Search results for - newest show first

Interview with Miami artist David 'LEBO' Le Batard

Posted | Views: 13,863
FAST CHAT WITH 
LEBO
We catch up with Miami bred artist David Le Batard aka LEBO. Starting out as a muralist to then expanding his hand over to paintings and commerical work. He isn't afraid to try something new and sharing it with all walks of life. 


I first noticed your work in the form of murals around the city of Miami years ago. How do you feel about all the murals in the city? 

I'm definitely proud of the fact that a large part of my career started out doing murals in public spaces. It's a forum as old as civilization itself and a truly democratic way to exhibit art. I'm also glad I get to cross to the other side of the spectrum and sell my work at a fine art level as well as occupy to spaces in between the two. In regards to Miami now and the explosion of murals, I think it's a good thing. Public expression in all it's forms is a mark of free society and we're blessed to live in one. I do think it's interesting how the term used now is "Street artist" and "Street art". To me it's still being a "muralist" and when we do it we create a "mural".  


What are some things you are working on now? 

Right now I'm working on my partnership with Norwegian Cruise lines. i just designed their newest ship, The Getaway, that will be sailing from Miami in early 2014. There's a lot of components to the deal and it's been great partnering up with them. Aside from the other elements with Norwegian, I've signed up with Park West, a very
 established company that does a lot of work on ships around the world. We just signed a deal together a few months ago and they're selling my work as fast as i can produce it and have double the value of my work. I'm currently producing about 100 paintings for our partnership to be auctioned off in the next couple months. Beyond that i'm taking care of my own private commission work as well as an apparel line for Harley Davidson. Mural work for Redbull along with some charity work.

If you could describe your work as a food by its smell, texture and taste...what would that food be? 

Well i've been eating mostly raw fruits and vegetables for a while along with a lot of Indian food so that's where my head is at these days. I guess I'd hope that my work would have all the raw, juicy, natural goodness of raw fruits and vegetables and all the flavor and soulfulness of great Indian vegetarian dishes. I'd also hope that my work was kind to all animals, human and non-human alike. 

Where are your favorite places to go in the world? 

I just came from Amsterdam, Stockholm and Copenhagen. That part of the world is civilized in the best way imaginable. I could definitely live in Amsterdam. Last summer i was in Spain and did El Camino de Santiago and spent some time in Barcelona. Could live there too. British Columbia has really gotten my attention and I'd love to get a second residents there and i love the states. Oregon, New Orleans, New York. Miami are all amazing places.

You work a lot with brands. How did that happen? Was it planned that way? 

It was my goal since i started running my own studio that i would work with brands. Growing up I was influenced by a lot of commercial work as well as branding. It never occurred to me that good commercial art and good fine art were any different. Further more great commercial art inspires me way more than crappy fine art. To me it's all in the approach and how well executed the work is. Working with brands was just a way





































 

"I'm very grateful and plan on applying the same energy and staying very grounded. The opportunities available to me at this point are beyond anything i ever hoped for."

(Continues below quote) 
"Le Batard has been commissioned to paint the signature hull artwork of Norwegian Getaway, coming in January 2014."
                                                               - USA Today 
 to bi-pass galleries. My thought was, why should i have a gallery speak for me when i can speak for myself and why should i sell my work through galleries when I can build my own client list by approaching brands. Thankfully it worked. i gotta say i much prefer sitting down to dinner with the CEO of a big company to going to an art opening. It's funny that this far into my career i'm represented by an art house but that deal worked out the same way. I met with the owner of the company and we worked out a deal. pure and simple. The best way.




Lowest point in your art career was when? 

The first 8-10 years were tough. It was hard to make enough money to support myself and I had to learn how to be a professional artist and run a business at the same time. Thankfully my family supported me in a lot of ways. Without that support I wouldn't have been able to make it. The last 8 years have really paid off and in particular the last 2 years have gone through the roof. I'm very grateful and plan on applying the same energy and staying very grounded. The opportunities available to me at this point are beyond anything i ever hoped for.


Hightest point in your art career was when? 

Designing The Getaway for Norwegian Cruise lines has been the latest career highlight. It's literally a billion dollar ship and my brand is painted right along the Norwegian one on the side of the ship which will have 1000 running feet of art that I designed running along side of it. I feel like I should come out with a hip hop album so I can take my picture with the ship behind me. How much cooler is that than a gold Bentley? Honestly though this chapter, although it's just getting started, has been a huge blessing and I'm looking forward to see what the future brings.


Learn more about LEBO here: 
LEBO


Can We Please Change Gears? - An Artist Cry for Transition

Posted | Views: 6,607

 

 

 

 

The group show featured works by striving local artists, who aim to make an impact on the local and international art conversation. Each artist differs in practice, however, all are up and coming Miami-based artists and present a glimpse into the future of the Miami art scene.

 

Artists like Atomik, Kazilla, Jeff Dekal, Kat King, Ivette Cabrera, Natalia Molina, Chris Valdes, Deming King Harriman and Buddha Funk presented a variety of work focusing on future, a new discourse on Miami and artistic transition. The exhibit featured painting, installation, illustration, video, collage, graffiti and performances by Xela Zaid, Kendall Morgan and newSense from ArtOfficial. 

 

The works collectively explored the trajectory of Miami’s art scene while each piece individually represented a very personal examination of future perspectives and career visions by each artist.

 

Focused around a theme of innovation first time curator Tesoro Carolina produced an exciting exhibition inspired by the participating young and driven artists as well as by the community-centric concept of multi-artist studio Viophilia.

 


 

 

 

Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.


Opening Reception of "I-95 South" at the Art Center

Posted | Views: 6,399
Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.
Johnny Laderer - When the Ripe Fruit Demands Attention, 2013
Johnny Laderer
Evan Robarts - Stuck, 2013
Evan Robarts - Student Body, 2013
Dean Levin - Untitled 2013
Carol Jazzar and Natalie Merola
Molly Cecile Surazhsky and Daniel Tavarez
Luis Pinto - To Send Someone Off, 2013
Gustavo Oviedo - Coladas, 2011
Gustavo Oviedo
Gustavo Oviedo - Periodic Table, 2011
Natalie Merola at the Opening Reception
Dean Levin - Untitled, 2013
Luis Pinto - The Lack of Audible Sound, 2013
Tyler Healy -  Red 1-5, 2013
Luis Pinto - Everything that Exists, 2013


Prayer

Posted | Views: 2,030
"The freshness of my eyes is given to me in prayer."
Attributed to the Prophet Muhammad
Via Gratefulness.org


Look Into Your Heart

Posted | Views: 2,051
"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
Carl Gustav Jung
Via Gratefulness.org


manhood project

Posted | Views: 750
In My Own Words
These are the principles that were instilled in me, not by my father per se because he wasn't in my life, but by people who, throughout my life, were brought to me to instill something more inside of me.  So through all of that I've learned the main function of a man is not to feel as if you have to be perfect, but you do have be present in somebody's life.  And so I look to teach that.
Hello.  My name is Phil Black.  I'm from Highland Park, Michigan.  Graduated from Highland Park High School back in 1995. 
My story is pretty colorful and as a matter of fact I have a lot of different stories that have shaped my life.  One very significant, back in 1997 in fact September 27th 1997, I was shot in the face at point blank range.  And that experience really redirected my life.  It helped me to reevaluate what I wanted to do.  

So what I do now is, I look to work with young men between the ages of 11 to 18.  I have a program called the Manhood Project where I look to teach them the principles of manhood that I've identified that have helped me.  Which are to learn how to love, learn how to respect, be courageous, provide for your family and for your community and to protect all of the above.  


Post title...

Posted | Views: 774


The Miami Foundation "Our Miami" Public Space Challenge Launch

Posted | Views: 4,296
Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.

More than 400 young professionals, local change-agents and engaged Miamians filled The Stage Miami for The Miami Foundation’s Our Miami Project Launch.  The kickoff event, held on Wednesday, July 31, introduced two new projects: the Public Space Challenge and Match305, a talent retention project. Both programs are part of the foundation’s Our Miami initiative, which fosters community by building attachment to the city, developing public spaces and retaining young talent in Miami.

Our Miami uses research from the foundation’s Our Miami: Soul of the City study that clearly shows attracting and retaining young, talented and creative people in Greater Miami will grow the economy faster than other, more traditional measures of economic development.

“Looking around the room at all of this young talent, I can’t help but feel optimistic about Miami’s future,” said foundation President and CEO Javier Alberto Soto during his remarks. “We are not a place where you have to find your niche within a sprawling, established city.  Planting your roots in Miami gives you a chance to shape this young, dynamic community.  Our role on the global stage depends on your vision and your contributions to our growth.”

The Miami Foundation developed the Public Space Challenge to uncover the best ideas for creating and improving local public spaces: parks, libraries, public buildings, markets, plazas, playgrounds or any place where people can convene and connect. Anyone can submit ideas. Community experts and professional placemakers will identify the top ideas; The Miami Foundation will invest $100,000 to make the ideas become reality. The Health Foundation of South Florida joined the challenge, adding an additional $20,000 to fund public space ideas focused on nutritious food access and physical activity.

The Miami Foundation also launched Match305, a talent retention project and Web survey. The online tool measures an individual’s “attachment” to Greater Miami and provides suggestions about how to become more engaged where they live.  Results will be made available to community stakeholders to help guide talent retention efforts. The tool is based on research from a Georgetown University study and has been instrumental in reducing year-over-year employee turnover at Fortune 50 companies.  Florida International University signed on as a partner in the project, investing $10,000 with Match305 to aid their ongoing local graduate retention work.

The Public Space Challenge will accept ideas through September 19.  Anyone in Miami-Dade County can submit a challenge idea or participate in Match305 by visiting ourmiami.org.

About The Miami Foundation:  Established in 1967, The Miami Foundation has helped hundreds of people create powerful legacies by establishing custom, charitable Funds. More than $150 million in grants and scholarships has been awarded in the Foundation’s history. Today, the Foundation stewards more than $160 million in charitable assets.  Through its Our Miami initiative, the Foundation positions Miami as a premier place for young talent to live, work, connect and engage. Visit miamifoundation.org and ourmiami.org for more information.



DIANA CONTRERAS

Posted | Views: 6,641
Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.

Where are you from?

 

I grew up in Miami but I was born in Chiclayo, Peru.

DIANA CONTRERAS

What do you love most about Miami?

 

I love the weather. I like the tropical weather and the beaches. I like the Latin culture. It is different from the rest of the United States.

How much of your Peruvian heritage and culture do you see in your art?

 

I think a lot of the colors. Especially pink. When you go to Peru, like Machu Picchu and the mountains, you see a lot of the patterns and the clothing the native people wear is hot pink and neon green.

Do you travel to Peru regularly?

 

I go visit my family but I have never gone to the tourist places so I am going to go next year.

Where else do you want to travel to next?

 

I have not been to Asia. I want to travel to Japan and China. I want to go all over the world, little by little.

How long have you been painting?

 

I have been painting since I was in elementary school

How would you describe your style of art?

 

My art has always been feminine. I like a little bit of fantasy and whimsical details. Frida Kahlo inspired my work. I love how she is able to express emotions. I think my work is very feminine and it touches people’s emotions. I can express emotion very well. I also love fashion. Patterns and clothing and trends inspire my work, too.

Who are your favorite designers?

 

Betsy Johnson is my favorite. I also like Stella McCartney, Michael Kors and Gwen Stefani.

You started out with gallery work and you have recently done street murals as well. When did you start with the murals?

 

About a year and a half ago. I have a lot of friends that do graffiti. They pushed me to do art on a wall. The first time I did it was at Cushy Gigs. I did a character there. Inside there are a lot of amazing artists, all women artists like Tatiana Suarez. I am very proud this was my first time I did a character. I like that street art brings happiness to the community. That is how I started loving it. I like to give my art to charities and do things that help others.

Are the women in your paintings and murals based on real people or do they spring from imagination?

 

I think people. I watch people, sometimes my friends. Unconsciously I draw them or myself. When I draw realistically I use my friends as references or people that I like in magazines.

If you could paint any wall or any building in the world, which would you choose?

 

I like La Familia Sagrada in Barcelona, Spain. Antoni Gaudi‘s architecture is just beautiful. It is art. It is like Alice in Wonderland. It is so magical.

You previously mentioned you express emotion in your art. Do your paintings and murals reflect your emotion at the time of painting or the imagined emotion of the character?

 

(laughs) It is usually about me and how I feel. It comes out in my art. It is very hard to hide it. It comes out without me thinking. Sometimes, if it is for a client, if I am feeling mad or sad, I have to make sure that it doesn’t look like that even though that’s how I feel. I adjust it for a client but when it’s for myself I just let it flow.

We have to talk about one of your latest murals, “Queen Isabella.” Tell us a bit more about it please

 

The story of Queen Isabella is that when Christopher Columbus was coming to America he came to the King to ask for funds for the trip and she was going to pawn her jewels. That is where the story of the pawn show and Isabella came together. The mural is half finished. They want me to do the whole building so I will add more to the story. In the mural Queen Isabella wants to finance her dreams cause when you go to the pawn shop you can trade something for funds to pay for education or travel or business. Out of her hands jewels will come out and maybe images of dreams and the ship of Christopher Columbus. It will go all around the building.

Have you done any murals outside of Miami?

 

I did a little mural in New York. I wanted to do another one this summer but I was too busy and I am a teacher so I have to start work in two weeks. Usually, in the summer, I love to travel. I want to travel and paint in California and New York and Puerto Rico.

How tall is the Queen?

 

40 ft

How important and inspiring is the traveling?

 

I love to travel. I love culture and people. I went to India two years ago. All the colors and the people were so beautiful. I went to school in Italy. All of that really influenced me.

What direction do you want to take with your art? Are you planning to experiment with another medium?

 

I definitely want to do installation. I am working on an idea with movies and mural making. Film and installation.

In the current group exhibition ay Wyn317 you included paintings inspired by “My little Pony.” Are those paintings based on childhood memories?

 

Yes that is something that I loved growing up in the 80s. I love “My Little Pony.” It was just something fun I wanted to try. I did a collection of ponies before for a pop art show. I also did ponies in a mural in the Bird Road Art District. It is fun. Two giant “My little Ponies.”

Do you have a fascination with horses in general?

 

Not really. “My Little Pony” is just cute. I have ridden horses but they can be a little bit scary. When I went to India I wanted to ride everything because they have a lot of animals. I rode a donkey and I rode elephants and I rode a camel. Camels are very tall and it is very wobbly. I liked the elephants the best.

Do you have any upcoming exhibitions?

 

I have one in Pembroke Pines called “About Face” curated by Jill Slaughter in October. Barbara M De Varona is going to be there, too. It is a group show and it is all about portraits.



Non Violence

Posted | Views: 2,184
"I know that in embarking on non-violence I shall be running what might be termed a mad risk. But the victories of truth have never been won without risks."
Mahatma Gandhi
Via Gratefulness.org


inSPIRE - Acoustic Explorations in Composition

Posted | Views: 1,125
"Distance Music is a combination of art, science, and community. The audience experiences musicians performing live from surprising and varied locations, chosen scientifically, yet creatively to fuse together and create an uplifting aural experience. It is a gift to the people of a city, heard on its outdoor streets." - Keith Lay


This article was edited and posted by me for Designing Sound, where I serve as one of the contributing editors.

Posted | Views: 1,046

"Earlier this year, Quartic Llama was approached by the National Theatre of Scotland to make a game as part of a city-wide trans-media project called other, supporting the theatrical debut of “Let The Right One In”- a contemporary vampire story." - Tom demajo, Co-founder of quartic llama

"Alternative Reality Sound: Acoustic Remodeling of a City"
by Tom deMajo of Quartic Llama

"In other, the game world is the real world, and the player’s expectations are linked to their experiences in it." -Tom deMajo



WYN317

Posted | Views: 4,133
Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.


A Day in Wynwood in July 2013

Posted | Views: 5,897
Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.


An Interview with Luis Berros

Posted | Views: 6,456
Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.

What do you love most about Miami?

 

I love everything about Miami. The sunshine, the people, my friends. I am semi-native but I consider myself a full native. I have been here since I was five years old. This is the only home I know.

You started as a graffiti artist. What was the graffiti scene in Miami like growing up?

 

It was fun for me but it was different from what I see today. Today I see a lot of friendly atmosphere where crews co-exist. In my era that did not happen. Wynwood was our neighborhood. I was a part of the VO5 Crew, best crew in Miami history. Everything we did was trendsetting, cutting edge. We were ahead of the curve by all means. Still to this day it is still a legendary crew. As far as the scene, there were a lot of gangs back then and it was a little violent. We did fight, we did throw down if you went over our tag or came into our neighborhood. It was fun but I guess that environment, for a young man growing up, with all the hormones and the issues that we had at 16, 17, 18, it was just great and we loved it. Now I look back on it at 42 years old and married with two kids of my own and I am kind of happy it was taken a turn to where it is now. It is more about respecting art and other artists and working together, coming up with ideas together. It has changed most definitely a lot and for the better.

You said VO5 is legendary and was always ahead of the curve. Tell us a bit about what you did then that stood out to this day.

 

Our productions were very large productions and they were all done in one night. These days graffiti artists have the luxury of mostly doing a lot of work with permission which, I guess, is nice. The quality of the work is still there and it is beautiful work but I do not see the challenges that were presented to us as kids. We worked by street light or by no light and we had eight hours of nighttime to produce our work. Coming back was a risky option which we did not enjoy taking advantage of so we tried to do our pieces all in one night. As far as cutting edge, we came up with different techniques and different looks. They were not cookie cutter bubble letters or whatever everybody else was doing. You could spot a VO5 piece and know that was the VO5 crew that created that production.

When did you transition from street art to gallery work?

 

20 years after I used to paint on walls I found myself living in a bad economy, came to Wynwood for an art walk, saw what was in the galleries and I told myself as well as my family that I could do this. I had their full support and today I am an artist, going three years strong, loving every minute of it, wish I would have started earlier. I am here now and I am planning on making a mark.

You often paint Popeye. What do you like about that character?

 

Popeye is more of a nostalgic childhood thing. As a kid, believe it or not, I could never draw that guy. It was one of my challenges. Now that I am older and more years have gone by, I guess, I am more observing, I think I kind of nailed this guy. I would love to reach out to Warner Brothers and see if I could start doing him under contract but for now I am just happy to do him and do him well.

You also used another iconic image, of the Coppertone Girl. Why?

 

That whole series of paintings started by me thinking of something interesting and I thought “What could be more interesting than my childhood?” As a kid I was very much always in trouble at school and I would spend many long days driving around with my dad. He would have to take me to work with him. He was a road sales man. I saw all these images on a daily basis and I remembered the Coppertone Girl and I thought it was a fascinating little figure. That was basically the reason behind me painting her.

What inspires you besides your childhood?

 

The things that are around me. Things that I see and things that are part of everyday experiences. I bring that into my work.

You have a distinct style. When did you develop that style?

 

That style is still in the developing stages. If you look at my earlier work, there is always hints of what used to be and hints on what it is going to be. It is very hard to see my fingerprint if it were not for the texture in my work. My style basically is what I feel at the moment and where the work is taking me. There comes a point in the work where I tell myself to put it done and be done.

If you could own any work of art. What would you choose?

 

There are so many. That’s a funny questions because I do not have any of my work hanging in my house.

Why not?

 

I do not know. I am not really into that vibe. As far as other artists’ work, I have a small print of a Vincent Van Gogh and a have a print from Ricky Mastrapa.

Back to the questions. If you could own any work of art what would you choose?

 

If I could own anything I guess it would be Rembrandt’s “Girl with the Broom.” I connect with something about the look of that piece. In that era it was juts a little peasant girl and to see the emotion that he grabs in her face. There are so many angles to that painting you could sit there for hours and always find something interesting about it.

Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.

Where do you see yourself going next with your art?

I am thinking of going back more to my abstract world inside my head. With some of the figures making an appearance now and then. I really would like to go even larger than my work now. I am a bit limited by the space I have to work in. I would love to go way larger. I come from a background of walls and to be working on something so small makes you feel confined. I just want to go crazy and blow something up.



The Go! Shop presents: A STRANGEWAYS Group Show

Posted | Views: 5,658
Add some text, Yo! Click this text box to change the text, style, color and fonts.


Love All, Serve All

Posted | Views: 1,980
Death can come at any minute, in any way. We do not know what is in store tomorrow, or, whether there is a tomorrow, or even a tonight! But still, we have the golden present. Now we are alive and kicking. What should we do now? Love all, serve all.
Sri Swami Satchidananda
Via Gratefulness.org


Truth

Posted | Views: 2,083
"TRUTH IS THE OPPOSITE OF ILLUSION BECAUSE IT OFFERS JOY," A Thought from A Course in Miracles, Foundation for Inner Peace


Speech

Posted | Views: 2,170
"Speech is the incarnation of intelligence, and silence is the resurrection of speech."
Pir Zia Inayat Khan

Via Gratefulness.org