Then, we stumbled upon Split Obsession… Well actually, we have been going to their store in Koko Marina for the past 5 years.  When we first discovered them, we were excited to interact with like-minded people and loved their merchandise assortment and art collection.  Their walls are adorned with Angry Woebots, Big Foot, London Police, Buff Monster and the list goes on… They have a good mix of artists heralding from the local Hawaiian scene to the heavy hitters from around the globe.   On this trip, we had the opportunity to speak with the owner, Bruce Chin for hours about art, artists, SDCC, business, graffiti, Hawaii and San Francisco economy, and even the future of America’s youth.  Bruce showed us the aloha spirit in a big way and even gave us the fix we were feigning for…

Check out the limited edition (only 50 in the world!) Big Foot resin cast we picked up.  They only have 3 left so get your butt to their stores (there is one in Koko Marina and another in Ala Moana) or visit them online!

Thanks, Bruce!!!  See you on the Mainland soon!

]]> http://1amsf.com/2010/07/13/radiating-with-aloha-spirit/feed/ 0 http://1amsf.com/2010/05/25/follow-up-to-mear-ones-visit-to-sf/ http://1amsf.com/2010/05/25/follow-up-to-mear-ones-visit-to-sf/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 19:30:07 +0000 1:AM http://1amsf.com/?p=2490 A couple of weeks ago, we did a post on Mear One’s mural he did in San Francisco for Gitane Restaurant and 1:AM.  Here is a video that Mear’s buddy, Roger Griffith, filmed, mixed and produced capturing what took place in a little tucked away alley in downtown San Francisco on an ordinary weekend back in April.

In the past year, we have been fortunate to galavant around the world and snap some photos of street art. Look at some of the discoveries we made on our travels:

ROA in Brooklyn, NY (March 2010)

He is having a solo show at Factory Fresh Gallery in Brooklyn, New York (May 14th – May 30th, 2010).  If you are in the area, you should check it out and send us photos.

ROA on 1:AM’s 6th Street Wall (October 2008)

Invader in Harajuku (March 2010)

Sufer in Shibuya (March 2010)

Add some culture in there… Sakura Festival in full effect in Tokyo’s Ueno Park.  Cherry Blossoms mark new beginnings…

Os Gemeos and Nina in Mumbai, India (January 2010).

The coolest thing about this is that this shed-like structure is on the Mumbai Police’s fitness center.  We wondered if they even noticed them painting this…

One of the wonders of the world.  The Taj Mahal in Agra, India.  A masoleum for Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s third wife.  Word.

Bates in Kuta, Bali (February 2009)

One of our favorite photos from the trip.  An offering to the Gods before the performance of a Kecak dance in Ubud, Bali.  Dude, Kecak dances are trippy.  The whole ensemble is in a trance, breathing deeply from their stomachs, making obscure sounds and moving to the rhythm.

This is a different post than we usually do but we just wanted to share… Sharing is caring, kids.  Check out our other posts on Paris/Amsterdam and Washington DC street art.

Unless you have been sleeping or only use www.1AMSF.com as your source of information, we are sure you have heard about the emergence of (supposed) Banksy’s throughout the city.  Great blogs like calibersf.com (follow Troy Holden‘s photos, he is always in the know) warholian.com, and laughingsquid.com have been really good at keeping us posted on the locations and discovery of these Banksy.  On our day off on Monday (the gallery is closed Sundays and Mondays), we decided to cruise the city and see these for ourselves.  Can we confirm that this are authentic Banksy?  No but it was fun searching for them.

Banksy on 9th and Howard. As of April 27th, this has already been messed around with by "Otter"(?).

Also this past weekend, Oaktownart.com, a blog devoted to photographing public art, stumbled upon an actual TrustoCorp sign in Berkeley.  TrustoCorp is known for putting up signs in public spaces depicting humor while also making a social commentary.  These hand-painted signs can be found blending in with public signs on street poles and if you are paying attention, it will force you to do a double take.  Also, if you want to own your very own TrustoCorp art piece to add to your collection, make sure that you are at 1:AM gallery on May 7th between 6-10pm for the opening of Graphic Attack!.  It is never before seen, new original work (does that even make any sense?).

TrustoCorp spotted in Berkeley by Oaktownart.com

So, the stars finally aligned.  The weather was really nice and sunny for two consecutive days that fell on a weekend, Mear One was attending another YBCA event in the Bay Area, and we were ready to have him get down.  With his buddies in tow, Roger Griffiths and Ricky, he got in to SF on Friday night, grubbed and proving his true dedication to the project, started the wall at 1:30am, Saturday morning.  He picked up again on Sunday morning at 7:30am after partying until the break of dawn (5:30) and gifted another amazing piece of work to the city of San Francisco by the afternoon.  This guy is a beast!

Mear One's initial sketch

Gorgeous female

Mear One's gift to San Francisco.

It turned out so f’in beautiful.  To watch this man at work is absolutely an experience.  Mear One sure knows how to handle a spray can and how to get people lost in his world.  When you see this piece of work, you too will be mesmerized.

It was a good week for street art in San Francisco.

Are you wondering how we are part of it?  Our very own art director, Roman Cesario, artist, teacher, and the modern age MacGyver extraordinaire, is heading up the mural team.  Him and another fella, Mitsu (who is flying all the way from Texas), are responsible for accomplishing the daunting task of spray painting on a 30ft tall and 45ft wide wall, a mural representing life in the Tenderloin.  Their part of the Wonderland project is titled “Fear Head”.  Make sure you say that’s what’s up to Roman when he creates the monstrous mural on Golden Gate between Taylor and Jones (starting October 10th).

Roman conceptualizing... Stay tuned.

Wonderland Show with 1:AM gallery painting the “FEAR HEAD” mural starts on Oct 10th!

James Prigoff started his quest of documenting aerosol art, aka graffiti, back in the ’70s.  He witnessed the evolution of graffiti from its’ birth to where it is today.  He has the largest graffiti photography collection known.  Prigoff might not be an artist or a writer but he is a pinnacle in the street arts movement.  With his words and photographs, he has let graffiti grow and keeps it moving forward.  His latest book Graffiti New York tells the story of how the graffiti movement began.  Here is a summary (from Amazon):

Decades after the movement globalized, New York is still the mecca of graffiti culture. Painting there is a badge of honor, with graffiti artists from around the globe making pilgrimages to New York for that purpose. This is the city where it all began, yet few know the back story.

Graffiti New York fills that gap, detailing the concepts, aesthetics, ideals, and social structures that have served as a cultural blueprint for graffiti movements across the world. The book features approximately 1,000 images, complemented by texts by the authors and relevant players in the movement, as well as descriptive graphics and sidebars.  Ranging from the birth of simple signature tags to today’s vibrant murals, and covering the ups and dows of the movement, the culture’s value system, its social framework, the various forms of graffiti, and significant artists and crews, Graffiti New York is a major addition to Abrams’ superb books of graffiti art.

]]> http://1amsf.com/2009/10/02/mr-prigoff/feed/ 0 http://1amsf.com/2009/10/01/the-can-film-festival/ http://1amsf.com/2009/10/01/the-can-film-festival/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:14:28 +0000 1:AM http://1amsf.com/?p=1237 In addition to “Don’t Sweat the Technique: Ode to the Spraycan”, 1:AM gallery and Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle bring you a night of films, thoughtful discussions, and street food.  On October 8th, from 5:30 – 9:30pm, we will be showing “Bomb It!” and “Style Wars”.  In between the two films we will be conducting a panel discussion, but not limited to, about the evolution of graffiti, from the streets into galleries, street art’s place in our city and society, styles, and awesome murals around the city.  The panel discussion topics are based on the participants and contributors, that means whatever YOU want to talk about!  We  are open and encourage anyone and everyone to bring up any topics that relate to graffiti.  The forum will be moderated by Jeff Chang, the  author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, a history of hip-hop generation, and he also writes for hip-hop publications like Vibe magazine where he has interviewed President Obama. (Check out Jeff’s website)

The night starts at 5:30pm.  Adobo Hobo and Brazilian Bites will be there, perfect to satisfy your appetite while you watch the movies.  If you cannot make it at 5:30, make sure you don’t miss the graffiti panel discussion at 7:30pm!!!

Don’t forget that Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle finals are on October 10th at deFremery Park in Oakland!  For more information, visit www.estriabattle.com.

“THE CAN FILM FESTIVAL” on Thursday, October 8th from 5:30 – 9:30pm!  See you there!

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Hi Twick,

Just a note to let you know I finally got a really good slide of your beautiful Lady Xoc mural at 24th and Capp, and we are using it in our mural slide show as a very fine example of innovative use of spray can. Thanks again for giving our community such an inspiring mural, people LOVE it!

Patricia

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This an awesome email for Twick to receive about his work.  If you haven’t seen it, here are some pix… but I do advise you that it is so much more inspiring in person (especially since there were cars parked in front of the wall when I took this).

He is also going to be part of the Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle on October 10th at deFremery Park (Little Bobby Hutton) in Oakland.  Make sure you go root for him because he is reppin’ the streets of San Francisco. Visit www.estriabattle.com for more information.

Estria with his art titled "Burning Toys" at 1:AM until October 9th

ABOUT ESTRIA and HIS GRAFFITI BATTLE
Estria began spray painting in Hawai’i in 1984 and has since painted hundreds of murals. He was an influential leader of the “Golden Age” of graffiti (1980’s) in San Francisco.  He garnered national attention with his arrest for graffiti in 1994 appearing in CNN, the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner, and the National Enquirer.  Since then, he has taught classes and lectured atuniversities on graffiti’s social and political impact.  He has also served the community through his non-profit cultural work for over 28 years.  Estria’s life work has been to build and advance community through mural projects. Currently, his focus is on positively impacting the graffiti culture over the next 20 years.

The Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle (EIGB) is a national urban art competition that honors and advances creativity in the hip-hop arts.  Partnered with Youth Speaks, EIGB is a part of the Life Is Living Festival.  The goals of the battle is to promote public visual art as
a positive alternative for youth from the hardships of inner city life and to promote gender, racial and class equality in hip-hop.  EIGB helps the general public understand graffiti as the most impacting visual art form, having gone worldwide in less than 20 years.

For more information on Estria, visit www.estria.com and to view more of his art, go to www.estriabattle.com.

“Don’t Sweat the Technique: Ode to the Spraycan” exhibit at 1:AM gallery through October 10th, 2009.

Actually, looking out the window of 1:AM gallery on this beautiful, sunny Labor day, there are still some guys touching up their pieces. They’re such perfectionists.