By Jeremy Fish

By Jeremy Fish

By Jeremy Fish

CALIFORNIA LOVE

Alright, alright.

It has been a SUPER long time since my last post, but I have good reason. I swear.

I have relocated to the SF Bay area (Oakland, specifically....which I'm quickly learning is not, in fact, one and the same as San Francisco proper. But I love it anyway.) I've always loved this place, and figured there's no time like the present to try my hand at actually LIVING here. So, here I am. Live and direct from California!

There's art and creativity abound, as I discovered on my way to a hair appointment yesterday. I stumbled upon this collection of street art at the corner of Haight and Laguna. Bunnies, skulls and koi. What a warm welcome, SF!

SIDEWALK FINDINGS:

UNION SQUARE EDITION

Yes, people. This is for real.

Joe Mangrum makes these masterpieces on NYC sidewalks (often at Union Square) by taking a handful of colored sand and using his clenched fist as a sort of funnel through which the sand gets finely distributed. Color by color, line by exquisite line. It's a process that he calls "sand painting".

I stumbled upon the artist in action tonight, and I watched in awe alongside a growing group of spectators. 

COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY INSPIRING.

And to think, each intricate piece of work as its being completed is also being formed by outside elements: wind, rain, the occasional passerby's misstep. Only to soon be wiped away and begun again. 

See more of this AMAZING artist's work here.

Mural by Elmac

Mural (detail) by Shepard Fairey

Mural (detail) by Os Gêmeos

Mural, by Os Gêmeos

Street art, artist unknown

Street art (detail), artist unknown

Street art (detail), artist unknown

Street art (detail), Retna

Painted cans, Greg Mike

Street art, artist unknown

SIDEWALK FINDINGS:

MIAMI, DESIGN

DISTRICT EDITION

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to trade in a few days of NYC's heat wave for Miami's perpetual one. While I was down there, my friends took me on a mini-tour of the Design District, an area that I've never stepped foot in.

I have to admit that I've been pretty ignorant of the flourishing art scene in Miami. My friend, Naja's visit to Art Basel last winter peaked my interest. So, when I got an opportunity to saunter the streets of the Design District, I jumped on it.

The above images are simply just a TASTE of all of the visual stimulation literally around EVERY corner. Beyond the scattering of galleries, there's lots of street art and graffiti. Some organized and commissioned, some not. I love it. The entire area is like a blank canvas that the public is invited to decorate. Well...not sure if it's quite legal, but that's beside the point.

See more here, but I suggest just taking a trip there. Art + guava empanadas + sun = :D

WHEN HIPPOS (SORTA) FLY...

By Muro, as seen in the Canary Islands.

Something about this is quite uplifting (pun intended).

They look so calm! I wouldn't be if I were being squeezed like that....

FLAMING LIPS

I spotted this while strolling along The High Line yesterday. Can't say I ever noticed this Diane Von Furstenburg mural before, but I totally heart it.

2:12

Based in Houston, Texas, street artist 2:12 creates beautiful, yet arresting imagery on walls of buildings and street signage. Unlike other examples of street art, what makes 2:12's work unique is that it feels like the artist spends a lot of time on each piece. Shadows on skin, folds of fabric, reflections on hair...each detail makes his pieces feel like they should be hanging on a gallery wall. Lucky for us (or for Texas residents, anyway), his work is viewable by anyone on their way to the corner store or bus stop.

The top image is an installation that was inspired by a mere hole in a wall. His mark is left on those tile-looking pieces below the altar.

Lovely.

Check out a time lapse video that chronicles the making of Geisha:

See more of 2:12's work here.

AND WE LIVED BENEATH 

THE WAVES....

...in our yellow submarine.

By Interesni Kazki, (Waone and AE, collectively.)

Kiev, 2008

Check out more from these fish-lovers:

Here and here.

RODRIGO LEVEL

There's something so enchanting and sweet about Rodrigo's characters. Slightly plump (maybe I'm being too kind?), seemingly quiet, introspective and undeniably odd...they just leave me wanting to see more.

Originally from São Paolo, Rodrigo displays most of his art on the streets of Itajubá. He considers himself to be influenced by Aubrey Beardsley (there is an eery connection. See for yourself.)

See more of his work here.

"FELIZ 1984"

As seen on the streets of Lavapiés, Madrid.

48 new surveillance cameras have been installed recently in this corner of town, and this is what Luzinterruptus had to say about it. 

The Spanish designers placed this birthday candlelit object in the three locations in town that have maximum surveillance.

If you haven't yet read Orwell's classic, you're already living it.

Check out more of Luzinterruptus's work here.

Photos by Gustavo Sanabria.

DAG - DESIGNLAB

Found in Tel Aviv. Thanks Wooster Collective.

See more of DAG's work here, specifically these salt and pepper shakers that I'm obsessed with. But then, I might be obsessed with salt and pepper shakers in general...click here.

POSTER CHILD / NEW YORK SUNSETS

As a New Yorker, I can attest to the fact that it’s easy to get caught up in the bubble that is this city. It’s amazing what you can see if you just look up. Toronto-based street artist, Poster Child did, and by doing so, he was able to create something pretty cool.

Becoming a staple of a typical NYC street, LCD monitors showing advertisements, placed above subway entrances, have been popping up everywhere in the last couple of years. Poster Child tapes white paper with black silhouettes of NYC skylines to the advertisements. So, the glow from the monitors, through the filter of the paper, transforms into a beautiful sunset. The colors and shapes emitted from the screen create shifting skies, colorful clouds and a MUCH more interesting scene than what was previously there.

It’s funny how sometimes the simplest ideas can be the most thought-provoking and impactful.

Check out the video and read more about Poster Child here.

SIDEWALK FINDINGS: 

ATHENS EDITION

I traveled to Greece last April just in time for their Easter celebration...and found these HILARIOUS "Easter eggs" hanging from telephone lines in a small alley in Monastiraki. They served as advertisements for a nearby flea market.

The chest hairs on that first one...

...

...

I have no words. 

(click on image to enlarge)

SIGN O' THE TIMES

Street art by Brooklyn-based Elbow-Tow. 

Here's another of his pieces. Does anyone else love those dotted i's?

SIDEWALK FINDINGS: EAST VILLAGE EDITION

This is EXACTLY how I feel today. All work and no play may yield brain spillage.

The above sidewalk art was found (albeit, not by yours truly) in the East Village last year, before being swiftly taken down.

Anyone for a swim?

BLU

A friend sent this to me a year ago, and I still can't get it out of my head. I can't say which I love more: the visuals or the sound effects. Could it also be that's it's all in black and white? :)

P.S. Check out more work by Blu here. The illustrations....AMAZING.

Here's one of my favorites.

SIDEWALK FINDINGS: BAHAMAS EDITION

Last week was a complete whirlwind. It was completely unexpected, but on Monday, I was flown out to Nassau, Bahamas to work with Shakira on the design of her upcoming album (!). As you can imagine, I was stoked to meet her, and equally stoked to spend a few days in paradise! I ended up staying an entire week and just got back today, ironically returning to the West Indian Day Parade that happens every year right in my neighborhood. I just couldn't seem to shake those Bahamians! :)

Anyway, back to the trip. After I got work out of the way, I was able to see more of the city. One night, while sauntering back to my hotel after filling up at the Fish Fry, I stumbled upon the street art shown above.

Graffiti and other street art is everpresent–seemingly on every building and street corner, back home in Brooklyn. Some good, some bad, and some just down right ugly. But, this piece that I found on a fairly busy road near downtown Nassau really caught my eye.

There's something very stark and urgent about it. Sad, strong, and lonely all at the same time. I loved the drippy nature of the paint...the drips seemed to form themselves into shadows and delicate tendrils of hair...maybe even tears. The graphic pattern that it overlaps onto seems to magnify the organic nature of the drips.

The artist is Trinidad-born Arjuna Watson, who also goes by "Decypul". You can see more of his work here. Here are some of my favorites: x, xx, and xxx.