In 1984 Steve Powers started climbing rooftops in his neighborhood and painting his alias ESPO as a dues paying member of the ICY graffiti club. 25 years later he returned home to Philadelphia in the summer of 2009 to write a love letter across the same rooftops facing the Market-Frankford line. The letter, meant for one, with meaning for all, encompasses 50 walls on a 20 block stretch of market street. Drawing input, inspiration, and work from the community Powers created a letter to and from west Philly. This unprecedented public art project was a collaboration of Powers, The Mural Arts Program, and the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. It required 1200 cans of spray paint, 800 gallons of bucket paint, and the skilled hands of 20 of the finest spray painters in America, who Powers put into the legendary ICY club.
“A Love Letter For You - Brick Valentines On The Philly Skyline” documents the art and the neighborhood that inspired this ambitious public art project.
Celebrating it’s five year anniversary as a leading venue for today’s best emerging street artists, Jonathan LeVine Gallery (map) is hosting a group exhibition to commemorate the occasion. The exhibit, running through March 27, features 36 artists, including WK Interact, Shepard Fairey, Ron English and Dan Witz. The opportunity to see all of this talent under one roof at the same time won’t come along often, so be sure to add this show to your calendar!
Opening this Friday and running for a solid month, AE Studios LIC (map) presents Encounters - Graffiti Art Expo. The show features works by some of NYC’s finest, including two artist who I think are just killing the graffiti art scene, EWOK 5MH and CERN YMI, not to mention a listing of other amazing talents. Learn more at aestudioslic.com.
0
