a new throw down...

There is a political street fight brewing on Chicago Avenue. The print above was placed a couple of weeks ago near a busy stretch of Chicago Avenue that I walk by on most days. Almost immediately it was defaced with the phrases "charlatan" "tea party" and "socialist scum", and within 48 hours it was gone. Well, it seems that the artist behind the image took note of what happened and has issued a response.

The above print was spotted on Chicago Avenue this morning. I love political discourse!

To see more photos of street art in Chicago check out our flickr sets.

the best alley in Wicker Park...

There are many alleys in Chicago that are good for many things, but when it comes to street art in Wicker Park (and graff in particular) there is one that stands out among the rest. It is located off of Augusta Ave, between Wolcott and Honore and contains of a series of walls (some legal and others illegal) that are a constantly morphing showcase of graff talent. A recent walk through the best alley in Wicker Park yielded some fantastic new work.

View the entire set along with other Chicago street art on our Flickr photostream here.

deluxx fluxx nyc

Papermonster have just announced on their blog that Bast and Faile are bringing the symbiotic retro madness of their Deluxx Fluxx show to Manhattan's Lower East Side. The location has not been released yet, but the opening of "Deluxx Fluxx NYC" will take place on Friday April 30th from 7:30-10:30pm. Keep an eye on the Papermonster blog for further details and preview pics...

To get in the mood for this show, we suggest you check out DeluxxFluxx.com. The website is the online home to versions of the video games, the original music (by Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav), and images of the BAST and FAILE art from the original "Deluxx Fluxx Arcade 2010" at Lazarides in London. While you're there, make sure you download the BAST screen saver. It's fantastic!

on the walk to work...

Banksy hype machine in full effect

Banksy's movie "Exit Through the Gift Shop" has been opening around the country this week and Chicago will get it's turn to view it on April 30th. In L.A. a series of new stencil pieces have been popping up, prompting speculation that Banksy is there promoting the film's release. So far we have only seen the film posters here in the windy city, but here's hoping that we too will receive some Banksy originals to coincide with the film's opening.

View the new stencil images on Vandalog here and here. Read Alison Young's insightful analysis of the movie on her blog Images To Live By. Check out the official site for release dates and cities.

why we love BAST

Recently BAST released a couple of new prints through his website BASTNY. Our favorite of them was "French Kiss". The edition of 15 was printed on 30" x 40" archival paper, hand colored with acrylic paint and overprinted with black oil based ink. Finally we have an answer to the question "what if Henry Darger had lived long enough to see Star Wars?"

Keep your eye on BASTNY.COM for future releases by BAST. Read about Chicago's own reclusive, schizophrenic, possibly homicidal, outsider artist Henry Darger here.

on the walk to work...

why we love Mark Ryden

Mark Ryden is amazing. Not only does he craft the most gorgeous and disturbing little paintings, but he also releases wonderful prints and occasional toys. His fan base is rabid for the stuff, and it seems that everything he creates sells out immediately.

Today Ryden released a limited edition, signed and numbered poster for his upcoming show "The Gay 90's" at Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York. The lithograph poster is an edition of 500, is printed on heavy paper, and comes with a certificate of authenticity. It features an image of one of the works in the show, the painting "Incarnation". The posters were priced at $500 each and sold out in minutes. A quarter of a million dollars in poster sales is no joke, and that's why we love Mark Ryden!

Check out Porterhouse Fine Art Editions for details on this and future Mark Ryden releases.

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