Archive for December 2011

HAPPY GRAFFITI 2012 !


Happy graffiti


Good Bye 2011

Goodbye 2011. 

Altered photo Abstract of a Pond

You've been amazing and brought me many thrills.

Before moving forward out of curiosity I'd like to take a look back at this blog and some stats.







The two most popular posts meaning most visits but not including my about pages this year have been

Favorite Places ~ Old San Juan Puerto Rico where I post photos and my reasons for loving this spot.

and

Artists Who Painted War where I wanted to explore how artists have tackled the subject and see if there were any commonalities.

My top three referring sites are: Google, Stumbleupon and Twitter.

The top ten countries that visit my blog from most to least are:
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Italy
Ireland
Germany
India
Russia
Australia
Puerto Rico


The post with most comments was Florida my Perspective in Photos.

Then we have some of the nuttiest keywords used to find this blog:

happy latina feminists
ancient plowing
hot and mean
luminous beings
lettys hot blog
refreshing and mysterious
shakespeare paper masks
art of war graffiti
wife+flashes+boat+bella+vita+2011
once upon a time fantasy

I hope you had a wonderful 2011 and wish you all the best for an even better year 2012.
xoxo
Altered photo Abstract of a Pond

And finally my favorite post because it was one of the bravest things I did this year.


Things I Learned from my First Art Exhibit



Happy New Year!

3d Graffiti Odeith Anamorphosis Www.odeith.com



3d graffiti odeith Anamorphosis www.odeith.com

3d graffiti odeith Anamorphosis www.odeith.comanamorphic 3d painting by Odeith... www.odeith.com song1-promoe long sleevesin summer song2-promoe-headache

Graffiti 3D Freestyle.... Tot,, W.Will E Ed-Mun



Graffiti 3D Freestyle.... Tot,, W.Will e Ed-Mun

Graffiti 3D Freestyle.... Tot,, W.Will e Ed-Muncrazy

Street Art of 2011


It's that time of year where we look back on what's behind us and decide what sucked and what was bloggable.

Aside from posting a bunch of street art this year, I interviewed Beastman and Philjames. I also spent a month in Europe seeing incredible art and posting it on Facebook.

I think 2011 was the year street art began to plateau; I'm looking forward to seeing if that's the case in 2012.


The European Debt Crisis has been a staple news item for the past few months. And the sentiment this massive mural conveyed - "we're f-cked" - was quite effective.


Banksy made this stencil after British graffiti writer Tox was sent to prison for more than two years for tagging. The sentence generated a strong reaction from the graffiti community.


And in case you forgot, Invader was also arrested in LA for vandalism in April. Comes with the territory.



This Iwo Jima parody is my favourite Sydney stencil of the year. Not only is it eye catching; it's poignant, ironic and hilarious.


This was the year of Slug. The prolific artist left this spastic dog on so many Sydney walls that he is now one of only a few artists working illegally on a regular basis.

He is also selling a zine called Sugar Shark.


The infamous (and highly irritating) hipster posters that popped up this year are still plaguing the streets. I tried to contact the number on one of the posters. There was no response.

However, the response to my post was good. Thanks to everyone who wrote in.


Monsieur Andre also guest blogged on Acid Midget in 2011. He wrote about being in love with girlfriend Annabelle Dexter-Jones, having a rad time tagging...and feuking a lot.

Andre also brought quite a bit of traffic to the blog this year. Don't ask me why.



By far the biggest street art event in Australia this year was the Outpost Project. It only finished a couple of weeks ago, but fortunately some of the works will be kept there this summer.

Tens of thousands of people visited Cockatoo Island to see a showcase of the most important urban and lowbrow artists in the world.

In my opinion, it was a watershed event.



Another turning point in street art's transition from underground to mainstream was the release of Banksy's mockumentary Exit Through The Gift Shop.

He was nominated for an Oscar and then banned from attending the ceremony. He didn't win. But the film was successful at least.



I also wrote the Acid Midget Manifesto in June. It began as a Facebook status, then grew and grew. This blog was never intended to be anything more than an exploration of Sydney and its streets - tinged with conceptual ruminations - but it has become more than expected.

Have a happy New Year - see you in 2012!

Taking Risks

Risk: The possibility of suffering harm or loss; danger.

Dance on the razor’s edge: To tempt fate

Lay it on the line: To risk something valuable

Lay with fire: To trifle with or become involved in a serious or potentially dangerous matter





"I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing."
Anaïs Nin

“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.”
Katherine Mansfield

"Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first."
Frederick B. Wilcox


"Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?"
Frank Scully

"To write something you have to risk making a fool of yourself."
Anne Rice

“Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don't. They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever.”
Philip Andrew Adams


"Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive - the risk to be alive and express what we really are."
Miguel Ruiz


Synonyms: action, ante, betting, chance, down on, hazard, long shot, lot, lottery, odds, odds on, parlay, play, pledge, plunge, pot, raffle, random shot, risk , shot, shot in the dark, speculation, stake, sweepstakes, uncertainty, venture, wager

message the van

seen on Queen West in Toronto....
possibly taking signage and graffiti art a little too far

Next week will be our FIRST ANNIVERSARY
nothing planned, but there may be cake


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RIP

graffiti rip



rip



rip graffiti

GHETTO ART PAINT - NDEK

GHETTO ART PAINT - NDEK  gap dodz elk

FILMX - UCK

FILMX - UCK

MOAS CREW

MOAS CREW

OCU D'SPRAY

OCU D'SPRAY

SKOH - PWS AMB

SKOH - PWS AMB

BLIPS - C'est pour les belges

BLIPS - c'est pour les belges

ELVIS FH

ELVIS FH vasio otiste

GAME AND PLAYERZ - GAP

GAME AND PLAYERZ - GAP

BOY !

boy

THEZ

THEZ apf ans gap

Graffiti 3d



graffiti 3d

graffiti 3dlas imagenes son de: www.graffititechnica.com y la musica: benny benassi vs dj tiesto

Another Altered Book Page ...


Title: Watercolor Bird
Size: Altered Book Page

Notes: I got the idea for this project years ago from my kids' primary school art class. This is something ANYONE can try - even those of us (yes, myself included) who "can't draw"!

Simply find a picture in a magazine, cut it in half, then use the other half as a guide to draw/paint in the part that is missing!!!

More Notes: Join us over at Beth's Artworx for "FATuesday Artist Spotlight" - where each week Beth features wonderful artists - and invites us ALL to link up our own art - to share and encourage fellow artists from around the world!


Chicago's Puertorican Day Parade in the 60's

Last Friday on my weekly visit to my parents house the subject of old photos came up.  Gladly I began digging around closets in search of old boxes and bins. I hit the jackpot when I found these super cool photos of Chicago in the 60's.  At first I thought my Pops had snapped these photos because he's such a gadget junkie but it turns out its my Mom who is the historical documentarian.

 In 1968, about a year after my Mom moved to Chicago from Puerto Rico her cousins took her to see the Puertorican Day Parade in downtown Chicago.

It was an annual event the entire community looked forward to.  First a fabulous parade then more festivities at its conclusion in Humboldt Park with performances and music.

They are far from professional shots but they are a treasure because they do capture the enthusiasm and tangible excitement of the people present at this Puertorican cultural event.  Using her Kodak camera my Mom has captured 1960's fashion trends, hairstyles and dress.

They also capture the wonderful multi-story brick architecture of the windy city as well as the businesses that occupied them; Lerner Shops, Karolls Men's Wear & Woolworths.  Stores used eye catching advertising of all sorts including filling windows with slogans in colorful neon lights.



This is my favorite photo of the bunch for many reasons. First, because we have the American flag swaying in the breeze like a hand inviting this elegant procession forward.  The American flag is then greeted by this float sponsored by Comunidad Santa Maria, with the Puertorican Flag proudly exhibited under the words Amor y Paz (Love & Peace).

Second is the fact  there is a band playing live music.  I can imagine the Caribbean musical notes echoing loudly against the tall buildings as they are carried away by the wind bringing swaying hips and smiles to caressed ears.

Then we have a clear example of how Puertoricans have adapted to American culture by the beautiful ladies dressed in long white gowns and gloves holding in perfect contrast bright blood red roses and dawning wigs in the hair do of the time, the beehive.



On the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce float we have a handful of elegant ladies in long formal gowns of varying pastel shades with formal long white gloves.  Waving left and right looking like they belong in a beauty pageant. Especially the ones wearing crowns.



The Confraternidad Cidrena float has even more beautiful young ladies in formal wear.  Only one woman gets to wear a crown on this float but they all  seem to really be enjoying themselves energetically waving to the crowd in every direction. One or two seem to be responding to someone they saw in the crowd.  Maybe a family member or friend.

(Cidra is a town located in Central Puerto Rico.)




This two story float is sponsored by the Puerto Rican Union of Chicago.

It's amazing how many young beautiful elegant women there are representing our culture.

Each gown is slightly different and each head of hair perfectly groomed with a ribbon here and the perfect curls there.

 The queen of this float wears a red cape over her wide white skirted dress reminding me of a Puertorican folk bridal doll.





In the next floats we have examples of the type of corporate sponsors who participated in the parade.

The name of the beer company is cut off in the photo but I can make out the Meister. I did find a reference to a Meister Brau Inc. a 1960's Chicago brewery later purchased by Milwaukee based Miller Brewing Co.

The immense horses are beautifully adorned and expertly driven by a man in costume.


This float says "El correo de Chicago celebra el dia de los Puerto Riquenos."

 The worlds largest post office celebrates the day of Puerto Ricans.

Puertoricans are big business for the post office sending plenty of letters and care packages back and forth from the island.





 A little history lesson . . .

Puerto Rico has been part of US territory since 1898. Notable migration from Puerto Rico to Chicago began in the 1940's to fill jobs in various US industries.

The Puerto Rican Parade Committee is the oldest existing Puerto Rican organization in Chicago.

When the parade was founded in 1964 the celebration originally commemorated El Día de San Juan and was organized by Los Caballeros de San Juan, one of the first Puerto Rican religious and social organizations in Chicago. Los Caballeros de San Juan was a religious institution with the goal of promoting integration of Puertorican migrants into mainstream Chicago life.

El Día de San Juan celebrations was renamed to the Puerto Rican Parade in the year 1966.

It was during the first Puerto Rican Parade on June 12, 1966 that one of the first Puerto Rican riots in the U.S. began. The riot, one of many urban disturbances across the nation in the 1960s was in response to the shooting of a young Puerto Rican man by Chicago police.

I was a bit shocked at first when I read this but then not so much the event is placed within context of the period.  The 1960's saw Rock n Roll, Hippies, the first Man on the Moon, the Vietnam War, the assassinations of President Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., war protests and the Civil Rights movement.

Everyone arriving from a different country had to adapt to a new place, new customs and new people who did not understand that not all people who spoke Spanish were Mexican or that speaking Spanish did not mean they were not American citizens.  Puertoricans in Chicago encountered racism in many forms;  having their rent raised so they could not afford to live in certain areas forcing moves to other neighborhoods, being charged higher prices at stores because they were not fluent in the language; racial profiling by police . . .


My take away . . .

I've read about the riots from various sources and have come to the conclusion that the riots came in response to years of racist abuse from police, politicians and other citizens upon the Puertorican community.  The murder of a young man by police was THE last straw. The riots mark a time in history for change. Young Puertorican men and women fought back against armed police dressed in riot gear releasing trained attack dogs on them.  Racism and abuse of power would not be tolerated any longer.  The riots made it clear to police and local government change must happen.

More importantly these events brought to light the issues that needed addressing as well as the education that needed to be spread inspiring community activism and education programs.  One of the purposes of the parade as well as community organizations was to educate others about Puerto Rico, its American citizenship, culture, customs and bilingual people.  I'm in awe of the people who came together the next year and every year after that to continue the Puerto Rican parade cultural educational campaign.

Now 45 years after that first parade I can report Puertoricans are still seen in a negative light.   These are the consequences of denying a variety of faces, shapes, sizes and cultures to be seen on television, movies or even be mentioned in history books.  A vast majority of Americans don't even know we are citizens.  Puerto Rico has been part of the United States for over a century contributing and building the America we live in today.  So what will you do?

I know what I will do.  I will continue to write poetry and stories, create all kinds of art and share it with you and the entire world.  I will be a catalyst for change.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following is wonderful list of resources for more information on the Puertorican Day Parade as well as the history of Puertoricans in Chicago.
 
Encyclopedia of Chicago


Puerto Ricans in Chicago on Wikipedia


Paseo Boricua on Wikipedia


Spanish Action Committee of Chicago Historical Archives


Puerto Rican Parade on NBC Chicago

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you have any Puerto Rican day Parade photos?  If you do, I would LOVE for you to share them with me.

Graffiti 3D



Graffiti 3D

Graffiti 3DJak powstaje graffiti 3D.

3D Graffiti Tutorial : Part 3 Of 3



3D Graffiti Tutorial : Part 3 of 3

3D Graffiti Tutorial : Part 3 of 3Hey people. So here is the video that many of you requested. Finally had the time to do it. I also figured since its Easter eve so i'll give you a ...

Graffitis 3D, 2ª Parte



Graffitis 3D, 2ª parte

Graffitis 3D, 2ª parteOtra representacion de los mejores graffitis en grandes murales, poner la pantalla grande para verlos mejor.

Light Graffiti filled Holidays

Happy Holidays to you!






This is how I see the world.
⊱ஐ☆ஐ⊰ Beautiful ⊱ஐ☆ஐ⊰  Fuzzy ⊱ஐ☆ஐ⊰ Colorful ⊱ஐ☆ஐ⊰

I will spend tonight with my extended family.  My mom is making pernil, my sister pasteles and I'll be bringing arroz con gandules.

We'll be listening to Puertorican Holiday music at my family home tonight. My parents won't listen to anything else and the older the music, the more they love it.

Parranda, Bomba y Plena, Seis chorreao, Merengue, Bachata, Merengue ripiao, Salsa ...

Here's a list of some of the songs on our playlist.

El Gran combo de Puerto rico - No Hay Cama pa Tanta Gente


El Gran Combo - La Fiesta de Pilito
Hector Lavoe- Aguinaldo Jibaro


Willie Colon - Aires de Navidad



Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe - Esta Navidad
Victor Manuelle - Yo Traigo La Parranda
La Sonora Poncena - Vamos al Campo
El Gran Combo - La Cabeza Del Lechon
Pellin Rodriguez - Lechon A La Varita
Tito Rojas - Voy A Parrandear
El Gran Combo - Viva la navidad
Alfonso Velez - El Jolgorio


Jossie Esteban - Llego la Navidad
Johnny Ventura y Su Combo - Esta Navidad
Conjunto Quisqueya -Trulla Navideña
Johnny Ventura y Su Combo - Salsa Pa'tu Lechon
Raulin Rodriguez - Navidad Navidad
Luis Vargas - Rumba Navideña
Hermanos Rosario - Llego la Navidad
Celia Cruz y la Sonora Matancera - Aguinaldo Antillano


Ismael Rivera - Bomba de Navidad
Chuito y Maso Rivera - Parranda
Chuito - En Navidad
Andrés Jiménez - Navidad borincana

Los Cantores de San Juan - La Plena De Navidad
Danny Rivera - Paz En La Tierra



Wishing you a Happy Holiday!
Peace & Love

Have a great new year.


Still messing around with little paintings......just about to spend a week camping on the beach down south.  A wonderful new year to all!   Stay safe.

3D Graffiti Sketch



3D Graffiti sketch

3D Graffiti sketchwww.twitter.com www.facebook.com Buy this song: bit.ly This is the prize for the 2nd place winner from the HECZ Sketch battle.