Uniting Artists Through Crime

Uniting Artists through Crime (UAC) exhibit features the collaborative work of a handful of artists’ from around the world.
The mission of UAC was bring to Texas a large body of work from innovators worldwide of the current new street art movement; hence, allowing the public to experience the many movements of art as presented by these innovative artists.
Work on display includes the often hard to acquire work of established artists, and new work from emerging talents. Exhibited work comes from locals in SA, Austin, Houston and from major metropolitan centers around the world including New York, DC, California, Spain, Russia, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada.
Check out more pix here or here

Not a piece of cake

Not a piece of cake
Originally uploaded by Sugarpoppy

One of the poster designs submitted to ArabAd peace poster contest.
For more about the results, visit IF WE CAN'T MAKE PEACE title of ArabAd's first edition of the Middle Easter poster design challenge, all on Flickr group.

BLEK a dit: ART is War

Do you know Blek? Do you know Le Rat? [French in the text]
Have you met street rats?
Yes!? No?! Oui!!

Have you ever bumped into street art featuring rats,,,
rats encore, nothing but rats...
Rat-toujours...
And, again rats, and rats; always rats...???

Well, if you've never stumbled across graffiti street art of rats' design, it either means, you're a square-minded person, who doesn't look further than his nose; since rats are just everywhere!...
But maybe you live in 1 bubble, where air is so pure, no rats have dropped by so far to say hello; and obviously, you have decided to break up with the rat race socialites and upbeat lifestyles, hence, missing out Z RAt!

Sirdab has dug it for you, as the man who inspired generations of stencil artists
(including Banksy)
is definitely worth a bubbly post,
since it's THAT kind of news Sirdab's folks are constantly looking forward to.

So, Here is the Story...

One of the most influential figures in street art, French graffiti artist Blek Le Rat made his U.S. solo exhibition debut, on April 5, as his work -- old & new-- was on display at Shepard Fairey's new Subliminal Projects Gallery, in L.A.
The show --dubbed "ART is Not Peace But War" --featured 15 canvases, photos and one big-scale installation, on which the artist has painted his trademark stencils.
Large original paintings sold like pancakes; and an appearance by the Rat himself seemed to have added great energy to Fairey's [brilliant] initiative, in choosing to feature, first and foremost Blek Le Rat, for the Grand opening of his Art Space.

An what about the whole rats' fuss--aside from being the French artist's nickname?

Blek le Rat was one of the very few first street artists to use stencil art, way back in the early 80's, where his iconic rats were massively tagged & re-tagged in Paris' urban environment.
As a result, Le Rat gained a rat-tat recognition, and followers 'shroomed' ever after, with rat-a-tat impact...

As equally bubbly, it would be noteworthy to mention here, a book by Blek Le Rat --you can check out there-- that is coming out in May 2008, published by Thames and Hudson.

A definite must buy for graffiti lovers, the book is a unique view inside the life and work of one of the most low-key, but also one of the most loved street artist of our times.
From small and simple stencils to complex multimedia events, the distinctive and groundbreaking art of Blek le Rat is to be showcased, for the first time, in "Getting through the Walls;" and as such, it will be demonstrating the fascinating development of his technique and creativity, over the two past decades.

While shedding light on the evolution of urban art, this upcoming book is said to covers Blek's motives and working methods, as well as his deep exploration along with his own comments on the meaning of his art.

Banksy has been quoted, saying:

"Every time I think I've painted something original, I find out that Blek le Rat has done it as well, only 20 years earlier."

APRIL08 - BLEK A DIT: ART IS WAR

OBEY 1984

Penguin publishing commissioned artist Shepard Fairey, the infamous designer of the iconic OBAMA poster, and owner of StudioNumberOne, to create two new book covers for the re-editions of George Orwell's classics: Animal Farm and 1984. As featured, they are in the same line and spirit as his Obey work for the OBAMA pop-funk portrait; and both books will be published in the UK, July 3rd.

Obey or Follow

Communist or Socialist propaganda art is perhaps one of the most referenced graphic styles since WWI. The Soviets, Maoists, Nazis and even Cubans utilised the bold colours of Red, Black and sometimes Yellow to express a people or nation united or revolutionary. Simple printing processes perhaps led these striking Calls To Arms, along with the sheer number of these being postered. Contemporary Artist Shepard Fairey is one in a long list to appropriate this style. Most don't do it with the dogged repetition of OBEY – a direct reference to the very style he's adopted. Found on Flickr in The Obey Giant pool, thousands of images, of Shepard's spirit, some authentic, others copied.
As, for the 'Peace series', photographed in Honolulu's Chinatown, and in a Los Angeles Hollywood Café, they're the ones created by Shepard Fairey himself.
All shout loud their message.

37 kids murdered

A speed limit sign created by a Greek designer, Fetanis Ioannis, in remembrance to Qana massacre,
during the Israeli war on Lebanon in the summer 2006 where 37 kids were murdered.
As for the number displayed on the bottom of the visual,
it refers to the massacre date: 30-07-06 = 300706

Meet Lebanon