Project ASA - Amsterdam Street Art

Westergasterras, 4816.nl en Amsterdam Street Art are going to work together, to get a weekly creative event on the sunday's this summer at Westergasterras. So do you like ART,Music,drinks and food. This event will be your Sunday hang out spot this summer.

in the struggle for acceptance, which path do we take?

Five years ago I read this book that inspired me to advocate “graffiti”. Back then we used to call any public wall art as such, until recently when we learned to distinguish it from “street art”.

“Not a hypocritical art, like a lot of (although not all) the stuff you see in galleries, but something that we do without the hope of getting anything in return. To paint out of the simple desire to express oneself. An art that's there in the street for those that don't have a culture, don't understand art but like it for what it is...for the beggars, poor children, prostitutes, lunatics and drunks of the streets; at least, here in Brazil they adore it and always stop to chat with us.”
-Deninja
In “Graffiti Women” by Nicholas Ganz

Ah, finally, someone else gets it. They think the same way. There is hope – for art to return to the hoi polloi, the voiceless, the oppressed. Or so I thought.

I started my first stencil on the state university's fences as part of our usual org (organization) campaigns against privatization of schools. Someone would make a standard pattern (usually of the president's face with an annoying grin, juxtaposed with the popular rally chant at the moment “no to privatization!”, and the org's initials) that we would trace on cardboard. The leader would group us into buddy-systems and assign strategic areas where we would spray at night.

Though the image was standard, I felt proud seeing my “work” in the morning, thinking that I reinforced other students to join the protest, increased their social consciousness, for the greater good. Until one student quipped “these activists push for higher subsidy but destroy the facilities!”

I could've defended the work, but dismissed the comment thinking she was just an “unsophisticated elitist”. Soon I learned that everyone else outside our org was “unsophisticated”.

Meanwhile, at the College of Fine Arts in the same university, there was this “freedom wall” of graffiti that gets updated every month. Students would talk about how cool that month's theme was, and we would pass by the building to check it out. There were funny cartoons, even those of the president painted as the popular meme at the time. Subverts, rather than strongly political adverts. Lacking the “illegal” factor, it wasn't as bold and striking as the stencils we did, but just as effective and respectable as a propaganda, I thought.

Aha, I get it. It's not always the blatant and belligerent advertising that works. Sometimes we have to identify with the prejudices of the audience and find a way around them, lest they instinctively dismiss our work as repulsive even before reading it.

Today I marvel at these new forms of street art on Amsterdam apartments and reflect on how much the approach has changed. What approach? That it's not illegal? Or is “illegal” even relevant now, with the diverse and changing public? Whatever your stand is, we have to reach out to them first.

As part of an emerging movement of idealistic artists determined to legitimize the status of street art, I support the tolerant approach of Amsterdam street artists in welcoming new strategies to reach a wider audience. Call it commercialization, institutionalization (into the ideological state apparatus that graffiti originally sought to destroy), individualization, or deviation (into subcultures with conflicting ideologies), but I believe it is difficult to separate, if not attack the very “institution” that holds our audience. If mainstream is the goal, then we follow the rules of their game. That doesn't mean I’m not staying true to my advocacy to serve the people, does it?

I'm looking forward to being enlightened about relevant issues in this year's Project Amsterdam Street Art. To reserve accommodations check shortstay-apartment.com. I'm glad to learn that I share the same sentiment with other artists from the other side of the globe. 

Writer: Alex Salvador

Amsterdam Street Art & Highway to Arts Present the Street Light Festival in Amsterdam.
From January 26th to January 31st, Amsterdam will be enlightened by talented street artists from France for a unique artistic Festival in collaboration with local artists.

Saturday January 26th : The Gallery Exhibition
- The Amsterdam Street Art Gallery will be dedicated to Light Painters Vincent Bruno and Wen-Jié Yang from Paris, next to the painter Monark and other Street artists from the Amsterdam Area such as Ives One, Bustart, Sjem Bakkus etc... Live music by Kifmatek Looping & Guests. Open from 12h00 to 19h00. Free entrance. You can also get the opportunity to have a light painting picture of yourself taken by the artists.

Sunday January 27th : The Light Painting Workshops
- It’s a unique opportunity for you to learn the technique from the Masters, during 1 of the 2 group workshops at the ASA gallery. Vincent Bruno and Wen-Jié Yang will teach you the basics and assist you with your first light painting shots. 3 Hours Light painting workshop with both french artists Vincent Bruno and Wen-Jié Yang ! Price per session 30 euros per person. 12h00/15h00 and 16h00/19h00. ( reservation required ).

Monday January 28th : The Night Safari
- Bring your camera and follow Photographer Vincent Bruno in the Streets of Amsterdam for a Photo Safari based on Light Painting Performances. Take the picture and compare the results with the other participants ! A great moment for knowledge sharing in a friendly atmosphere. Price per person : 15 euros for 2 hours. 20h00 to 22h00 ( reservation required ).

Tuesday and Wednesday January 29th – 30th : The Gallery
- It’s your chance to come and purchase some of the last light painting pictures and more artworks from Vincent Bruno, Wen-Jié Yang and Monark. The Gallery will exceptionaly be open from 12h00 to 19h00 both days.

Thursday January 31st : The Celebration
- Meet the artists during the iWay 2 Arts at Winston Kingdom in Amsterdam Red Light District with some Digital Painting and Light Painting Live performances.. 2 Rock Bands and 3 Djs playing live music from 22h00 to 04h00, entrance 6 euros, presale 5 euros. Lineup : Alpha Wave, The Anomalys, Fiiix, Der Process, Rising Sun Greg. Artists : Monark, Ives One, Vincent Bruno. Facebook event :https://www.facebook.com/events/167883793353321

Ticket for the complete festival is 40 euros. It grants you access to all events ( workshop, photo safari, iWay 2 Arts, gallery exhibition) and includes a special Light Painting picture of you.
Info and Reservation : lightpainting@amsterdamstreetart.com
Vincent Bruno : https://www.facebook.com/VincentBrunoArt
« Vincent Bruno is an multidisciplinary Artist from the Parisian suburb. His inspiration comes from a combination of nature and the streets. He is a self-taught artist who moved to Paris at the age of 18. He started to exhibit his work on the streets gradually moving to bars and finally to the elite galleries of Paris. His work has also shown in: Amsterdam, Istanbul, New-York, Majorca and New-Delhi. At present, Vincent Bruno performs in numerous Parisian artistic venues where he is recognized for his diverse artistic talents including: Light painting, photography, graffiti, painting and sculpture. He is one of the select few who has been asked to take part in "Techfest", an event organized by the LPWA (Light Painter World Alliance). 
As a regular guest of the artistic parisian squats, Vincent Bruno has a social conscience and in France he has set up sketching workshops for youth groups and in jails. He has also recently started creating works of tattoo art. His unique creations adorn more than 50 people worldwide. »

Wen-Jié Yang : https://www.facebook.com/WenJieYangPhotographie
« Wen-Jié Yang is a Parisian Photographer, born to a Taiwanese family in Montmartre.
Self-taught, he sharpened his eyes in the streets of Paris and developped his skills through human pictures. After a short period performing « Slam » (french poetry accompined with Hip-hop music ), his night walks in the city made him discover new photographic techniques and styles. Epecially the Light Painting, for which he became very enthousiastic, releasing tutorials on internet and building different kind of prototypes in order to use them in his more and more advances scenes. ''He exhibits in Paris galleries since 2011 and In March 2012, he won the ARTAQ awards which allowed him to show his work throughout Europe for 1 year »
Vincent & Wen are part of a crew called the « light Club », association of artists who perform Light Painting. They have recently been interviewed on French TV in order to promote their art which is not yet known to the general public. https://www.facebook.com/DALIGHTCLUB
More info on http://www.facebook.com/iway2arts
http://www.facebook.com/amsterdamstreetart

Last Saturday 24th of November it was the BIG opening of our holiday store. It was a big success lot of people visited us and found a unique present for their loved ones. Greogory Duris made this great video of our opening.

We still have 5 Saturday's to come up. So please visit us 1,8,15 and 22 December 12:00/18:00
Adress: Zeeburgerdijk 476 1095 AL Amsterdam.

 Photo: Fred.

 Photo: ferrybooms.nl

 Photo: ferrybooms.nl

ASA and 4816.nl starting a pop-up store in Amsterdam. The store will be 500m from the Schellingwouderbrug Hall of fame.

We will sell stickers, T-shirts, canvas, streetart books, jewellery and many more artworks by several artist from Amsterdam,the rest of Holland and the world.

Come and visit us in one of the weekends we are open.
...
24 November, Big opening 14:oo/19:00
1,8,15 and 22 December 12:00/18:00
Adress: Zeeburgerdijk 476 1095 AL Amsterdam.

The big opening is 24th of November.
We have more then 50 artists in our store. we also have live music by:

*LOCO NICE (UK)
www.soundcloud.com/ian_marshall/carry-on-where-you-left-off

*PLUTO DASH (NL)
http://soundcloud.com/plutodashmusic/dashbash_osa-knixx

*DIRTY BASTARDS (NL)
http://soundcloud.com/dirty-bastards

And we have a live paint session by a team of ASA artists.

So come and visit us

ASA

ASA will open the new pop-up store on the 24th of November. opening at 14:00 till 19:00 more new ASAP

Here are some pictures of the ASA 2012 mural in Amsterdam.

We invited 9 artists to make a mural together.

Kar, DHM, SER, Artic. Ives.one, Sjoco Sjon, Mickey, Maty and Get.

photos made by: http://www.marcobuddingh.nl/

Stichting Amsterdam Street Art ASA en WACOM organiseren samen DesignBattle

A.s. woensdagavond 3 oktober vindt in Pakhuis de Zwijger de DesignBattle plaats,  georganiseerd door Stichting Amsterdam Street Art ASA en Wacom. De DesignBattle wordt georganiseerd om (straat)kunstenaars kennis te laten maken met de mogelijkheden van digitale kunst met behulp van Wacom’s pentablets.

Vijf designers strijden tegen elkaar door een `character` van Claudia Utopia (ClaudiaTat2) te bewerken. De vijf designers hebben 60 minuten de tijd om haar `character` te redesignen op de Bamboo pentablet van Wacom. Claudia is een bekende ontwerpster en heeft veel ervaring met Wacom´s pentablets. Het aanwezige publiek kan live meekijken op vijf grote schermen in de Grote Zaal van Pakhuis de Zwijger. Een professionele vakjury, waaronder INKIE (Banksy´s voormalige rechterhand) uit Londen, beslist uiteindelijk wie de DesignBattle wint.

Drie winnaars krijgen een prijs, w.o. de Bamboo pentablet en een geldprijs.
Na de DesignBattle is de nieuwe documentaire over Utrechts beroemdste streetartist KBTR te zien.
De documentaire is van de hand van Sjors Swierstra en Sara Plas.

Lokatie                   : Pakhuis de Zwijge  Piet Heinkade 179
Datum | aanvang    : 3 oktober | 19:30 uur
Einde                     : 23:30 uur
Presentatie             : Claire van der Hall
Entree                    : Gratis


We asked four questions to four Amsterdam based street art creatives, who we think have stand out in their own unique way in Amsterdam in 2011. Here is part four with Arden de Raaij from CFYE.

CFYE is Arden de Raaij and Kaymir Stark and have been running the website since 2008. We think CFYE is most definitely one of the best sites around to find great street art, but also photography and other subjects that inspire them. Did you know that CFYE is based in Amsterdam? Yup! We totally respect good things that come from Amsterdam. Respect to CFYE!


C215 & Alice Pasquini @ Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.  Photo: Nicole Blommers

1. (Personal) highlight of 2011

Our personal highlight was the re-release of cfye.com! It took three months of developing (known by our followers as 'the dark ages') but we're stoked with the result!

Other than that we did a CFYE light painting event in June, during Nuit Blanche Amsterdam. We had an amazing team of light painters who gave workshops to over 400 people in one night. In the end we only lost money on it, but it was so much fun!!

2. What makes Amsterdam attractive for street artists to live or visit?

Amsterdam is a great city for anyone, street artist or not! But for Street artists I'd like to say that Amsterdam is no London, Barcelona or Berlin. Amsterdam is a small town with a small inner city where everyone wants to live. That means there isn't a nice wall for you available around every corner. That being said I think Amsterdam has great opportunity for street artists to set themselves apart and be part of the cityscape. As long as you're consistent, persistent and do what you love you can find places to paint, paste, stencil or whatever you would like to do here.

3. If an artist of choice (or yourself)  could paint at any location in Amsterdam, where would you want him/her to do so?

Hah that's a good question! We've all seen some huge walls getting painted during big street art festivals all around the world. But I don't think Amsterdam is that kind of town though! There are a few prime locations where this is possible, but other than that it's all about street level stuff!

So my favorite locations for more street art would be the obscure ones, the alleyways, the places where interaction with the public space is well possible. If I'd organize a street art festival I'd probably go for all the electricity boxes, post boxes and other ugly but necessary objects in the city, legal or illegal. The way artists like Sao, C215, Cyclops and of course EVOL use these everyday objects as a creative canvas is more inspiring to me than any 20 square meter wall.

4. Which street artist(s) are we gonna hear more about in 2012.

More hard questions! There are so many amazing individuals we have not heard the last of!
Alice Pasquini (see above photo) is the first name that pops into mind, I love her work! It's subtile, yet strong. It's street, but feminent. It's classy but playful. All in all she's a very complete artist with amazing drawing skills and I'm sure we haven't heard the last of here.

Not a street artist, but I think Graffiti artist LUSH is someone who we are going to hear more about. He's been doing shows in LA and Melbourne the past year, if he does a show in Europe in 2012, he'll get everyone talking for sure!!

Link: www.cfye.com