Throughout history artists have lent their creative expression to the ideas and issues that shape life in our communities, our country and our world. The MANIFEST EQUALITY Gallery gathers together a diverse array of hundreds of the nation’s most talented visual artists under one roof to celebrate that role and join with our gay (LGBT) friends, family members and co-workers to demand full and equal rights for all Americans.

The MANIFEST EQUALITY Gallery, issues an inspiring, visual call-to-action, with hundreds of artists motivating public energy toward true reform on a local, state and national level.

MANIFEST EQUALITY will be open to the public, Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 through Sunday, March 7th, 2010 between the hours of 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM with extended hours Friday - Sunday.
 

for more info: www.manifestequality.com
 

Photos by Koshin Finley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by KohshFin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The word is electric. Last night’s premiere opening of Blue Print for Space, the newest gallery addition to the annual Primary Flight mural commissioning in Miami, was like an Oscar showing for urban art.

Upon walking up to Blue Print, we were immediately inundated by familiar faces. Mac, Retna, Revok, Augor, Nick Walker, Reyes, SheKillsHe, and many more were in the house.

Curated by BOOkSIIII, the event featured murals and wall pieces by Bask, Augor, Blackbooks, C215, Chris Stain, D*Face, El Mac, Ron English, Shepard Fairey, Logan Hicks, Retna, Reyes, Revok, SheKillsHe, Jeff Soto, Tes One, Typoe, Zevs, and others.

With an open bar, movin’ beats, and a packed house, it’s safe to say Blue Print was the space to be last night. The exhibit will remain open to the public through January 2nd, 2010 at Art Center, 800 Lincoln Road in Miami.


Crowds lined up outside


The whole crew inside: Mac, Nick Walker, Retna, Augor


Palm tree-lined outdoor area


Don't mess with the boar's head


BOOkSIIII and wife, Cristina


Checkin out the work




Augor wasn't sure which way was up


El Mac and Nick Walker


Mac's piece

Bask's massive Dobra Den


Click Clack, Bang Bang


The Miami humidity was in full effect, inside and out


Tes One and Jeff Soto pieces


Keeping the beats moving



Beats by Dr Dre headphones, customized by Retna and Tes One. Each artist was asked to customize a pair of these sweet headphones to be auctioned off for charity. We tried to get our hands on a pair, but charity is for charity!


Piece by Retna


The artists honored


Typoe's I Would Be Like Jesus



Revok made it out of jail (for the second time in a month) with the help of “a really good lawyer.” Good to see him out and about in Miami.


Hats off!



Shepard Fairey wall seen on our way to the after party...more on that soon.

SOURCE: http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/last-nights-scene-blue-print-for-space

We ran into Mac at Blue Print, the kick off party for Primary Flight in Miami, who tells us in his delightful manner about the mural he and Retna have been preparing to unveil today in the Wynwood neighborhood.

Holding it down

Mac and Jux Web Editor Katie Zuppann

Lucky for us, El Mac proceeded to whip out his camera to show us pictures of how the mural is coming along so far.

From the looks of it, on this piece, the artists maneuver masterfully through the gray scale, stepping in a different direction from the multihued mural they last showed in Salt Lake City.

Mac & Retna's Mural in Salt Lake City: "Ave Maria"

Both artists agreed that they had their work cut out for them today, Mac saying that the mural was only about 15% done while Retna played it safer with an estimated 5%.

From the images of the work in progress alone, it is obvious that this is going to be a special piece that we are very much looking forward to checking out. Not to miss if you are in the Miami area.

SOURCE: http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/mac-n-miami

There Goes The Neigborhood
By Shelley Leopold
LA WEEKLY, June 5-11, 2009 / Vol. 31 / No. 29

If Retna and El Mac were a team that worked in a more corporate environment, Retna would be the type guy, El Mac would be the photographer. But they don't make ads or album covers (yet), and they identify as graffiti artists. Retna is one of L.A.'s most prominent writers (and LA Weekly favorite) that has graced most of our city's billboards and blank walls with stunning Heiroglyphic type-forms and textures, now concentrating on legal spaces. El Mac hails from Phoenix and creates beautiful photo-realistic portraits, at monumental scale, mostly of women. They team up on a regular basis, notably for the towering Buddha murals on the gas station at Marathon and Western and the long-standing "Girl with Headphones" at La Brea and Third.

This new show of work at the recently configured Mid-City Arts space will feature live painting, a large-scale indoor mural installation accompanied by smaller pieces and serves as an homage to the neighborhood, something Retna promises with every work he completes, whether its inside a gallery or out in an alley. "These blocks and corners were where I was given the opportunity to do my art and was shown a lot of support by the community," Retna explains. "Communities like these are where we come from and it feels good to give something back to the future generation of kids doing this."

Word.

Mid City Arts, 5113 W. Pico Blvd., L.A.; Mon-Sun., noon-8 pm; through July 5; reception Sun., June 7, noon-6 pm www.micity-arts.com

RETNA writes about Primary Flight Art Basel:

Just got back from Miami Beach for Primary Flight curated By my friend Lynn, Chris, Books, Logan Hicks and Typo. It was bananas sorry i dont have flicks of everyone elses work but soon enough I will post. These cats know how to show us some love... It grew from its humble beginings last year.... alot of other artist came this year to participate, it was on and crackin... Can I just say I got mad love for the players in MIAMI, they make you feel like you never left the hood... Mad hospitality, Respect and love go out to all the cats from MSG BIG CROME, TCP, and everyone else who resides there..REVOK, REYES, DAME, EWOK, AUGOR, SEVER, NEKST, TACKZ, RISK, KRUSH, HAZEONE, LOGAN HICKS, DAVID CHOE, STORMIE MILLS, KENT PARKER, RON ENGLISH, BLEK LE RAT, OSCAR MAGALLANES, SANTIAGO RUBINO, CHRISTINA, BOOKS and TYPO as well as KAREN DAVANZO, BRANDON COLBURN, SHAKUNTALA, and SPINELLO came through to offer their inspiration and suport as great artist and curators as they are...and a lil help moving the damn scaffol... Our girl YAYA flew in from LA to let the homies post the barracks at her crib...Thank You...

So this ones for you ...

Books got us a wall, that was the hugest wall MAC and I have ever painted... Mac came through like a champ, like a certified boss player.. The image MAC chose resonated with me because I remember being that lil mischevios kid drawing on things i never knew that some of my actions would lead me to heart ache and pain, in the end yes its been worth it... But the story is far from over... with that said heres the poem I wrote for all of you... Cuz we all are in this together and im glad to share this time with you... Be well and blessed ...PARA MI GENTE... FOR MY PEOPLE

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

......THE SEVENTH LETTER.........

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

THE TEXT READS.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Los Bagos de la calle van a suvrivir. lo dia

y mi gente de los barrios del mundo

somos tus hijos

muerte sera

la vida del curiousidad mia

es el viaje de los escritores

Mad society Kings will reunite in the

Afterlife 2 AYER VERSE BENO CHANTELLE

Angels will rise TSL crew Brimstone

esta Es L trabajo de nuestra manos mias

el camino es dura pero puedo ver la luz

al fin de la calle un dia regresera

y lo coremos otra vez arato.

LA AWR MIA MSK....

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

translation

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

the vagrants of the street will survive the days

my people from all the hoods from the world

we are your sons.

death shall be,

the life of my curios mind

is the journey of the writers(scribes)

Mad society Kings will reunite in the

Afterlife 2 AYER VERSE BENO CHANTELLE

Angels will rise TSL crew Brimstone

This is the work of your hands and mine

the road is hard but i can see the light

at the end of the street, one day we will return

and will run it again

Later

LA AWR MIA MSK

SOURCE: http://www.digitalretna.com/blog/2008/12/primary-flight-art-basel-miami-beach-2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These stills just came in of the Dumbo, NY wall painted by Mac, Revok, Saber, and Retna which was recently featured in the movie "What Happens In Vegas" with Cameron Diaz and Ashton Cutcher.

�

photos below by JuiceBox