Watch: Kurt Vile - 'Wakin On A Pretty Day'

Philly native and droney songster Kurt Vile is following up his previous successful release Smoke Ring for my Halo with a new album this year, Wakin On a Pretty Daze (Matador Records).  The first track from the album sporting a similar title, "Waking on a Pretty Day" is out and Matador recently released a video that follows the painting of the sign used for the album cover by street artist and fellow Philadelphian ESPO (Steve Powers).  The album comes out April 9th...



Matador Records also recently released a mini-documentary that follows ESPO as he chats about Philly, his influences and his process for creating the mural.

BONUS - Live version of "Wakin on a Pretty Day" (Live on Radio K)

Video: RETNA Mural at Houston & Bowery Wall in NYC

If you live in NYC you are most probably familiar with the iconic wall on the corner of Houston and Bowery that over the years has played host to works from  Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey, JR, Kenny Scharf, Barry McGee  and most recently Fail. The next stint belongs to RETNA, his signature art covers the wall and we have a nice video of the artists process below….

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood VOL 1.7 “Martha Cooper”

Chapter 7 of the stellar web documentary series Here Comes The Neighborhood  focus’s on legendary photographer Martha Cooper. Cooper has been documenting graffiti and graffiti writers since the late 1970s. She has remained a fixture in the community and culture, and has been documenting the Wynwood Walls since the project began in 2009. Her photos tell the story of the Wynwood Walls from its inception to expansion, and all of the artists and their respective works. In graffiti and street art, nothing is permanent, even commissioned walls. Because of the temporary nature of the medium, Martha’s photos outlast almost every piece of graffiti or street art itself.

HCTN EPISODE 7 : MARTHA COOPER from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood VOL 1.6 “IRAK”

In chapter six of the stellar web documentary series Here Comes The Neighborhood  Kunle Martins aka EARSNOT, founder of the influential IRAK CREW, along with Jesse Geller aka NEMEL break down the importance of good penmanship, the difference between murals and graffiti, and the concept behind their "tagging mosaic" in Wynwood. Stealing, masturbation and other compulsive behaviors are also addressed.

Featuring previously unheard Clams Casino  track, "Bombing"

HCTN EPISODE 6 : IRAK from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood VOL 1.4/1.5 "Intercambio" & “Saner & Sego”

In the latest chapters of the stellar web documentary series Here Comes The Neighborhood  the focus for episode 4 is not on a single artist as much as it is on the spirit of the festival, “intercambio” or the importance of a cultural exchange and building a platform for communication and reconciliation through Public Art. The video also looks at the narratives behind the work from some of this year's artists, while photographer Martha Cooper shares her unique perspective, having seen the graffiti and street art movement expand in the 1970's from the New York City train yards to its state today as one of the largest art movements in the world.

Founder Tony Goldman expresses his privilege to welcome this year's artists whom are traveling to the United States from around the world for the first time, including Alejandre Farto aka Vhils from Portugal, Neuzz, Sego and Saner from Mexico, Interesni Kazki from The Ukraine, b. from Greece and Liqen from Spain.

HCTN EPISODE 4 : INTERCAMBIO from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Episode 5 focuses on Mexican artists Saner and Sego and their mural. They create a colorful dreamscape together, building on themes that each of the artists have explored for years. Saner’s interpretation of the work, and his poetic eloquence helps elevate the wall into an ethereal realm, while Sego, traveling to the United States for the first time, brings an astute attention to detail, and a stunning technique grounded in the complexities of the natural world. These Artists exemplify the power of art, both public and private, to function as a change agent, using this mural as a tool to reframe the worlds view of Mexico; from a dangerous narco state, to one of the most beautiful, mystical and transformative cultures in the world.”

HCTN EPISODE 5 : SEGO & SANER from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood VOL 1.3 "Kenny Scharf"

In the third episode of the stellar web documentary series Here Comes The Neighborhood , Kenny Scharf returns to Wynwood to expand on a piece he started in 2009, one of the original Wynwood Walls. Having seen street art evolve from the New York City graffiti scene in the 1980s, to its status today as an established and respected international art movement, he reflects on his life and career as an Artist. He addresses the downside of art being treated as fashion, and articulates the importance of creating a project where the art itself is not for sale. Kenny also discusses the pros and cons of gentrification and how it relates to the Wynwood district.

HCTN EPISODE 3 : KENNY SCHARF from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood VOL 1.2 "GAIA"

Gaia is the focus of the second episode of Here Comes The Neighborhood Having just graduated from art school this year, Gaia is the youngest artist to join the Wynwood Walls. For the Wynwood Doors, a portrait gallery of murals within the collection, Gaia painted a mural of Henry Flagler, the powerful oil and railroad tycoon who is responsible for modern day Florida. With this, he continues a practice of implanting modernist figures into landscapes that they have drastically changed for better or worse.

Featured Music: “Sleeptalk” & “Cross” by Papertwin
(http://www.facebook.com/papertwin)

HCTN VOL 1.2 GAIA from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood VOL 1.1 "Introducing the Walls"

Last week we brought you a preview of the upcoming series Here Comes The Neighborhood and if you took a moment to watch the video you are probably just as excited as we are to be watching the first episode which we now have below for our readers.. In the first episode founder Tony Goldman explains his vision for a town center, while Jeffrey Deitch, Arts Manager Meghan Coleman and Co-Curator Medvin Sobio offer their insight into the project's significance, taking us into the present day expansion. In addition, Photographer Martha Cooper and Miami based Mural Project Primary Flight weigh in.

Participating artists in this episode include: Kenny Scharf, Shepherd Fairey, Kunle Martins (Earsnot), Gaia, Shie Moreno, and Patrick McNeal from the artist collective Faile.

Featuring Original Music from: Hanni El Khatib, Ducky, Tommy Mas and Clams Casino.

HCTN VOL 1.1 "Introducing the Walls" from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood Trailer

‘Here Comes The Neighborhood’ is a Short-Form documentary series focusing on the power of public art to uplift, inspire, and revitalize urban communities. The Pilot Season revolves around the district of Wynwood Miami, featuring a small army of internationally acclaimed and locally respected street artists, graffiti writers and muralists.

In 2009, urban planner Tony Goldman partnered with Jeffrey Deitch (Deitch Projects, MoCa Los Angeles) to create the Wynwood Walls. What began as a modest project  with a series of drab parking lots and factory facades gained steam quickly to became a breeding ground of murals from some of the biggest names in Street Art including Futura, Shepard Fairey, OS Gemeos and others. The Walls opened for Art Basel 2009, and now two years later the collection has expanded to include over thirty artists from around the globe, becoming one of the largest concentrations of commissioned public art murals in the World.

‘Here Comes The Neighborhood’ examines the project in the first person, using this season’s new artists and their commissions as a lens to explore a neighborhood in transition. The Series is framed by insightful overview and concluding episodes, providing the full scope of past, present and future. There to capture it all is legendary documentary photographer Martha Cooper, who has been photographing the walls since they began in 2009. Her photographs will also appear in a Special Edition Art Book “The Wynwood Walls and Doors” released in connection with this years new commissions and Art Basel 2011.

Several episodes of the HCTN series will release leading up to Art Basel Miami 2011. To keep up with the latest ones, make sure to check HCTN.tv.

HCTN TRAILER from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

New Massive Mural in Athens, Greece

This mural was painted in the span of a few days on a wall only a block up from the central square in Athens, where the Greek Parliament is situated and all the recent protests took place.  Today the scaffolding was removed and I was able to snap some photos.  The piece is an apt symbol for the current state of affairs in Greece as well as an artistic feat in its own right - I always thought the TV-test card was a catchy cult-logo whose potential has yet to be mined.

The spot is a popular one and it has been painted before. Check out this older 'three little pigs' themed mural on the same wall:

Seen On The Streets Of Athens Greece

Photo: George Nikolakopoulos

More protest art from the streets of my home town, Athens, Greece... 

 "I aim at questioning the maturity of European union which I depict as a young girl trying to reach between stars (the EU flag contains 12 stars) a starfish ( criticizing the fact that one by one the weakest countries starting from Greece are facing devastating impact due to the credit crisis- thus from the sky are ending in the bottom of the sea)."... Bleeps.gr

Manolis Anastasakos in collaboration with Kretsis Crew: "This is a project that will be complete with 2 more murals in Athens.

This mural is called: "He, is praying for us"
It's 600 m²
The theme is from Albrecht Durer - 1508 (praying hands)
The idea was to change the prey of a man into a prey of a god.

In our confused country with all the social-economical-political issues, we can only turn for help to god. The disability of the politicians to solve problems, or to be fair, have create a <> system that destroys our values and of course art. This artwork is a sarcastic statement that god is the only solution left for us."

Blu Mural Athens, Greece

Photos via the artist.

Blu has landed in Greece to give his special commentary on the economic crisis happening there as the country I call home heads towards an inevitable default. Blue seems to be hitting a wide range of European cities on his road trip as he has made his way to and from countries and cities like Italy, Bologna, Palestra, Jesi, Krakow, Poznań, Fabriano, Cologne, Grottaglie, Valencia, and Spain. Happy to see Greece made the cut, sad for the reasons.