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LABOR DAY

September 6th, 2010 by

 

 

sean_set

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RUSTO ES A GUSTO

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The takeover

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for Frank Jump. (we have a good idea for this one)

A letter to the Syracuse Art Commission

Hello,

First of all thank you for meeting on behalf of my proposal and accomodating my schedule. I appreciate the expedited review and wish to offer some answers to the questions it posed. I am sorry I couldnt explain myself in person. but I will make the most of this opportunity to put those answers into written words for posterity.

The bridges that cross Fayette and West Streets were hand made in the 1940s from Carnegie Steel and the toil of countless people. They were built for a Syracuse of great industry and remain faithful to the industrial ideals of utility, dependability and (yes) austerity. In the era the bridges were built, sign painting was a viable profession and like many other professions in Syracuse, went away because a machine replaced hands, heart and head.  
 
Once sign painting as a trade became extinct, it became interesting to me as a medium for art. I learned to paint signs as they had been painted for generations, but instead of the commercial concerns of most signage  I used the letters and colors to talk about love and life. The font I employ was prized by sign painters because it is clear and versatile, qualities that serve me well when I am talking about complex things like love. Beyond that, my use of the sign painters craft is about the importance of the hands, heart and head being present in the work I make. The work we are calling on to renew the West side must possess the same qualities.
 
The words we painted were drawn from the neighborhood. The font was already on one side of the w. Fayette Street bridge. (It was painted for Romano Ford in the 60′s and again in the 70′s) The colors we used are present in every industry, the federal safety colors, blue, red, yellow, green, and especially orange. The gloss black is what the bridge was painted when it was first built. The innovations of the color and the content emerge from the history of the black paint. In doing so, these painted bridges represent what I believe is the future of Syracuse;  Taking what has value and remaking it for the future, in a way that respects tradition and innovation.
 
A Love Letter To Syracuse is meant to be from Syracuse to Syracuse. We found as we were painting it, it is also to industry, to the trains that pass over the bridges, to the act of painting hot steel in the summer, to collaboration, to polite drivers, and especially to improvisation. After painting the 2 West St. bridges, we realized the design I created for one of the sides on the W. Fayette St. bridge would be unreadable from most angles, and impossible to paint without blocking off traffic completely. So we had to rework it on the spot. We did what a good sign writer would and worked with the architecture of the bridge to make the words fit with grace and ease. The result is different than what was presented to the commission, but it serves the words and Syracuse well. I hope the Commission forgives our changes, and appreciates the effort we made to make it work.
 
 Thank you for the opportunity to explain the work further, I hope when the next time you see it you will see, as I do, the craft and the love that went into painting it.
 
best regards
Stephen Powers

 

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Spring Where They Aint Sprung

April 1st, 2010 by

The_airthe_letterthe_future

Unemployed? No need to be. America’s Prison Industry is growing like a cinder block fungus across The Land of the Free (on bail). The Prison Industrial Group (NYSE: PIG) is looking to fill secure positions on all levels, no diploma necessary. One guy in the belly beasting is my man Mr. B, who teaches English to incarcerated scarface jrs. in an outer borough. Mr B chanced upon our Love Letter project, moved it into captivity, and called it “A Kite For You”. The kite is a communique between captives, sometimes facilitated by a CO or cellie, so needless to say our brick valentines hit the inmates square on the heart. They made their own yearning burners and posted them in the common areas to call and get response .  We hoped that the Love Letter would inspire someone to do something, but we were devastated to see the desperate dig their own diamonds out of despair. Mr. B invited us to continue the Letter in the  jail gym, so in 3 (too short) days we delivered the message that Love exists for you, even if you have been rotting in solitary since birth. The proof of this is in the air we share, that goes from the cells to the avenues to the couples on an ocean cruise every breath that keeps us alive is love, from who is your business. The Letter is the kite we delivered on the concrete, 3-4 of us going for broke for days getting paid only in the feeling of being in but not an inmate (totally fair). Finally The Future is coming, good bad boring happy or sad (or ALL OF THE ABOVE) its coming like the train rolling past your window. Either youre on it or youre under it. Hopefully I’ll see you onboard and we’ll sit and look at the sights. 

THANKS MIKE ANDY JESSE DUMAR 

 

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Meanwhile, back at STUDIO GANGSTER

March 28th, 2010 by

boxers

fresh paint for sale.  SOLD

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ICY SIGNAGE

March 28th, 2010 by

binti's

SOON TO BE SEEN AT 48TH AND MARKET.

A BEACON FOR EVERYBODY FREAKIN,

BLACK WHITE AND PUERTO RICAN

THANKS MATT! and CONGRATS PATRICK

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Black (INK) By Popular Demand

February 16th, 2010 by

philly_hats_off

WE’RE EXTENDING THE TATTOO HUSTLE ANOTHER WEEK. HOLLER AT N.LIBERTIES TATTOO FOR AN APPOINTMENT – 267 639 6019 OR TLOWELL8@comcast.net

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IM A SELL OUT

February 16th, 2010 by

packed_platform

Love Train sold out – All 350 tickets. Thanks Septa for the mock-neck with the S logo, and the chance to “chat-pon-microphone”

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ESPO RETRORESPECTIVE

February 16th, 2010 by

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ONLY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS – The Espo Retrorespective. A lot of graffiti mystory, and some art shite, at 1226 Chestnut Street in CC Philly. Fridays 3-7PM and Sat/Sun 1-5PM through the end of February or email brian.campbell@muralarts.org to make an appointment.

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Fall in Love this Weekend

February 9th, 2010 by

MAPValentineEmail (1)
Three Love Letter Events this weekend!

1. Friday, February 12th – A Love Letter for You art show opening
Steve Powers and Co. put together an installation that documents the creation and inspiration behind the Love Letter project. Copies of the book will be available.

The opening for the exhibition starts at 5:30 and goes until 8:30. It is located at 1226 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA.

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2. Saturday, February 13th – A Love Letter for You book signing
On Saturday February 13th, Steve Powers will be at Exit Skateshop in Northern Liberties signing copies of the book. Get there early!

Exit Skateshop is located at:
825 North 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 425-2450

The event will take place from 5 to 7pm

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3. Sunday, February 14th, Valentines Day – Love Train
Get on board the Love Train – a privately-chartered, slow-speed, guided El train tour of the 50 love-themed rooftop murals that make up the Love Letter. This once-in-a-lifetime special event is sure to impress and will be followed by a private reception at SEPTA’s Grand Mezzanine (1234 Market Street) with hors d’oeuvres and champagne. Books will also be available for purchase at the reception.

Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to purchase tickets call the Mural Arts Tour Office at 215.685.0754.

Departs from LOVE Park, Fairmount Park Visitors Center, 16th Street & JFK Blvd.

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TATTOO YOUSE

February 8th, 2010 by

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Another Elebration, another storm bringing massive precipitation. In spite of the snow, Espo’s Love Letter Tattoo Shop (a division of ICY SIGNS, a subsidiary of Mark Surface Intl.) opened right at the happy hour of 5. Two excellent co-defendants stepped right up: Nick encouraged me to invent something on the spot, while Michelle chose “whats mine is yours” and got it bolder on her shoulder. WHOA, I’ve got that feeling I get when I put work in a good spot. It’s like a seeing diamond in a moonbeam. 10 sheets of flash are in the shop now, we’ll add 10 more on tuesday, 10 more on thursday, and 10 more on friday. Dont see that special piece of flash? come again, rewind till you find the fine line to put on your spine. Or if you want, you can suggest to Es what works best, HELL YES

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GET EMOTIONAL

January 31st, 2010 by

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A LOVE LETTER FOR YOU -Brick Valentines On The Philly Skyline By Steve Powers as ESPO ICY

AVAILABLE NOW

http://www.freenewsprojects.com/store/books/a-love-letter-for-you-pre-order.html

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