LOADED Lovemark

It took a ten pack of will not to give notice at my current flat and move right on in to Loaded when I first saw this not so unimpressive and not so unsexy set up ;-)

And what do I do about this paint smell addiction? Man - I'm not even a Writer and I can track it at 50 paces - haha - I guess that's why they call us Graf Hounds?

I had this surreal feeling a while ago when I bought a stash of cans at Loaded for a birthday present - I had them in the Loaded Duffel over my shoulder and actually felt like a Writer on a mish.
I'm still really tempted to give it a go cos at school, the substance of my assignments was always skimpy but I would spend hours on the cover page doing block letters and fill and shading and bubbles. If Brent Bloody Proctor (aka Classic Hits jock, Barney)who I thought was one of my friends, didn't munt one of my cover pages when we were in Intermediate, devastating me, I might have gone on to walls eventually ;-)

Is it ever too late?...

SEMI INTERNATIONAL AT MANKY CHOPS...

At Manky Chops, the decks are coming down and the Semi International (feat Wanyone (Italy) and Beastman (Australia) to name a few, and masterminded and curated by DRYPNZ with a little help from friends), is going up.
Opening ceremony tonight...

THE BOOM'S BACK IN THE BOX

When I saw this ghetto blaster sten up the alley, I guessed it was Elie's way of saying that BOOMBOX had finished it's relocation mission across the park and they were back in business. I wandered over and sure enough, door open, game on ;-)

There is no way these images do the new pad justice so you'll have to go look-see the red velvet, chandelier and brick classiness for yourself on Labour Day.

One piece of advice though - if you and money find it easy to part ways, leave your wallet at home because we're talking 100% pure street candy that no one can resist...

Words

The Decked Out opening at Manky Chops and Alc HQ was way too epic and I'm blaming that for not getting anything up this weekend ;-) I can't wait to put up the images I got of the decks earlier in the day but I promised I'd wait for WWS to go first so you'll have to wait...

Today Sin and I went on a hound mish and got a ton of new and old burners and throwies. Had to make something of the weekend after spending most of it in the recovery position ;-)

SLOPE

Months ago I went to Manky Chops first mammoth and very rocking colab opening of mainly graf artists. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the bods so decided to do a quick drive by of all the pieces before accelerating the feck out of there. But when I got to the red and black painting of a woman with a bob, in the corner, I was as stalled as an XY Falcon stuck between 1st and 2nd.
Her transfixing eyes and knowing demeanor made her look so She Bond.
Time and sound stood back politely until I was able to drag myself away and before I could regret spending the bonus I'd got that day, that was earmarked for something else. I did, however, regret not getting an image of her.

___________________________

A few weeks ago I was talking to Dave and he invited me to their latest opening. Imagine my ecstasy when I found out it was the same artist and it turns out that Slope (aka Brad ;-) was one of the people who nominated Leftbank for the award so, yeah, you'd be safe assuming in we had a bit to chat about when we were introduced.

The reason I put Slope up here is that first - Manky's falls into the One Block Rule and is a staunch supporter of Graf and second - because, among other things, Slope used to be a tagger (which happens to have given him the most exquisite signature of any artist I've ever seen btw).
There's only one thing that baffled me the whole night, and still does every time I look at his pieces...
How could the dealer galleries have all rejected his work?
I don't get it.
He's prolific, his pieces are finished immaculately, his prices are fair, he's motivated and the nicest guy to communicate with. How can the Dealers not hear the soundtrack 'Ching Ching' to that story?

___________________________

'Astute' is how I would describe the woman who bought Jessica Alba for double digits before the doors had even opened - and 'No Regrets' is what I'm suspecting she'd say if you asked her in a year how she felt about that particular investment...

Loading up on Ironlaks

I'd been looking for a new pair of jeans for a few years so got up early on Sunday and decided to be all open minded and even try on some skinnys. I wandered past Loaded in Manners Mall and remembered a rumour I'd heard that they had the cheapest Ironlaks in town so I popped in for a squiz.
260 queens heads lighter, as I was about to leave, I remembered to ask about the laks.
Goes like this...
Yes, Ironlak got the feedback that their new formula sucked and have been working on it. Now, apparently, the yellows are still a bit prematurey but the rest have mostly sorted their shit out and pretty well do what they're told and good thing is, laks are only $7.50 right now.

Not sure if improved formula or cheap as laks can help Berp on their throw up mission to conquer the world but noticing not one dribble ;-)

Lefties Award Nomination

www.leftbank.co.nz has received multiple nominations in the Street Art category of the Wellington Civic Trust Awards.
The awards get presented in the Icon Room (good omen?) at Te Papa between 5:30 - 7:30 on Thursday the 18th of September.

The guy who contacted me said they were really impressed to see Wellington graffiti represented. Of course, we all know there are quite a few sites, and stores & galleries also supporting graf but, maybe because the alley is so in everyones faces (and nostrils), it's the one that got the noms.

Apparently there were quite a few others nominated - Ellen Coup for her exceptional mural by the bus stop in Newtown, the creator of the relief pattern in the airport tunnel, to name a few that the dude told me.

And I was thrilled to hear that another nominee was a graf crew - he said TS so I'm not sure if it's Top Shelf or Triple S - either way - onya's!!

Do you get how good this is for graf?
All those times that you go out, after work or school, at night or in the weekends, in the cold and or rain, dragging your kit, risking getting busted (or getting busted) to get your creations up - at this moment in Wellington time - is being recognised as worthwhile and valid.
I'm not sure how it's all decided but it was the public who put in the nominations and just the fact that the Awards have created a Street Art category shows that there's more awareness and acceptance of the streets as a gallery with entertainment value and potential.

So - if you're a writer and you're in the hood on that night, I would be really honoured if you were to join me at the awards. If, by some miracle the Graf Gods poked their heads in on the night and I was to find myself accepting an award, it would be on behalf of you and I would want you there with me - whether I've met you before or not, whether you throw, burn, slap, sten or paste, legit or otherwise - as long as you're a contributor to the street, you should be there too.

I know you're publicity shy and it goes against everything you're always having to look over your shoulder for, but this could be the one night when graffiti actually gets a positive rap and I want to make sure you're represented and get the credit you work your hiney off for.

And big ups to everyone who nominated the alley.

I can't help but feel this is a break through...

Put it here for TMD!!

I'll let Street Arse tell you the good news...It couldn't come at a better time with Graf acceptance being at an all time low in New Zealand.

Goose bumps aye?!
What a head job for the boys conquering the Everest of the Graf world for the second time no less, with the majority of the vote to come from their own competition even. I imagine the 3,000 hard earned Euros and tankloads of graf booty wouldn't be unpleasant either.
And Deus? What's with Deus?! Man - that guy should have a national holiday named after him!

One thing about having intimate dealings with Lefties is that I see first hand how tough it is just to get up, let alone any cred. And getting out of the alley and doing legit stuff? In art gallery minded New Zealand? How do writers even get out of bed in the morning!

So when I see these home boys tagged the best in the world by their peers - I get it.