Not really down to go to Miami this year, I think one year was enough for the madness. Got some work in the Multiversal exhibit organized by Mike Franco and his crew. Shout out to our homegirl Diana McClure for hooking it up;) SEND ME PICS!

Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art show in the United States – a cultural and social highlight for the Americas. As the sister event of Switzerland’s Art Basel, it is the most prestigious art show worldwide for the past 40 years.  In that spirit, for the duration of Art Basel, WST Worldwide & Kazilla Productions will be hosting the Multiversal group show – a unique series of exhibitions showcasing the works of many talented artists from around the world.

MULTIVERSAL
December 3rd – December 6th
The American Legion building
6445 NE 7th Ave
Miami Modern District

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My new FREESTYLE Eco-Block rings are ready! Sorry it took me so long to get these up on the shop. Figured I better post them soon so ya’ll have something new and colorful to give that special sistah for the holidays. I was going to wait until spring 2010 to release them but I get too excited when they’re laying around my studio. Shout out to my sister Joanne for helping me paint them while listening to our favorite tunes. Handcrafted in Ecuador baby! Keeping it in the fam…

Toofly’s Freestyle Eco-Block ring designs are inspired by her favorite tunes, and graphic ethnic shapes found in her native land. Handcrafted in Ecuador, and hand painted with her younger sister Joanne Marie. These colorful rings are that funky dash of color your looking to rock on them five’s. The line is an addition to her TRINITY collection made up of 2 finger wood rings in collaboration with GOOD WOOD NYC. Staying true, and original to a community of artists and designers who make handmade goods, and eco-friendly works of art!

Joanne Marie after a long day at TOOFLY’s studio painting rings…

Left to Right; Freestyle, Electronica, Classic…GET YOURS >>> available only at the TOOFLY SHOP

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I can’t believe it’s been three years;(

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10 great days in LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA…

Day 1. LINDA VISTA, K TOWN.

Home sweet home for the week. Shout out to my hommie Izzy for hosting me in her humble sunny and cozy oasis;) Waking up at sunrise never felt so gooooooood….

Izzy Izmz. A sweet soul! I feel like we really bonded on this trip. Everyday was a chance to understand life just a little better. Great therapy when you got hommies who listen to life’s up and downs, and help put things in perspective. Our daily lesson; to let things go. Don’t let anything or anyone hold you down. Everyday is a new day to just get better at it. Worry not my sweet. Your specialfresh chika steez are about to take hold of that next chapter, ROCK IT OUT!!!

DAY 2: METRO MISSIONZ

Photo by ©Jay Dism
On my own, while is Izzy is off to get her cheddar. Did I mention how much I love my I-Phone? Yeo! I never got lost. As long as I knew where the nearest art supply store, Home Depot, metro and bus were I was straight. Blocks were long though…LA is long + where was everyone? All in theis cars. Sense of community? None. All in all the reality of seeing my south american people hustling for work put things in perspective. Where there’s a will there’s  a way…

I got around! True NYC trooper style…

DAY 3: MALIBU / CARILLO BEACH

Stacked up on rice ball chips, peligrino’s, and a few other things to find the peace in the waves as they crashed in on the shore. It was a cloudy day, but surfer dude watching was fun. Climbing the top of the rock too. I love getting the right shot! Nature is beautiful…

Where’s the LA sunshine today?

It is when you let go of the grip that the organic grooves begin to flow…

I need the shot!

ahhhhh yes….never know what’s on the other side until you explore…

Back on Malibu…27 miles of scenic beauty…

stopped to see the sun finally peek out!

Dope cribs by the beach by rich ass people LOL!

DAY 4: INSTALLATION DAY -1

smooth as pie. Knocked it out in 4 hours!

Happy Izzy came through to help me;)

I can’t wait to do my solo in NYC…

DAY 5: LETTING GO…

Needed to get one more piece done. Found the right piece of cardboard and zoned out. Unfortunately after I did it I felt really sick. I think I let go off a bunch of energy I internalized that week. Did nothing else but sleep the rest of the day.

DAY 6: DETAILS, DETAILS…

A day before show, I made some last minute missions to get supplies. I can’t believe I never found a Kinkos! and all public libraries suck to get shit printed. It’s official libraries need to step their game up and get with modern times.  Once the last piece was installed, and gallery was set for opening I was off for some yummy noodles!

YUM! One of my my favorite Vietnamese vegetarian tofu noodle dishes in Silverlake.

DAY 7: BRAVE SOULS ILLUMINATE – OPENING

I gave this post it’s own spot on my blog. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT here’s the link to all the photos from opening: >>> LINK

DAY 8: VENICE BEACH…

Now that 1/2 of my Younity ladies were in town we went to kick-it at Venice Beach.

it reminds me of Coney Island! sketchy…

The view at the “NEW” skate park was beautiful. Wish we had something like this in NY ( Photo by PlanetC1 – flickr )

Def the place to be if your a skater…

Love sunsets! especially when they turn all golden fire orange, red, pink…SOoooo DOPE!

DOWNTOWN ARTWALK…

Made it back just in time for Downtown Artwalk…whew!

TOP OF THE DOME exhibit at CREWEST Gallery was pretty fresh…

Dia de los Muertos type of inspirations…Plenty more pics here

The LA Downtown Artwalk rounds were aight, it just ain’t NY what can I say…

Happy my peeps are here tho! Manone, AM Pen, Ron J, Toofly, and Shana…

DAY 9: HOLLYWOOD…

Hollywood blvd…

Destination Friday: HOLLYWOOD SIGN! on to our tourist strollz…

Sneaked in through somebody’s property to get a better view. F* that tourist route LOL…Izzy was determined!

We made it!

I thought I can go up and touch one of the letters or something but this was pretty DOPE:) I’m a geek…

WHAT GOES UP. MUST COME DOWN. OMG!!! funniest moment EVER. You had to be there. This one is for the kids one day LOL! Shana you will have me laughing about this day for many years to come hhahha!

A little wine to unwind up on the rooftop before we head back downtown…

The 101 things I can do with a space up high like this…DOPE!

HOOD BAZAR…

HOOD BAZAR.
Solo exhibit by UPENDO. ( More Photos of event by MEL COLE D of  VILLAGE SLUM © 2009 )

Boyz will be boyz! Manone, Pen, RonJ…

WONDER-FULL…

We were soooooooo HAPPY to find out Bobbito and DJ Spinna were in town!!!

OUR NYC DJ’s saved the night!!! + PHIL who had our back on the $20 beans thank you!!! Can’t believe ATM fees were $5 to get cash out hell no! Everyone else can stuff it…

Shit closes early in LA so for it to go to 4am was a TREAT!

I needed this sooooo bad! Glad we fund where the living are. Shout out to LADON. It was great to running into you gurl!!!

DAY 10. JUXTAPOZ 15th Anniversary

ARTWORK Photos here

La ultima noche. Juxtapoz 15th Anniversary event. Low riders, the fight, bright lights, artwork, and the LA who’s who…

This space was AMAZING!!! More pics at JAYBUENO.COM

I was digg’n these…

The Mac. I’m a fan…

Thanks LA for helping me RELAX! It’s a tough thing to do when your from NY, the city of hustle and grind. As much as it was nice to chilllllllllllax, 10 days was enough for this true school trooper! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY to be back home! Till next time…

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Shout out to URBANMOSADI for the DOPE and SWEET write up and flicks on M.I.S.S CREW! Huge supporter since day 1. Gracias mamaistas; Gabriella, Liz Baca + Crew for giving DOPE ladies of our generation the chance to shine from the inside out!

Maria ‘Toofly’ Castillo, Brave Souls Illuminate Showcase @ Fifty24LA Gallery
by urbanmosadi

Last week, Toofly opened her first solo show, Brave Souls Illuminate FIFTY24LA Gallery.   When I arrived,  I was greeted by Melinda and Krista, and they shot me straight to her work. I took tons of photographs and with each snap and click, I came to appreciate her ‘around the way girl’ characters she is infamous for, more and more. Not being familiar with her work, I took to it almost instantly. The boldness and certainty of her paint, as well as pencil strokes, are evidence of the woman’s skill. I looked at each piece closely, scanning each image, her technique and found nothing but precision, particularly in her pencil works.

Before I knew it, the Fifty24LA Gallery was beaming with ordinary art lovers and fans alike. Satisfied with the photos taken, I was ready to meet this formidable female. Nervous and not really knowing what to expect from a heavyweight street artist such as herself, my nerves were laid to rest the instant we met. Toofly was humble, down-to-earth and a true reflection of her ‘around the way’ characters she paints. So much so that, before I could even ask to take photographs of her, she quickly offered to let me shoot her in front of her amazing art.

What I found particularly refreshing, was seeing that Toofly had placed an A4 notebook for all the visitors to ‘tag’ and leave her a message of some sort. This worked out to be a fantastic idea, because many people spent quiet a bit of time flexing their tagging skills in the hopes of impressing Maria herself.

Meeting Maria ‘TooFly’ Castillo was inspiring to say the very least. The woman is a professional and represents women extremely well with grace, humility and extra freshness, it’s no wonder she is seen as a Woman Making History, by M.I.S.S.

Photography by  Melinda Sanchez & Urbanmosadi

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Back in NY and super happy to be home! Here’s pics from opening night…

Photos by my peeps: Jack from DAILY DUJOUR, and URBANMOSADI thanks guys!

Brave Souls Illuminate by TOOFLY, solo exhibition.
November 11 through January 4, 2009
( part of: DOWNTOWN ART WALK November 12th and December 10th, 2009 )
FIFTY24LA Gallery // UPPERPLAYGROUND
125 East 6 St. Los Angeles, Ca 90014
415.252.9144
www.upperplayground.com
www.tooflynyc.com

LOVE folks with genuine love and appreciation for my work…

Younity

Locals schooling me on LA prison culture, gang culture, and teen angels magazine…

New Piece…

Love notes folks leave me…thanks Urbanmosadi!!!:)

Oldies but goodies…

RICKY! Fashion Industries hommies since 92!

Begin Again…

Was happy to see Michelle and Joseph Collins with their little ones. Going back to UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT days in the LES when I was a teen;)
Photo by AM.

Izzy aka special fresh chika and friends. Thanks for coming thru ladies!

Shana LOVES PR!:)

China Marbosa LA Younity artist showing some luv!

Melinda, and Krista holding it down…where’s that tazer gun!

NYC CREW ready for LA DAYZ…

Mission accomplished! Shout out to Gabriella from MISS CREW for making this exhibit happen;) THANK YOU!!!

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The Methods NYC, World Traveler line is up…

My Favorite!

Here’s the link to view the rest of the LOOKBOOK
www.methodsnyc.com

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Decided to hit the Halloween parade this year with “SHUT DOWN SHANA!”. We hopped over the barricade fence on 13th and joined the rest of the freaks walking up 6th ave. It was a lot more fun to rebel out and go opposite the parade because that’s where you got the front view of the crazies coming up. Especially when the thriller live dance piece was performed, that shit was dope!!! Soaked and drenched from the rain we made it to the end where it all began. Had a blast! Next year we got our scheme locked down…

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