Heading to San Francisco August 20th for the Sisterz of the Underground 9th year anniversary. Gonna rock some live art, and kick it with the hommies. Hope to see ya’ll there!!!

Sisterz of the Underground (SOTU) is a community, network, and support system created by, and for, females who choose Hip-Hop as a form of expression. As an open Hip-Hop collective, SOTU aims to encourage the integration of different elements of Hip-Hop, use the elements as tools for education and social change, as well as provide opportunities to showcase the elements — such as the annual Sisterz of the Underground event.

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Switching it up left and right this year, and heading out of NY to see how folks in other city’s rock HIP HOP FESTIVALS. I miss the days when we used to take trips to the Philly BBOY BBQ to paint, and share a little slice of happiness with the Philly community. Those days are long gone now, but lucky for us the movement has grown and we can now travel to different cities. New landscape, new faces, and new organizers who know how to take care of their artists. Who’s rolling this year? The one and only VIK! – Her letters and pieces are sick. Love her work. Lucky for us they extended the budget and we are happy to announce SHIRO’S on board YAY!!! Yes mam, in NY for just 2 months and I’m dragging her to another city, Lol! Finally gonna get a chance to celebrate music, celebrate art, and most of all celebrate people together:)  NEW BEDFORD, MA see ya soon!!!

3RD EYE OPEN. HIP HOP FESTIVAL. YEAR OF THE WOMAN!

Featuring: JEAN GREY • CLIMBING POETREE  • TIYE PHONEIX
Live Graff Art by; TOOFLY, VIK, & SHIRO,
Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, MA
Saturday, July 17, 2010 // 9am – 8:30pm // FREE FOR EVERYONE!!!
www.3rdeyeunlimited.com

PRESS RELEASE BELOW >>>

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Ready for AFRO-PUNK FESTIVAL 2010 this weekend!!! Painting live with the crew; RIMIX, BORISH, LICHIBAN, ROB FOKUSED, SEEONE, AM, COBY KENNEDY, and more…Mos Def was just added to the performances. Siked!!! + there will be a TOOFLY goodies booth with new rings, T-Shirts and much more. Weather is gonna be great see ya’ll there…

LET’S GET FREE! – AFRO-PUNK FESTIVAL 2010
Saturday Jun 25, 26 & 27, 2010
Commodore Barry Park // Flushing Ave, Navy St & N Elliot // Brooklyn, NY 11205
F train to York Street.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS!

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Helping our peeps  fundraise so we can send our youth and the RDAC to the US Social Forum in Detroit. Pop-Up shop, Summer BBQ, and live performances at the REBEL DIAZ ARTS COLLECTIVE in the BX! 1-7PM

LOVE THIS SPACE!

Live silkscreening by Mikey1Soul

REBEL DIAZ ARTS COLLECTIVE
478 Austin Place ( 2nd floor ) // 6 Train to 149th street.

Go Patty, Go Patty…” THE NATURAL”

A little something something for everyone. Thanks ladies!

Performances were great! YC THE CYNIC, GTP, REBEL DIAZ, & INTIKID! dope MC’s…

Hooked up the fellas with the METHODS T “WORLD TRAVELER” designed by yours truly:)

FOKUS! Great building sessionz…

DJ Charlie Hustle on the 1 & 2’s kept us grooving…

yum yum what’s on the adobo menu?

I Love how the fellas hold down the grill at the BBQ’s!

What are these little things I see everyone with them lol! I got a lesson…fun shapes who’s got the lucky heart?

Rooftop sessionz with Cekis sis…

HOW & NOSM Mural outside the collective. DOPE. Shots like this remind me so much of Andrea…wow…

Had a great time with everyone! Especially with he ladies and the ill cipher we started. End of summer joint in the works with PATTY DUKES watch out!

Freestyle painting free for all for the Conscious Cycle project at the FIGMENT festival at Governors Island June 11-13th! Ever been there? me neither! let the exploring begin…

FIGMENT FESTIVAL AT GOVERNOR’S ISLAND JUNE 11-13th!
Conscious Cycle installation by various artists – all welcome!
Click here for directions.

Lot’s and lot’s of chlorophyll 8 min away from the city madness!

WE LOVE IT! Especially picnic style…

Over the past 4 years, there have been 6 Conscious Cycles. This summer will be our 3^rd at the FIGMENT Festival. We start by creating a wall built entirely from reclaimed wood. Over the course of the festival, artists, community members, and children have the opportunity to paint on the wall creating murals that espouse the idea of consciousness in all of its forms- environmental, social, political, racial, etc. The artists paint over one another so as to collaborate ideas as well as create a living piece of art. The entire event, from building the wall to breaking it down at the end, is filmed for a time-lapse video. This year we hope to have 4 walls: 2 for artists to paint, 1 for community members and children, and 1 for children to exhibit their work from the entire festival in a gallery-like setting.

Conscious Cycle started as a collective to bring like-minded artists, musicians, performers, teachers, and craftsmen together. Our primary focus was to raise awareness about urban and personal waste by showing a fun and creative way to reuse materials.  Over the past few years, the idea has expanded to include many aspects of consciousness and community building such as yoga, tai chi and art classes. These particular entities have grown organically from the experiences of the Conscious Cycle wall and its participants. We strive to create a forum for artists and community members to come together and share ideas in a safe, friendly, and stimulating environment. Last summer, 12,000 people visited Governors Island for the FIGMENT festival. This summer our goal is to provide even more opportunities for visitors of the FIGMENT festival to join in the Conscious Cycle by picking up a paintbrush or trying a new experience!

The smurfs crew…

Conscious Cycle smurfets! lol

Quick throwie to get the piece started…

Rock on ladies! spray away…Aunti lessons and sessionz…

Kids love art:)

Free art…

Time to catch the next Ferry…

Sweet day with the peeps…

Thanks for the invitation KATE! We had a lovely time:)  Till net time…

it’s all about the outdoors this year. I have a feeling we’ll be painting quite a lot. Street art has been flourishing all over the world, and I think folks are finally ready to support the positive effects it has on community building. Not only does it beautify the neighborhood, it brings people together “FREE OF CHARGE”.  It’s for you, its for your kids, its for the simple fact that we gotta get back what we lost when we became consumers and stopped living. Get outside this year, enjoy the sun, ride your bike, visit a garden, grow a plant, make some art, take your kids to the park, gather your friends for picnics, & BBQ’s. The recession was a blessing. The real value  these days lies in how you spend your time in a more positive authentic way. Get Free…

Shout out to ADHOC.ORG for organizing this event, and bringing everyone together to paint, cook, and have some good ol fun in the sun!

I still very much like green…

Artist hands…

Finito! There’s nothing a little community love can’t handle;)

Shana Loves All. Ask her anything she’ll know…

CERN YMI – Beautiful!!!

Planning the next set of walls for the summer…

AM catching blackbook tagz and drawings with the kids…

Haze and Cycle chillin’ enjoying the community vibe…

Got beer? Let’s stroll and check out the walls of Wellingcourt…

DEFOE…

Royce, Matt Siren…

Probotz…

VENG

Swoon…

Lady Pink, Cycle, Free5

Tristan Eaton in process. Saw the flicks last night on twitter look sick! Waiting for a final flick to drop…

Ron English

Sofia Maldonado…

Damn right I’m SOMEBODY!

Let’s go!!! Show me the way…

ahhh yes. Community gardens ROCK!!! One day, one day…I’ll have my own…

Yummy. This little plant right here in some tea puts me right to sleep;)

So pretty. I love this stuff. Agriculture class here I come!!!

Peek a Boo! I love seeing kids playing outside. Video games – no bueno. Getting dirty, running, jumping, hiding, yes! Enjoy the world kiddies. We hope you’ll improve on the seeds we’re planting these days…

My mami linda in town for Pam’s graduation next week. The fea twinz…

Ready for the new roads ahead…

That was refreshing, and peaceful. Shout out to the garden lady who hooked us up with some fresh mint for us to chew on our way back…

Back to the block party and a quick group flick with Cey Adams. TRUE SCHOOL!

Just in time for the 5 grills BBQ, arroz con pollo, guacamole dip, mole, and some very spicey jalapeno stuff…Thank you mi gente!

Keep the spirit alive, because this is what it’s all about. THANK YOU WELLING COURT COMMUNITY!!!

Everyone brought some grub. Where’s that green rice? Shana’s not playing where’s it hiding…must find the green rice…

There’s something about watching people paint. It’s very relaxing…

Frankie Velez stopped by to support. Good peoples right here;)

Kids luv!

Shout out and much love to the ADHOC team who put this whole thing together. Alison and Garrison are two amazing people! Check out and support ADHOC.ORG. Next stop Summer stage live screenpriting. See ya’ll there!!! THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUU for everything;)

You too BOGART! Your so cuuuuute…fluffy muffy…

Byeeeee Cycle hahahahha alwasy making us laugh….

Have a safe trip to Munich AM! Good times summer 2010 here we come…

WELLING COURT MURAL PROJECT – An NYC street art block party!
Saturday May 22, 2010 ((( 4-10PM )))
11-98 Welling Court, Queens, NY 11102
N or W train to 30th Ave & walk 10 blocks towards the East River or take the Q18 bus down 30th Ave to 12th St.

PRESS RELEASE BELOW >>>>

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Yesterday was A-MA-ZING!!! The Younity Spring Markit keeps getting better and better. Mother nature blessed us with a beautiful day full on sunshine and breeze. Shout outs, and much love to Father Tom, and the Lady of Sorrows family. Thank you for allowing us to shine and do our thang. DJ Ski-Hi, DJ Laylo, all the beautiful artists and designers, Rockafella, Full Circle Crew, 5 Crew Dynasty, Circa95, Younity gals, family, and everyone who came through and showed their support. It means so much to us, and we are so happy to share days like this with YOU!!!

Love all you guys!!!

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood…

spring color and smiles…

DJ Ski-Hi on the 1&2’s spinning the best of Hip Hop, House, and more!

Let’s get this party started!

Time to shop! Handmade goodies, designer limited edition flyness…

Cutie pies!

Wasup Christine! Thank youuuuuuuuu

Shout out to Tina G aka PAPERSOUL for holding down the Toofly booth;) Photo by AM

What what…Chanel don’t play I want one! $$$

Ok I think it’s time we all did a fun fun colorful photoshoot! Just cuz…lol

UR NEW YORK CITY baby! Everyone need’s one of these in their crib – I got mine:)

MASAHIROOOOOOOOO….Wow your stuff is so sick! I need more feathers in my hair….love my suade purse too! thank youuuuuuu handmade goods are the BEST! Photo by: Ivette Garcia ©2010

Ill…

Antonio KEL5MH taking it back! Yes…Big Daddy Cane, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and many more dope dope…

Hey! What you got there Mr? I’m not letting you miss the next one I want that shirt…haha ha!

FRESTHETIC got the goods! I want, I want, I want…

My sister Inks looking cute w/ her big sister’s new T! Photo by: AM

Marthalicia soaking in the sun, and getting busy on this beautiful painting. We got a Live Arts Corner planned for the nest one stay tuned…

Beautiful! Photo by: Ivette Garcia ©2010

Kelly! And all her cute little plush, and illustration works.

Loved these, I want, I want, I want…

Kids Corner time!

with lot’s and lot’s of bubbles…

SOHNUP did a awesome job of setting up an area for kids to make art. Thank you Aaron!!!

Shout out to Martha Cooper who came through to support before she hit up her NAME TAGGING Book release opening at Reed Space. Photo by: AM

Shout out to all the artists, and designers for creating such beautiful works! More flicks coming soon. TOOFLY, AM, INKS, JUNKPRINTS, FRESTHETIC, KELLY DENATO, URNEWYORK, DAVE CORTES, MARTHALICIA, SEE ONE, ANTONIO KEL5MH, MASAHIRO, EROTICA, ARIANNE ZAGER, KOOKIE KIMMIE TREATS, SOHNUP, BOWN SOAP FAMILY, and FREE5!.

DJ LAYLO ready to spin the breaks and get that linoelum blesssssssssssssed….

Kids love Linoleum! I gotcha on the next one kiddies…

Classic…

Youth team was focused! Rokafella is such an amzing teacher. Check out her classes on Tues 7-8:30 and Sun 6-7:30 $15 – Hybrid Studios 1828 Amsterdam Ave 3fl.

Thanks guys!!! Photo by: Ivette Garcia ©2010

CUZ Inc…got my back. BIG HUGGGGGGGZZZZ

THANK YOU EVERYBODY!!! Enjoy your summer, the great outdoors, family, friends, and your community.
with Love,Younity Arts Team : Toofly, Alice, Yvette, Shana, Diana, and our new gal Melissa!

Whew! Tired, but wired to chillax, and kick back for some margaritas, and shrimp fajitas….

Mmmmm’ sizzle sizzle, and the fire hazzard group tweets hah ahha!

GOOD TIMES!!! Next up: Philly Roots BBQ, Summer Stage with DJ Laylo, and Shana B-Day Crab dinner jam see ya’ll there wooohooooooo fun fun…

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it to the opening of ROOFTOP LEGENDS but happy there’s plenty of flicks online to share including some behind the scene shots I took while I was painting check em…

I progress 2 weeks before event. iPhoto by Tony Peralta

Love these structures everywhere…Great photo light when sun is setting, too many shadows in the early afternoon…

It was dope to run into SKUF after all these years. Good to see you man! 90’s CLASSIC! Love it.

Also ran into our boy WANE who’s mad sweet. Good energy here folks! wasup? LOL

WANE COD

Ben was rock’n out with the brushes piece looks fresh…

Trixer and Bounce were also getting busy…I love process shots they’re some of my favorites

Cern’s work is beau-ti-ful! Even though it’s in the works it still looked so fresh unfinished…

Erin Yoshi, and Cece rocked out this little house structure great location!

Sharing some flicks from 99Sense FLICKR Account…See the rest here

TATS CRU always looking mad official, and professional….

Great turn out. Glad folks came through to support this amazing place. It’s so big you can fit 500+ people up here…

DJ ENUFF on the 1 & 2’s with Jesse Pais on the left the man behind ROOFTOP LEGENDS:)

Shout to Anthony Vigo for taking some fly shots of the peeps up there having a chillax time…Miss you guys see ya soon!

Camera Action…

Dope event! See all the pieces and in progress shots at ROOFTOP LEGENDS BLOG

We got yo’ pop-up shop!

Come join Younity and friends for some hip-hop style community building.

Fostering local economies for urban artrepreneurs with a conscious mindset,

it’s time for Younity’s 2nd annual Urban Arts Markit!

One-of-a-Kind -Limited Editions – Hand Crafted – Flavor

Curated by the infamous Toofly, and homegirl Yvey Hidalgo this open air markit pays homage to market life around the globe as a staple of community life and celebration where makers, fans, and collectors come to shop and mingle – 2010 style. Featuring live DJ sets, live painting, break dancers, vendors, Hondurian Valiadas, Empanadas, & American hot dogs, in the heart of New York City’s Lower East Side…

www.theyounity.com

The busy bee season is kicking in! I hope I make it, specially now that I have like no time:( This past weekend I had an opportunity to rock a little 5min video with the FRIENDS WE LOVE youth team attending the New Design H.S aka Seward Park H.S. They did so great! The weather was sweet, the kids rocked the interview, and I got a chance to do paint a little something something. It’s days like this that make me confident the next generation will be alright. Especially with folks who take the time to give back to their communities. Love you guys! THANK YOU:)

When we were all done, I got a chance to walk around and scope out this place. WOW. This rooftop is an artist heaven…

The size of this place is crazy!!! I couldn’t wait to come back and spend an entire day re-doing my quick little throwie…

Voila! Not done yet but it’s getting there. Spent a whole afternoon completely zoned out on this piece and it felt great! I haven’t painted in solo mode in years. It was bliss, and definitely something I need to do more often. Yay! painting season has officially begun folks. Shout out to everyone who’s doing a killer job up there; WANE, BOUNCE, TRIXER, CERN, CECE, ERIN YOSHI, and MARTHALICIA. It was so good to see you guys.  Last but not least the man behind this dope place; Jessie Pais, your the man! It’s people like you who make a huge difference in all our lives. Thank you for helping to carve out a little piece of this city for all of us to enjoy. As you can see I’m really excited about this whole thing, and even more so now that their third annual event is coming up. Mark your calendars! Saturday May 8th ROOFTOP LEGENDS opens it’s doors to the public. You don’t want to miss it. Info below…

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5Pointz Fundraiser tomorrow! Gonna support our hommie MERES in the auction of works by various artists to raise funds for our beloved factory. The space is in heavy need of wall fixing, ladders, and supplies to continue it’s efforts in organizing colorful works of urban art throughout the building.

5Pointz Fundraiser

April 21, 2010 // 7-10PM

Session 73:  on 1st ave & 73rd Street // 6 Train to 68th St/Hunter College

5 Pointz: The Institute of Higher Burnin’ or the 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, Inc. is an outdoor art exhibit space in Long Island City, New York, considered to be the world’s premiere “graffiti Mecca,” where aerosol artists from around the globe paint colorful pieces on the walls of a 200,000-square-foot factory building.The complex owned by Long Island developer Gerald Wolkoff houses the Crane Street Studios in which 200 artists pay below market rents for studio space. 

In 2002 Jonathan Cohen, a graffiti artist operating under the name “Meres” began curating the work. If he is not familiar with an artist, Cohen will ask for a sample of their work; if it is a mural, he will ask for a layout as well. The name 5Pointz signifies the five boroughs coming together as one but, because of its reputation as an epicenter of the graffiti scene, the industrial complex has actually united aerosol artists from across the world. Legendary writers from Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, and all over the United States have painted on the building walls.

FLYER BELOW >>>>

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I’m a little late with the TOY STREET flicks, sorry tweepz! ( Twitter Friends ) Just got back from a beautiful chillaxing passover weekend with my querida familia in sunny Florida. Feeling goooOOOoood and happy it’s finally SPRING! The weather is sweet and the afternoon walks are a sure sign that it’s gonna be a smooth summer…

TOY STREET – SOHO SPRING 2010 ( Good Wood Custom Pins )
Shout out to The Cookies & Cream team for putting on a well organized event;)  A mix of toy designers, artists, toy shops, and loud ass rock bands. Looking fwd to next year!

Ready to hit some books… ( photo by IHCS’ )

and sell some goodies…

Hommie right here, the lovely Yvey rock’n a pose with Tina G’s Paper Soul collage books…

Shout out to the corona peeps who came through to show me this CLASSIC>>>1993 blackbook I did back in the dayz. WOW I couldn’t believe it, that made my day…gucci chain and all…Crazy… THANK YOU!!! ( memory lane )

Good to finally meet Marka27 in person and his lovely wife Liza and daughter.

Good peoples right here…looking fwd to my design for his Buddy Series 2 look out!

Shout out to CARD HACKS from THE ART HUSTLE for stopping by to show me how my own artist trading card looks! Thank You!!! Website coming soon…

Frankie and Masahiro and the infamous Pugzees…Shout out to Dave Cortez who broke out before I can say hey Dave! lol…

Check out Masahiro Ito’s custom toys. I think I def need to get my own little graff girl / b-girl characters done..what do ya’ll think?

Gotta make time for tweets, and twitpics…

Finally own my own Destroy Rebuild piece…I gotta work up to one of the bigger ones though. Thanks fellas! urnewyork.com

our peeps Circa95 Patty Dukes & Rephstar holding it down with their vintage toy collection…

If I collect anything it’s mini things, I want this guy!

Ladies holding it down; Baby Girl from Shinobi Ninja , Patty Dukes, Mary Paper$, & Toofly

Shout out to 1 HUNDRED B! Lower East Side Graffiti shop….I’ll be stopping by soon guys! ( Photo by: www.fadsnap.com)

DJ Jon Blak on the 1 & 2’s played some good tunes! I gotta make it to your parties, I’ve been missing out…

Shinobi Ninja Closing out the night…HOLY LOUDNESS! lol…. ( Photo by: www.fadsnap.com)

It’s a wrap! I gotta get on a plane in a few hours. Shout out to TINA G from PAPER SOUL for holding down the TF booth thanks giiiiiiirl!

Saturday March 6th, 2010

TOOFLY / YOUNITY ARTS booth & slide show presentation at:
Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen
Saturday March 6th. 2-5PM
Hostos Center for Arts and Culture.
450 Grand Concourse (at 149th St.) Bronx.
FREE! and open to all ages.

www.mhhk.org

THE DREAM TEAM IS BACK!

amazing!

Slides looking DOPE!

Great backdrop images for the B-Girlz…

Back from a fantastic 3 day graffiti urban arts workshop in Brooklyn with the Young Women’s Leadership School. The girls did an amazing job this week. They got a rare opportunity to learn the art and design of doing letters, and characters. There’s nothing more fun than learning about line, shape, and color when your rocking out your name in bubble or straight letter style. Many kids in our community live around graffiti and street art. This was a great opportunity to teach them something from their own block they can relate to! With a few markers, brushes, and paint the kids not only pieced their names they also collaborated on a large canvas mural that will be installed in their school. The message of choice to represent their winter camp: “ENERGY UP!” A conscious daily choice to get their health in check, and help fight teenage obesity 1 day at a time. Shout out to Big City Walls for teaming me up with Young Womens Leadership, and the Energyup.org program this year;) THANK YOU!!! Till next time…

Pilot marker outlines all by themselves! I was proud:)

Great job ladies! Keeping it fun, clean, and graphic…

These ladies were a bit shy, but cute!

Fun, Fabulous, and Fierce! Perfect team for the name tagz canvas…

the fruit and veggie character crew:)

The pink apple lady with gold earrings lol! It’s all in the attitude…

How dope would it be if I had my very own classroom! The art and design projects I can do with these kids would be awesome…

Thinking hard on design elements so they can make me proud!

Good Job!

Little pineapple character with Mohawk hair almost complete…

Last step TAG UP!

TOOFLY & HIGH VOLTAGE rock’n for 2010!

Thank you for the THANK YOU CARDS!!!:)

Energy Up! is the health and wellness program started by lifestyle guru Kathie Dolgin, aka High Voltage, to get America’s girls moving, healthy and energized. Or, as she puts it: “Fit, Fabulous and Fierce!”

EUVA’s (Energy Up Voltage Approved) mission is to fight teenage obesity and prevent type 2 diabetes and other diseases associated with poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. EUVA focuses on the belief that wholesome lifestyle habits acquired as a teenager provide a lifetime of benefits in the form of weight control, reduced health risks, and greater self-esteem. EUVA’s Energy Up! Program educates and motivates teenagers to make healthier food and lifestyle choices by forging a strong emotional connection in a manner that is fun, exciting and energetic to promote positive physical, mental, emotional and social development.

EUVA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that runs its unique Energy Up! program in schools in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Want to see more workshop photos?

TOOFLY WORKSHOPS

YOUNG WOMENS LEADERSHIP SCHOOL – Graffiti Workshop 2009