WHEAT PASTE-UPS

  Wheat paste has been a prime ingredient for putting up posters and ad flyers since the 19th 

century.  It has gained new meaning as a description for a certain style of street art that 

uses this technique. Often of considerable size, and incredible intricacy, wheat paste ups are still one of my favorite forms of street art. 

                                all photos ©Ken Brown

"BUSY PEOPLE IN THE BIG CITY"

                                 dental procedure on west 4th

all photos ©Ken Brown

"LOOKING DOWN"

Perhaps this batch came about as a byproduct of some Spring cleaning, but I've been maintaining a file for some while,  called,  "looking down", and it reflects an ongoing fascination with urban detritus. As an amateur archeologist, I'm aware of the established principle of learning about cultures from the things they leave behind.  I'm not quite sure what these images might tell future scientists, but they do continue to amuse and amaze as small transitional samplings of our present strange and patently absurd world. 

  

ONE CREAM PIE

AH, PARIS...

ah Paris... What a gorgeous city, and there's no surprise that it remains a world class destination. Fantastic art, architecture, culture, cuisine and to lively up my hungry eyes, a prominent spot in the international street art scene...

AH, PARIS...

5 POINTZ

5 POINTZ

Last week I learned that 5 Pointz, the block long icon and mecca of graffiti culture worldwide is slated for demolition and development as high rises. Rumors of its demise had circulated for some time, but now a formal redevelopment plan is being submitted, and (for now), actually includes a wall for artists to continue their craft as well as studio spaces.

The former warehouse space in Long Island City Queens has evolved since 1993 as an informal classroom and gallery for street artists from NY and around the world. It is an active and organic structure with a constantly changing surface. Ironically, it is across the street from PS 1, the MOMA subsidiary and serves as an interesting urban art juxtaposition. It is well worth checking out.

BODY PARTS NYC

ARCHITECTURAL ODDITIES NYC

I have always been fascinated by the stone carvings and terra cotta embellishments that decorate many of the 19th and early 20th century buildings of the city.  Here is a small sampling of some of my favorites ...

214 W.29th  I call it the "fur building"

 51 Irving Place, near Gramercy Park

 near Gramercy Park

Foliate heads, evolving in many separate and ancient cultures and are found in abundance on side streets of the upper West Side (home to many other amazing embellishments as well).

 near Hunter College

 City College- Amsterdam and W 138th  This is one of the best collections of these architectural oddities in the city.

 City College

 81 Irving Place, near Gramercy Park

                                        

all photos ©Ken Brown