TOOFLY NYC

Now that I am back in Ecuador I can get started on a few other projects + take a nice break from the busy bee mode of the NY grind. I was invited last weekend for the magazine launch of Ecuador’s first official graffiti/street art magazine VISCERARTE “revista de arte urbano” -  The folks who run the magazine have been clicking away at many of the graffiti events in Quito I’ve attended. I met them earlier this year when Abusa Crew was in town. They are a lovely couple Alex, and Eli who’s love for the urban artform in their city has turned into a print project all their own. I want to give a special thanks to them for taking on the publishing world here in Quito to help document the movement through words, and photography. There’s some nice things going down in this city it’s nice to see it unfold in person. Here’s some flicks of the magazine launch at El Centro Contemporaneo in Quito. Participating artists like La Ratona, Jason, Bonice, Enaone and more…

 

Photo by David Parra ©2014

Gracias a todos! Seguimos adelante con el amor por el arte urbano para pintar lindas paredes en nuestros barrios y reunir a nuestros pueblos.

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Now in it’s 5th year the Welling Court Mural Project organized by ADHOC.ORG is bigger and better than ever with over 127 walls this year! The rainy week drove my painting schedule crazy.  I would have liked to get the wall done in 2 days so I can enjoy the block party and take flicks but on Saturday morning I got up at the crack of dawn to get an early start. Luckily it all worked out. I got my wall done in just 8hrs, whew! My New York fam came thru to show love, and spend a lovely afternoon playing with their kids at the wall.  This event unlike many others is a family “community” event. I love that! Less “hipster hoopla”, noise, and hype. It feels relaxing, chill, and peaceful. Families, friends, and art lovers get to stroll around the neighborhood and admire the art in peace. There’s all kind of “street art” inspired events happening in NY and in various cities now which is great! Communities are down for us at last. I’ve been at it for over 20 years now and it’s finally starting to feel like the “Warriors of the Rainbow” – spoken in indigenous texts – have officially arrived <3 Thank you Allison, and Garrison Buxton for another wonderful Wellingcourt event, see you guys next year!

Thanks for the polaroid @leannav

Shout out to the Lexi Bella, Danielle , and Shiro for stopping by the wall. These aerosol ladies are going hard this year! Not mad. Hold it down:)

TOOFLY – Wellingcourt Mural Project , Astoria Queens NY 2014

My little Project Girlz <3 They’ll be ready in no time!

From Ecuador to New York to Ecuador and back! Every Spring and Fall:)

Bye Bye Toofly!

Thank you my beautiful New York Family! I LOVE YOU GUYS <3 See ya in November:)

 

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As if this year’s trip to New York couldn’t get any better, and way more busy it was time to switch gears. I got an opportunity to work with Clairol Professional for the launch of their new hair coloring product “Flare” The mission to create a beautiful Toofly character piece inspired by the vibrant color of graffiti art. The piece was painted outdoors on a sunny day in Corona, Queens on a large 2-panel canvas. It was later installed in the new and improved Wella World Studio downtown Manhattan. The launch date was awesome! I prepared a slide presentation alongside celebrity color stylist Kiyah Wright who’s worked with artists like Mary J Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Tyra Banks, Kerri Washington and more. In my presentation I got a chance to talk about how graffiti inspired me to make street art and empower women through my work, as well as how our colorful graffiti culture as a whole in influencing trends in fashion, music, and art. The media that attended the event got a chance to tag up on the piece, take photos, and instagram the event #cpflarelaunch. It was a lovely afternoon, especially in between chats with event photographer Jon Simon about life in New York, life in Ecuador, and how our lives as working artists in this big city make it all worthwhile. I want to send a big thank you to Valentino for locking in me in for the gig, and Laura and Emily for working through the details in a timely matter to meet all deadlines, as well as my official art “Toofly Assistance Team” Richie Carrasco and Miguel. Working professionally is a big plus in order to take my work to the next level. I love it! Check out the process of this piece, and the colorful virbrant event flicks:)

Thank you www.modernsalon.com feature interview video post:)

Thank you Clairol Professional NYC team! and thank you Jon Simon Photography for the event photos!

 

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As soon as I landed in NY, I took a long power nap and then it was off to the Bronx! I had to rock the “Toofly Graffiti Workshop” at Bronx Works with 15+ afterschool students. This year the budget for the Pepatian “Bronx Hip Hop Academy” was enough to extend it from 2 weeks to 4 weeks which gave my class the opportunity to learn a lot more, and put a little more effort on their graffiti project. We got some bigger canvases, and acrylic paint to fill up big areas of eye poppin’ color. Their goal to collaborate and work together as a team on a backdrop for their final presentation alongside Rokafella’s dance crew, DP One’s Dj crew, and La Bruja’s MC/Poetry crew. The “Toofly Crew’ had a lot of fun spraying and stenciling their pieces, and working with Reph on the outlining of their letters with big fat sharpies. Shout out to our hommie Reph for subbing on a day I could not attend workshop. Everything worked out great and the kids had fun. It’s always nice to see it all come together.  Next year we hope to get a nice long wall to re-create their 2014 piece:) A big thanks to Jane Gabriels for making this project happen and getting the “true school” crew together to educate young men and women the art of Hip Hop’s Culture. Big thanks to Shanika and the youth at Bronx Works for rockin’ out with us again this year! Have a wonderful summer.

Bronx Hip-Hop Academy was Produced by Pepatian for more infromation visit their site: www.pepatian.org

In a collaboration with BronxWorks Teen Program, Pepatian’s Bronx Hip-Hop Academy offered a series of workshops in all four disciplines of Hip-Hop in April 2013, culminating in a final informal showing. Held at BronxWorks, the Hip Hop Academy gives youth in the Bronx a similar opportunity: to feel and experience hip hop in its birthplace. The youth learn the history of the genre and its connection to our borough but also to personally connect. Inspired by their lives and the culture they develop tools for creative expression. From stirring poetry to fresh art work to fly steps, Bronx Hip Hop Academy is a program that connects youth to the spirit of the music and to learn more about themselves. My hope is that the youth take inspiration from hip hop and continue to express themselves and tell their story. By telling their story, they are hip hop!

NYC TRUE SCHOOL! —>  TOOFLY, LA BRUJA, DJ DP ONE, ROKAFELLA
proud to be part of this wonderful teaching artist team. Thanks Jane for linking us all up!

 

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During NY trip I made sure to stop by one of my favorite graffiti shops LOW BROW ARTIQUE. It’s my shop of choice because they have a large selection of spray paint especially Montana 94, Montana Gold, and Montana Black. They always have what I need and I make sure to support all my good peoples. Meres introduced me to shop owner Bishop about a year ago when we were working on our last wall at 5Pointz. He’s mad cool:)   happy I got a chance to drop a piece before heading back to the Motherland. Thanks Bishop! The pieces run 2 weeks tops so be sure to check it before it’s gone. Shout out to the entire LowBrow Crew who hanged out a bit during the process of this new piece on a beautiful sunny day in Bushwick Brooklyn.

Because pieces run 2 weeks it’s only a matter of time before it transforms. There’s something beautiful about the remix of artists work and the layers during process that develop. This could almost be a beautiful collaboration as a stop motion video! I love graffiti/street art <3 The tall ladder was missing in action unfortunately so I had to work with the existing background into my piece. It actually worked out perfect! Gotta love when that happens…

Low Brow Artique carries the largest assortment of Montana spray paint in the New York Metropolitan area. We carry almost every color in both the Gold and Black lines, as well as a large assortment of Ironlak. We are also VERY strict on selling spray paint to minors, so please bring ID as you will be carded! Outside of spray paint we also carry a small scale of art supplies ranging from canvas’s, wood panels, screen print supplies, 1 Shot, Liquitex paints, Krink and much more.  If you do not see something in our store, please let us know as we are interested in catering to the neighborhoods needs. We also carry an assortment of hand-printed and home-made goods, made by artists that live in the neighborhood. You can see most of our goods throughout our online store.

If you are interested in selling you goods with us please email Bishop or stop by our store in person with your product. // Low Brow Artique // 143 Central Avenue // Brookly, NY 11221
(718)724-3450

Shout out to Leanne who came thru to take some polaroids:) Please email me so I can add to blog: tooflynyc@gmail.com

“La Reyna” Is based on a recent illustration I created right before NY trip. I didn’t have enough time to put in all the details the original sketch/ink piece has but on the wall I tried something new. I took away the black linework I am used to doing and messed around with the graphic colors of the paint. It was an interesting look, one that I have to continue to develop in cases where I run out of black paint, or have limited time to work. Linework takes hours and hours to do, especially on a big wall that needs to be completed in one day. Hoping to give this piece another try in the future with all the details, and on a wall that will run for a long while too <3

Thanks fellas! It was nice to meet and chat with all of you <3 Enjoy the summer:)

 

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Back from New York and ready to get these blog updates started! It was a busy busy trip this year. The NYC grind was in full effect. Shout out to everyone that came through to support the LLP crew this spring. It was a rainy windy day to start, but by the afternoon when most folks roll thru, the sunshine blessed us with a beautiful day. Just in time for the performances, and all our big supporters. This year the LLP team invited a few new vendors to join the creative art and designer crew. Check them out, they do beautiful handmade works! We love LOCAL, HANDMADE, and ORIGINAL CREATIONS. These guys fit right in. Aurora Barnes and Rhyme Factory did their thing, and DJ Enigma had us dancing for a bit to close out event. It was FUN!!! Besides the morning showers the Ladies Love Project Spring Pop-Up Shop this year was a success once more <3 Love to the crew and everyone who participated to the very end. We will be taking a break for Holiday this year, ( sad face ) but be sure to check our updates for 2015 as we revamp and prepare for something bigger! YOU KNOW HOW WE DO:)

RAIN OR SHINE!!! Ladies Love Project Spring Pop-Up Shop 2014 – Shout out to Samantha Morales for the beautiful flicks:)

LLP Crew fun every spring in the heart of the Lower East Side <3

The Toofly booth of new goodies was a success! THANK YOU TF supporters.

Hoodies sold out, but new ones coming this fall stay tuned.

Shout out to publisher Yoav from OUTDOOR GALLERY NYC Book. I finally got to sign his copy:)

Toofly / Love Warrior steez ” Staying True”

LIL EGO Fly as ever! Fashion and Lil Kids gear.

Vanilla Medallions Rock’n it! Her new handmade caps are dope!

Besos Not Bombs – gotta love the name!

Molly Hein with some new handmade cards:)

Wonder Lee the life of the party! Good Times:) We must hang more…

Shout out to my hommie Yvey for holding down the TF booth! and for all the peeps tweeting away event flicks. Go team!

We have lot’s more flicks of our vendors be sure to check out our facebook page here —> LLP SP/2014

Circa 95, Aurora Barnes and Rhyme Factory did their thing!

FUN IN THE SUN NOW AND FOREVER with my bestie <3

Beautiful People, Beauitful families

THANK YOU NEW YORK!!! We’ll be back bigger and doper than ever in 2015!

 

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