TOOFLY NYC

It was a blue kind of a day today. Never the less, Ricky and I are gearing up to drop some joints for 2010…

Photo by Ricky Powell © 2009

LA flight confirmed, artwork shipped, flyer complete!!!

FIFTY24 LA presents new works by NYC artist Maria “TOOFLY” Castillo
November 11 through January 4, 2009 // OPENING RECEPTION: November 11, 2009 7-9:30 P.M.
FIFTY24LA Gallery // 125 East 6 St. // Los Angeles, Ca 90014// 415.252.9144
www.upperplayground.com

PRESS RELEASE BELOW:

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Yesterday was a pretty dope day. It was like 60+ degrees out. Perfect weather for the Juxtapoz interview Ricky’s working on for my illy funkster steez;) More details after the jump. If you’ve hanged with Ricky you know it’s a flashback trip down memory lane in his east village neighborhood. I lost track of time after a few blocks, flicks, and a first hand history of what used to be before “development” started carving out the heart of this city. It’s wack what’s happening to NY, but change is inevitable;( Went into the ying’s and yangs of our city hustles and kicked it at PS41 where he used to play ball, and snap on people walking by…lol! That’s the Rickster for ya. Good times, thanks Ricky!!! Looking fwd to the final piece, we’re gonna rock it;)

OH SNAP! time flies when your having fun, the LES troop wasn’t too bad. Luckily we were heading to the same spot to support our hommie Bobbito.  A Pro-Keds release party was in full swing at CSV Cultural Center. Same location where Younity’s FRESHER exhibit was up. I was amped! it was time to party, and catch up with the crew…

Here’s some flicks of the event from our boy MEL from Village Slum. The fellas; Stretch Armstrong, Rich Medina, Bobbito, Crazy Legz, Clark Kent.

Stretch & Bobbito takes me back to the early 90′s when my cousins and I gathered around a little radio dumb late! We would giggle away at Clef’s concutions as they were passed around, and tune in to 89.9FM which he recorded on cassettes! Yeah, it’s been a while now. After we got our cheese doodle munchies on, and the phone lines opened up, Kathy would call in and sweet talk Bobbito like no other! LOL, she just had that voice;) ohhhhh the memories. Happy to see these fellas STAYING TRUE after all these years. Blessed to have met the DJ’s we grew up with who layed out the illest Hip Hop/Rap tracks of our day…Congrats fellas!

Ricky had just received his burgundy Bobbito Pro-Keds that day, he was a happy camper.

I think these are Bobbitos feet? Not sure, but yeo do they make these in size 6?

There was maaaaaad love in the building, especially when we realized Yerba Buena, and Flaco Navaja were performing whooooooo! we went where the wild thing go…the dance floor baby!
( not bad for an i-phone TF pic )

Ran into our hommie Oscar, and MALUKA currently rock’n shows on some merengue acid house shit. Gonna def look out for that, she’s latina, and she’s 2FLY!

Don’t mind me I crop. LOL:)

Official GOOD TIMES!!! We turned that night into the “unofficial closing Younity Fresher party”. If you haven’t heard the Fresher closing jam has officially been cancelled. Yeah, I know…booooo!!! Folks at that CSV Cultural Center straight up hated, and f’d up our master plan. Blame it on Mercury, planet of communication and politricks. You know how it is…some people don’t get what “community” is all about. They sit behind a computer all day, carry a chip on their shoulder, and forget to “do the right thing” Whatever, I forget where people come from sometimes. At the end of the day we know who to build with, and who not to and so we keep it moving. Don’t have time to waste LIFE IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO WANT IT. Lesson of the day; don’t forget where your from or you’ll quickly lose sight of where your going…

Bob Marley; “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold…”

Cookies & Cream team just released their STAY TRUE video Vol1 yesterday. Scrills and Dj Jon Black are down to earth hommies. We met a few years back, when they opened up shop in the LES. They were down from jump to support my steelo and carry some Toofly T’ and Inks Totes. Thanks fellas! I’m happy to see ya grow, and continue to find outlets/media forms to rep peeps…

Clothing & designer toy brand Cookies -n- Cream presents the first volume of a video magazine titled Stay true. Stay True is a video magazine about art, designer toys, music, fashion, culture and more. The DVD features video interviews with people who are staying true to themselves and doing what they love. Regardless of popular opinion or what’s “hot” at the moment, enjoying what you do is one of the most important things in life. Welcome to a world of people who are doing just that. If they can do it, so can you. Stay True.

Volume 1 features interviews with Sket-One, Dave Cortes, Tara McPherson, KaNo, Ali Vegas, Emilio Rojas, Shinobi Ninja, Vincent Yu (My Plastic Heart), Byron Velasquez, Pesu, TOOFLY, Kerri (Goodwood), Jared Deal, Teddy King (King Stampede/Boundless) and Peter Kato (Art Curator).

PURCHASE HERE

DEAR COMMUNITY,

THANK YOU!!!
for your support and contributions to Younity’s third annual FRESHER exhibition. We had an amazing turn out, the event was an eco-success! We hope to continue to build with each of you, and spread our love for urban art, culture, and community.

THE YOUNITY ARTS FRESHER CREW
Photo by Martha Cooper © 2009
Toofly, Alice Mizrachi, Shana Louallen, Diana Mc Clure, Yvette Devito, Samia Grand Pierre, Inks, Little Alex, Jessica, Emilie, Tina, Alison, and our Younity Youth Team; Talia Maridueña, and Jerely Perez

GALLERY HOURS

Wednesday, October 14th
( Shana Louallen at gallery come visit! )
4:30-7:30PM

Friday, October 16th
( Toofly at Gallery Come visit! )
6-10PM

Saturday, October 17th
( Toofly, Yvette Devito, and Stephanie Land at gallery come visit! )
4:30-7:30PM

Wednesday, October 21st
( Shana Louallen at gallery Come visit! )
4:30-7:30PM

Friday, October 23rd
(  AM at gallery last chance to view! 4:30-6pm )
( CLOSING PARTY – CANCELLED )

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Back to the grind!!! Finally catching up on life…I wanted to take this time to post a dope portrait video my hommies Mike Vargas, and Moni Pineda from Friends We Love rocked on my birthday last month. It’s UP! It’s not easy being in front of a camera eeek! but I really dig & appreciate these 120seconds mini series they’ve been working on with some of today’s dope visual artists, poets, entrepenuers, musicians, and dancers. Moments matter, and you gotta make every second count! I am so honored to be your friend guys;) thank youuuuu for letting me share my thoughts, and passion on building…

Friends We Love began with a desire to document the inspiration, motivation and creative process of our talented friends in NYC and around the world. Our Artist Profiles quickly blossomed into four other shows. 120 Seconds soon followed as an open platform to share personal thoughts and passions. Recently, we aligned with the highly reputable Jonathan LeVine Gallery to produce our Off the Wall series featuring interviews with exhibiting, contemporary artists. While En Vivo captures the essence of some of our favorite live shows, eMotion Pictures serves as an experimental lab where we explore and capture moments through visual poetry.

wow guys, words can not describe how DOPE last night was. YOU HAD TO BE THERE!!! Turnout was amazing, the energy, the people, the art, the space OMG, I don’t know where to begin + I’m up way to early posting these pics, I’ve only had a few hours of sleep;( I’m gonna let the flicks do the talking. Sending a special special THANK YOU to all my peoples, friends, supporters, team, family, and everyone who came thru to share this  experience with all of us. STAY FRESH, and SPREAD LOVE…

WOMEN ROCK.

Ken! Thanks for coming, I was so happy to see you w/ the fam;)

2nd fl GALLERY…

Photo by Martha Cooper www.12oprophet.com

Jen One, and Abeni in front of my latest joint! Abeni thanks you for all your hard work on helping document YOUNITY!!!

FROZEN. I needed to re-name it…

ACB, always with us…

Amazing turn out both floors were packed!

peeps! Yvey & Jess thanks for all your help with the art sales!

Rokafella and Marthalicia beautiful souls…

Love it when kids stare at art…wonder what they wonder?

GOODWOODNYC always a hit!

PIECE BY NIZ. B-GIRLZ ASIA1, LADY CHAMP, AND AIKO. Sold to Martha Cooper;)

My sisters piece. INKS >>> handcarved mad work!

Laura Meyers, Sofia Maldonado, Lichiban…

Handmande book + Photos by Stephanie Land

Nani Chacon wood purses…Sold to Marlon;)

Martha Cooper

More flicks of art coming soon…

JAMES TOP, thanks for the interview:)

Shout out to FRESTHETIC who helped sponsor us on the sticker vinyl!;) Thanks Mikey, and Randy!

Oh shit…TONE! OMG can’t wait to see your flicks, your skillz are amazing!!!

I LOVE FLICKS!

Photo by TONE
The lovely DJ ELLE, blessed us with her selection! Got the breakers to boogie…Shout out to DJ Laylo who we missed so much! but helped us lock down the turntables. Thanks kid!

This had to be the icing on the cake. Ya’ll had to be there to experience the energy in the room, it was so gooooooood!

I love breakers…

ROKAFELLA came thru w/ the breakers crew thank yoooooouuuuuuu sweets!!!

What! Jen One doesn’t play…Love her style.

I get so happy to see all of ya!!!

Dopeness…

GOOD TIMES!!!

Shana and Diana, luv you guys!!! Thanks for all your help;)

My mighty suspect brothas…

Shout out to Emilie from Caprise Magazine, and Samia Grand Pierre from Highsnobette for all your help:)

AFTER PARTY TIME!!!  LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…

Jenevieve, Cece, Erin, Lichiban, and Marthalicia wall installation downstairs. THANK YOU! Photo by Martha Cooper

After party at SUTRA NYC who always has our back. See ya at the FRESHER closing party!!! Details coming soon…
BEHIND THE SCENES FLICKS

FRESHER 2009 installation process flicks…

Jenevieve setting it off…

I love this space…

Going w/ cardboard as our main design element. You can find it in almost every street corner, time to RECYCLE!

FRESH!

Cece Carpio, and ErinYoshi conceptualizing…

Cece getting busy on her piece…

Now for floor #2…

Yvey, Kel, and Pen helping us unpack the artwork…

Big space to fill…

My Amanda Lopez tribute flick:)

Shout out to our Younity Youth Talia, and Jerely for helping us out!

and our crew Yvey, Samia, Shana, and D…

Thanks KEL!!!

Having fun yet! LOL…

Shout out to Tristan and his team at THUNDERDOG for sponsoring us with some Fresher logo signage;)

Pammies aka INKS thank you for the lovely birds and carbon footprints!

NEXT SATURDAY!!!

YOUNITY Presents FRESHER!
An Urban Eco-Art Exhibition Featuring 42 Female Artists

PRESS HOUR: 7pm-8pm
Opening Reception: 8pm – 11pm
October 3, 2009 – October 24, 2009
Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Educational Center
107 Suffolk Street
New York, NY 10002
between Rivington Street and Stanton Street
F train to Delancey

PRESS RELEASE BELOW>>>

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B-Girl Be 2009 Block Party included Mainstage Performances, MCs, Spoken Word, DJs, Dance, Live Mural Painting, Film, Food and an Art Marketplace! Featuring local, national and international artists including aerosol artists Motel7 (Capetown) and Toofly (NYC); MC Eternia with Chesney Snow (Canada), DJ Chela (NYC); spoken word poet Tish Jones; Akira Johnson; Bloody Black Eyes; Ill Chemistry; Black Pearl; and the Twin Cities All-Stars: Katana, Maria Isa, Indigo, Desdamona, performing onstage together for the first time in twin cities hip-hop history!

FINITO! Got my piece done early so I can rock my style’n photography skillz. Here are some of my favorites….

Fall back now you don’t know me!

MC BIG TARA is a B-girl and MC with the Anomolies Crew, Fox Force 5, Shoten Zenjin and the House of HOWL. Born and raised in the Lower Eastside of NYC, she was influenced by the dance and music culture of her neighborhood. She has graced many stages across the country including the Apollo, BB Kings, Lincoln Center and the Manhattan Center and has worked with the Roots, Erykah Badu and LL Cool J to name a few. After receiving a public service award from the New School University, she decided to dedicate her time to helping non-profit organizations further serve marginalized youth. She has been working in community outreach for over 10 years and believes it is crucial to help guide our youth to live absolutely happy and productive lives.

LOVE YOU BIG TARA!!!

These girls were FLY! Their outfits wen’t great with the shoot;) YEAH BABY!!!

WLR…

Amanda Lopez, was also getting her shots in for THE GIRLS GOT KICKS! Photoshoot…

Amy Campion

Little Minniapolis Girls…

My new STEEZ was a hit…

MOTEL 7 ( Capetown ) Welcome!!! I thought I was fast, this girl went all out…

PROPS!

AM going high…

and stencil’n it up…

B-GIRL AIKO! See ya soon in SF;)

AIKO (Aiko Shirakawa) started street dancing at the age of 11 in the parks of San Jose, CA, and performed by the age of 15 with her group, Quick Style, opening up for Ice T in 1983. This began a long list of performances for Quick Style, who opened for many major bands and singers in the Bay Area of California. In 1995 Aiko began to teach street styles to youth in San Jose at the local youth centers and still does to this day. Aiko has been teaching after school programs for the past 7 years for YMCA and Catholic Charities. Over the past 16 years of teaching street dance to the youth, she has been writing a curriculum to add to her classes so that her students can embrace the history of hip-hop and how it can be better than what the media has portrayed it to be. Aiko has taught street styles everywhere in the States, including B-Girl Be 2007 in Minneapolis, MN; Street Science 2008 in Holland; and the film documentary release of All the Ladies Say in New York, NY in 2009 (she is one of the leading Ladies in the film). “Hip-Hop has been there for me and has saved my life; I will be here for Hip-Hop for the rest of mine.” —Aiko

It’s not easy triple threating it, You gotta have a heart, you gotta be original, and you gotta have style! We’re about to set it off…WATCH OUT!

Trinity sold like HOTCAKES!

The new team: MAMA made it! wooohoooo…

SHEVA + RUKUS + RUST

Shout out to CHICAGO who was in the house! Repping hard every year…

Well behaved women seldom make history! >>> Well said!

Shout out to T-Rose! Our wonderful host for the week. Made us some protein shakes, drove us up in the PLAY DATE Cadillac, and overall blessed us with mad love. Thank you T!!!

mmmm dinner time. The chicken curry was slamming! Time to rest, and get some energy for the DeCipher jam…

Photo by B-FRESH >>> More at: CITY PAGES

DJ CHELA on the 1 & 2′s

DeCipher This showcases the very essence of hip-hop dance: the ability to freestyle in the cipher. The 2009 B-Girl Be Block Party After Party with DJs and live drumming as locally and nationally recognized female hip-hop dancers take their turn in the cipher sharing their specific skills and raw energy!

Jen One was killing it! Be a part of instant creation as improvisational elements come together with some of the most talented female breakers, poppers and hip-hop freestyle dancers in the country.

Featuring Aiko, MimotheGreat and Venus Fly Trap Crew; with performances by AnnieUp, B-Girl monArc, Yonci Peaceful Jameson, Alissa Paris, Amy Sackett, Sarah Savengseuksa, B-Girl Seoul Assassin, Kim Sorenson, and Ti-en-T, and Legend ROKAFELLA!

Always inspiring to see these women rock and keep it alive. Budget cuts suck, especially when the organizers that gave life to the HEART & SOUL of B-Girl Be are not longer on board;( You can feel, and see the “DIFFERENCE”. Regardless of some minor mishaps, at the end of the day our community has to keep events like this alive. There’s a new generation that still needs platforms like this to represent, and come together to exchange new ideas. Money or no money true activists will continue to hold it down. I was happy to see some new talent brewing. Electro Funky Flowz baby! I’m diggn’ it!!! We missed our crews from the past B-Girl Be’s specially MELISSA, MARTHA COOPER, NIKA, ARUNA, VENDETTA, ASIA1, LADY CHAMP, MARTHA DIAZ, FAITH47, LADY PINK, QA, FEVER, SHIRO, SILOETTE, and PHEM9. We rocked it ONE LAST TIME, but It wasn’t the same without ya!!! To all the new folks who came thru to represent PROPS! Our hommie Big Tara did great! Motel7, Annie Up, PANDORA wow you blew me away w/ your skillz! DJ Chela, Eternia, Lori from Female Sneaker Fiend, Amanda Lopez w/ the Photo skillz, and many many more…I gotta get folks names right. Shout out to the ladies who had our back during the trip; MELISSA for organizing all the DOPE ladies to represent! AUTUMN for hooking us up w/ the goodies, and T-ROSE for being a wonderful host! THANK YOUUUUUU

Friday September 18th. Intermedia Arts walls at the Twin Cities, in Minniapolis MN. MISSION: Lock down your spot, gather your colors, and sketch in your piece!

Glad I didn’t go crazy with a 20 foot piece like in years past. Wanted to experiment a little with some new designs, hang w/ the crew, and enjoy taking photos…

JEN ONE! We repping NYC this year baby, ready to rock the walls, and hit that linolium

Different sponsor this year…CLASH. Not bad, didn’t mind it. Came w/ good caps too…

My B-Girl hommies 4life! Legend Rokafella, and BIG TARA! Stretching for the SHEro show…
ROKAFELLA
Hip-Hop dancer/choreographer Ana “Rokafella” Garcia was born in Spanish Harlem where she grew up with a strong Latin background. At the age of 16 she began going to clubs and doing back-up dancing for freestyle singers on the local NYC party scene. Her hip-hop dance style became her bread and butter when she began street performing with such crews such as The Transformers, The Breeze Team, and the New York City Float Committee. Rokafella has taught workshops at NYU and Howard as well as neighborhood high schools and community centers. The non-profit company she co-founded with her husband, “Full Circle Prod”, serves the community with educational performances and multimedia urban-themed performances. She is presently producing a documentary based on the challenging lifestyles of female breakdancers featuring b-girls from all over the world. She believes this culture was born to help urban youth get through the ups and downs of life with something to hold on to.

Motel7 from Noraway came thru to represent for the overseas artists…she’s a sweetheart!

Leaving the finish for the BLOCK PARTY!!!

Back from Minniapolis! here’s a few flicks from the gallery exhibition entitled MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT!

Friday 9.17.09

Mama Said Knock U Out!, an upcoming gallery exhibition at Intermedia Arts, will showcase 28 female artists from around the world who use their visual voice to empower, inform and organize. These women are employing Hip Hop culture as a means of expression, connection, education and social and political activism globally.  This group exhibition will include work in video, photography, painting, sculpture, film, and textiles. Nationally recognized photographer and Huffington Post contributor Lauri Lyons (New York) will produce a commissioned installation in the main gallery as part of the exhibit.

KNOW THYSELF – SOLD!!!:( Bummer I always feel sad when my stuff sells, I get so attached…

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Heading to paint in Minniapolis! See ya’ll there…

INTERMEDIA ARTS MORE INFORMATION BELOW>>>

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