We are loving this new sketch book from The. (Yes, that is the company name). It’s a sketchbook, but instead of blank white pages, you get to SCRAWL on the WALLS!
Get yours at 1:AM!
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Doze Green bringing us Enlightenment
Doze Green, the living legend, came into 1AM gallery and dropped some knowledge as well as some very limited “Siddhartha” giclee prints. For those of you who don’t know, Siddhartha is the birth name of the founder of Buddhism. After getting lost exploring his print, I think I’ve finally found enlightenment.
Measuring 52 by 44 inches in total size (45 x 30 for artwork), ONLY THREE of these “Siddartha” prints are in existence. We only have two left so get your Doze of Zen before its gone.
Doze Green speaks in a unique creative voice from the collective consciousness, applying a symbolist approach to metaphysical concepts. A New York City native, and often compared to Basquiat, his urban background and involvement in the early hip-hop/graffiti movement of NYC in the late 70’s, early 80’s as one of the original members of the Rock Steady Crew, led him to transition from creating art in the streets and subways into the gallery setting. Green’s signature aesthetic combines stylized letterforms and figurative abstraction—using an array of mediums such as ink, gouache, and metallic pigments with an evolved, organic cubist quality to his high-contrast fluid line work. The artist’s genealogy inspires many of the themes explored therein, influenced by ancient civilizations and indigenous cultures, including his own Afro-Caribbean roots. Green’s totem-like human and animal figures are often conceptually based on various polytheistic deities. These divinities represent sentinels, the guardians of universal truths, immortal warriors warning mankind of the dangers contemporary society has manifested, looming on the horizon and threatening to destroy us.
Words sometimes don’t paint the whole picture so check out this video with Mars1 to get the lowdown.
Also posted in Artist Pieces, Street Art Tagged 1AM, 1AM gallery, 1AM SF, 1amsf, art for sale, art gallery sf, Doze, Doze Green, giclee, Graphic Attack!, jonathan levine, Limted print, rock steady crew, sf art gallery, Siddhartha, Street Art, street art sf, urban art, zen Comments closed
Kyselak: Grandfather of Modern Graffiti Culture
Graffiti is surely as old as mark-making itself. But Joseph Kyselak, born in 1799 in Vienna, might be the first graffiti writer as we know it, making a name for himself by simply writing it on things.
At some point in the early 1820s, Kyselak made a bet with his friends that he could make himself famous throughout the vast Austria-Hungary Empire in just three years. His chosen method was nothing less than modern-day tagging. Starting in about 1825, he traveled on foot (he was an accomplished mountaineer) all over central Europe, writing “Kyselak” in red and black on public surfaces: on buildings, bridges, furniture, trees, and the most inaccessible mountains. Soon, the name “Kyselak” was known far and wide, and within half the time that they had given him to achieve the task, his betting partners had to admit that he had become famous throughout Austria- and they paid him his winnings.
But he didn’t stop there. He continued writing “Kyselak” until he died, which was in 1831. Some of his tags remain, even 180 years later.
A legend tells of a time that Emperor Franz actually summoned Kyselak to the palace for writing on an Imperial building. He ordered Kyselak to stop writing his name in public, and Kyselak acted properly sorry and agreed. But as soon as Kyselak had left his office, the Emperor found that the infamous vandal had tagged his desk. Another time he was once asked by the police not to paint his name on a new bridge over the Danube until the opening ceremonies were over. Kyselak agreed and even waited one more week to paint his name on the new bridge.
Kyselak’s prolific tagging, and the fact that he always wrote his name and nothing else- no message or context- makes him the grandfather of modern graffiti culture. How many of today’s tags will be around in 180 years?
Also posted in Artist Pieces, Street Art Tagged 1AM, 1AM gallery, 1AM SF, 1amsf, art gallery sf, First Amendment Gallery, First Amendment Gallery San Francisco, graffiti, graffiti culture, graffiti writer, history, Kyselak, Street Art, tagging, urban art, Valerie Leavy Comments closed
From the streets to your home, Banksy droppin knowledge
If you’re a street art fan and haven’t seen Banksy’s work, its time to step up your game and do some research at www.banksy.co.uk. If you need something familiar to whet your palette, then look no further. The Bankster provides with his altered introduction on none other than, The Simpson’s.
Often carrying a real message challenging conventional authority, Banksy’s artwork always comes correct and keeps it real. Truly a modern day supporter of the First Amendment (AKA 1AM -freedom of speech) of the US Bill of Rights , we commend you and your British humor, even if the First Amendment doesn’t exist in your country.
From Banksy’s work in the streets…
To his contribution to the Simpson’s on television, or through Hulu/Youtube/whatever…
As perplexing as these two messages may be, I kinda agree with both.
Now if you’re hungry for more of the Banksters work, you can grab Untitled 2, or Untitled 1 at 1AM gallery.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged aerosol art, banksy, bart simpson, gingko press, graffiti, simpsons, Street Art, untitled 1, untitled2, urban art Comments closed
Wand, the west coast Larry Bird?
It was winter of 2009 and I remember being shocked to see Larry Bird come through 1AM gallery. What was he doing here? Was he into street art, or coming to grab some colors? Being a huge Boston Celtics fan, but Warriors fan first, I dashed over to get an autograph. As I approached Larry Legend, he turned to me and said “Hi, I’m Wand”. I need glasses soon. Wand carries the perfectionist gene and precision for his craft that Bird possessed for basketball (and is able to pass as his stunt double).
Wand has elevated graffiti to another dimension, literally. Drawing from early influences of east coast freights passing through his neighborhood, his style has transcended to 3D pieces which were my favorite in 1AM’s 2009 “Inner City Prophets” exhibition.
And that’s just the beginning. After graduating with a BFA in sculpture from Ohio, Wand has his own jewelry line and will be creating exclusive 1AM jewelry dropping this 2011. Stay tuned.
Wand is one of the amazing artists in our next exhibition “Outside In” opening this February 11th, but if you want to catch an early glimpse of his street work come to 6th and Howard.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 1AM, 1AM gallery, Defenestration Building, DMD metal, Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle, graffiti, graffiti jewelry, Inner City Prophets, mural production, sf art gallery opening, Street Art, The City, urban art, Wand Comments closed
Space Invader’s Cousin? Cubeworks?
Where are you Space Invader and why haven’t you invaded San Francisco yet? I hope your French sensibilities would appreciate our international culture here and you’d launch an invasion soon. Wink Wink. All we have are your Space Invader Anniversary books here at 1AM gallery and that just won’t cut it for us. I did come across what must be some distant relative of yours called Cubeworks.
You’ll always be the one and only, but Cubeworks, a collective of artists whom create art with Rubik’s Cubes, caught our attention. Check out below.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 1AM, art for sale, banksy, cubeworks, exit through the gift shop, graffiti, mosaic tile, mr brainwash, rubik's cube art, Space Invader, street art sf, urban art Comments closed
“Batboy Blue” by Robert Bowen
1AM Gallery is pleased to present Batboy Blue, an archival giclee print by Robert Bowen.
Available at 1AM by request for $15.
You can read a great interview with Robert Bowen in Juxtapoz here.
Tee-rific Gifts for the Holidays!
Come check out the new selection of exclusive tees at 1:AM designed by yours truly! Our resident artist designed these fresh shirts with clever imagery that will leave your friends wondering, “where did you get that awesomeness that is your shirt?” At $20 each, these make the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones.
Be on the lookout for more exclusive 1:AM designed shirts in more sizes. We also have some women’s tees in the making!
In Unexpected Places…
It’s EVERYWHERE. Yes, it’s true! Graffiti is EVERYWHERE!! Sorry haters , hahaha, but for real, this urban art form has managed to spread to the most discrete locations you can imagine. It’s absolutely awesome and amazing! Check out some graff I saw in the cuts of Europe!-Roman
Graff in Trieste, Italy
Graffiti in Slovenia!
Graffiti in Zadar, Croatia
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! OUR ANNIVERSARY SHOW, “NATURE’S REVENGE”, OPENS THIS FRIDAY!
To celebrate our 2-year anniversary, 1:AM gallery is exhibiting a blockbuster show with some of the most talented artists from the urban and fine art world. The exhibition is titled Nature’s Revenge. There will be new works by Hyde, 64 Colors, Katch, Roberto Gonzalez, Satyr, Chamber Made, Carlos Fortino Almeda and Optimist.
This group exhibition will address the negative impact humans have had on Mother Nature’s resources and explore altered realities where the tables are turned and Nature has the last laugh. The global environmental crisis is an epidemic faced by all citizens of the world and as we have already witnessed, Mother Nature has already started to brutally retaliate. With humans leading the destructive charge of heavy deforesting and radioactive mishaps, there’s no denying that mother earth would come for payback. Look no further for how nature gets hers as our artists depict Nature’s REVENGE.
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