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!
Referred to as “war paint” (think Mel Gibson in Braveheart) racing cars of the 1970’s were decorated in an array of colors and complex graphic patterns. Author Sven Völker dives into the graphic design behind these machines in the book “Go Faster: The Graphic Design of Racing Cars“, a first of it’s kind to focus on the creative element of race cars. In addition to the book, Sven Völker also brings us into this world of driving Skittles in a short film available on gestalten.com.
Unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, the Porsche 918 Spyder is not only a high-performance, sexy sports car, but a planet loving hybrid too - so suck it hippies! Click here for the official Porsche press release and be sure to check out this video for the behind the story behind the making of this dream machine.
You knew it was inevitable that the Philadelphia murals of Steve Powers’ “A Love Letter For You” project would end up in a book. If you have not had the benefit of seeing these walls in person, or just want a chance to have a piece of art history in your collection this book is a must. The project, a collaborative effort of of Steve Powers, The Mural Arts Program, and the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage produced 50 art covered walls in West Philly, a part of Philadelphia is dire need of much rehabilitation.
“A Love Letter For You - Brick Valentines On The Philly Skyline” documents the art and the neighborhood that inspired this ambitious public art project.
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.
Softcover
9.25″ x 6.25″
96 pages
Over 100 full color images
0
