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City
Folk
The Recent Works of Four NYC Artists
Team, Bilrock, Whisper, Kr.One
Opening Reception-Saturday
June 14th 6pm-10pm
June 1, 2008 through
June 30, 2008 |
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Whisper
What's in a name?
If your name is Chippy Love a/k/a Hesher a/k/a Whisper, the answer
is, lifetime of passionate creativity.
Whisper has worn many hats: television personality, recording artist
and, of course, painter.
A natural in front of the camera (you may recognize him both as
the host of MTV's top-rated reality show ''I Bet You Will'' and
as an MTV-2 VJ) ,Whisper is equally at home with a microphone or
a spray can in hand.
WHISPER NYC Born and Raised!
Like many a latchkey kid he started hanging around the neighborhood,
exploring the streets, riding the subways, causing trouble and |taggin'
up.
In 1984 WHISPER (without a high school diploma) weaseled his way
into the School of Visual Arts but grew bored and left after two
semesters to attend the Art Students League. All the while he was
taking courses in reality from his true University, the sidewalks
of Gotham. WHISPER would walk the streets, carrying slides of his
work, stopping at random galleries, trying to get an art show.
When Downtown Beirut, a seedy bar on the Lower East Side, showed
some interest, WHISPER™S first exhibit happened!
A group show, it featured work from the emerging "neo-expressionist"
movement that developed on the Lower East Side in the 1980s. It
was there that WHISPER met someone who was interested in his paintings
”the owner of the East Village Gallery. He liked what he saw
and shortly thereafter WHISPER™S paintings were installed
as part of a group show, many of them being sold before the formal
opening.
The East Village Gallery became WHISPER™S home and during
its three-year run in the mid-80s, his work was shown alongside
artists such as Mark Kostabi, Ivan Jenson and Victor Matthews (with
whom WHISPER later apprenticed).
WHISPER™s art has been on display in various group shows in
and around New York City.
WHISPER™S love of underground art on the side of a subway
car, in a comic book or hanging on a museum wall helped develop
his vibrant style. His surrealist visual vocabulary, psychedelic
environments and bold color choices complement a cast of humorous
characters as he tips his creative hat to artists such as GHOST,
Peter Max, FUTURA 2000, R. Crumb, Ralph Steadman, Gilbert Shelton,
TEAM, Vaughn Bode, and KR.ONE. WHISPER’s self-described
happy abstract accidents turn his work into a wild road map for
the senses.
Let the music do the
talkin'
In 1987 WHISPER made the big move into the city, sharing a place
with Doctor Know, guitarist of the legendary band Bad Brains. This
began both a long friendship and a creative musical association
with the group, and a new phase artistically for WHISPER.
He has been making and performing music for years. As co-founder
and singer/songwriter for the band Roguish Armament, he had the
privilege of being the opening act at Woodstock 1994. Roguish Armament
garnered widespread acclaim for their originality and went on to
cut a well-received album and tour the world with the Bad Brains.
I
write the songs
WHISPER quickly followed up on this success with a side project
he called The Shining Path and released a record that was an underground
smash. That success led Warner Bros. Records to sign a deal
with his next musical project: HESHER.
In 2007 WHISPER began working on his next project called ECHO SUMMIT.
But even as his recording and performing career took off, WHISPER
never stopped painting the town red.
Or pink.
Or blue.
While continuing his work as a scenic artist for stage, print and
film and creating logos as a graphic artist, WHISPER has had his
work featured in best-selling video games,GRAND THEFT AUTO/VICE
CITY. His clients have included BAD BOY, MTV, Warner Brothers, and
HBO and his work has also been featured in such publications as
Fader, SPIN, FHM, Mass Appeal, Interview, NY POST and Real Simple.
2007 saw WHISPER starring in his own surreal sitcom pilot called
''Enough About Me,'' which chronicles his ''reel life'' adventures
and features both his art work and music.
In 2008 the independent feature film MEDIUM HOT™ will premiere
in NYC with WHISPER as co-star.
* * *
Chippy ,Whisper , Hesher has constantly reinvented himself, channeling
his creativity, always expressing his passion for the arts in a
wide range of media.
His use of humor and freestyle approach reflect the times, past,
present and future.
www.myspace/heshersworld.com, www.myspace/hesher.com www.myspace/echosummitmusic.com,
www.myspace/enoughaboutmetvshow.com
KR.ONE
Louie aka KR.ONE, Gasparro is a self taught natural artist. His
inspirations and earliest influences range from Saturday morning
cartoons, 60's and 70's underground comics,rock album cover and
poster art and of course the rolling art of NYC Subway Graffiti.
Specific influences include: Roger Dean, Rodney Matthews, Vaughn
Bode, Bernie Wrightson, Alex Nino, Josh Kirby, Syd Mead, Frank Frazetta,
Dan Merriam,
DON 1, TRACY 168, ROTO, SON1, PRO1, and KEL139.
Born in Manhattan, raised in Queens; Louie totally absorbed the
early to mid 70’s graffiti metamorphosis and
in 1977 took the name KROME later changing it to KR.ONE.
New York City'ss MTA subway RR, M, L, J, A, 2 and 5 lines became
the surface choice of this emerging artist's creative expression.
In 1982, Louie put his late night subway excursions on pause to
begin his musical career playing drums and guitars. He has written
music and drummed for such legendary NYC bands, MURPHY's LAW, LORDZ
OF BROOKLYN, BLITZSPEER and his current hard rock / heavy metal
project SUPERVILLAIN; which are about to release their third independent
cd all the while creating original artwork for other up and coming
acts musical acts.
Thirty years and many miles later, this creative fire still burns
bright as Louie continues his graphic, illustrative and graffiti
art paintings with his own design company KOLORSTORM GRAFFICS, creating
cd, dvd packaging, logo design, and clothing.
Louie has taken part in several successful solo and group showings.
To me, graffiti art is the styleized derivative of the alphabetical
system; the enigmatic bending of what were once known as your A,
B, C's| My art has was always about the name the letter form and
the characters's
Art is my life. I move through it, and it through me.
"A spiritual high, an emotional expression"
TO CONTACT AND VIEW MORE KR.ONE ART
KRSTORM@OPTONLINE.NET
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/LOUIEKR
BILROCK
BILROCK 161/Charles William aka Billy Harmon
email: bilrock161rtw@yahoo.com
myspace.com/BILROCK-161(aka.SAGE)
Born in New York City in 1962. and raised on the Upper Westside.
Attended Brandeis HS., Westside HS., City-AS., and John Jay College.
Studied at The School of Visual Arts and The Art Students League.
Currently works as a Legal Investigator for Criminal Defense Attorneys
in both Dutchess County, New York and New York City. Has eleven
years of law enforcement experience working for the City of New
York as a Fraud Investigator, Police Misconduct Investigator, and
a Parks Enforcement Officer. Licensed as a Private Investigator
in New York State. A second generation Graffiti Writer/Artist. Began
writing Billy-82 in 1972. In 1974 began writing the name: SAGEas
a member of the famed graffiti club: The Soul Artists which was
led by neighborhood friend, ALI-105 (aka. Marc Edmonds, J.Walter
Negro). In 1976, founded The Rolling Thunder Writers (RTW) which
went on to become one of the most prolific and famous of all New
Yorks graffiti crews. RTW was known for their colorful, experimental
palette which had definite psychedelic origins. RTW Members included
some of the all-time great graffiti artists such as MIN-ONE, REVOLT,
ZEPHYR, QUIK, CRUNCH, and HAZE. In 1977 began using the Name “BILROCK-161.
By the following year he took RTW from just a Broadway crew (1,
and 3 trains) to all-city status on nearly every line of the NYC
subway system. A friend and contemporary of the artist Jean-Michel
Basquiat, they bombed lower Manhattan together during 1977-78. BILROCK
tagged GRUNT alongside Basquiat's SAMO . By 1982-83 stopped writing
graffiti and concentrated on painting canvas in an abstract, Surrealist-Pop
style. Influenced in this period by the artists, Jay Milder and
Brian Henderson. Both of whom he knew. By 1989 stopped painting
altogether as a result of a growing drug addiction. In late 2005,
after the death of his father jazz musician Charlie Harmon, he underwent
an experimental treatment with the controversial psychedelic Ibogaine.
Ibogaine’s natural healing and anti-addictive
qualities freed him from drug addiction. He began painting again
almost immediately.
1980 Work featured in Charlie Ahearns Times Square Show,
NY. Several canvas done at Sam Esses Studio of which
two are part of the permanent collection.,NY.
1982 Work featured in subway graffiti photographs by Henry
Chalfant at the O.K.Harris Gallery, NY.
1982 Murals done with T.KID-170 for No More Trains organization
at Union
Square Park, and several store front gates in the village, and the
Bronx.
1982 Mural done at The Albatross Restaurant located at Ocean Beach,
Fire Island,
NY.
1982-83 Several murals done for both corporate and private parties |
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