As previously mentioned, Luna Park and I are pleased to be taking part in the show "Stokenphobia" opening this Friday at Pandemic Gallery in Brooklyn. When I stopped by to drop my piece off, I was blown away by the quality of the work that is being featured in this show. Not only are the drawings by Gore B as stellar as one would expect, but many of my favorite artists have turned out some of the best work that I have seen from them in a while. Even better are the prices - whether you are a collector or just an admirer who would like to own a piece from your favorite artist (but had never been able to afford it), shows like this are an excellent opportunity to pick up a smaller work without breaking the bank. I already have dibs on the Deuce Seven boat, but there is plenty more available to choose from...or just come out and enjoy what is bound to be yet another memorable night at the always fun Pandemic Gallery!

Gore B.

Deuce Seven

Skewville

Shai Dahan, 2esae, Chris RWK, Veng RWK

Abe Lincoln Jr, Tony Bones, Darkcloud, Royce Bannon

Celso, Infinity, Deuce Seven, Dick Chicken

UR New York

Opens Friday, March 12th, 7-11pm
Pandemic Gallery
37 Broadway (btw. Kent & Wythe)
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Gore B.

Labels: 2esae, abe lincoln jr, Celso, ChrisRWK, darkcloud, destroy + rebuild, deuce seven, Dickchicken, goreb, Infinity, Royce Bannon, Shai Dahan, skewville, Tony Bones, veng

Come out this Friday night to support SKI and 2ESAE of Destroy & Rebuild.

Friday, February 26th, 2010
7pm - 12am
434 6th Avenue, 2nd Floor (btw. 9th & 10th St)
New York, NY 10011

Labels: 2esae, destroy + rebuild, opening, ski

Descending the stairs into the Brooklyn basement that is home to the Destroy & Rebuild studio, your senses are immediately assaulted by loud beats and the pungent odor of paint fumes and smoke. Once you've acclimatized, you find yourself at the center of a hotbed of activity. The three-man collective that is Destroy & Rebuild is busy putting the final touches on an impressive, large canvas for the Red show at Manhattan's Cheryl Hazan Gallery and the energy in the room is palpable. Anthony Vasquez washes screens and Mike Baca waves a dryer over a corner of the canvas, while Fernando Romero paces back and forth, spouting suggestions for improving the composition of the piece. I spent an afternoon in the studio with the guys and, contrary to my initial impression, came away firmly convinced that there is definitely a method to their madness

In late 2005, Anthony founded Destroy & Rebuild after a stint in jail. His friend "By Hand" - now part of the 624713 Art Collective - introduced him to street vending and taught him the finer points of stenciling and silk-screening. Using his archive of graffiti and urban landscape photographs as a primary source, Anthony started working on creating his own screens. While he now has the capacity to burn screens in the studio, in the beginning he relied heavily on the Lower East Side community arts center ABC No Rio. By 2007, Mike had joined Destroy & Rebuild and between the two of them, they had enough material in production to start vending on their own. When Mike ran into some difficulties with the law, Fernando jumped in to help out … and the collective as it exists today was formed.

Spend enough time with Destroy & Rebuild and you'll quickly realize they are a tight unit. Each canvas is created collaboratively, with each member taking turns adding and blending various elements. Fernando favors the paint brush and is responsible for laying down the colored or textured backdrops that form the foundation of a canvas. Mike contributes graphic elements and specializes in modes of transportation (think box trucks, taxicabs or police cruisers). Anthony concentrates mainly on architectural elements and newspaper collages; he's also developed a rust patina to age and distress canvases.

When asked what motivates them, Fernando said it best: "It's about the freshness of each new piece … the excitement of creating something new … and it's a surprise every time." Not a day goes past when they're not painting, he said, and it shows in canvases that have become increasingly more refined. At their vending spot in SoHo, Destroy & Rebuild do a brisk business with their canvases. They sell to young and old, tourists and New Yorkers alike – "Even the Law loves us!" Mike chimes in, clearly amused that SoHo beat cops show an interest in their work.

The city of New York looms large as a defining influence on the work of these three native New Yorkers. Although they make use of some of New York's many iconic images, that is but one element in their repertoire. Combined with their pride in New York's graffiti heritage, with each canvas they capture a fleeting yet defining moment of New York at the end of a decade. While gentrification has run rampage in certain parts of New York, we all know that there are still plenty of raw spots to be found. This wild heart is the core of Destroy and Rebuild's work and it's powerful enough that it speaks to everyone.

Anthony, Fernando and Mike have big plans for 2010 – watch out, Europe, here they come – and a strong enough work ethic to pull it off. You can find them at the corner of Prince and Greene Thursdays through Sundays or online at http://destroyandrebuildnyc.com/.

Many thanks to the lovely Julie for her hospitality!

Happy Holidays from the Street Spot! Stay tuned for more good things next year...

Labels: destroy + rebuild, studio visit

Last night the Veuve Clicquot was flowing, the art was killer, and the good times were non-stop at the Destroy & Rebuild collective's latest art opening. The Street Spot's favorite vandals, in collaboration with the German-born London-based artist Maximilian Wiedemann, are currently showing at Bagatelle's in the Meat Packing District.

"New York Angel"

Blonde on Blonde

Just Vogue

Photographer extraordinaire, Tom Blachford

R.I.P NY

Meanwhile, just down the block, D*face was also busy at work...

Labels: 2esae, avone, d*face, destroy + rebuild, maximilian wiedmann, MBW, ski, tian

Toyko fashion meets NYC streets when three-man artist collective Destroy + Rebuild throw down some paint at Extraterritoriality Satorutanaka this Friday, September 11th.

This Fashion Week extravaganza, hosted by Destination Art Space at 32-36 Little West 12th Street in Manhattan from 6-8pm, launches designer Satoru Tanaka's AW2009 collection.

Destroy + Rebuild collaborate around the themes of urban infrastructure and graffiti. They'll be painting live beginning at 7pm, but their work remains on view at Destination Art Space through September 27th. Come out and support!

Labels: destroy + rebuild