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.

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/

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

Two of street art’s finest talents, Retna and El Mac, are appearing together at 33Third this Sunday, June 7 for a rare live painting collaboration. The two have worked together on several well-known street pieces, but this will be a great opportunity to watch them work their magic live before your eyes! The event will take place from 12pm-6pm at 33Third and will also mark the opening of their joint show in the adjoining Mid-City Arts gallery. An afternoon not to be missed.

Check out the teaser video:

Retna & The Mac – Mid-City Arts – Preview from elemental on Vimeo.

Some examples of their collaborations:

KCET’s SoCal Connected featured a segment on graffiti art last night, including coverage of the recent Chaka opening at Mid-City Arts, and interviews with Chaka, Revok and Retna. Check out a clip below.