Travel Muse

WHY I LOVE FRENCH STREET ARTIST JEF AEROSOL

Jef Aerosol is the pseudonym for Jean-Francois Perroy, the iconic French  stencil artist who pioneered street art in the early 80s with others such as MissTic, Jerome Mesnager, Speedy Graphito, and Blek Le Rat. I shot these in Paris, but you can find Jef’s work throughout Europe and Asia and he’s exhibited worldwide.You can tell that Jef Aerosol is a musician from the movement, the rhythm in his work.  He has recorded and toured with several bands.Like other great artists, his style is so distinctive, you can spot a Jef Aerosol immediately.And, if you’re ever in doubt, look for the red arrows that act as sort of a second signature.

Jef Aerosol is 56, lives and works in Lille, France.  Three decades of getting his vision up on the walls, he has cut and sprayed stunning portraits of his heroes, himself, and those he shares the world with. What I love about Jef Aerosol is that he finds his voice whether he’s painting Jay Z or Gandhi or an ordinary person he sees on the street. Jef Aerosol is evocative, original and eclectic.And you never know when he’s going to come into your life.  So…

Street Art, LA, May 2013

You can find most of these off Melrose.

Near Beverly and Poinsettia

Where to Find Street Art in Los Angeles - part 2

Bankrupt Slut near Blick Art Store

Icy and SotStrate, near Melrose and Fuller

Strate:  closerZombie

 Jazz, Beverly Blvd. and FormosaBoss Chief

Snyder, near Stanley and MelroseZombie

Destroy All DesignTo Be DeterminedDog Byte, near Spaulding Ave.and Melrose Ave.Free Humanity, near Beverly Blvd. and FormosaSerial Killer, off Melrose

Alec, Melrose Ave. and Curson Probik, off Melrose Ave.Wierdo, off Melrose

If you want a super guide to street art in Los Angeles, call Devin Wood at 323 369-5994.  He can show you where all of the above are located and tell you a lot about the artists.  Best street art tour in L.A.

STANLEY KUBRICK AT LACMA

If you’re in Los Angeles or planning to be, don’t miss the exhibition on director Stanley Kubrick at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  It’s there until June 30, 2013.  Typewriter prop from “The Shining”.  And more from the same film:

Rejected ad for “The Shining”

Taken from the LACMA website: “Stanley Kubrick was known for exerting complete artistic control over his projects; in doing so, he reconceived the genres in which he worked. The exhibition covers the breadth of Kubrick’s practice, beginning with his early photographs for Look magazine, taken in the 1940s, and continuing with his groundbreaking directorial achievements of the 1950s through the 1990s. His films are represented through a selection of annotated scripts, production photography, lenses and cameras, set models, costumes, and props.”

“Clockwork Orange” production still, Kubrick on the left

Malcolm McDowell, “Clockwork Orange”Kubrick’s notes in “Dr. Strangelove” script“Dr. Strangelove” “Dr. Strangelove” propsMovie poster for “Lolita”Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas in “Spartacus”Kirk Douglas (right) in “Paths of Glory”Stanley Kubrick directing “Paths of Glory”Movie poster for “Full Metal Jacket”Model for set, “2001 A Space Odyssey”“2001 A Space Odyssey” “2001 A Space Odyssey” slateMonolith from “2001 A Space Odyssey”“AI” storyboards  (Artificial Intelligence)

Ryan O’Neal in “Barry Lyndon”

Costume from “Barry Lyndon”Masks from “Eyes Wide Shut” Movie poster for “The Killing”Costume sketch for “Napoleon”, a film that didn’t get made.  Yeah, it even happened to Kubrick. But come and appreciate this comprehensive body of work that defines what it means to be an artist extraordinaire.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

5905 Wilshire Blvd.   Los Angeles, CA 90036

LACMA is open every day except Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

• Monday                 11 am–5 pm
• Tuesday                11 am–5 pm
• Wednesday           Closed
• Thursday               11 am–5 pm
• Friday                    11 am–8 pm
• Saturday                10 am–7 pm
• Sunday                  10 am–7 pm

FINDING STREET ART IN LOS ANGELES: LOOK DOWN

All are on the sidewalks along Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles.  For a street art tour, call Devin Wood at 323 369-5994 — he was a great help to me. 

Where to Find Street Art in L.A. - May 12, 2013

The best way to find street art in L.A. is to have street artist Devin Wood give you a tour.  Contact him at 323 369-5994 or at BOKONON2011@ yahoo.com.  Not only can he show you where it is, he can tell you how it’s made and the name of the artist or crew who did it. Mr. Brainwash (Thierry Guetta) 1251 S. La Brea, L.A.  on the Spa Paradise building.

Next door to it is Mr. Brainwash’s studio: (says Printing-Graphics)

A Banksy with a little girl watering a telephone pole is ironically placed at the entrance to a car wash.

See Banksy at Josh’s Express Wash 307 N. La Brea, LA.  Heard this has been up since 2010; glad it’s protected because it is really worth a look. 

Random Act in the alley opposite the Shepard Fairey “High Time” garage at La Brea and Second, LA

On the garage in the alley to the left, don’t miss the Shepard Fairey on the wall.  See Andre the Giant’s face in the center star.

High Time side wall.  Shepard Fairey’s design delivers.  This work was done as a commission.  

Also in the alley opposite the garage next to Random Act are the following:

Bob Marley by Jules Muck.

Septerhead

Desire, Obtain, Cherish (aka Jonathan Paul)  So nice to see a street artist who has earned such commercial success still up in the street and not just in galleries.  This piece has a 3D element as the top half of the rabbi is about 1” thick.  Presents a departure from Jonathan Paul’s naked women encased in candy wrappers, giant resin Blow-Pops and designer drugs sculptures.  Love it.

DB

Icy and Sot have this up at 645 Martel (at Melrose) in LA:

And on the building to the right of Icy and Sot, same address, is JR:(If it’s easier to find off Melrose, it’s on the side wall of London Boots that is at 7400 Melrose, LA.)

Above Kearns Market located at 7300 Melrose Ave., see “Stay Rising” by Devin.

Devin on Melrose, LA

Annie above LA Confidential at 7263 Melrose Ave., LAMear One(Kalen Ockerman) and CBS (Can’t Be Stopped) Crew in the alley parallel to Melrose, south of Melrose not far from 7263 Melrose, LA)

Street art is a reflection of passion, often created at risk, and subject to vanish at any moment.  Don’t miss these.