Karlos Carcamo

New Works On Paper

2012-02-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

Study (Cornbread) and (Soul One), 2012.

Two color studies, each is approximately 20" x 16", latex and krink ink on canvas pad paper.

New Painting.

2012-01-22T18:42:00.000-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Jester), 2012

This piece took a while to finish. Started it in the summer of last year and was about to toss it in the trash. Had technical problems with the support which warped because of moister. It's the first time I've re-stretched a piece onto a new panel. Was worried that the paint would crack but it worked fine. Happy with the results. I used a brown color for the tag, hard to see in the images.

New Work On Paper

2012-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Study - Super Kool, 2012

Krink ink, latex paint on canvas pad.

Finally found a solution for working on quick studies for my paintings. Paper often tore from taping and the ink would seep through the layers of paint. This material is canvas pad, pre gessoed and the ink is Krink. Seems to work well, will make more.

BAU 85: "Go West" @ Beacon Artists Union

2012-01-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

BAU 85: "Go West" @ Beacon Artists Union, Beacon New York

January 14 - February 5, 2010

These are installation views of my work in BAU 85: "Go West" exhibition at the Beacon Artists Union in Beacon, New York. The show includes work by Greg Slick and Eleanor White in the project space.

New Painting

2012-01-13T12:22:00.000-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Sin), 2012

Finished this work last night as well. It's for the same exhibition at BAU. The painting is 24" x 24". Thinking of doing a whole series of these in the coming weeks.

New Painting

2012-01-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Soul One), 2012

Finished this piece last night. Just in time since it slated for an exhibition opening in two days at the BAU (Beacon Artists Union) Gallery in Beacon, New York. The opening is Saturday from 6 - 9pm. The exhibition will be on view from January 14th - February 5th, 2012.

Thanks for the Memorex

2012-01-05T19:18:00.000-08:00

Detail View

Hard Edge Painting (Phase Two), 2011

The ability to record and erase anticipated the possibilities of the endless mutable self, the protagonist of the post industrial age.

-Hua Hsu

Recently i re-read this article in an old issue of Artforum. I like this statement since it indirectly touches on some ideas that i think about in relation to some of my work, specifically the hard edge paintings. I think people often mis-interpret my paintings as being specifically about graffiti. The work incorporates it and pays homage to its history but in essence I'm using it as a starting point to explore larger cultural issues.

My use of graffiti is both a personal element of my own history as a graff writer and an essential part of the overall formal composition in the same way color or texture is used. It's similar to the way painters use the figure as a means to explore various issues related to painting. I use the language of graffiti and abstraction to explore cultural constructs. How history is seen through this spectrum, how it's understood and the social dynamic between high and low cultural forms of expression. I'm also interested in the similarities between the history of abstraction and its utopian ideals and that of urban culture.

Exhibition at Able Fine Arts

2011-12-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

Kerosene Garden @ Able Fine Arts, Chelsea, New York

Here are images of my three record sculptures in the exhibition Kerosene Garden at Able Fine Arts. The opening was this past thursday. The exhibition will be on view through January 10, 2012.

Exhibition

2011-12-06T18:31:00.000-08:00

Kerosene Garden

Curated by D.Dominick Lombardi @ Able Fine Arts

December 14 - January 10, 2011

Opening Reception:

Thursday, December 15th, from 6 - 8pm.

Click on link for further information:

http://www.ablefineartny.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=g02_b01&wr_id=58

Press - Juxtapoz & Beautiful Decay

2011-11-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

Attached are links to nice shout outs from Juxtapoz and Beautiful Decay online.

http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/in-graffiti-abstract-buffing-by-karlos-carcamo

http://beautifuldecay.com/2011/10/28/karlos-carcamo/

New Painting

2011-11-16T20:00:00.000-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Phase Two), 2011

Here it is, the finished painting! I'm happy with how it turned out even though the colors are a bit harsh. I wanted to get away from the pastel spectrum of the last few paintings. In the end I ended up adding yellow to the top left corner and two layers of grey. Love the fact that you can see the tag through the black paint even with two coats.

The Studio - In Progress

2011-11-13T19:02:00.001-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Phase II) in progress.

Here is a shot of my new painting titled Hard Edge Painting (Phase II) that's in progress in the studio. It's been a struggle but I think that I'm almost done. Just need to add black on the upper right and maybe one other color. I decided to limit colors to two forms each in order to simplify the process. Some times things begin to get really complicated when layering multiple colors and you end up losing the painting. It's best to keep things simple.

New Painting @ Pulse Los Angeles

2011-10-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Hard Edge Painting (Riff 170), 2011

Latex and spray enamel on canvas over wood panel.

72" x 48"

Hot out of the studio. Currently on view at the Pulse Art Fair in Los Angeles (Sept 30 - Oct3rd), courtesy of Dean Project. Check it out if your in the neighborhood!

http://www.pulse-art.com/losangeles/

Wall Work

2011-09-25T19:02:00.001-07:00

Motion in Two Parts (Red/Gold), 2011

Latex and pencil on wall with police batons.

48" x 96" x 3"

New wall piece incorporating a gold background. Click on image to enlarge.

Press: Art in America Online

2011-04-23T06:52:00.001-07:00

Article on my work in Art in America Magazine on-line.

Link: http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-opinion/news/2011-04-21/karlos-carcamo-dean-gallery/

Voces: Conversations with Contemporary Artists

2011-04-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

Beyond The Object

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

El Museo del Barrio
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: El Café

Admission: Free

Curator José Falconi discusses art-making as process with artist and critic Luis Camnitzer, and contemporary artists Karlos Cárcamo and Milagros de la Torre, whose work is included in Voces y Visiones: Signs, Systems & the City.

VOCES: Conversations with Contemporary Artists
Guest curators engage artists featured in El Museo's Permanent Collection in a conversation exploring contemporary art topics.

http://www.elmuseo.org/en/event/beyond-object

Till the Break of Dawn @ Dean Project

2011-04-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Detail View:

Here are some more images of my work at Dean Project. The pedestal piece is A Concrete Movement (Funky Drummer), the framed limousine tinted photo-collage is Untitled (Aura) and Hard Edge Painting (Pistol 1). All work is 2011.

Solo Exhibition: Till the Break of Dawn @ Dean Project

2011-04-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

Installation Views: Till the Break of Dawn at Dean Project.

Here are some pics from my solo exhibition at Dean Project. The opening was pretty crowded. I felt bad that I could only talk to people for short periods before being pulled into another conversation. I'm taking a short break, just a couple of days, then back to the studio! I have some new hard edge paintings and limousine tinted collages I'd like to make. Also, finishing some new police baton pieces.

Solo Exhibition: Till the Break of Dawn @ Dean Project

2011-04-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

Untitled (Fade to Black), 2011

The invite image above features a new knife piece Untitled "Fade to Black" that will be on exhibit in my first solo exhibition opening April 7th at Dean Project. The show will consist of 17 new works that include painting, sculpture, and mixed media collages. The opening reception is thursday, April 7th from 6-8pm. The show will be on view through May 14th.

Click on title for link to the gallery website.

Dallas Art Fair

2011-04-02T07:08:00.001-07:00

Dallas Art Fair

April 8 - 10, 2011

If you're in Dallas for the Dallas Art Fair, keep an eye out for these pieces at Dean Projects Booth.

www.dallasartfair.com

In The Studio

2011-03-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Studio.

Artwork packed and ready to be delivered! I enjoy all aspects of being an artists except having to spend a whole day packing up the work. Maybe someday someone else can do this for me but for now it's just me.

Study

2011-02-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

Untitled (Grill), 2011

This is a study for a series of collages that juxtapose color squares with gold fronts (gold teeth). The colors refer to gang colors. The glass in the frame is tinted with limousine tint, similar to my tinted self portraits. In this case I cut out a rectangle on the tint to allow the collage to be visible. The pieces are 24" x 24" each. I'll be showing three of these types of collages in my upcoming exhibition at Dean Project.

New C-Print

2011-01-30T14:54:00.000-08:00

Balancing Act (Newburgh), 2010

I've been wanting to shoot a photo related to the Balancing Act series in Newburgh for some time now. It turned out to be a little harder then I thought. If anyone's been to the scarier parts of Newburgh you'd understand. What I liked about this particular wall was the color and the crossed out gang graffiti. It was a nice contrast to the red dice that I had with me. There was a another wall that was interesting as well. It had a "RIP" piece on it, but it was too risky to photograph. There were too many guys hanging out near it giving me the stare down. Might have been a drug spot. As you can see from the type of graffiti on this wall, Newburgh has a major problem with gang violence. Glad it went well and that I wasn't mistaken for someone else.

New Wall Work

2011-01-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

Motion in Two Parts (Blue/Grey) W2, 2010

I've decided to make the wall pieces slightly different by pairing them with additional colors. Eventually, I hope to come up with more complicated designs but for now I'm keeping them simple, just pairs. In the detail pic of this piece you can see the pencil line over the grey color. I like it because it shows the progression of the rotation and also acts as a marker that implies other associations such as targets, graphs, etc.

New Painting

2010-12-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Top Cat), 2010

These new paintings are so hard to photograph. The high gloss enamel paint is really reflective. I'll try to re-shoot them this week without the glare.

New Painting

2010-12-08T06:11:00.000-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Super Kool), 2010

New Painting

2010-11-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

Hard Edge Painting (Cool Earl), 2010

Unlike my other painting"Cliff", this piece has three solid colors blocking out the tag. I didn't use the transparent layer of color mainly because I finished this painting before I came across the idea. Originally, I didn't know if I liked this painting but it's grown on me. In any case, it's become my favorite now.

New Painting

2010-11-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hard Edge Painting (Cliff) 2010

Just finished two new paintings titled Cliff and Cool Earl. It's hard to see in the image above but the off white band is only one layer which allows you to still see the tag underneath the paint. There is another off white square under the red stripe that completely blocks out the tag on the bottom right hand corner. The transparency element is a new feature. I really like the layers of visibility and transparency in the painting and I plan to use it in future paintings. Come to think of it, this idea is also in many of my other pieces such as the Limosine tinted portraits and mirrors. Reflection, transparency, visibility and invisibility are an integral part of urban culture. It's evident in many aspects of the culture such as how you dress, the persona you create, the name you choose to use, how you hook up you car, and even in the constructed nature of hop hop music itself.

Wall work on canvas

2010-10-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

Motion In Two Parts (Blue) P1, 2010

I decided to try and make the wall pieces I've been making lately on stretched canvas to see how they would look. I origially thought that I wouldn't like it but I think it works well. It gives me greater flexibility to opt for wall or portability. It has also opened up other ideas to try such as freestanding sculptural pieces and wall reliefs.

NEW PRINT EDITION

2010-06-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Colors (Blue/ Red), 2010

This is one of three edition of prints made during my residency at Lower Eastside Printshop. It's printed on Decotone solid mirror aluminum laminate and is 20" high x 43.5"wide. The bottoms of Winchester .45 G.A.P. (Glock Automatic Pistol) bullet casings were scanned and used to create a large grid in photoshop which was then turned into film screens. If you click on the image you can see the detail of the bullet casings. The vertical band in the middle was taken from a bandanna pattern. You can see the other two print edition at the Lower Eastside Printshop website. Click on the link located on the sidebar.

Wall Work

2010-04-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

Motion In Two Parts (Blue) W1, 2010

View of the finished wall piece. It's two 4ft x 4ft circles painted 75% blue with two police batons. I've been thinking of doing a variation of these on plywood?

2010-03-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Taki II), 2010

Taki II in full effect! This is the second painting in the set. The geometric white area in the painting is done using gloss enamel paint applied with a sponge roller so the surface is pretty smooth. The back ground area is done using flat white paint applied with a 4" inch brush. There is a nice contrast between figure and ground. Hard to see the variation of the surface in jpegs.

2010-03-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hard Edge Painting (Taki I), 2010

Been working on a series of new hard edge abstract paintings that reference urban history. The first grouping in the series are titled after early graffiti writers. "Taki I" is the first painting of the series. Eventually other groupings will be DJ's, Clubs, Breakdancers, etc. Each painting measures 4ft x 4ft with beveled edges and is made using latex and spray enamel on canvas over wood panel.

Studio Work - In Progress

2010-02-02T18:44:00.001-08:00

Finally I finished sheet rocking my studio walls and now I'm starting to produce some new pieces. In the works are two paintings (Taki 1 and 2). A record piece (Thriller) made using records form Michael Jackson album Thriller and a new shoelace piece called Small Abstract (Black).

2009-11-29T18:36:00.000-08:00

Colors (Red, White, Blue) 2009

Here is another bandanna flag case piece in red, white, and blue. I'm thinking of making another version with all the cases pointing up. I also have a number of other orientations and colors in mind. This piece will be on view at the Pulse Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach, Dec 3-6th with Dean Project.

Also, good news from the Pinta Art Fair. One of my vinyl record pieces was acquired by El Museo del Barrio. My first museum acquisition in New York! I'm really excited that it went to El Museo since that is one of the first places I exhibited my work at after graduate school. It was S-files way back in 2002. Feels so long ago........

2009-11-17T19:15:00.000-08:00

Colors (Red/Blue) 2009

Spanking new piece! These bandannas are framed in flag cases like the ones used for displaying American flags. I'll be exhibiting this piece at the Pinta: Modern & Contemporary Latin American Art Fair this weekend. I'm in the process of making a red, white, & blue piece for the Pulse Art Fair in Miami. It will hang three across with the middle case upside down.

2009-09-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Installation View: Mirror on Mirror Mirrored @ Dean Project

Some of my vinyl/record pieces in the show. The title of this work is "A Concrete Movement" followed by the titles of the records that I use. I like the way they were installed in the show. It sort of mimicks a turntable.

2009-09-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

Installation View: Mirror on Mirror Mirrored @ Dean Project

These series of collages are from a series titled "A Synthetic Abstraction" all 2009.I have four in the current exhibition at Dean Project. All use labels taken off of 40oz beer bottles. The "Magnum" with the black dice is my favorite one so far. I plan on doing a "Crazy Horse" label next. What's great about this work is that I get to drink the beer too!

Dean Project

2009-09-18T09:49:00.001-07:00

Mirror on Mirror Mirrored
Group Exhibition Sept 19th - Nov 19th, 2009

Artists: Karlos Carcamo, Nicholas Kashian, Barbara Weissberger
Opening - Saturday September 19th, 6-9pm

2009-09-16T09:40:00.001-07:00

View of my work in Zonas de Trueque, Museo de Arte de El Salvador (MARTE).

The exhibition opened on September 4th and will remain on view until November 1st, 2009

2009-08-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Exhibition: Zonas De Trueque: Opening September 3rd, 2009

I'm on my way to El Salvador for an exhibition at El Museo De Arte De El Salvador (MARTE). The exhibition is curated by Jose Ruiz of the Bronx River Arts Center and includes artists Experanza Mayobre, Diego Medina and Irvin Morazan.

Attached is a link to the museum website: http://www.marte.org.sv/

2009-08-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

Installation view: A Concrete Movement (LL, Ja Rule, 50 Cent) 2009

This piece is currently in an exhibition titled "What's The Story" at Hudson Beach Glass in Beacon, New York. It's made of three vinyl records that have been individually bent 90 degrees, rotated and glued together. It's based on a series of work by Brazilian artist Lygia Clark which the title also makes reference to.

2009-08-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

"Fresh From The Streets" - Mikhail Zakin Gallery
July 24th - September 10, 2009

This is an installation view of my painting "Cornbread II" (right side) at the Mikhail Zakin Gallery located in Demarest , New Jersey. The show is a multi media exhibition that includes, graffiti murals, painting, photography, sculpture, toys, performance, stickers, posters and stencils.

2009-08-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

Tourist Postcard (Downstate Correctional Facility) 2009

Recently I have been taking pictures of prisons for a series of postcards that mimic tourist postcards. This one was printed at the Lower Eastside Printshop where I'm currently doing a print residency. It's a ink jet print with a self adhesive laminate. I'm going to mail it to the Museo de Arte del El Salvador (MARTE) for a show I'm in later this month. The process of mailing the postcard (wear and tear, postal markers) will add the final touches to the piece.

2009-07-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

Knot (Blue/Red) 2009

This piece was simple to make. I sewed two bandannas together then tied them into a knot. I'm not sure if I'm going to take this further than what it is? Possibly translating it into another medium? Part of me feels it's too simple but I like the simplicity of the gesture. I might make a C-print version mounted onto plexi glass.

2009-06-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

Exporting Pop: A Western Fantasy

May 10th - June 10th, 2008

Installation view of "Exporting Pop: A Western Fantasy" at the Al Sabah Gallery, Kuwait. The exhibition was organized by Mark Dean of Dean Project. On the back wall are two of my cut out mirror pieces. I wish I could travel to see the show but I can't afford to take the time off or have the money to do so. I'm happy that at least the exhibition comes with a catalog. Attached is a review of the show in the Kuwait Al Watan Daily:
http://alwatandaily.alwatan.com.kw/Default.aspx?MgDid=755110&pageId=488

2009-04-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

The Source (Carmelo Anthony), 2009

This is one of a suite of three magazine covers mounted on mirrors that I recently finished. They are about 14" x 17" each. The other pieces are, XXL (Cam'ron) and Don Diva (Juelz Santana). This work and the "Synthetic Abstraction" series will be shown at Next: The Invitation Exhibition of Emerging Art, Chicago Art Fair, May 1- 4th. Dean Project Booth #7046
Attached is the link:
http://deanproject.com/index.html

2009-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

A Synthetic Abstraction (Colt 45), 2009

Another cubist inspired piece. I incorporated bullet casings to this piece playing off of the Colt 45 label.

2009-04-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

A Synthetic Abstraction (Old English), 2009

This is the first of a series of pieces that play on synthetic cubism incorporating more up to date source matrial such as gold chains, bullet casings, box cutters, etc. I don't know how I feel about the piece yet since it's so new? I'll live with it for a little bit. I'm including this piece in a show titled "The Pleasure Seekers" curated by Dan Halm. The show opens next Tuesday at Chashama. The gallery is on 44th between 6th and 7th Ave. The opening reception is from 6-9pm.

2009-02-04T18:38:00.000-08:00

Crusade, 2008
C-print

Last week I received news that I have been awarded a Special Editions Residency at the Lower East Side Printshop. It was great news since I've been wanting to work on a series of prints for some time now. At work we recently re-framed an edition of 60 Ellen Gallagher prints which I had a chance to look at close up. They were really interesting for the non materials that she included such as play doe, pomade, and aluminum foil. You often think of prints in very traditional ways but this work pushed that. I hope to experiment with materials as well, maybe using gold leaf, asphalt and roof tar?

Link to the Lower East Side Printshop website:
http://www.printshop.org/web/Create/SpecialEditions/index.html

2009-01-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

Thoughts for the New Year!

Glad 2008 is over. The year was rewarding creatively but also sad for me personally. It's been almost a year since my fathers death and I still think about him at some point everyday. I don't know if that will ever change? I've used the experience of his passing to push me forward. It's in no small way a coincidence that I've made a ton of artwork this past year. My philosophy and nature is to keep busy, look ahead, and not get caught up in the past. I love my father dearly and miss him a whole lot but I also know that each of my own achievements would have made him extremely proud.

Upcoming News for 2009

The new year brings a couple of exhibitions and one that I am particularly excited about since it would have made my dad very happy. In September I will be heading down to El Salvador to participate in an exhibition titled "Intervenciones" at the "Museo De Arte De El Salvador (MARTE)." I was nine years old the last time I was there. I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my birth place and seeing what comes out of the experience.

Attached is a link to the Museum:
http://www.marte.org.sv/eng/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=7

2008-11-26T04:30:00.000-08:00

Untitled (L.E.S) 2008
C- print.

2008-11-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

Some Art Review Links from over the years:

Robert Ayers, "Scope Art Fair New York", Artinfo, 2008.

http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/27206/scoping-out-scope/

Roberta Smith, "Colony @ Hudson Clearing", New York Times, 2004.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E2D91238F93AA35757C0A9629C8B63

Holland Cotter - "The DL in Contemporary Art", New York Times, 2005.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04EEDB1531F937A15753C1A9659C8B63
Holland Cotter - "Do You think I'm Disco", New York Times, 2006.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/03/arts/design/03gall.html?ei=5090&en=6aa7152cb7f01089&ex=1296622800&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

Ivan Periera - "A Jamaica Queens Thing", Daily News, 2007.
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2007/04/26/2007-04-26_artist_has_jamaica_scene_rapped_up.html
Deborah Jowitt - "Future Past Perfect", Village Voice, 2004.
http://www.villagevoice.com/2004-12-21/dance/future-past-perfect/
Gregory Volk - "Big Brash Borough", Art In America, 2004.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1248/is_/ai_n6196966
John Perrault - "Brooklyn Museum Reborn?", Artsjournal, 2004.
http://www.artsjournal.com/artopia/2004/04/brooklyn_museum_reborn.html

D. Dominick Lombardi - "Since Sept 11, Benign Works become Haunting, New York Times, 2002 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01EFDC1F3AF93AA35755C0A9649C8B63

2008-11-13T18:31:00.000-08:00

"Introduction: Future Dialogues" exhibition at Dean Project in Long Island City, Sept 27 - Nov 2nd, 2008

My painting Cornbread II is the second from right. The show at Dean Porject focused on emerging artists that will be a part of the gallery's roster of shows and art fairs for the upcoming year. Artists in the show included: Ryan Bartley, Adin de Masi ,Bryan Drury, Jason Dunda, Carl Eckhoff, J.J. Garfinkel, Quintin Gonzalez , Erika Harrsch, Nicholas Kashian, Nickolas Lascot, Dan Levenson, Colette MurphyJacob Ouillette, Carol Peligian, Keer Tanchak and Mary Ting.

2008-10-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

Corn Bread Tag, Metro North Manhattan Bound Train.

I was amazed to see this "Corn Bread" tag on the back seat of the train I ride to work. Don't know if it's from the original writer himself or just someone copying his tag? Hope it's the real deal! Corn Bread was an early graff pioneer taggin out of Philly back in the late 1960's. I've made two paintings titled after him. I'm glad I had my camera on hand and was able to snap this pic.

2008-10-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

Rope Piece, 2008

More detailed images of work from the Sarah Lawrence exhibition. I embedded the pendant on the chain in concrete and then broke it apart with a hammer. The pendant is a dollar bill sign.

2008-10-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

Small Abstract (Blue)

Another fat shoe lace wire sculpture. This one is currently on view at the MoMA staff show. Too bad it's not open to the public. Either way, I'm thinking of including it in my upcoming exhibition at Sarah Lawrence College later this month?

2008-10-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

Blue, 2008 Exposed sun print paper on aluminum.

This piece is made out of 80 or so individual sheets of 5" x 8" inch sun print paper mounted on to aluminum. Overall the piece is about 4ft x 6ft. I layed handcuffs over the paper and exposed it to the sun for a period of 1 - 2 minutes. I then rinsed the sheets in water for an additional minute. As I get more comfortable with this medium I hope to try even more complex configurations.

2008-09-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

Installation View:
Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ

These are installation images of "Mist" and "Blue" at Gallery Aferro in Newark, NJ. The exhibition runs Through Nov 22nd.

2008-08-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

Mist, 2008
Handcuffs

Starting to get back in gear for upcoming exhibitions. Was in a sort of mini break but it's time to start producing again. This image is a detail of an installation that I'm working on made of handcuffs inner-connected to each other. The piece will be suspended in mid air between the floor and ceiling, creating a sort of shimmering cloud form. The piece will be in a show called "Outside Over There" at Gallery Aferro in Sept.

2008-05-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

Personal Graff (throwup), circa 1986-89.

There's a great quote by the writer Bell Hooks that I had tacked onto my studio wall when my studio was down in the city. I just found it while going though some papers. It sums up in a short passage what it is that I try to persue in my own work.

"I have been working...to incorporate in the manner of telling a sense of place, of not just who I am in the present but where I am coming from, the multiple voices within me. I have confronted silence, inarticulateness. When I say, then, that these works emerge from suffering, I refer to that personal struggle to name that location from which I come to voice." -Bell Hooks

While going through these papers I also found a photo of one of my graffiti throwups on an F train circa mid to late 80"s. Wish I would have documented more on this part of my life.

2008-04-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Word, 2008 Neon and electrical wires.

This piece is in an edition of four. One which I showed at the Scope Art Fair. I've never liked when I've seen neon pieces on plexi mounts but after having installed "Liberty St" at PS 122 without a mount, I've come to see why artists choose to mount them to plexi. The pieces are so fragile that it's best to keep them on a mount. It makes the install so much easier just two screws and it's up. It also helps when packing the work in a crate. "Word" is my take on "Five Words In Blue Neon" by 60's conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth. Don't ask me why I reference his work so much?

2008-03-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

Little bit of press on my work from The Scope Art Fair......

http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/27206/scoping-out-scope/

2008-03-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

Hevalo, 2008 Latex and spray enamel on canvas.

New and improved Hevalo! I think the gold paint worked well for this piece. It's layered so that you could see more of the graff. I saw it when I stopped by the Scope Art Fair yesterday. Even though these paintings are 4ft x 4ft they seem small there. Thinking of going even bigger but I have to stay within 4ft on one side to fit it into my van. Maybe I'll build a roof rack?

2008-03-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

Small Abstract (Burgundy) 2008 Shoe laces and wire on wall.

This piece is actually two shoe laces that are intertwined around each other. I like the play between the two form. I'm thinking of doing pieces that use combinations of colors. This series of abstract pieces were inspired by a David Hammons piece that he made back in 1990-91. It's a wall mounted wire sculpture made from coat hangers that hold a bunch of cigarettes. Don't recall the title?

2008-03-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

Kool Herc, 2008 Latex and spray enamel on canvas.

Kool Herc the father of hip hop. This piece was hard to photograph because of the gloss paint enamel. I'm thinking of doing more black paintings. It also confirmed my decision to switch to gloss paint. I haven't been happy with the colors that I used for my other painting Hevalo. I feel it needs some kind of bling so I've decided to redo it and make it a gold painting instead of red. I'll start working on that piece today.

2008-03-20T05:18:00.000-07:00

Cornbread II, 2008 Latex and spray enamel on canvas.

This is a larger piece that is 4'ft x 4'ft. I dry rolled the ground color on and built up the rolled white areas of paint in layers so that it gave transparency to the paint. I've been indecisive about the final surface finish of my paintings. I have always liked the combination of matte and glossy areas but I think after this painting I might switch to gloss enamel paint. This would give the surface a slick look similar to Sarah Morris or Ingrid Calame paintings.

2008-03-20T04:53:00.000-07:00

Cornbread, 2008 Latex and spray enamel on canvas.

Just finished some new paintings that I'm excited about. This piece is 30" x 30"inches and is titled after a late 1960's Philadelphia graffiti writer named Cornbread. Cornbread along with Taki 168 (NYC) are considered early pioneers of "taggin" in the form that it exists today. Taggin their name all over the city as much as possible for the simple reason of "getting up".

2008-03-15T09:49:00.001-07:00

Paintings:

There's a passage in an article written by Christopher Bollen on Norwegian artist Matias Faldbakken's work in this months Art Forum that I find interesting in relation to my paintings. In the article Bollens states, "Faldbakken dips his fingers into the cracks and fissures of mainstream value systems by effectively mimicking them. Graffitiing the very position of authority (Zero Tolerance) nullifies both the subversive act of vandalism (I will mark my individual insurrection against a clean wall of the institution) and the power structure that tries to erase dissident messages (I'm just repeating exactly what you want). In other words, to circumvent authority, bury yourself in it.
In my own paintings I'm not so much trying to "bury myself in it" as I am incorporating it's process as a creative act. In a sense freezing the act both physically and metaphorically. In the article he goes on to say, This "inherent Transgression," as Slavoj Zizek has written, is built into society's power structure. Amending Hegel's dialectical double negation, Zizek describes the "negation of a negation," implying that behind every negation, a second one occurs to recoup the loss-returning it, in effect, to the hands of authority. Hip Hop itself is a model of a subculture custom made to circumvent authority. It's evident in the music, vocabulary, fashion, and ways of thinking. For me it's the perfect structure to deal with our post modernist condition.

2008-03-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Cut Out #4 (2 Pac) 2008, Cut poster, mirror, black frame.

This piece is going to a show at Dean Project called Exporting Pop: A Western Fantasy which eventually will travel in Sept to Dubai. The exhibition runs from March 15 - April 29th with the opening reception being March 29th from 6 - 9pm. I'm showing this piece along with Cut Out #3 (50 cent). I noticed while packing the piece that the posters are starting to buckle a bit since the paper is so thin. I'm going to remake both pieces for the Sept show this time mounted to rag board before cutting out the images. This should solve the problem.

2008-03-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Buff, 2008 Latex and spray enamel on canvas.

This piece took a really long time to finish. It must have had 10 different variations, layers, and colors. Some times when your working on a piece things come together easily but other times it's a struggle. A metaphor for life I guess......

2008-03-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

Tinted Portrait V, 2007, Color inkjet print, limousine tinted glass, chrome frame.

Here is a detail shot of the piece in "Beauty is in the Street". I posed in a style similar to Che with a cigar in my mouth. If the glass was not so dark you would notice that I'm also wearing a Che t-shirt. The exhibition of this show invited a number of contemporary artists to interpret the influence of Che's image. I just decided to incorporate the pose using one of my tinted portraits.

2008-03-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

Installation View: Beauty is in the Street, Bronx River Art Center.

Here is "Tinted Protrait V" from Beauty is in the Street, curated by Gerry Beegan. It's one of the most recent. Most of these pieces range around 17" x 14" inches. I'd love to go bigger but I'm having a hard time finding chrome/nickel plated frames larger than what I'm using.

2008-03-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

"If the music is true the form takes care of itself" -Cecil Taylor.

"Free your mind and your ass will follow". -George Clinton

2008-03-02T18:39:00.000-08:00

Installation View: PS122 Gallery, March 1 - 23rd, 2008

This is an installation view of the work at PS 122 Gallery that opened this past Saturday. I'm happy to see the work out of my studio and pleased with how the layout of the show turned out. Now I need to turn my attention on to the next project which is getting work ready for the Scope Art Fair later on this month. So much to do, so little time but as they say the beat goes on...........

2008-02-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Impressionist Sunset, 2008 Acoustic speaker fabric, glass beer bottles and paint.

I really like the way this piece came out. It's given me a bunch of ideas for other pieces.

2008-02-16T08:26:00.001-08:00

Jose Alberto Carcamo (1940 - 2008)

My father passed away yesterday. I will miss him so much.

2008-02-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

Small Abstract (White) 2008 Shoe lace on wall.

First of a series of abstract sculpture pieces using shoe laces.

2008-02-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

B-Boy, 2008 Latex and spray enamel on canvas

Brand spanking new! Just finished this piece last night. A bit of silver paint with light and dark blue roll overs. Really like this piece. It's the first to have mulitple colors. I usually only use one color with different values but this one has two seperate colors. Actually now that I think about it Hevalo is the first....

2008-01-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Into the Void (Dub Remix), 2008 Magazine page, asphalt, bullet casing.

Finished this piece today. It's untitled at the moment since it's so new to me. The image is Yves Klein's "The painter of space jumps into the Void, 1960". I got it from an old issue of ArtForum from 1984. I picked up the asphalt as I was driving home last night. I had seen it earlier in the day on the side of the road and made plans to stop by and get it. The idea of cutting up the magazine image started off accidentally. My original intention was to trim off the top but the image ended up looking off. I decided to cut what was left of the image and stagger it similar to graffiti letters with a small part jetting out. It was a nice accident and it's given me some new ideas.

2008-01-16T18:56:00.000-08:00

Untitled 1995 Cement, speaker, Adidas shoe box.

Last time I visited my folks I brought back this piece made back in 1995. I also have another similar piece but it's a plain cardboard box instead of an Adidas box. I've been thinking of using concrete again for some new work that I have in mind.

2008-01-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

Break (One,Two) 2008 Ink Jet print on photo paper.

This photograph is a copy of an original photograph that was taken back in the early to mid 80's during a breaking contest. That's me in the front. I hand painted all the graffiti on the pants that we are wearing and I also designed the graphics on the T-shirts. I decided to turn this into a piece. I'm unsure if I will alter it more than just cutting out the second image. I'll live with it for a while and see where it goes?

2008-01-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

Reach II, 2004 Sport jerseys, gym mat, vinyl on floor.

Here is a closer view of Reach II on stage at the Joyce Theater. Originally "Reach II" was part of the 2004 exhibition "Open House" at the Brooklyn Museum curated by Charlotta Kotik and Tumelo Mosaka. If anyone has been to a Merce Cunningham performance they will know that chance plays an important role in his choreography. At the Joyce Theater, each nights performance introduced certain elements that were responded to and improvised by the dancers. One being the art, or "decor" as they called it, along with the music and the costumes of the dancers. The night this piece was shown it was accompanied by music composed by Ikue Mori and Marina Rosenfeld. I'm not up on modern dance but being an ex break dancer I appreciate it and enjoyed myself. I also got a chance to go back stage and meet the man himself. Very exciting.....here's the link to a short mention of the performance in the Village Voice. http://www.villagevoice.com/dance/0452,188286,59613,14.html

2008-01-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

Reach II, 2004 Sport jerseys, gym mat, vinyl on floor.

This past weekend the Merce Cunningham Dance company performed a series of pieces at Dia:Beacon where I currently live. In 2005 I had the privilege of having one of my pieces included in a "happening" for one of their performances at the Joyce Theater. This image is from the installation of the piece on stage two hours before the performance.

2008-01-13T17:39:00.000-08:00

Rap Fanatic (50 Cent), 2008 Magazine cover, mirror, gold frame.

I just finished this piece yesterday. It's similiar to the cut out posters that I've been doing just smaller in scale. It's a magazine cover with the image of 50 cent cut out, which I then mounted to a mirror. I had to shoot the piece from the side so that I would not capture my own reflection in the mirror.

2008-01-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

View of the Studio with Sedgwick and Cedar Park hanging on the wall.

2008-01-06T17:45:00.000-08:00

Cedar Park, 2007 Latex and spray paint on canvas.

Here's an off to the side view of Cedar Park. Another element that separates Wool's work from mine is his process, which incorporate mechanical reproduction techniques such as silk screening. My paintings are direct first hand gestures. Color plays a part in our differences as does the connection to graffiti through my personal experience as a graff writer.

Odessythree/OD3 - TN, TWB, GF (1980 - 1987) Jamaica, Queens. E,F,J,A, LL, lines.

2008-01-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

Cedar Park, 2007 Latex and spray paint on canvas.

Christopher Wool is an artist whose work I really like. I bring up his name because I know that this particular work is tapping a bit onto his turf. The use of spray paint, rollers, etc. In that sense we connect but our differences are only in materials and maybe the influence of the urban landscape on our own work. "Can control" plays a very important role for me as does it's method of application. I use various spray caps such as five finger, fat, and pencil thin caps. The quality of line has to be right. Wools work lacks "can control" but I still love the grittiness of the work.

Definition: "Can control" is the ability to handle a can of spray paint. It's skill level is reflected in a line that flows smoothly without drips. An indicator of style similar to a painters brush stroke.

2008-01-06T06:49:00.000-08:00

Sedgwick, 2007 Latex and spray paint on canvas.

Originally the first group of spray paintings that I made consisted of randomly chosen words which I would spray then cover over. All were on 24 x 24 wood panels. I figured out the process but I wasn't completely happy just using random words. I destroyed all the pieces with the exception of "One". Sedgwick is the first painting after "One" to use a specific title that connects the physical process of making the work with the conceptual layering I was looking for. Taking it further than just a process for making abstract paintings or recreating urban facades. Sedgwick is the name of a street in the Bronx. The site where the flame of hip hop was ingnited.

2008-01-06T06:25:00.000-08:00

Herc, 2007 Latex, spray paint, and tar on wood.

Herc rising over the asphalt ground. If no one knows who Herc is, just like in the movie The Matrix...."he's the one". DJ Kool Herc laid out the foundation for hip hop music by extending the "break" of a record.

2008-01-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

"And they made sense of it all. In some way it was about recycling....you can almost suggest it was ecological in some sense. They were making music out of all this old no one cares rubish that had long gone. Disposable pop music."

Malcolm Mclaren
(Buffalo Gals, Back to Skool)

2008-01-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

Magic, RIP (1970-1999) By Enuf, Smurfy, Nems.

Spent the New Year at my folks place in Queens. The nostalgic bug got me so I decided to go check out a mural dedicated to a friend of mine that passed away some years back. Magic (Miguel X. John) was such a great person. He was loved by everyone that knew him. We had such great times back in the day. I happen to run into him about a month before he died. Even though I hadn't seen him in about 10 years, our conversation felt as if time had not passed at all. I have fond memories of our days tagging, break dancing, drinking, and hanging out. I sorely miss knowing that he is no longer around. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to cross paths on the road of life with this man. RIP Magic, you will always be remembered.

2007-12-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

One, 2007
Latex and spray paint on wood.

This is the first of a series of paintings that incorporate "tagging" as a process element in the overall creation of the work.

2007-12-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

Detail View:

Looking for the Perfect Beat, 2006
300 stacked record album covers.

2007-12-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Looking for the Perfect Beat, 2006
300 stacked record albums.

I managed to find all these records from one "Good Will" thrift store in upstate NY. It seems a lot harder to do so in the city and more expensive. The top album "Looking for the Perfect Beat" by Africa Bambaataa was ordered on line.

2007-12-14T09:53:00.000-08:00

Actual image of Tinted Portrait II, 2003

This is an example of what an actual image looks like before it's put into a limousine tinted glass frame. Finished piece below.

2007-12-11T18:34:00.000-08:00

Detail View:

Tinted Portrait II, 2005
Color ink jet print, limousine tinted glass, chrome frame.

The tinted glass and chrome frame reference chrome rims and the tinting of car windows on tricked out cars. The tinting of windows is often used as a way to conceal yourself as is what one wears. A necessary tactic often used in urban communities.

2007-12-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

Tinted Portraits I, II, IV, 2005
Color ink jet prints, limousine tinted glass, chrome frames.

These pieces were exhibited in a show at the Longwood Art Gallery in the Bronx back in 2005. The exhibition was called "The DL: The Down Low in Contemporary Art" curated by Edwin Ramoran. Much of the work on view dealt with issues of identity politics as does this particular body of work.

2007-12-11T09:32:00.000-08:00

Art In America (Eighteen), 2005
Mixed Media Collage

This is another piece from that show. I cut out the Mass Appeal heading and shadow of the gun to explose the Art In America cover. The background image is a detail of Andrea Mantegna's "Agony in the Garden" c.1459. I added glitter to the white surface of the collage to give it a little bling.

2007-11-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

Art In America (Gangta's Paradise), 2005
Mixed media collage.

This collage is one of six in a series of collages title "Art In America". They were made for a exhibition titled "Funky Cold Medina" at a gallery space in the Lower East Side. Around the time that I made this work, I was seeing lots of collage work by artists in Chelsea galleries. One show that I remember was called, "Le Cabinet des Collages" at D'Amelio Terras, that included work by Christian Holstad and Martha Rosler. This show influenced me to make this series. Combining magazine covers from magazines that I often read such as Art In America, Mass Appeal, and The Source. Mixing the subject matter on the covers to create juxtapositions that spoke of very specific issues within urban culture.