TOOFLY NYC

@RudaFest in Bogota, Colombia last week was DOOOOOPE! I am very proud of my friend Ledania and Gerardo for teaming up to make this happen. Together with a tight team they put together a very well organized weekend event. The collaboration was on point. Dope location, dope hotel, dope artists, dope place to eat ( Canasto Bistro )  and great place to kick back and enjoy art and drinks LIVE! For community of all ages to enjoy. Various artists participated in this event Eelco from Holland – hella cool dude, Ben Johnston from Canada who made me laugh a ton!, Muretz from Brazil and his ill tattoos and many more like Type of Tape which I really digged’. This was my first time in Bogota which reminded of Quito, Ecuador. Mountains, historic city, modern shops, as well as parts of a nightlife city. Bogota has a ton of graffiti too – more so than I have ever seen anywhere else which is why I think they call it the mecca of graff in Latin America. I saw works on the streets by friends like Guache, Stinkfish, and Skore999. Overall event and my stay was awesome. I wish I could of have squeezed in another wall or two next time! Special shout out to the RudaFest team for the invitation and hospitality. I had a great time painting, and working closely with the staff who helped us on the lyfts, the projections, materials, and transport. Met some great people too that I plan to stay in touch with. Our international arts & culture community keeps growing and our travelz helps to bring us together as a arts family. Thank you COLOMBIA!

In case you missed it! — The “Presence” exhibition curated by @artbygiawill showcase from July 24-Aug 18th @artspaceps109 @hiartsnyc gallery Hours Tues-Fri 12-5PM / 215 East 99st. 6 Train to 96st. Collect, appreciate, and enjoy the women contemporary artists of today!

Longest trip in NY this summer! Glad it’s over. Fun, work, and play for a month and a 1/2 was long, but the mission was acomplished. Got a lot of stuff done, and had enough time to catch up with my family and friends. Wellingcourt this year was nice, no rain! I usually get rain dates but the weather was perfect. I enjoyed the piece I worked on and the day in total. Especially when hanging with the @StreetHeroines team and my boo. “Freedom Dreamer” from the Love Warrior series is one of my favorite designs. It needed a bit of more work but was unable to make it back in time to add more details. Overall she’s FLY! especially next to @Sinned_NYC

Photo by Joe Conzo 2018

Thank You NY!

Back from Austin, TX! What a lovely place it is haven’t been back since 2012. It was super nice to see my friends again especially to take advantage of the trip and create a NEW Mama Sana Mural. There’s a bunch of press online about it, you can read. It’s a pretty interesting story that talks about gentrification, and the power of community.

The TYO X TOOFLY collectible this year released at Designer Con was a nice surprise to a community of folks who love the Toofly goodz. Shout out to Phil who worked on 30 exclusive limited pieces. Small enough to fit in your palm of your hand! I love small items. Happy with the way it came out:) A few are now available on the TOOFLY SHOP!

Sometimes my travels are not all filled with fun. There are important matters to take care of and I make the effort just the same. I testified last week and did my best. I can not talk about the case at this time but I do want to mention that we are standing for what we believe in. You can follow the news articles online for some insight into the case. We’re making history. Shout out to friends and artists who stand for the culture that raised us and we believe in.

qz.com

www.nytimes.com/2017

www.nydailynews.com

#Justicefor5Pointz

During the #Grafiteras trip in Oakland I got word that our Crewest Studios locked down a few walls for our team to paint in Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles. The timing couldn’t have been better! I was already in the states and client just had to make the flight switch. My schedule was open and ABC studios covered all expenses. Gotta love when those gigs come in because the hotels are fly, transport is taken care of, and you can work with quality materials and hire a your team. The mission to rock a fun, and colorful letter piece that captures the essence of the show and characters. Hip Hop is a huge element in the series #TheMayor and I drew from the culture that bred me. This was my second time in Atlanta a growing and booming city. I love how green it is too!  The heat not so much. Not too long ago my family moved here and I was so happy I got a chance to see them once job was complete. It was an awesome trip and job! —- Thank you ABC, Crewest Studios, Richie, Sean, and Paul for all your help on this wall. Shout out to The Mayor premieres October 3rd on ABC!

Sean is working on a video of the piece, you tube link soon!

#Represent #TheMayor

The job perks. After them long and hot days at the wall hitting the pool was a must! The Marriott hotel was amazing!

Last time I was in Atlanta I flew in did a job and flew out. I did not get a chance to check out the street art scene. Once job was approved I hit the streets in search of walls, Atlanta has some great spots! Would love to return and paint at one of their festivals.

Thank you Atlanta! Thank you family! Till next time…

Grafiteras opening day! Dime and I put some good work on this event and the space was perfect to display our works, rock a collaborative installation, set-up shop, and invite young people for a workshop the next day. We had a great time! I looooooved seeing my Oakland friends, and meeting new ones. Our guests truly enjoyed the exhibit, and the space. These are the kind of gallery exhibits I enjoy the most where it feels like a community vibe and genuine appreciation for what we do as artists, and how we represent our people. Breakdancers and all! Check out the flicks a big thank you to everyone who was involved in making it happen. Exhibition runs thru October 1st! Don’t miss it. #Grafiteras

THANK YOU OAKLAND!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GRAFITERAS

July 18th, 2017 OAKLAND, CA — On Friday August 18th, 6-10pm famed graffiti and street artists Toofly (NYC), and Dime (OAKLAND) team up for GRAFITERAS, a collaborative exhibition, installation, pop-up, and art workshop all in one. GRAFITERAS will be held at EastSide Arts Alliance & Cultural Center, a grassroots organization of third world artists, cultural workers, and community organizers of color.

GRAFITERAS is a multi dimensional exhibition that seeks to connect and build bridges between Raza artists from the east coast and west coast. Both artists exemplify sisterhood, latinidad, graffiti and have served as vital agents of influence for legions of women driven to rise in today’s art world.

Both women were raised in the tumultuous 90s era. Toofly hails from Corona, Queens NY, Dime from Oakland, California. As young graffiti artists they made their mark in a male dominated graffiti scene. The challenges of being immigrant and brown women did not deter their journey of self-discovery. In fact, it influenced the trailblazing art they create today. They were determined with mucho corazon which comes from instinctual feelings of love and community. Through their art, they not only represent themselves but the dreams, ideals and instincts of women, particularly Raza women.

Over the years they have carved out an important artistic space at the intersection of street graffiti, murals, and exhibitions—on their own terms, staying true to their roots and love for community. Eventually, the forces of the universe brought them together as grafiteras.

To be “Latina” or to be “Raza” in America means you celebrate two or more cultures through language, art, cultural traditions, music, and food. As daughters of families who at one point migrated to the states in search of greater opportunity and economic security, both women understand the power of their art in telling the story of immigrant families. In the face of struggle in a country of institutionalized racism, racial profiling, and an anti-immigrant legal systems, Toofly and Dime respond with art that uplifts, engages and promotes the inclusion of their communities. They have faced racism, and discrimination and so have their family members and peers. It is part of their lives and what gives them a thick skin in the face of adversity. This is what makes women strong, what makes them warriors. They are part of a growing generation of people of color who stand up for what they believe in and will weaponize their art to share their truths. Resistance is part of their culture, it’s in their blood.

Today, “Latina Americanas” like Toofly and Dime, are also spreading their craft into the broader society as educators, designers, educators, and community organizers. It has become the path of self determination for women artists who hold the roles of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aspiring professional storytellers. As grafiteras they have a complex story that speaks volumes of the strength and love that is needed to inspire and move society. GRAFITERAS is a powerful initiation to the complexity of what it’s like to grow up in America, and how Raza and many other cultures find a way to stand up, rise, and shine through it all.

Join us! Let’s celebrate women artists today who are the rainbow warriors of the new world.

As part of a 10 day artist residency, Toofly who visits from Ecuador, will host a #TooflyWorkshop on August 19th, 2017 at EastSide Arts Alliance from 12pm-3pm. Limited space. Registration required. Sign-Up: tallertercermundo@gmail.com

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TOOFLY

Maria Castillo known as “TOOFLY” is an international Ecuadorian/NYC artist, curator, and social entrepreneur. Recognized in the early 90’s for her hard and fluid character style, she gained popularity as one of the few females excelling beyond her peers in the male-dominated graffiti scene. Founder of female arts collectives, like; YOUNITY, LADIES LOVE PROJECT, and PROJECT GIRLZ. TOOFLY is a full time artist and runs her own independent art & design company; STAY TRU, where she consults, designs, and develops a variety of arts & culture events, as well as workshops. Her work has exhibited at many venues such as the Bronx Museum of Art, CAC; Contemporary Museum of Ecuador, and can be found on public walls internationally. TOOFLY is featured across media outlets like Graffiti Women, Outdoor Gallery, Juxtapoz, and Latina Magazine.

www.tooflynyc.com

DIME

Leslie Lopez, known as “DIME” is a Xicana Graffiti Writer, Educator, and first generation Mexican-American born and raised in East Oakland. DIME, A lifelong artist carrying on intergenerational traditions of cultural and spiritual resistance in her family began painting graffiti as a young teenager. Through her politicalization within the Xicana Movement and Oakland’s Eastside Arts Alliance she developed into a educator, organizer and public artist for community empowerment, healing, and self determination. Being one of the few women writers of her generation in Oakland, Dime developed a strong bond with the new rising generation of young women and used it as an opportunity to build a sisterhood and mentorship through a course she developed and taught to Middle School and High School young women called SHE’Rose. DIME is part of the EASTSide Arts Alliance Cultural Center. A member of BSK, Bomb Squad Kingz, one of the first graffiti crews in Oakland, Ca. put together by Style, Phresh, and West who were part of the first dozen of original graffers of Oakland to ever put paint on the walls of the city in the early 80′s. She is also part of Few and Far Women since it Originated in Oakland in 2011 it’s a collective of women artist, skaters, and photographers from around the world. DIME has worked collaboratively as part of Xochitlceive Collective and as an apprentice with Jesus Barraza from Dignidad Rebelde. Her collaborations are painted with youth and are seen in walls all around the city and beyond, including in marches and rallies reaching an intergenerational audience. Her work bridges graffiti and fine arts, as a muralist, printmaker, and mentor passing down teachings of her ancestors to all generations. Her passion and goal is to use art not only as a tool for social justice but as a tool for violence prevention, to reach young people, and entire communities and use art and Muralismo to cope, create change and empower.

www.lesliedimelopez.com

EASTSIDE ARTS ALLIANCE ( Gallery )

The EastSide Arts Alliance & Cultural Center presents free youth art classes, cultural programming, public art projects, ongoing gallery exhibitions, community town halls, and the annual Malcolm X Jazz Arts Festival. We work with numerous organizations and community groups to present hundreds of events every year.

www.eastsideartsalliance.org

Feels good to be back and writing these posts! I have a bunch to get thru and a mess of work so I will keep them a bit short. Welling Court Mural Project this year was smooth. No rain to worry about! usually that messes with my schedule. The sunshine peeked thru, and a little heat wave hit us so it made painting outdoors nice. This year @Sinned NYC, Maria, and I worked in a few details in each of our pieces to get the collaborative effect to happen. We should definitely try to do it more often with everyone on that long wall. I think it could give it a new twist. What do ya’ll think? Homegirl Daniella Harris came back this year to help me prep the wall, and continue to practice her aerosol skills. Thank you D! My lovely friend Irene ( TopShelf Photography ) pulled thru before the madness to take some action shots and catch up on all the bochinche we missed. Ha! We love to laugh, and we get along so great together. Love ya gurl! – That day was a lot of fun, and even more so that Ledania arrived to NY all the way from Bogota, Colombia! Such a treat to invite her to WellingCourt. She got a chance to paint next to Lady Pink. Happy I was able to introduce them at the Warmi Paint Festival in Ecuador in 2015.  It made it a lot smoother for her to rock a spot when there was none left. It’s tough man, there are hardly any new walls left at WellingCourt. Luxury condos are going up everywhere even near the projects. Less walls, means less room for artists to paint, especially traveling artists. I did notice a bunch of new artists this year, not many locals. I think it’s a good idea to get new folks in the mix, and switch it up. I must say there’s nothing more fun to see your friends from all the years of painting in this city back year after year. Change is inevitable, gotta enjoy the good old old days and the new days. Gentrification is not going anywhere, but more than likely we will be. What is important is to continue to get everyone together. A lot of people came thru this year, thank you for making the troop. Families, and people of all sizes, colors, and ages are still out there for the community vibe in the company of the artists that return with new work to share. Thank you WellingCourt!

Irene, Toofly, Ledania. I have an idea how about a painting trip to Colombia together!:) 2018

Photography by TopShelf ©2017

Photography by Alexandra Henry © 2017

I was unable to get a final shot of the wall facing ( front ) too many cars. There’s no parking here on Tuesdays from 10am-1pm anyone want to shoot it? 30th Ave, and Main Ave. If so please send to tooflynyc@gmail.com It’s a good flick to have in case it get’s published. Thank you! Photo by Daniella Harris

Year 8! Happy WellingCourt Mural Project is still on course. There’s are not many Street Art/Mural events I am fond of in NY that are as authentic as this one. It’s chill, it’s in my borough, and it’s put together by down to earth organizers. Folks that have been in NY building with communities before all the hipsters got here and turned these events into greedy corporate locations and leeching off our true school vibes. WellingCourt is still community based, and we like it this way! The community comes out to BBQ, their kids come out to play, and true new yorkers know what’s up when you troop it here. June 10th! Follow @toofly_nyc for progress shots.

www.wellingcourtmuralproject.com

I’m happy I got a chance to paint a collaboration wall with Pablito Zago during our trip to when Mexico City. So glad it worked out! Thanks to Gamma Gallery curators, and their friends at Muro and Hidroarte we made it happen. The wall took three days to produce and it’s one of my favorite mural collaborations I have done lately. Once I had the dimensions of the wall and a free day to soak in inspiration from the Anthropology Museum I was good. I spent a few hours at the park sketching and came up with an image that I felt motivated to paint. Many of my pieces are from my imagination, and feelings I want to express. I was inspired by a painting I saw at the museum that had women of different cultures by Jorge Camarena. Wow! Amazing artist, I am super behind in learning about his work.  I was blown away by the rock sculptures, and details in the artifacts. The museum was mega dope! #1 spot to visit in el DF. Because I like to paint strong empowering female images I try and take the opportunity to explore something new with each one. Mexican art, history, and culture is hands down my top 5 and I wanted to bring a little of it of everything I fell in love with from the museum into the piece. Art inspires art, and the more I learn and travel the closer I am to creating my new works. If you want to visit the wall it is located in: MetroBus parada EL COYOL

Shout out to Pablito Zago for being mega cool and chill on the collaboration. Our work is different but both love to interact with the people that come up to as when we paint. It makes us happy to talk to them, especially the kids who said things like eso esta chido!

THANK YOU MEXICO CITY!

What’s up world! I’ve been in a great mood lately. I have a ton of fresh new ideas for the year to come. Preparing as we speak for the fall and planting seeds for 2017. Living the artist dream and never going back to anything else. Moving from city life has given me the greatest gift ((( TIME )))  Time to create at my own peaceful pace, work on projects I enjoy, as well as travel and paint. I wake up every morning giving thanks for days like today. Full of optimism! — don’t get me wrong I have my bad days too. They suck super bad! it’s usually a funk that life throws at you when your not aligned. Getting off balance has many factors, but if you can curve it and get back on track your good. Some give up. Not me. My momma worked to hard in life, and I will never lose hope. If your doing what you love, the fruits of your labor will provide all you need in life. It helps to have love in your life folks. Love of self, love of others, love of love to love and love more. The secret to a life worth living…