Flood The Art Market Silent Auction & Party



A group of New York artists have got together to do a benefit for Hurricane Sandy. The silent auction and party is on monday at the Cristin Tierney Gallery 546 W 29th St in Chelsea – should be a lot of fun and a chance to buy some very cool art for a good cause. Artists include Todd James, Zephyr, Jamel Shabazz, Charlie Ahearn, Cey Adams, Jane Dickson The Sucklord, Hally McGehean, David Corio and many more. I donated a Clash photograph shot  at the Music Machine in London in 1979 – onstage with them is Jimmy Pursey and Steve Jones – all punk attitude.

Kosmo Vinyl West Ham

I first met Kosmo Vinyl (above) at an Ian Dury concert in Aylesbury in 1980, I was taking photos for Melody Maker. Kosmo was always a stylish lad – he had started out at Stiff Records, hoping to become a roadie, but as he tells me his ” big mouth soon put at end to that” and he became Ian Dury’s Press Agent working very closely together on pretty much everything to do with him and The Blockheads, except for money – “neither of us had any interest in it”  Later he moved to the Clash camp where he did all sorts of things : Spokesperson, Management, MC, Barber and lots more over time.

Ian Dury (above) Aylesbury 1980 during the ‘Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll’ days

Now over 30 years later we both live in New York City – and I am taking a portrait of him for his blog which is all about the ‘Hammers’ – Kosmo is a life long West Ham fan and follows the team religiously. He makes collages after each game and posts the results on his blog ‘Is Saitch Yer Daddy’ Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs of being 3,473 Miles from Upton Park and West Ham United. This results for theis last game with Manchester United on Thursday Jan 17 were a bit of a disappointment – see below. But it was nice to see Kosmo – stylish as ever – and have a chat about the old days over a cup of tea.

Donwan Harrell PRPS

The mastermind behind the jeans company PRPS is Donwan Harrell. He is a man of many talents. We first met in the summer when I went to shoot him and his friends at a garage somewhere in New Jersey where he keeps his collection of American muscle cars.

We got to talking and I found out that he also has an extraordinary collection of Levi jeans, some dating from the beginning of the last century.  He has a friend  that ‘mines’ them – yes he literally digs them out of an old gold mine somewhere out West. Donwan knows the provenance of every detail, rivet and stitch. No wonder his own collection of jeans is so cool – it is based on history and perfection.

In his midtown show room he lets me see a project he is working on – he is drawing freehand directly on to Vietnam issue M65 jackets that were worn by American military during the Vietnam war – beautiful and disturbing images of war – soldiers, mothers with children helicopters, guns. One of the jackets was worn by his friend Will (below) who was in the Marines – very powerful stuff. Donwan is an artist.

Wynwood Miami Art Basel

Last week I went to Art Basel in Miami. First day crossed the bridge to see the Wynwood Walls – artists from all over the world painting walls – art in progress night and day. Bumped into Mr Brain Wash (above), saw Kenny Sharf , shopped at Erni’s EVL World,  finally met the original ‘Shady’ who took me to his club – in the hidden backyard is a Ron English mural and some other gems. Next day went to the ‘tents’ Context’ and ‘ Scope’, Bansky print editions of 500 selling for $10K – then some artist got in a fight and pepper sprayed the place causing a mass evacuation of the show.

Speedy Graphito from Paris (above)

The one and only “Shady’

Tats by Mr Cartoon

Parking lot $5 to see the graffiti – no thanks

Ron English mural

Flood The Art Market Hurricane Sandy Benefit

Going to Art Basel in Miami  this week – donated some photos to this great project Flood The Art Market benefit for NY Foundation for the Arts Relief Fund. A lot of great artists have given work – check them out if you are in the Wynwood Miami area. And I hear the Wynwood Walls are amazing this year..

Rhythm Revue Felix Hernandez

Last Saturday I went to Roseland for the 20th Anniversary of the ‘Rhythm Revue’. For those that do not know the Rhythm Revue is an all out soul, disco dance party hosted by famed DJ Felix Hendandez. The dressed up crowd, mostly original soul, funk and disco lovers from back in the day, some of the guys sporting all out zoot suits with hats and shoes to match, the ladies in tight dresses and a good bit of sparkle. The party is famous for the biggest electric slide – some 3000 people all dancing in line – and classic soul music – it was amazing. Get ready for the next party, a Hurricane Sandy benefit at Roseland on December 15th.

Hurricane Sandy

Graffiti on wall in Red Hook – the ‘devil’ hurricane passed through our area leaving destruction in it’s wake, followed by a massive snowstorm.

It is almost 2 weeks since Hurricane Sandy hit the New York area devastating some parts like Red Hook, Rockaway and Staten Island and leaving others untouched. Some of us lost power for a week, other areas still dark after all this time have no heat or light, people have no food, elderly people are  stranded on high floors of apartment buildings, stores are shuttered, there is no phone service. Many people are left homeless, their houses destroyed by flooding.

Father and son outside a church today in Red Hook where food trucks are giving out much needed hot meals.

Alfred organizes volunteers at the grass roots community center run by GOLES (Good Old Lower East Side).  Volunteers from all over are helping out, distributing food, clothing and essentials at churches and community centers, making sandwiches, clearing debris, knocking on doors to see if people need help, donating supplies like warm blankets, batteries and flashlights, food and clothing.

There is a line to talk to the lady from FEMA trying to help Red Hook residents. People are amazingly patient.

A huge pile of soaking wet debris we helped load into a dumpster today in Red Hook. Furniture, clothes, children’s toys, books ..

Amongst the debris from a church is a basket of rosaries

Debris outside a flood damaged building in Red Hook – the windows still taped from the hurricane

Patti Astor Fun Gallery

On Saturday I went to Patti Astor’s long awaited book launch for the ‘Fun Gallery ..the true story’, it was jammed with her friends, artists  from back in the days : Bill Stelling (co owner of the gallery), Jane Dickson, Collette, Charlie Ahearn (above) and many more.

Patti Astor started the Fun Gallery with Bill Stelling in 1981, they gave the first shows to many artists including Basquiat, Lee Quinones, SHARP, Keith Haring, Fab 5 Freddy, Cey One, Zephyr, and Revolt. It got it’s name when Kenny Scharf’s show “Atoms Can Be Fun” filled the front window with doomed, melting figures. The space was constantly changing – Dondi White flooded the Fun with graffiti heads collected from every borough in New York, Jane Dickson painted the space neon green to hang her gritty cityscapes on vinyl and Lee Quinones covered the front with a huge sprayed “MOM.

I first encountered graffiti artists in London while working for Melody Maker in 1981 where I photographed Futura and Dondi (below) at the first hip hop event to come to the UK. A month later I shot rapper/artist J Water Negro (below) for the Christmas cover of the magazine.  In 1982 I moved to New York and a few years later I was living on Avenue B and 8th Street, riding on graff covered trains and going to art shows at the Fun Gallery, Gracie Mansion, PPOW et al.  Patti’s book is a great read, it totally captures the crazy early 80’s East Village art scene.

Jose James

I shot Jose James‘ CD cover earlier this year – now his amazing song ‘Trouble’ is Single of the Week on i-tunes. The song, which features ‘James’ immeasurably cool crooning ‘ and pianist Robert Glasper, seems to be a FREE download – get to it!

Sean O’Pry

A few weeks ago I was asked to photograph a guy called Sean O’Pry. Not knowing who Sean was, I discovered that he is the world’s top male model. Scouted in 2006 from his prom photos on My Space by Nolé Marin and represented by VNY he has been the face of Calvin Klein, Georgio Armani, Versace, H&M, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana and Zara amongst others. On the day of the shoot the fashion editor appeared with racks of clothing and maybe 40 pairs of shoes . Sean arrived shortly after and had breakfast of Red Bull and an egg sandwich from the local deli – he was tired, told me he’s been working for 4 months straight.  Sean is from Kennesaw Georgia – he has a kind of James Dean look, likes American muscle cars, boxing, drawing, he’s giving up smoking any minute –  he is really cool, easy going and great model with lots of the right attitude. We took photos under the Williamsburg Bridge and around the ‘hood – I wanted to give the shoot a ‘rock n roll style’ look, not too ‘fashion’ to reflect the clothes and Sean’s character.