse Hazelip's creatures of war

Here is some local talent that I stumbled across while driving around Berkley waiting for my business cards to be letterpressed. Jesse had one of his bomber buffalo pasted up at a major intersection off Ashby Ave. It definitely caught my eye and I was excited to hear that he will be showing his work this Saturday at the White Walls gallery (7pm) here in SF.

Check out more work on his website.

Happy Farewell-to-the-Berlin-Wall, Germany!

. . .and Happy Anniversary to the people who were moved to paint:

Con mucho gusto

Last year I was asked to be a contributer to this blog. It was an honor that I gladly accepted, and then gradually forgot about. I say this now with embarrassment, because as Melissa and Rob (among others) continued to cultivate this artfully magnificent blog, I continued to silently observe in New York without documentation. I've lived in New York for almost five years now. I thought I'd be there for one, yet somehow here I am four years later, still refusing to buy a headboard and convinced I'll leave next year.

There is a small window of Magical Observatory, in my opinion, when you first arrive at a place. It's as if every synapse in your body fires in unison, over and over again, and you see every moment in space and time with lighted eyes.

And so for me, New York has lost a little bit of that glimmer lately. Maybe that's the reason for my lack of contribution; maybe it's laziness. I'll take blame for both. I haven't lost my adoration for New York, maybe just that initial Magical Observatory that only a brand new city can inspire.

Barcelona. It's my namesake, yet until last week I'd never been to Spain. I'm staying here for a little over three weeks, residing in an impressive flat in Barri Gotico which I'll get into later. For now though, be forewarned: I am glimmery all over and taking in the city like it's my last breath. Art, music, people, life. I plan to share it all here over the next few weeks.

Alianza

This is what happens when you match the brilliant hand-lettering of Retna. . .

. . .with the larger-than-life portraits of el Mac:

. . .poetry.

The final exhibit that we are sharing from the SF Lower Haight Art Walk last week is a collaboration: Alianza, a new book featuring the work of el Mac and Retna as individuals and co-conspirators in cities all over the world. El Mac was on-site celebrating his latest collection, and adding a new mural to Haight Street—though he was kind enough to take a break to sign our book.

P.S.

El Mac is also known for this fingerprint-like texture in his work (1st image). Retna is also known for adding his dynamic illustration style to fashion photos (2nd image)

. . .and this one really shows el Mac's skill as a fine draftsman.

Os Gemeos

From the womb to age 34, the members of Os Gemeos have shared a conscience—both figuratively and literally—winning the world over with their graffiti in a tight collaboration granted to them by their matching DNA. Brazilians Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo are identical twin brothers who have created art together ever since they can remember, a living monument to the meaning of brotherhood. Always in visual harmony with their environment, their characters feel as if they really belong in the spaces where the twins paint them. The work is heartfelt, relevant and beautiful—
so deeply regarded that the pair have been beckoned internationally to paint walls, trains, even a castle.

Barcelona, Spain

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (I think)

Kelburn Castle is a large house near Fairlie, North Ayrshire, Scotland

"When we dream, everything we dream has yellow tones. This is something of ours, myself and my brother. We use it in our painting. We can't use another color. We have to use yellow."