Alias Arts

It’s official.

It was announced this morning that Banksy’s first film, Exit Through The Gift Shop, will hit theaters in the United States beginning on Friday, April 16th in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Dates for additional cities across the country – including Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta – will be announced soon.

Over the weekend Banksy also released the official “one sheet” poster for the film. New Yorkers and street art fans will recognize the building in the image (and the street art and tags) as the iconic old bank building at Spring and Bowery in Soho.

We were thrilled to open our email box this morning to find out that one of our favorite artists Jessica Joslin has finished the lastest collection of her sculptures. Jessica’s work combines bone fragments with things like antique brass, hardware, glove leather, fur, sterling silver, glass eyes, silver teapot spouts, and more.

We’re thrilled to let you know that Jessica new solo show “Brass & Bone” opens next week at Lisa Sette Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona.

To see more of the work, click here.

Brass & Bone
Lisa Sette Gallery
April 1 – 24, 2010
Opening April 1st, 7 – 9pm

What happens when you place a wipeable life-size Prime Minister with a provocative empty speech bubble on the south bank opposite The Houses of Oarliament?

This interactive installation marking the upcoming election put freedom of speech in the hands of the public, and provided tourists with an up close and personal interaction with the man himself. This is the third in the series of Street Art Installations called “Glasnost UK” by Street Artist “Contra”. A series of interactive installations that engage the public in playful way and aim to inspire creativity, openness, freedom of speech, and sometimes general amusement.

(Public Participation in the Video in order:

Man: An umbrella to the heart during installation

Italian tourists: “Hello Dear Bato”

Two Girls: Devil horns a missing tooth and a beard were drawn on to his head and face.

Father and young daughter: *Devil features removed* “Happy Birthday Helen”

*Corrected* “Happy Birthday Mum”

Large group and man before security *Bubble Win* “I Bow to you Obama”

(Unfortunately due to the location, the duration of Mr Brown was short lived to 32 Minutes, as he was later removed by security. Close ups in photos at the end)

Sampa from Jared Levy on Vimeo.

Rui Amaral, Onesto and Binho cover the streets of São Paulo, Brasil (a.k.a. Sampa) in a fight against urban gray monotony.

“I’m exhausted, but i want to get this out. I pasted Red Lake today.

I woke up late this morning, around 10:30 or so. Stumbled out of bed thinking “…no, I’m not up for pasting today afterall.” Around noon I wandered outside for a moment and thought “…Shit! The weather is perfect. It’s warm and there’s very little wind. I’ve got to go paste.” I’d thought I was going to collaborate with someone this weekend, but she pulled a no show (leaving me alone to hang a 14.5 foot piece in 4 parts). On the 30 mile drive over to Red Lake I rethought through hanging this piece alone but hoping all the while I’d be able to find someone at the old trading post to help me.

Once I got there I connected with Lorenzo who runs the place. I learned later that he lives above the trading post. He said he’d run the place since 1991 and thinks the lower part was built in 1891. (Dig that.) I love old trading posts. The inside of this one is totally old school.

Lorenzo was super nice. Upon seeing me, he started cracking jokes and giving me shit for not knowing more Navajo after 23 years. We have a deal going. I’m going to find a hot, young nurse for him at the clinic where I work and in return, he’s going to find for me a hot, young, sheep herder. (This was all his idea.) I’d told him I’d try to get there last weekend to hang this piece. He greeted me today with “….I had four young sheepherders waiting for you last weekend.” I thought “…great. I’ve no idea why I didn’t come last weekend but really wish I had.”

Lorenzo and his three grandsons (by clan), along with the cashier from the trading post, all helped me. And here I thought I’d be installing alone and I ended up having 5 people help me. Gotta love it. I asked Lorenzo to document the process with my camera. These are his photos.

Once we were done, Lorenzo invited me to join them in a sweat. It was a most incredible end to a day when I thought I woundn’t paste. In addition to the teachings from the wise ones and his own life observations, Lorenzo gave me the name “Hosteen James.” He said “…Chip just doesn’t sound right.”

They went a full 4 rounds. I loved the songs and sharing of the 2 rounds I experienced.

What a day.”… Chip Thomas

More photos here.

Dinosaur ♥ Robot from Dinosaur Robot on Vimeo.