The mysterious street artist Banksy is set to premier his documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop at the Sundance Film Festival. Although he is rumored to appear in the flick, it is doubtful as to whether he will actually reveal his identity. Check the trailer below. Thanks to ArrestedMotion for all the infos. More at Banksy’s site.

Scion kicks off the next incarnation of its  national art tour this weekend in Los Angeles. Installation 6: VIDEO features an all-video lineup which will visit several cities over the coming months. Featured artists are: Dust la Rock (Brooklyn, NY), Eric Nakamura (Los Angeles, CA), Saelee Oh (Los Angeles, CA), Funeral Fog (French + Alan Glass) (London, England), Ill-Studio (Paris, France), Josh Graham (New York, NY), Monihan Monihan (New York, NY), Mark Mothersbaugh (Los Angeles, CA), PMKFA (Tokyo, Japan) and Sage Vaughn (Los Angeles, CA)

January 23rd, 7pm – 10pm (runs through Feb 13)
@ Scion Installation L.A.
3521 Helms Ave (at National)
Culver City, CA. 90232
www.scion.com/installation

free valet | open bar | all artists in attendance

Should be interesting, here’s a sneak preview:

Scion Installation 6: Video – Los Angeles from Scion ART on Vimeo.

Rob Abeyta, Jr is a dope visual artist &  art director who has worked with companies such as Girl Skateboard, Nike, Stussy,  and on projects with Estevan Oriol and Mister Cartoon.He has published a book with Upper Playground, and recently participated in Scion’s Installation 5 national art tour. In this video he discusses the tour and more about his background, starting out by designing punk rock flyers, and his influences.

Rob Abeyta Jr. Interview from Scion ART on Vimeo.

Check out JEN E & RITZY P SUPREME GOODS at the 2nd Annual UNIQUE LA Holiday Show, on December 5th & 6th, 11am-6pm, booth 908. The largest independent design show on the West Coast, with over 300 local designers and artists takes place at the California Market Center (110 east 9th Street). The $10 entrance fee not only gets you in for both days but part of the proceeds goes to the local non-profit 826LA.

Jen E and Ritzy P met a few years ago and now, they not only share friends, work ethics and their love for tequila, but they create Supreme Goods. Pillows, prints, urban tea towels, jewelry, beasties, ceramic bowls, and tiny treasures. Jen E, born Jennifer Kuroki, is a potter/art director based in LA. She’s played with clay for over 10 years. Three of those years she spent in Japan, developing her whimsical style that incorporates the vernacular of contemporary visual culture with a sense of tradition and history. Ritzy Periwinkle, aka Marisa Estrada, is an LA-based artist/designer with roots in urban art and music culture. Ritzy P communicates a resonant energy and respect for the community of women and people of color. She works in photography, illustration, graphics and now vinyl toys. Witness her gritty style balanced with a light and positive vibe.

Today I had a lovely surprise in my mailbox. The homie Ritzy Periwinkle sent me one of her very first vinyl toys that she customized for the Bic Buddy Artist Series as a ‘thank-you’ for helping her out with some marketing. Check out the pics below of my little beauty ;) And yes, that’s Ritzy’s signature on the top. You can purchase one of your own by checking out Ritzy’s store – it costs a mere $15 so buy one for yourself and another as a Xmas gift for someone you like! Also worth a read is this interview that M.I.S.S. did with Ritzy as part of their ‘Women Making History’ series.

View and bid online: http://artnet.com/scion.html

Scion Installation 5: Self Portrait – Final Show & Online Art Auction Trailer from Scion ART on Vimeo.

SCION LAUNCHES “INSTALLATION 5 TOUR: SELF PORTRAITS” ONLINE AUCTION ON ARTNET.COM TO BENEFIT CREATIVE CAPITAL SEPT. 12 THROUGH SEPT. 30

Collection Features Self Portraits From International Contemporary Artists, Including Blek le Rat, Mark Mothersbaugh, David Choe, Ron English, Jeff Soto, Angela Boatwright, Among Many Others

For the fifth year, Scion auctions off an unprecedented collection of contemporary works to benefit charities and
non-profits that support independent artistic expression.  The Installation 5 Tour collection features literal and non-literal self-portraits of varying cost by international art luminaries, with 100 percent of the proceeds aiding Creative Capital, the premier national artist support organization (www.creativecapital.org).  Audiences around the world can bid online at ArtNet: http://www.ArtNet.com/scion.html.  The auction closes on Sept. 30. Artwork values range from $100 to $17,000 and bidding will begin at 25% of the art’s estimated worth.

“It is an absolute honor to work with these incredible artists in support of visionary arts non-profit organizations,” says Jeri Yoshizu, Scion sales and promotion manager.  “Since we launched the Installation Tour in 2003, we’ve raised more than $190,000 for art-related charities and look forward to continuing our support of exciting and impactful contemporary art.”

Logan Hicks Interview from Scion ART on Vimeo.

About Creative Capital

Founded in January 1999, Creative Capital Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that supports individual artists pursuing innovative approaches to form and content in the fields of performing, visual, literary, and media arts, as well as in emerging arts fields. Creative Capital evolved as a response by philanthropists, arts professionals, artists, and business leaders to government cuts in funding to individual artists. Its model differs from those of traditional grantmakers in that the foundation commits to a long-term approach to working with artists. Artists in Creative Capital’s grant program have access to professional services, including assistance in fundraising, networking, marketing, and strategic planning. In addition, grantees agree to share with Creative Capital a small percentage of any profits made by the project.

Creative Capital Foundation has supported 325 projects, representing 411 artists in their first ten years. For more information on the funded projects and for the latest on the foundation’s activities, visit www.creative-capital.org.

Souther Salazar Interview from Scion ART on Vimeo.

COPE2 and CHOR BOOGIE are: Beauty & The Beast
Mid-City Arts, September 26th, 7pm – 11:30pm

COPE 2 is a Graffiti legend from the Bronx whose reputation for bombing has earned him the title “God of Destruction”. CHOR BOOGIE hails from San Diego, CA and his work is purely legal, spiritual and therapeutic. A deep spiritual healing and recovery from addiction nearly a decade ago transformed his life and has had a major impact in his style of color therapy and techniques of creative innovation.

These two diverse artists come together for the “Beauty & The Beast” exhibit at Mid-City Arts, curated by POSE 2 to challenge and expand our notions of art.

Video trailer for the show:

Both artists have been featured in the media several times, here’s a few highlights:

* COPE 2 has been featured in a Converse/MTV Artist spotlight:
http://www.cope2kingsdestroy.com/clips_converse.html

* COPE 2 was hired by TIME magazine to create a billboard for them:
http://www.cope2kingsdestroy.com/clips_time.html

* Chor Boogie and Pose 2 created an MTV ad:

* Chor Boogie explains his theory of art, color theory and healing:

http://www.chorboogie.com/
http://www.cope2kingsdestroy.com/
http://midcity-arts.com/

The homie Ritzy Periwinkle, who is an amazing artist, is making us proud with the release of her first vinyl toy. She is a featured artist in the Bic Buddy Artist Series 1. There are 13 artists in total, Ritzy being one of only 2 female artists in the series. Official details:

Bic Plastics recently announced their first mini figures artist series, dubbed “Bic Buddy Artist Series 1.” The series features custom designs from 13 artists including: Ritzy Periwinkle, Marka27, COPE2, KANO and more. Ritzy’s design shows off the wings accessory, adding a new dimension to the standard figure shape. “I only had a couple of days to create two design options for BICS Plastics,” explains Ritzy.  “The chosen design was inspired by my experiences of Dia De Los Muertos in Oaxaca, Mexico, as well as the ongoing struggles of women all over the world, the revolutionary acts we commit on the daily and the incredible strength of my mom, who passed away 14 years ago.” The Bic Buddy figures will be distributed in the USA by DKE toys and in Taiwan by Pixie. They will be available in August with a preview at SD Comic Con next week, and there will be release/signing events in L.A. (AUG 15), N.Y.C. (AUG 20) and CHI TOWN (AUG 22).

Ritzy Periwinkle, aka Marisa Estrada is a Los Angeles artist and designer with deep roots in urban art and music culture. The name Ritzy Periwinkle, a pseudonym that started among her and her crew, stems from “Maritza” (the way her birth name was originally supposed to be spelled) and the Crayola color, “Periwinkle”. The tight beats and poetic lyrics of Hip Hop fuel her artistic creativity. Graduating from California State University Long Beach with a fine art degree with an emphasis in graphic design, Ritzy has created designs and artwork for Dilated Peoples, Aterciopelados, Sonic Youth, Calle 13, “I Am Legend”, Slick Rick, Arcade Fire and many more.  With art exhibitions in art and music hubs such as Los Angeles, Detroit and New York, Ritzy communicates a beautiful energy and respect for her community of women and people of color. Working in photography, illustrations, graphics, collage and creating a flourishing boutique t-shirt line, Ritzy compliments her gritty stylistic tendencies with a positive vibe that is attributed to her eclectic influences and unique background.  Ritzy Periwinkle happily mixes music and art to her own beat, bringing pure harmony to her creativity.

Ritzy P was recently commissioned by Capitol Records to do three original pieces for the special domestic packaging of the Nat King Cole remix project RE:GENERATIONS along with the graphic design of the domestic and international packaging. Her artwork was featured in the accompanying exhibit and CD release celebration at Los Angeles’ Crewest Gallery, and she was interviewed and featured in issue 3 of Waxpoetics Japan in conjunction with this project. Other recent projects from Ritzy include participation in the Stoked Sessions LA benefit, the redesign of the LA Forum website (http://www.thelaforum.com/) and a microsite for Santana (http://www.supernaturalsantana.com/).

In addition to the Bic Buddy series, Ritzy is participating in a group show at Meltdown Comics Gallery on Sept 4th. The show will feature work from Los Angeles local artists as well as some old school New York City classics. She is also getting ready to launch her own line of merchandise to include new shirt designs, pillows, postcards, urban tea towels and posters. In collaboration with ceramist Jen E, the two will be creating ceramic pendants customized with Ritzy P designs and a series of urban Japanese small ceramic boxes – “little treasures.” Catch JEN E & RITZY P SUPREME GOODS at this year’s Winter UNIQUE LA show.

More info about Ritzy Periwinkle
Ritzy’s blog post about her vinyl toy

Ritzy P and others discussing the Nat King Cole project:

Opening this weekend at Mid-City Arts is Miami Graffiti, a celebration of Jim & Karla Murray’s book documenting the Miami graffiti scene, and an art show featuring the work of many of Miami’s top street artists.
July 11, 7pm – 9pm
www.midcity-arts.com

MID CITY ARTS PRESENTS: MIAMI GRAFFITI – Street Art Exhibit, Installation & Book Signing
Mid-City Arts continues to bring the best of street art to Los Angeles with its latest show honoring the Miami graffiti scene. “Miami Graffiti” opens July 11, 7pm – 9pm and will be on view through July 26th.

Rapidly becoming one of the United States’ top graffiti destinations, Miami, Florida is home to a deep well of talented artists driven by a fiercely competitive graffiti scene.  Miami’s profile has risen thanks to the city’s role as host to the famed “Art Basel” and most recently “Primary Flight.” “Primary Flight” is the internationally acclaimed, site-specific, street level mural installation that takes place during Art Basel. Artists that have graced the Primary Flight walls include Crome, MSG, Typoe as well as Blek Le Rat, Retna, El Mac, David Choe, Revok and many others.

Miami Graffiti by photographers Jim and Karla Murray is the first book to capture Miami’s graffiti scene. Documenting 20+ years of graffiti art and history along with Miami’s most notorious crews and writers, Miami Graffiti is a detailed presentation of South Florida’s past, present, and future of graffiti.

Mid City Arts’ “Miami Graffiti” show is a celebration of the release of Jim and Karla Murray’s book – they will be on hand to sign books -  and a showcase of some of Florida’s finest street artists from the MSG, TCP, SH and THC crews. Artists from these crews are coming out to Los Angeles and will be displaying their work in the gallery as well as customizing the gallery’s back yard space. Featured artists include Crome, Typoe, Acme, Enve, Murder, Afex, Kemo, Cynic, Gere, Flojoe and others. The show is curated by “Slow”.

The MSG crew formed in 1994 by a group of kids bonded through their shared street backgrounds and love of graffiti. Now, 14 years later, MSG has evolved into a creative collective that has expanded into everything from graphic design and fine art, to retail and product design, and everything in between. South Florida’s Crome is one that region’s graffiti pioneers. Crome’s work is an amalgam of sex, color, crime and fun. Drawing inspiration from Miami’s clashing of tropical South Beach & seedy underbelly of Downtown Districts, he creates images that reflect the dichotomy between the beauty, style and color of the former, while balancing it with the images of prostitution; drive bys and drugs of the latter. Crome is multifaceted and multi-dimensional.  He’s an artist with a dark past and a bright future making his mark on the vanilla, superficial Miami art scene.

More info: http://www.midcity-arts.com