TOOFLY NYC

#Tooflypopup at the next La Carishina event in Quito, Ecuador December 15 & 16 from 11am -7PM. See you there!

I released a FLY red sweater this Sprig. Really happy with the way it came out, its look and feel. Super cozy! Shout out to all my homegirls out there who got theirs it was a super limited run. More colors to come in the fall. www.tooflynyc.com/shop

 

Thanks gang! #TEAMWORK

I started this sketch back in 2017, and the idea unfolded as the new year set in. I thought she would be dope for #WomensHistoryMonth during my trip to NY in March. The rest is herstory! Don;t miss it. ONE DAY ONLY March 10th, 2018 7-11PM. UPTOWN NY at Taller Peralta.

Hello December! I think we finally figured out that December is the best time to host our annual Ladies Love Project Holiday Pop-Up Shop. We used to host it every November but it’s a very busy month for travel. We have lost count as this is our 10+ pop-up shop since Patty Dukes and I started it back in 2017. Each year it get’s better and more organized. Our LLP crew has changed but the love is still all there. Our vendor roster has reached 60+ and have to now rotate each year, Unfortunately we can not all fit in one location with the increasing rents in NY. We like to keep our vendor fees reasonable,  and curating tight. At some point the perfect location will pop-up for many more to be involved until then we are happy that The Living Gallery in Bushwick Brooklyn can fit most of us. Thank you to all who support the project we are happy to keep growing and visiting new cities in 2018. Stop and and celebrate the holiday season with us! #shoplocal #shopsmall and #shophandmade

There’s a new line of work that is developing “Rebel & Rise” It’s a black, white, and red graphic art collection. It started with some marker drawings one day and then I decided to make a tote. Now I have a love icon tank top, 4″ sticker, and a button 4pack to add to the collection. It will grow into a few more designs as time moves forward. Enjoying the process and what develops.

Wow! Designer Con this year was huge! I’ve never seen those very long lines before. It’s a good sign. This independent arts culture is growing. We’re out there and people love it! This year was particularly fun because The Ladies Love Project got an opportunity to set up shop with Crewest Studios. They sponsored 3 artists; Toofly, Ritzy P, and Nisha K Sembi from California. Our treo did a great job. It was the first time we had ever teamed up and we had a good time! Thank you everyone that came thru the booth to support and enjoy. Thank you Crewest Alex, and Scott and the entire staff for hooking up the booth this year! Good times.

Until next time!

And just like that it’s time to wrap up the year! 1st stop Los Angeles, CA — geared up and ready for the Ladies Love Project Pop-Up Shop sponsored by Crewest Studios. On Saturday November 9th we kick-off the DCON party at Escala in Korea Town. Everyone is invited!!! Ritzy P, myself, and Nisha K Sethi are teaming up to rock a fly booth with original works of art, live art, limited edition prints, gear, goodies, and much more. Follow our IG pages for the inside scoop and behind the scenes action. We will be at the Crewest Studios Booth #1708 for 2 days! Stop by and check us out. Press Release below.

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

Ladies Love Project Summer Pop-Up Shop 2017 At The Living Gallery this year! Good times. Thank you LLP Crew, Circa 95, and everyone who helped us get the event rolling this year. Our guest photogrpher this year 19 year old Tatiana Lovera. ( some are Toofly flicks and some are Shiro Flicks )

LLP DAY 2!

THANK YOU LLP FAM!

The #TooflyPopUpShop returned this year for the 2nd time at Rebelution Ink now known as Fresh Off The Press. The printing location where my shirts, tank tops, and tote bags are printed. The space is a perfect size for what I need and it’s in an excellent location in Williamsburg  near train, restaurants, bars, parks, waterfronts, and more. When curating an event all these elements need to be in place. It allows guests to hang out in the neighborhood after or before pop-up and keep the night going long after event is over. This year I decided to give it a little twist! In the past I only opened up shop for 1 day, this time I decided to do a weekend long event and introduce a sip & mingle mixer in the patio, and a workshop. It worked out pretty good, despite the rain. You just never know with the weather these days and Saturday was pouring! Special shout out to friends, and guests that trooped it that day. Especially my cousin Chill Will who got a chance to celebrate his B-Day with all of us after the pop-up. Sunday was a lot nicer and I was happy to see the hommies swing thru for a much needed chat. There is never enough time but when we carve it out it’s perfect. Students enjoyed the workshop earlier that day, and it made me think that an adult workshop needs to happen. Who doesn’t want to sip and make art on a Sunday afternoon? I found that the conversations with the ladies and gents is hella fun! I need to work on this idea a bit more. The events I am curating are small and a great learning experience to fine tune them. It feels good to bring people together and the vibe is genuine. It’s not about hype or faking the funk that your authentic, like so many events these days. Before all that BS we just had a good time together with music, drinks, and company. Community minded folks know what’s up and they will troop it rain or shine. I appreciate that. These events take months, love, and work to prepare. Shout out to everyone that came thru to support and purchase some TF goodies, Randy for holding us down on all aspects of the space, and to my wonderful team Ana Lovera on TF sales and Crafty Cocktales for teaming up this year on the mixer. Thank you NYC!