Upload
lexi-pearson
View
230
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
A magazine of art and style influenced by urban culture.
Citation preview
ART. STYLE. CULTURE.
INTO THE
LIGHTTHE ARTOFLIGHTPAINTING
STREETTALKGET TO KNOW ONE OFBALTIMORE’S FINESTSTREET ARTISTS:SORTA STREETART
SHADYA LOOK THROUGHRETROSUPERFUTURELENSES
FEATURED ARTISTS*
SORTA STREETART
LAUGHING SQUID
OMEN
NEWFIE BULLET
JULIEN BRETON
LICHTFAKTOR
AND MORE...
SNEAK PEEKBALTIMORE’S NEWEST CLOTHING LINE: BALTEES
VISIT CHARMMAGAZINE.COM
NEW ISHUP AND COMING STYLES OF 2012
8 MUST-SEEU.S. GRAFITTI SITES
SUPER
NO.
01VOL.
01
NEW ISHUp and Coming Styles of 2012
8 MUST-SEETop Graffiti Sites in the U.S.
48
35
C O N T E N T S
SUPER SHADYA Look Through RetroSuperFuture Lenses
FIND US ON TWITTER @CHARM_MAG | CHARMMAGAZINE.COM
STYLES
BALTEESMNMLSOIREE
SORTA STREETART XZENZLAUGHING SQUID
MARCO OMENAND MORE...
CREATIVE RECMATIX
ARTISTS EXTRAS
PG. 37 ON THE LOOKOUT
PG. 65 HIDDEN IDENTITY
PG. 73 BALTEES
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
39 4133
ON
TH
E C
OV
ER: J
ulie
n Br
eton
Lig
ht
Cal
ligra
phy
. Des
igne
d b
y A
lexa
nd
ra
Pear
son
PHO
TOG
RA
PHY
by
Ale
xan
dra
Pea
rso
n an
d S
ort
a St
reet
art.
Pho
togr
aphs
cu
rteo
sy o
f In
stag
ram
an
d F
lickr
.
F E A T U R E S
60
INTO THE LIGHTThe Art of Light Graffiti
STREET TALKInterview with Sorta Streetart
T R E N D S E T T E R
PHO
TO C
OU
RTES
Y O
F IN
KED
MAG
AZIN
E
33
CHARM / / TRENDSETTER
NEW ISHUPCOMING STYLES FROM
THE HOTTEST BRANDS
DC Shoes logo hat
$24 | dcshoes.com
Clockwise
from top:
Penfield short-sleeved
gingham shirt
$42 | penfieldusa.com
Johnny Cupcakes mini
check tie
$32 | johnnycupcakes.com
Levi’s black and white
lether belt
$25 | levis.com
Etnies backpack
$54 | etnies.com
Knowledge The Hensley
chain wallet
$19 | karmaloop.com
Converse Chuck Taylor
All Star Scribble
Plaid sneaker
$60 | converse.com
PHO
TOS
CO
URT
ESY
OF
SUPE
R.C
OM
SUPER SHADY
Offcially launched in spring 2007, SUPER is today currently distributed
in over 350 shops worldwide. You can find them in some of the most
infuential trend leaders stores such as Colette in Paris, Barneys New
York, 10 Corso Como in Milan, Bodega in Boston, Fred Segal in Los
Angeles, Steven Alan, Paris Texas in Denmark, Caliroots in Sweden
and many others. The sunglasses come in black straight frame with
a metal stripe on the front and small gold logo at the ends. The
glasses come in red, black, and jaquard, a mixture of brown and
gold. The frames are all very thick and bold providing the ultimate
nerdy look.
The people from Italian Pig Magazine took it into their hands
to create this sunglass brand in 2007. Super sunglasses are made
to the highest possible standards, hand made in Italy by the best
manufacturers (same as Ray-Ban) and with the best materials.
Super introduced its optical range in Spring/Summer as a response
to an eyeglasses market lacking in fresh design and appeal. The
optical range offers unique and stylish eyeglasses, with the
guaranteed super seal of handmade excellence. This Autumn/
Winter sees an extension of the OPTICAL line, with more of our
signature silhouettes transformed into stylish eyeglass frames and
the addition of two brand new colorways. The OPTICAL range is
available in both opticians and select retailers.
Super, by Retrosuperfuture®, ignited the phenomenon of acetate
sunglasses. They are made in multiple color graduations, which
has generated a big trend starting in 2007. Super is the 1st brand
to produce a complete range of colorful fashion sunglasses
combining these characteristics together with a very high quality
manufacturing process. Super sunglasses are made to the highest
possible standards, hand made in Italy by the best manufacturers
and with the best materials. For this reason, Super also decided
to adopt ZEISS lenses, which guarantee an extremely high level of
protection to the eyes in all conditions. Since their introduction,
artists, celebrities, sports athletes and trendsetters have been
wearing Super sunglasses. Kanye West, Daft Punk, Who Made Who,
Justice, Pedro Winter (and his “Ed Crew”), Simian Mobile Disco, CSS,
St. Vincent, The Kills, Elio Fiorucci, Sienna MIller, Jessica Alba and
Valentino Rossi are just a few who have been seen sporting a Super.
It has been making headlines through their collaborations with
ALIFE and Barneys. Here we’re showing you their own sunglasses
and glasses that is consistent with the signature style by putting a
modern twist on classic frames. For this reason, Super also decided
to adopt ZEISS lenses, which guarantee an extremely high level of
protection to the eyes in all conditions. In other words quality is
amazing and style is on point!
35
LOOKING THROUGH RETROSUPERFUTRE LENSES
Left to Right:Classic Resin Poison $195
Classic Red $138 Chicano $163Chicano $163
CHARM / / TRENDSETTER
PHO
TOS
CO
URT
ESY
OF
APD
ESIG
N
39
Street culture and graffiti are well-known for being provocative, appealing, and uncompromising. Originally used by gangs to mark their territory in some urban area, graffitis have now become a rich medium for unrestricted expression of ideas. In fact, creative designers and artists across the globe use this form of art to deliver their message and showcase their work.
8 MUST-SEE U.S. GRAFITTI SITES
Allan Dalla San Francisco, CA
Unlimited in terms of time and
space, Allan Dalla the fictional
character of the planetary art
hereby represents the black
and white, good and bad,
beautiful and ugly, peace and
war, love and hate, the link
between the terrestrial and the
extraterrestrial.
Sorta Baltimore, MD
Sorta Streetart pastes up his
giant art work on abandon
buildings around Baltimore
city. He’s made a recent run
through Philadelphia putting
up wheat pastings, and has
also been showing his work in
several galleries in the area. He
also goes by the nickname Sorta
Rican; a nickname given to him
by his Puerto Rican mother.
Michael.jh Miami, FL
Michalel.jh was already a fixture
in the Los Angeles graffiti scene
by 1997 when he completed
the largest graffiti piece ever
created. His piece on the sloping
cement bank of the Los Angeles
River was nearly the size of a
professional football field, and
took 97 gallons of paint and 35
nights to complete.
Xenz New York, NY
Michalel.jh was already a fixture
in the Los Angeles graffiti scene
by 1997 when he completed
the largest graffiti piece ever
created. His piece on the sloping
cement bank of the Los Angeles
River was nearly the size of a
professional football field, and
took 97 gallons of paint and 35
nights to complete.
Marco St.Louis, MO
Marco was raised by creative
parents and discovered his
passion for art at an early age.
At age 13, he was introduced
to graffiti when they took him
to see the spray paint-covered
Belmont Tunnel. From that
moment on, he was hooked.
After honing his skills on local
walls, Marco joined MSK.
Laughing Squid Houston,
TX Laughing Squid features
interesting art, culture &
technology from around the
web. It is also an independently
owned and operated cloud-
based web hosting company.
Laughing Squid was founded in
1995 by primary tentacle Scott
Beale, who is the Editor-In-Chief
of the blog.
Mrzer Minneapolis, MN
In 2011, Mrzer’s solo show,
The American Graffiti Artist
opened in New York to great
acclaim. Additionally, his art
was featured in two museum
exhibitions, Street Cred at the
Pasadena Museum of California
Art and MoCA Los Angeles’s
blockbuster Art in the Streets.
Newfie Bullet Lincoln, NE
Rarely do we see a street
artist with the skills of Newfie
Bullet. Rapidly establishing
himself as one of the greats
of the genre, Newfie Bullet
is compellingly repulsive. His
complex, seductive, appealing
and ambitious yet equally
mischievous, brutal and insular
demonstrate what an angry,
intelligent talent can achieve.
CHARM / / TRENDSETTER
PHO
TO C
OU
RTES
Y O
F AP
DES
IGN
PHOTOS BY SORTA STREETART AND LEXI PEARSON
INTERVIEW BY LEXI PEARSON
GETTING TO KNOW
SORTA STREETART
and it’s free to look at., and hat’s why
I love it.
Would you consider your work
“graffiti”? What meaning does Urban
Art have for you and what do you think
the difference is between street art and
graffitti?
That’s why I love it. Under no
circumstances would I label what I do
graffiti. Graf is writing a name or drawing
a character on a surface. Often, it’s some
glue sniffin punk with no handstyle just
trying to be cool. But it’s the pieces of
talented writers that keep my attention.
Like El Mac... he’s my favorite. He’s got
skill. Or Retna, I love his shit too.
I wrote graffiti. I kinda outgrew it once
I had kids, but always picked up a can
when I could. I placed first in 2 graffiti
competitions in south Florida within the
last couple years and it sparked the drive
again. So wheatpasting is a less frowned
upon form. I have been confronted by
police and they usually just appreciate
it, or are concerned for my safety. There
are thousands of vacants in the city and
they make for the best canvas. They can
only be improved. But street art is really
anything art related that’s done on the
street, in public view. It’s for everyone
Your art is seen all over Baltimore city,
but nobody knows something about
you, so who are you and where are
you from and what does “Sorta Street
Art” mean?
I’m from Baltimore. Born on the
westside. I’m a father of 2 boys and
one stepson (even though I’m divorced,
I still play that role). My children’s
mother is who gave me the name
“Sorta.” My mother is Puerto Rican and
since I’m not full blooded, she calls me
Sorta Rican. It’s quite funny actually.
Sorta Streetart is one of Balitimore’s most active and highlighted street
artists. Lexi Pearson from Charm Magazine sat down with him to find out more about his hidden identity, his process, why he chose to do street art in Baltimore city.
Street art is such a growing part
of the urban art movement. Why
did you choose this particular way
of recreating the city? What’s the
difference to other street art forms?
Street Art is the biggest art movement
since the renaissance period. I have
always been drawn to the street
and everything about it. When I was
younger and even into my adult life,
What determines the spots in which the
work is installed?
I want to find the most rundown of
vacant properties. If they have an
overhang, or awning that is better. But
the uglier/dilapidated the vacant, the
better.
50
STREET TALK / /
A lot of your work seems to reflect the
environment in the areas in which they
are installed. What’s your intention and
what’s the message of your artworks?
Part of my reasoning for doing what
I do is to give the people something
beautiful to look at other than the run
down, shit holes that are surrounding
their residences. in a sense I like to kind
of cater to the people. This is why I like to
use the very same people I encounter in
these neighborhoods in my art. I also use
my own children because I feel like there
is nothing more beautiful than the
innocence in a child’s face. In addition
to that, I sometimes shape my pieces to
fit doors or other surfaces I find while
I’m out there. Here’s the thing, imagine
working your entire life to provide a safe
comfortable home for your kids and
your grandchildren only to eventually
walk out of your front door and your
neighborhood looks like Beirut. And
now, you are too old to do anything
about it. That’s what a lot of people in
the inner city are dealing with. I know
that my efforts are small... but at least I
am putting forth some effort.
How much does your art affect/
influence your everyday life and are
there any role models or artists who
inspired you?
I live and breathe to create art. I HAVE
to do it. I have no choice. So it affects
everything. I parent my kids with art.
I encourage any kind of creativity. My
biggest influences are Swoon, El Mac,
Shepard Fairy (despite a lot of people
thinking he’s a sell out), Gaia and on a
more personal level...Nether. He taught
me a lot and he is currently my running
mate on a lot of my late night runs.
51
"I HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED BY POLICE AND THEY USUALLY JUST APPRECIATE IT, OR ARE CONCERNED FOR MY SAFTEY."
This peice was drawn out from a portrait of Sorta’s son.
How long do you need to elaborate
your next action and what inspires
your next piece?
There isn’t much thought with my head
that goes into my work. It’s more heart
felt. I know that’s kind of cliché to say,
and borderline lame to say...but it is
the truth. I paint/draw/paste what my
gut tells me to do. So once my subject
matter is in my heart, my hands create
it with little effort.
Have you done other types of artwork
than what we see around Baltimore?
Has any of your work been in galleries?
I made a recent run through Philadelphia
putting up wheat pastings, and I have
shown my work in several galleries.
Can you give a quick run down of the
process of your work, starting from
the time it is thought up to the time it
is put on a wall?
The subject matter isn’t premeditated.
I just draw whatever comes to mind.
Sometimes it’s local people from the
city that I photographed. Sometimes
it’s my own kids. So I draw or paint
them in my studio, photograph it, then
print it. I take the prints, cut them out,
sometimes paint on them and then I
ride around and look for vacant places.
Then I just paste them up. Day or night.
53
If your art would be a musical genre – which
one would it be?
Dubstep. Just kidding, I’m mostly influenced by
hip hop and reggae... so let’s go with that.
Have you ever been in trouble with the police?
[Laughs] Sure have. However my trouble with
the law and my experience with the court
system has absolutely nothing to do with art.
I am a recovering alcoholic and heroin addict,
and I’m not ashamed to admit that. Finding a
spiritual solution to my past life has offered me
the opportunity to experience everything that
life has to offer. It has also given me the privilege
of helping many people with my experiences,
whether those were good or bad experiences.
So my past life choices have landed me in jail
multiple times. And my current life choices allow
me to help people. My art is directly impacted
by my past drug addiction. And my current
spiritual stance also is reflected in my art and
my day to day life. (Bet you weren’t expecting
that answer, huh?)
What would you recommend to someone
who wants to get active/make street art him
or herself?
I would say to find someone who knows
what they’re doing and ask for help. Then it’s
mostly trial and error. Don’t give up. And don’t
destroy occupied homes and small businesses...
that’s just wrong. Also, be original, don’t bite
someone else’s style...find your own voice.
54
"Finding a spiritual solution to my past life has given me the privilege of helpingpeople with my experiences."
HIDDEN IDENTITY
Street artists and graffiti artists prefer to keep their identities anonymous, preferring to
stay hidden and unattached from their works, whilst marveling at their art from afar. While
they do sign their names on their works (as can be seen in the photo on the left and the
photo above, Sorta Streetart usually has a unique rendering of his name, ‘Sorta,’ somewhere
on every peice he pastes up), they hide it in plain view, including it in their spray paint
masterpieces or wheat paste pin-ups, and thus protecting their identities in this particular art
form. This became very popular with street artist ‘Banksy,’ who’s work can be seen all around
the world. Almost everyone in the art world is familiar with his style.
55
Sorta pasting up his work located on Park Ave. in Baltimore. This peice is 14ft wide and over 10ft tall.
57
"I LIVE AND BREATHE TO CREATE ART. I HAVE TO DO IT. I HAVE NO CHOICE."
What are your plans for the future?
What do we have to expect from you
to see?
Your guess is as good as mine.
“Attention Baltimore, get ready to see this image of Art Modell all over the city by the next Ravens game.” - @sorta_street_art on Instagram
INTO THE
LIGHTTHE ART OF LIGHT GRAFFITI
LIGHTT
The art of light painting is amongst the final
visual frontiers of human creativity. It requires
precise photographic skill, carefully choreographed
performance and a wild imagination. Light graffiti as
an art is not yet a century old, a discipline born from
photographic mistakes and years of experimentation.
Just how good can light painting get? Light painting
is a photographic technique in which exposures are
made by moving a hand-held light source or by moving
the camera. The term light painting also encompasses
images lit from outside the frame with hand-held light
sources. Light Painting Photography can be traced
back to the year 1914 when Frank Gilbreth, along
with his wife Lillian Moller Gilbreth, used small lights
and the open shutter of a camera to track the motion
of manufacturing and clerical workers. Man Ray, in
his 1935 series “Space Writing,” was the first known
art photographer to use the technique and Barbara
Morgan began making light paintings in 1940.
By moving the light source, the light can be used to
selectively illuminate parts of the subject or to “paint” a
picture by shining it directly into the camera lens. Light
painting requires a slow shutter speed, usually a second
or more. Light painting can take on the characteristics of
a quick pencil sketch. In 1949 Pablo Picasso was visited
by Gjon Mili, a photographer and lighting innovator,
who introduced Picasso to his photographs of ice skaters
with lights attached to their skates. Immediately Picasso
started making images in the air with a small flashlight
in a dark room. This series of photos became known as
Picasso’s “light drawings.”
Light painting by moving the camera, is the
antithesis of traditional photography. At night, or in
a dark room, the camera can be taken off the tripod
and used like a paintbrush. An example is using the
night sky as the canvas, the camera as the brush and
cityscapes (amongst other light sources) as the palette.
Putting energy into moving the camera by stroking
lights, making patterns and laying down backgrounds
can create abstract artistic images.
Here is Charm Magazine’s collection of 10 excellent
light graffiti artists from around the world, dating back
to the days of Picasso and times more recent. So grab
a flashlight and prepare to experience the best light
painting the world has to offer.
INTO THE LIGHT / /
The multi-disciplinary graphic artist and designer
Taylor Pemberton has tried his own hand at light
graffiti, and the resulting images are stunning.
Much of Pemberton’s work with light painting is
rooted in traditional graffiti, as the swirls and curves of
his flashlight reflect the pieces shown on walls in cities
throughout the world. This next gen graffiti is set in
abandoned places where concrete, steel and a sense
of decay frame these brilliant shapes of light.
Taylor Pemberton
62
One of the 20th century’s greatest artists was quite
adept with light painting himself. The great Pablo
Picasso experimented with light painting in his later
days. Picasso stood in front of the camera, armed with
a flashlight, and traced his style of imagery in the air
before the shutter slammed shut. The result was an
illuminating set of photos set of photos that show the
artist at work - a wild set of set of self portraits where
this famed painter shared the focal point with his art.
Pablo Picasso
The French calligrapher and graphic artist Julien Breton has
extneded his calligraphy into the world of photography and
light. Julien Breton’s Light Calligraphy is unerringly precise,
a collection of Arabic inspired characters that come alive
in the set for Compagnie Cortex, a french dance crew. As
light graffiti is as much about photography as it is about
performance, Breton’s collaboration with this dance crew is
representational of the nature of this art form. The dancers
hold their pose, the lights are set and Breton outlines their
forms with light calligraphy before the shutters close.
Julien Breton
Unerringly precise, a collection of Arabic-inspired characters that come alive.”
“
63
TCBTCB, the artist also known as Twin Cities Brightest, creates
some of the most vivid and complex light graffiti we’ve seen.
The lines within TCB‘s light graffiti are flawless, unbroken
ribbons of light that weave into complicated shapes and
patterns. TCB is quite prolific with his light painting and light
graffiti, an artist whose body of work most certainly deserves
a close look.
INTO THE LIGHT / /
64
Lightmark
Lightmark Light Painting by Cenci Goepel and Jens Warnecke
focus more on minimal shapes within nature than outright
light graffiti. Their light designs appear to be a part of the
environment, organic shapes that fit within the context of
nature. Light spheres within snowy fields, stalks of light above
waterfalls and subtle forms on water are amongst some of
their better designs. Their light painting may not be inspired
by graffiti, but the introduction of alien light into the natural
world leaves their own mark in this imagery.
65
The photographers and performance artists Joerg Miedza
and JanLeonardo Woellert are the creative minds behind
LAPP Pro, a crew that has experimented with the full gamut
of light painting. LAPP Pro’s secret is both the setting and the
tools with which they create these amazing images. Sparks
fly into the night air, spheres of light form in desolate places,
and shapes converge around the artists themselves as they
take part in these photographs. Throughout the years of their
light painting experiments, many visually stunning works have
been created.
Lapp Pro
Sparks fly into the night air, spheres of light form in desolate places, and shapes converge around the artists themselves.”
INTO THE LIGHT / /
“
66
Lichtfaktor‘s work is unparalleled in the world of light
graffiti, where urban environments meet a form of light-
based architecture that merge into amazing imagery.
While we loved the Lichtfaktor London Light Graffiti
before, the group’s full body of work is entirely impressive,
even featured on magazine covers and advertisements in
ultimate style. Beyond the teaser gallery below, a long look
at Lichtfaktor’s work is required to understand just how
brilliant light graffiti can be.
The light graffiti artist known as Sola has produced a wide,
colorful and bright range of light graffiti that must be seen
to be believed. By that, we mean that his work may appear
to be manipulated, but the images are untouched after
the camera shutter closes. Sola has weaved an impressive
number of light graffiti images, ranging from swirls and
shapes on urban backgrounds to intricate graffiti patterns
with wild backgrounds.
Lichtfaktor
Sola Light
67
Michael Bosanko is a photographer who’s taken on
light painting in a series called “We Come in Peace”, in
which figures made of light seem to interact with their
surroundings in a way that’s comical, fun and highly
engaging. The series features giant spiders crawling
down a highway, “alien” rocks gathering around a central
“spaceship”, a light figure skateboarding on a ramp and
another hitchhiking on the side of a road.
Michael Bonsanko
INTO THE LIGHT / /
“ The art of light
painting is amongst the
final visual frontiers
of human creativity. ”
68
Toby Keller of Burn Blue Photography has himself experimented
with light graffiti, in forms that share inspiration in the work of
artists like Lightmark and Pemberton, shown above. Keller’s
canvas is nature– the quiet, sandy beaches of Santa Barbara and
brick ruins elsewhere, onto which he paints bright, vivid forms of
light. The result is entirely natural, where the patterns of light
appear to be a part of the environment around them.
Toby Keller
69
BMORE’SNEWEST
LINEOF
STREETWEAR
ANDURBANSTYLE
BALTEES, Baltimores newest, freshest, urban clothing line,
has hit the scene and is taking off fast. Baltees is mostly tees,
for men and women, that take some aspect of Baltimore
and tie it into the design of the shirt. Whether it’s an area
code, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, or nickname, Charm City,
Baltees nails the city chic enviornment that is Baltimore.
Baltees began with sports apparel for the Baltimore
Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens. Their black and orange
“BAL SWAG” tees and their black and purple “BALtimore
So Hard” tees were a huge hit to get the business up and
running.
The founder, MICA graphic design student Lexi Pearson,
wanted to spread the love for Baltimore city to its residents.
After attending school in the city, she wanted a way to ex-
press this and allow other people to express thier love for
the city as well. She also wanted to give back. Each purchase
of a Baltee gives ten percent to the “WBAL Kid’s Campaign”
to support the kids in Baltimore.
The business plans to expand to other apparel such as
sweatshirts and beanies in the very near future, so keep an
eye out at baltees.com.
Four 1 0 Tank Top:This nautical tank top has Baltimore’s area code, 410, represent-ing the city and it’s characteristics. It mixes the essence of the city and the inner harbor all in one tank top.$19.99 | baltees.com
Charm City Tank Top:Baltimore City, a.k.a Charm City loves to represent their charm. This unique tank top shows off Baltimore love by rocking a Charm City logo design that you can’t find anywhere else.$19.99 | baltees.com
72
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
CHARM / / ON THE LOOKOUT