Removal Satisfies the Condition

 

These images are from my last solo exhibit at the Canal Chapter. Mike and Jason who have supported my work for a long time asked me to do a solo show partially on the condition I bring the work into the gallery. With that in mind I stole 1 garbage can from times square, 1 billboard from williamsburg, 3 subway entrance ads from chinatown, 3 cigarette butt cans from the lower east side, 18 bar bathroom ads from the lower east side, and 1 phonekiosk from various places. I brought those public advertising structures into the gallery and used them as frames for a series of simple lines drawings using only light and shadow. Along with this there was video footage of all the structures being removed. Removal did satisfy the condition and that was getting rid of at least a few ads for a little while.

Paper Champion (revisited)

This project was part of a gallery installation at 3Legged Dog's temporary space at 45 John St. in lower Manhattan. I was enraged with the way the Paper Champion project suffered in Times Square and wanted a chance to engage a dialogue with the audience over what had happened. The installation included a video of the original paper champion project being installed. Audio recordings of interviews with pedestrians after the initial project was so calously removed flanked by three of the original images. I also recreated my studio environment in order to give the viewer an understanding of the time and effort involved in the project. Lastly the floors were covered with the 84 advertisements which had been removed during the original posting. Along with the gallery install I took over the phone kiosk outside of the gallery and for one week ran the same images I had uptown. The second week I replaced those images with a representation of my feelings surrounding the entire event. 

Paper Champion

This fold-out map was intended to escort viewers around to the various locations and was promptly confiscated by the NYPD a few hours after the Scope~ Art Fair began.



This project took place in Times Square on 03-11-05 in conjunction with the Scope~ Art Fair. There were a total of 84 individual advertisements taken over on a total of 27 different public advertising structures. Within 4 hours of posting this project was almost entirely removed, materials were confiscated and I was threatened with my first lawsuit by the fine gentlemen at ReceptaSign. Phone Kiosks, Public Garbage Cans, Subway Entrance/Exits, and Parking Garage Entrances were all hit but only the subway entrance/exits survived and thus constitute the only documentation available.

The Boys Room

 

This project was published in FLY magazine before the actual postering was to happen. Embedded in the layout are the locations and date on which this project would happen, giving fair warning to those who might want to stop what would eventually go down. I would also note that this is the first project I have posted which did not take over public space. Given the nature of bar bathrooms I made a personal call that they in many ways qualify as such. Also the whole layout can be seen under the magazines and projects section.

Wooster (Hollywood the Remix)

This piece was for a group show sponsored by the Wooster Collective, an incredible online resource for street art and culture. They asked that each artist redesign a preexisting movie poster. I decided to Steal my posters and once finished remixing, return them to the street as my own personal work. 

Panty Raid .1

 

Panty Raid .1 consists of six pieces each made up of three panels. Each set was installed over the three advertisements which wrap single NYC phone kiosks. As well the set of six were placed in as close proximity to one another as possible while remaining on a single avenue. It was important that the viewer be able to walk only a few blocks and discover all of the images. Exact locations are as follows (6th avenue & 19th street NEC) (6th avenue & 17th street NWC) (6th avenue & 23rd street SWC) (6th avenue btwn 16th & 17th street E) (6th avenue btwn 22nd & 23rd street W) (6th avenue btwn 23rd & 24th street W)

Shanked (ByDesign)

This project started as a commercial shoot for a company called ByDesign which makes low quality women's wear. After shooting a small print ad the company decided to use it for a phone kiosk advertisement in the Herald Square vicinity. I quickly came up with a sticker which would use part of the revealed ad underneath to color my own design which laid on top of it. I was able to cover the entire campaign which lasted only two weeks. Phone kiosk locations were (30th st. & 7th ave. NWC) (35th st. & 7th ave. SEC) (2x at 34th st. & 6th ave. SEC) (36th st & 6th ave. NEC + SEC) (33rd st. & 6th ave. SEC) (35th st & 6th ave. NEC) (37th st. & Broadway NWC) (34th st. & 7th ave. SEC) (36th st. & 7th ave. SEC)

Panty Raid (Nextel)

These images were part of a much larger phone kiosk installation which happened a few months later but before that project came to fruition Nextel launched a huge campaign in NYC which began with a cryptic initial postering of the word DO. Prompted by the challenge to "do" this image quickly made its way to the street at Grand & Mercer NEC

Lonely Soldier

This project covered five double phone kiosks, each consisting of three posters covering each of the advertisements on three sides of the phone kiosk. (18th st. & 10th ave. NWC) (25th st. & 10th ave. SWC) (24th st. & 8th ave. SWC) (17th st. & 8th ave. SWC) (21st st. & 7th ave. SWC) Taking advantage of the backlighting used for the advertisements, this project used opaque black vinyl as well as an inkjet print to achieve a glowing quality on the figures. side note: testing this installation was the second time the cops sent me to the judge.

Tape Video

This project was a singular experiment in method. I had never dealt with making a piece on site as opposed to it being a prefabricated image and I enjoyed working on the spot. Somehow breaking the frame really worked and I want to remember to continue down this path.

Young Ones

This project was posted on Houston street between Ludlow & Orchard. It was the first time I attempted to reclaim advertising space above ground and therefore kept it to a single phone kiosk totaling only three posters. Working above ground was a much different experience mostly because you don't feel trapped but in truth I think it's much more dangerous. 

Subway_Corners

For this project I went back to the original 18th street 1-9 line station with thirty-six posters and my dad to cover up all the advertisements on both the uptown and downtown sides of the track. It seemed fitting that the last poster in this series should get up in the same place the whole thing started. The document has no work in it cause the bastards had it down the next morning when i went to photograph it.

Subway_BW Design

 

For this project we went over to the 4-5-6 line 28th street and Madison avenue station with forty-eight posters to cover both the uptown and downtown sides of the track. At this point I'm picking locations mostly based on what I think police presence will be like. I was a little cautious on this one simply because of the neighborhood it was in. What a joke. Stay calm and concentrate on what you're doing.

Subway_Screw Print

On this project thirty-eight posters covered all of the advertisements on both the uptown and downtown side of the BDQ station at Grand street. At this point im starting to get a hang of things and feel a little more comfortable in the thick of it. We even had enough time to entertain a few onlookers and answer some questions.

Subway_Red Design

This project went up as twenty-eight posters which replaced all of the advertisements at the 2nd avenue & Houston street F-line station entrance. Due to the times this station was open I had to do this project during the daytime while a token attendant was on duty. Being less than 50 feet from our operation, he remained completely oblivious to our actions.

Subway_Landscapes

 

This is the largest subway project consisting of seventy-four posters which covered all of the advertisements at the Rutgers street exit of the F-line. This being the largest posting as of yet, it took over the entire area used to approach both the uptown and downtown sides of the track.

Subway_Gender

This project consisted of thirty-six posters which covered all of the advertisements on both the uptown and downtown sides of the 18th st. 1-9 line station. This being my second posting I managed to keep the dribble down to a minimum and be a little more clean with the paste. All in all I needed a second go at this thing before I could get any confidence up and this location repeat did nicely.

Subway_Blue Houses

This was the first project I posted and consisted of forty-two posters which covered all of the advertisements on both the uptown and downtown sides of the 18th st. station 1-9 line as well as an entire exit on the ACE line. (shown) I was so out of control with fear i may or may not have wet my pants frantically trying to poster and watch over my shoulder for cops i thought i knew were on their way.