Man + Rooster + NYC Subway = Just another day in NY.

We love NYC for a lot of reasons. But one of them is particular to making living here special: Riding the Subway system.
Since we moved here, we have seen some crazy stuff on the subways. We heard some great stories too and in this day an age, its easy to also find videos/pics of the Subway Oddities.

Man + Rooster + NYC Subway = Just another day in NY.

Via Gothemist

NYSAT WEBSITE LAUNCH : THE HOLY GRAIL OF NYC AD TAKEOVER

Our good friends at Public Ad Campaign have worked very hard (twice) to pull of the New York Street Ad Takeover (NYSAT). The NYSAT was a great project that helped replace illegal advertising in the city of NY with art by local (and even some none local) artists. Even a few Abztract featured artists took part in the event.

Well, apparently the folks at PAC have been working even harder and taking all the photos, videos and info and putting it together for a micro site for all to enjoy (and learn a bit about the illegal advertising that goes on in NYC by NPA. who by the way may also be operating illegally in your town as well).

Check it out. There is a lot of videos, images and even the Project Documentation tab has all the locations listed as links to each illegal ad that was placed, how it was whitewashed, and then how it was replaced with art.

For those who do not know what NYSAT is, please take the time to check this site out. It was a fantastic project for us to be part of and we hope that (if/when) it happens again, you can join us.

Link: http://www.publicadcampaign.com/nysat/

NEW WORK BY GAIA

Gaia has been hitting the streets pretty hard in NYC. Here is a nice gem.

LOVE IS THE WORD : BSA X BILLI KID ART FOR HAITI

Our good friends at BSA (BrooklynStreetArt) and our partner in art Billi Kid joined forces along with a few of their friends to create I HEART HAITI fundraiser shirt. This Billi Kid designed shirt will have 100%...yes..100% go toward helping the people of Haiti.

We support anyone who donates their time, talents and efforts toward any community cause so we are proud to support Billi Kid and BSA in this.

Please go to http://www.ihearthaiti.us/ and cop your men's or women's shirt and help. You get a one of a kind shirt, so that is a great bonus.

THE ART OF THE STEAL

While everyone is running around in Sundancers talking about Banksy and his new Lampoon comedy with Mr. Brainwash, we came across this trailer which looks interesting.  The Art Of The Steal is a documentary which chronicles the long battle for the Albert Barnes Art Estate (a private collection valued at $25 Billion).   Check this out.  Seems pretty good.

KAWS - 97' TIL' INFINITY

Some vintage video of KAWS in 1997 via Jetset Graffiti

WU TANG X BEATLES = PRETTY DAMN GOOD MIX

We are fans of "good" mashups (although we hate the word Mash-up). Good ones do not come very often. To be honest, the last decent one we enjoyed was the JAY Z X BEATLES mix by Dangermouse. Since then we heard a Led Zep X Jay Z mix as well as many other somewhat "meh" mixes.

But today, we came across this BEATLES X WU TANG CLAN mix by Tom Caruana.

This does not dissapoint. While some of the tracks are just OK, the majority got multiple replays on our speakers in the studio.

The entire album is FREE on Caruana's website.

Check it out: http://www.teasearecords.net/wuvsbeatles.cfm

"THINK ABOUT IT" BY PHILIP LUMBANG

Our good friend and happy woodland creatures creator Philip Lumbang is dropping a brand new print (not with Abztract) tomorrow Jan. 22nd, 2010.

it is a 22"X30" 1 color print, , each with a unique phrase painted inside the thought bubble. Printed at Modern Multiples "Think about it" is an edition of 33 at $100 each (includes shipping, $20 extra for international).

We are excited to see him drop new work. Get yours at www.philiplumbang.bigcartel.com


Also, enjoy this fresh video. Word.

OPENING RECEPTION: JOSH KEYES X DOZE GREEN X SAELEE OH

We had a chance to hit up the opening for the Keyes X Doze X Oh show at Jonathan LeVine gallery in NYC this past weekend. The event had an amazing turn out and the art was visually stunning. To see the beauty in the art by DOZE up close, or the details of each and every shadow, fur and leaf on Josh's paintings and the personality in Oh's art was just really inspiring and moving.

Below are some photos from the event. We didn't bring our good camera cause frankly, we went out drinking afterwards with some friends. So sorry for the iPhone version of the coverage. If you want to see some additional photos, you can check out the photos and coverage by Juxtapoz Mag by clicking HERE

But, if you are in NYC, we highly suggest hitting the LeVine gallery up to see these in person.

BANKSY FILM LOOKS LIKE A DISASTER

Banksy is now in the film industry which means that finally Angelina Jolie and her nanny Bradly can actually participate in activities with the artist they spent money on buying art (and possibly a few children) from.

Not sure about this yet as EVERYONE who seen it says it's fantastic. From the trailer itself, looks like a Jackass version of streetart to me. Then again, it is a movie wrapped around Banksy which means James Cameron better watch out because the only thing people love more than blue pixies on six legged unicorns, is a old ass man from Bristol running around at night painting rats and being chased by police.

Hope this shit comes out in IMAX 3D. Need those rats to look more realistic.

Good times indeed.

JORDAN SEILER WEAVES IN AND OUT THE STREETS

We are big fans of the work Mr. Seiler does for NYC and helping bring awareness to illegal advertising. But in between running his highly publicized Public Ad Campaign website, and leading projects such as the NYSAT (that included Abztract featured artists Shai Dahan, Philip Lumbang, Royce Bannon and many other friends in the street art community) Jordan still finds time to hit the streets.

The great part about his street art is that it does not infringe on public space illegally (unlike the outdoor advertising companies such as NPA do way more than they ever should). Jordan instead, places his art upon the actual illegal outdoor advertising metal frames. What better way to show artwork on the streets than by taking away ugly movie posters that were pushed in your face illegally in the first place?

Jordan says: "I hope to eventually be able to visually get rid of the advertisement as well as the frame that retains it. This piece begins to do that but practice on the street will make a big difference."

We are excited (and hopeful) that Jordan will be hitting the streets more this year and look forward to see his original and visually fresh weave patterns on our block soon.

Check out his thoughts about this piece as well as much more by visiting his site at www.publicadcampaign.com

JOSH KEYES X SAELEE OH X DOZE GREEN

We try to promote art events in local cities that we think are worth getting out of the house for. While we don't know of EVERY event, we occasionally come across an event we really get excited to attend. This weekend marks one of these.

On Jan. 16th in NYC, the Jonathan Levine Gallery will have its opening reception for the opening featuring work by Josh Keyes, Saelee Oh and Doze Green. We are big big fans of all three and really excited to see them combined into one event.

If you are in NYC this weekend, this will be worth putting down that snuggy you got from Grandma for x-mas and putting on some layers and heading out to JLG. Abztract will be in attendance (with our snuggy on or not, have not decided yet).

DICKCHICKEN DOES PLAYBOY

Love him or hate him, you just can't afford to avoid him. Dickchicken has been getting around NYC more than an STD at the Jersey Shores. We actually appreciate his work and effort. Glad to see him get some arousing attention on Playboy TV.

I