This empty storefront
at 7615 Aurora Avenue N. will burst with new color
this spring.
A mural by local artists John Osgood, Zach
Bohnenkamp and Kevin "Sensei23" Sullivan will hang
in the six large windows, featuring the theme of
waking up to a new Aurora -- which means dawn in
Spanish.
"It's better than
looking at empty space," said property owner Andy
Wang, who hopes the art will prevent graffiti and
break-ins and attract new tenants
Cindy Potter, of
Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors -- one of the
groups responsible for the project, said Columbia
City did something similar in the 1990s and the
locations were rented within a year.
Muralist Osgood
said 90 cans of spray paint were used to cover the
six 8-by-4-foot wooden panels, which will be
unveiled Tuesday.
Judging from my
sneak peak, the piece looks as promising as the
community effort.
John Osgood, one of
three artists who created a mural to put over
the safety wall where the Greenwood arsons
happened along Northwest 85th Street, stirs up
some paint while doing finishing-up work Friday
morning.
Photograph by
Ken Lambert | The Seattle Times
"Artists
create street mural in Greenwood in aftermath of
arsons"
Local artists
create street mural to brighten the streetscape
of Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood, hit by a
string of arson fires this fall.
Trying to heal
Greenwood in the aftermath of an arson spree was
not on Scott Nolte's to-do list. As producing
artistic director of the Taproot Theatre
Company, he had enough to worry about.
The theater was
damaged in the Oct. 23 blaze that gutted four
adjacent businesses on Northwest 85th Street.
But as the
arson continued to plague his North Seattle
neighborhood, it became Nolte's No. 1 priority.
Through
creation of an edgy, urban-meets-contemporary-
art mural, the Greenwood native wanted to put a
little hope into those rattled by the fires.
Friends, neighbors and nearby business owners
should be made to feel safe once more, Nolte
said.
And perhaps
most important, he said, he wanted to see people
on his street smile again.
Nolte and
members of Seattle Mural Art and Bherd Studio
set out to create a large street mural splashed
with reds, oranges and blues. At its center? A
phoenix.
On Friday, John
Osgood, one of three artists leading the mural
project, applied a few quick bursts of color
from a green can of spray paint, as he touched
up a section screaming the word "Greenwood."
The gold and
red phoenix in the center steals the show, as it
rises from fierce orange and red flames. The
symbolism is clear: Just as the bird refuses to
succumb to the fire licking at its feathers, so
do the people of Greenwood refuse to be torn
down.
The mural not
only tells the story of the arsons, which
includes a firefighter rescuing cats from Cat
City, an animal shelter, it also will remind the
passer-by of neighborhood icons, such as the
Greenwood Car Show and Greenwood-Phinney art
walk. The swirls of scenery and narratives
represent "everything uniquely Greenwood,"
Osgood said.
The 89-foot-by-8-foot mural will
soon be installed on a temporary
wall near the intersection of
Northwest 85th Street and
Greenwood Avenue North, where
the Eleanor Roosevelt Building
stood until the Oct. 23 blaze.
The building, which Taproot
Theatre rented to four
businesses, including Green Bean
Coffee House, Szechuan Bistro,
C.C. Teriyaki and Pho Tic Tac,
was destroyed.
"You don't really know loss
until you're standing in front
of your building, watching it
burn down," Nolte said,
remembering firefighters'
bravery and perseverance to save
the theater.
Nolte said the gaping hole in
the heart of Greenwood's
business district where the
historic building had been since
the 1910s was a grim reminder of
the devastation — nearly $3
million in losses — and the
sudden vulnerability inflicted
on the neighborhood by arson
suspect Kevin Swalwell.
Swalwell was charged with 11
counts of arson and one count of
burglary after his arrest on
Nov. 13 near a smoldering
furniture store in Shoreline.
The homeless man pleaded not
guilty to all 12 counts on Dec.
1 in King County Superior Court.
"There's so much that Greenwood
has been through," said Daytona
Strong, Taproot communications
manager. "This is our new phase
we're forced to embrace, but
it's empowering to move toward
something good."
Instead of
getting angry
their
neighborhood was
targeted by an
arsonist,
residents and
business owners,
want to be
creative, said
Osgood.
"It stinks that
the arsons
happened,"
Osgood said
matter-of-factly.
"But this isn't
going to slow us
down. We're
turning it into
an opportunity
to showcase the
artistry of
Greenwood."
What could have
been a
temporary,
graffiti-prone
plywood wall
covering a
demolition site
— another ugly
eyesore — turned
into an
emotionally
charged
memorial, the
brainstorm of
Osgood and
Nolte, and
fellow artist
Marty Gordon.
Once the plan
took shape,
Seattle Mural
Arts members
Zach Bohnenkamp
and Kevin
"Sensei23"
Sullivan grabbed
their paint cans
and brushes.
Nolte said he
gave the three
men complete
artistic
freedom.
Osgood said the
mural should be
completed before
Christmas and
hopes to have it
installed before
New Year's. It
will remain at
the site of the
demolished
building for as
long as it takes
Taproot to
decide what to
do with the
empty lot they
originally
purchased for
expansion.
The main goal of
creating
something of
beauty for
Greenwood,
however, has
already been
accomplished.
"We had 10
Greenwood
businesses
attacked, but
we're not down
for the count,"
Nolte said.
"We're back.
We're stronger
and we're
supporting one
another."
"Artists add 'spice' to Aurora with
mural"
November 18, 2009
by Jessica Van Gilder, Staff Writer
■ John Osgood (from left), Zachary Bohnenkamp and Kevin
Sullivan teamed up for a first-time collaboration to paint
this mural for Pro Ski Services, 8954 Aurora Ave. N. photo
courtesy of Bherd Studios
Though it
was their first artistic collaboration, once the tops of the spray
cans were popped off, the visions of Bherd Studios Gallery artist
John Osgood and Matamuros mural artists Kevin Sullivan and Zachary
Bohnenkamp just clicked.
In under 15 hours, the three artists spray-painted a 20-by-40-foot
mural for Seattle Pro Ski Service, 8954 Aurora Ave. N. - an urban
mural complete with an abominable snowman, snowy mountains and the
Seattle skyline.
"Actually, one of the best working experiences I had with somebody
was this job," said Osgood of the collaboration. "We all have
similar interests and style - where the light's coming from, color,
compositions, lines. Everything sort of flowed together."
ADDING OWN
'SPICES'
After seeing Sullivan and Bohnenkamp's work at an art show at the
Naked City Brewery & Taphouse in Greenwood, Osgood said he knew he
wanted to collaborate with the Matamuros artists. Sullivan, who
sketched out the mural, said the key to murals that size boils down
to can control and making sure proportions come out correctly.
But apart from establishing can-control technique the most fun
aspect of mural painting, according to Bohnenkamp, is the freehand
work. Though the artists painted with the guidance of Sullivan's
sketch, the mural was not gridded or projected onto the wall.
"Everyone added their own spice to the mural," Sullivan said.
The open nature of mural art keeps the pieces from being static or
restricted by definitive guidelines.
"[With our murals] we all communicate as we're doing it," Bohnenkamp
said, "and we come up with different ideas than we had in the start.
Sometimes we don't have a plan, and sometimes we do.... But it
really happens when you're at the wall and lots of new ideas come
in."
A COMMUNITY VIBE
Since murals by nature are on display to the public, Sullivan said
he tried to tie the community into the painting. Apart from
cityscape with the Space Needle drifting into the mountains, Aurora
Grocery at North 90th Street and Aurora was also incorporated into
the piece.
While an abominable snowman on a business' wall might seem unique
enough, Sullivan said the wealth of neighborhood interaction and
community vibe with the project made this mural distinctive. "They
were definitely into it," Sullivan said. "We got a lot of community
feedback and a lot of good feedback."
As for public art, Bohnenkamp hopes that's the direction mural art
will continue to go. "There are plenty of places up in that
neighborhood that could use some public art," he said. "In general,
that's really the way I see the future of what I'm doing headed. I'm
down to help local businesses, and I'd really like to see more
people allowing art in public. It's good to put something up there
that everyone can benefit from and enjoy."
THE NEXT MURAL PROJECT
With a successful collaboration, the artists said they look forward
to working together for future projects. For Sullivan, "working with
two buddies" couldn't get better.
"We really just started working together, but I like the way
[Sullivan] inks and draws stuff," Osgood added. "I'm like a little
kid. The sky's the limit."
The trio will have the opportunity to collaborate again in the
upcoming weeks to design and paint a 140-foot wall that will be up
during the reconstruction of the four businesses burned in the
recent fire at North 85th Street and Greenwood Avenue North. Taproot
Theatre Company contacted Osgood about the wall, but the details of
what the piece will look like haven't been discussed yet.
Sullivan and Bohnenkamp are showing their work at Bherd Studios
Gallery, 8537 Greenwood Ave. N., Suite 1, as part of the "Urban
Presence" exhibit through Dec. 23.
Back at the frat house, impressing the
ladies with your decor meant eschewing a large pyramid of Busch cans
in favor of an infinitely classier Busch Ice-amid, but as an adult
you might need to step up your game even more. For someone
uniquely qualified to help, turn to John Osgood.
These days,
Osgood creates affordable and accessible Alfred E. Neuman-meets-Picasso
portraiture in vibrant, often contrasting, color palettes, but back
at Wazzu he “majored in Fraternity”, with an unusual minor in
women's studies -- so you know he got laid. Though he
claims to never know where he's heading, much of the work plays off
masculine themes hilariously undermined by pathos, like a series
depicting guys in
socially awkward situations: a “Third Wheel” sullenly watching a
happy couple; some hopeless dude about to break the “3 Day Rule”; a
street corner heavenly kissing booth featuring a guy way too eager
to be "First in Line to Kiss an Angel" -- probably assuming it'll
lead to him being touched by an angel. Another mini-series depicts
the Raging Bull poster flanking both a tablecloth-waving
Italian waiter, and a man neurotically checking his watch;
meanwhile, “Trying Not To Stare” showcases a nebbish in huge glasses
struggling not to acknowledge two tasty lesbians, and the same two
ladies float above an early-80s clunker in “Chicks Love The Datsun”,
clearly about to get it Niss-on.
Tonight at 6pm, two Osgood-related group shows kick off: one at
Halogen gallery that features his work (w/ an emphasis on
gift-friendly pricing), and one at his own Bherd gallery featuring
other "urban artists" --
hit one or both, or, if your opinion of galleries hasn't changed
since college, just say "Can't make it, totally Busched".
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - Page updated at
07:03 AM
Courtesy: Greenwood/Phinney
First Monthly Art Walk.
Artist John Osgood of
Bherd Studios puts the finishing touches on one of the
Snowmen on Parade, being auctioned Dec. 12 to benefit
Seattle Boys & Girls Club.
A&E Dispatch | New Greenwood-Phinney Art Walk starts
Friday
By Marian Liu
Seattle Times staff reporter
Snowmen will be on parade this Friday — and these guys need
no snow.
The Snowmen on Parade will kick off the
Greenwood-Phinney neighborhood's new monthly Art Walk. The
first installment is called "Art Up/Open Up," 6-9 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12, and combines an art walk with holiday
shopping.
And those snowmen? As part of a fundraiser for the North
Seattle Boys & Girls Club, area artists worked with boys and
girls from the club to paint the snowmen. They'll be on
display Friday during Art Up/Open Up, and be auctioned off
at the end of the evening. All proceeds go to families who
cannot afford the club's annual fee. Bidding ends at 9 p.m.
that day.
The new Greenwood-Phinney Art Walk will take place the
second Friday of each month, with art, music and
performances. Restaurants, bars and shops in the area will
also offer discounts and promotions. At Friday's kickoff,
the snowmen will be on display at businesses along Phinney
Avenue and Greenwood Avenue North, between 70th and 87th
streets (business associated with Art Up/Open Up are as far
south as 60th), from 6 to 9 p.m.
■
Local artist John Osgood created
this snowman-in-progress for the
event. He also designed the
snowmen themselves, for which
Dunn Lumber donated the wood and
He Saw Her Paint’s Roger
Brockway cut out. photo/Michele
Persinger
LOCAL ART WALKS
FREMONT FIRST FRIDAYS
First Friday, 6-9 p.m.
www.fremontfirstfriday.com
GREENWOOD-PHINNEY ART
UP/OPEN UP
Second Friday, 6-9 p.m.
www.greenwood-phinney.com/artwalk/art-up-greenwood-phinney
ROOSEVELT NEIGHBORHOOD
ART WALK
Second Thursday, 6:30
p.m.
rooseveltneighborhoodseattle.org/bullmoose.aspx
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT ART
WALK
Third Friday, 5-9 p.m.
www.udistrictchamber.org/ArtWalk
WALLINGFORD ART WALK
First Wednesday, 6-9
p.m. (May-October)
www.wallingfordartwalk.com
Greenwood-Phinney will join the ranks of
several other North Seattle
neighborhoods when it starts its own art
walk on Dec. 12. Just in time for the
holiday shopping season, at least 19
businesses, galleries and studios will
open their doors from 6 to 9 p.m. for
Art Up/Open Up.
While not all will display artwork, some
will open the extra hours for customers
to shop and enjoy.
"Some businesses don't lend themselves
to displaying art," conceded Bherd
Studio's Michele Persinger, a Greenwood-Phinney
Chamber of Commerce volunteer. "But we'd
like to see them stay open and offer
some kind of special...and participate
in any way they can."
Persinger helped to organize the new
monthly event, recruiting many of the
participants from the Phinney
Neighborhood Association's annual juried
art walk.
Some retailers and galleries aren't
expected to participate every month, but
on a bimonthly or quarterly basis,
depending on its own established art
rotation, she said.
This first art walk is also a benefit
for the North Seattle Boys & Girls Club,
located in the neighborhood. Local
artists and Boys & Girls Club members
will decorate 15 wooden snowmen for the
Snowmen on Parade fund-raiser.
Each snowman will be displayed along
Greenwood Avenue North the night of the
art walk,
with sales proceeds from the snowmen
going toward the purchase of Boys &
Girls Club
memberships for youths unable to afford
the annual fee.
"Between the galleries, studios, coffee
shops and stores, [the art walk] is a
natural fit for our neighborhood,"
Persinger said.
For more information, visit
www.greenwood-phinney.com/artwalk/art-up-greenwood-phinney.
Seattle's
Pb Elemental Architecture commissioned
artist John Osgood to paint a 30 foot by 14
foot
mural on the side of its new live/work
and loft
residences in the Central District.
"We've fallen in love with John's work
over the past few years. We had this blank
canvas and felt he was the perfect artist
for the project," Chris Pardo, Pb's
co-founder and principal, said in a news
release. "It would be pretty easy to give
directions if you were hosting a party
here."
"The mural is about communication,"
Osgood said. "If it makes a single person
stop, form an opinion, or discuss it with
someone else, it will have achieved its
purpose."
Designed by Pb Elemental and built by LEAD
development, the three lofts start in the
mid $500,000s for a 1,500-square-foot unit.
Contact
Modern Dwelling Real Estate for details.
Posted by
Aubrey Cohen at November 6, 2008
7:13 p.m.
Kick-ass graffiti artist Greg Boudreau uses
stencils and spray paint to create
voluptuous Brigitte Bardot–esque female
landscapes that run up to 40 by 40 feet.
Imagine Boudreau approaching a kid tagging a
stop sign to offer some pointers. And maybe
a larger canvas. That’s essentially the
approach Bherd Studios and the Greenwood-Phinney
Chamber of Commerce are taking with their
recently launched “Art Up” project, which
aims to halt neighborhood graffiti by
matching artists and teens to work on
murals. It’ll be a couple of months before
we can see the results. In the meantime,
check out “Spray It, Don’t Say It” (through
Sept. 5), which features French graffiti
artist Jef Aerosol, a fixture in almost
every major city in Europe. Also included
are urban art pieces by locals Boudreau,
John Osgood, and Asher. If Greenwood starts
rocking a cityscape influenced by them, I
demand Art Up’s next project be the store
right outside my apartment window. That
brick wall has got to go. Bherd Studios,
315 N.W. 85th St., Suite B, 234-8348,
www.bherdstudios.com. Free. Noon–6 p.m.
ERIKA HOBART
Wed., Aug. 13, noon, 2008
The Seattle PI and Seattle Weekly
caught John Osgood, owner of Bherd Studios, in action at
Georgetown's Artopia event on June 28, 2008. John had an interactive
booth where he custom painted Converse canvas shoes. Then later on,
throws up some spray on the graffiti trailer.
With new galleries opening with the explicit purpose of
displaying it, contemporary urban art is a visceral and exhilarating
movement that can no longer be ignored. Vilified by some, and
championed by others, the evolution of the art-form has a storied
past. In its infantile stage the art was a method for neighborhood
gangs to mark their territories. "Tagging", was soon taken up by
street-artists and art-school students who enjoyed the notoriety and
competition of seeing who could leave their mark in as many
locations as possible. As the popularity of tagging grew, artists
who wanted to stand out were forced to think big; both literally and
figuratively. This led to a flurry of sophisticated pieces that
covered everything from alleyways in Philadelphia, to
subway cars in
New York City.
By the 1980s, the sheer volume of urban artwork found on city
streets led to a crack-down by municipal officials in large
metropolitan areas. Ironically the crack-down strengthened the
movement by sorting out true artists from petty vandals. Artists
determined to express their creativity, continued their work,
completely disregarding the potential legal pitfalls of their
actions. Eventually, public officials around north America
acknowledged the sociological merit of the art-form. Soon, cities
began to sanction select walls for urban art use, and artists were
free to express themselves without fear of persecution.
Today, the curiosity and appreciation of urban art from art-house
circles and the pop-culture at large, has led to the opening of
literally hundreds of galleries all over the world. This WorldWeb.com Travel Guide will highlight some of the most
innovative and well-respected contemporary urban art galleries on
the west coast of the United States.
BLVD Opened in 2006, BLVD is the brainchild of a group of urban art
enthusiasts that include the owners of Seattle bar's, the
War Room and Viceroy Lounge. Nestled between the respected pop-surrealist
gallery
Roq La Rue, and hipster hangout
Shorty's, this gallery has hosted installations by
artists such as Justin Bua, Oliver Vernon and Damon Soule .
Although, relatively new, BLVD has become a welcome addition to the
Seattleart community, this may be due in no small part to the
variety of collaborative projects it sponsors.
Bherd Studios Influenced by Picasso-era cubism and urban design, this studio
displays the work of artist in residence, John Osgood. Taking a cue
from several pop-surrealist collectives Osgood populates the walls
of Bherd with pieces big and small. This allows discerning art
enthusiasts the chance to own a piece of his work regardless of
their budget. Recently, this gallery has begun to host installations
by guest artists.
Experience Music Project Acknowledging its contribution to the rise and cultivation of
Hip-Hop, the EMP's
installation, Yes Yes Y'all: The First Decade of Hip-Hop features a
special section on urban art. Contained in the exhibit are artifacts
such as an original sketch-pad from urban art pioneer Lady Pink, as
well as several examples of artwork found on New York City
subway cars and block-party posters. This exhibit will be on display
until May of 2008.
A Collaborative Piece by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon4
Street Level Recently relocated, Street Level has featured some of the west
coast's most innovative and inviting exhibits. Showcasing both local
and international artists, past installations have included the
wallpapering of the interior of the the gallery with posters and
stickers from over 10 international street artists as well as a
collaborative effort that led to the exterior of Street Level being
completely engulfed by the work of several artists.
Fifty 24PDX The Portland branch of the popular
Upper Playground offshoot
Fifty 24SF, this gallery features bimonthly displays of
contemporary urban art's most exciting new talents. Past shows at
this gallery have included work by icons such as Mear One, and the
artist-collective, Faile. Fifty 24PDX also carries select Upper
Playground apparel and is located close to the popular Portland cafe and lounge,
Saucebox.
High-Art Acceptance
In early 2007, an original composition by noted
contemporary urban artist, Banksy, fetched over $500,000 at
an auction in London. The sale is further proof of urban art's maturation
and the legitimacy of the galleries that exhibit it.
The Toy Room Gallery Highlighting Punk and Skate culture's contribution to contemporary
urban art, this gallery is situated just off of Broadway. Priding
itself on providing a pretentious-free environment, the gallery is
the perfect placefor novice art enthusiasts to begin their
education. The Toy Room features monthly exhibits as well as
commercial space selling a variety of art supplies such as
spray-paints and caps.
A Bitchin' Space Opened by local artist, Gale Hart, this gallery hosts the
collaborative works of several of Portland's
local talent. Several artists contribute to each piece on display at
the gallery, which results in pieces full of depth and style. A
Bitchin' Space only opens its doors on the second weekend of every
month, and always with new collaborative pieces to view.
White Walls / The Shooting Gallery Influenced by the pop-surrealist periodical Juxtapoz, Justin Giarla
opened these conjoined galleries in order to exhibit the art he
loves. The two galleries span approximately 4,000 sq ft and has
exhibited works by local artists such as Jeremy Fish and Ogi. White
Walls and the Shooting Gallery are located in the TenderNob district
and is within walking distance to the hip-hop influenced,
Element Lounge.
Fifty 24SF The art gallery component of the Upper Playground urban boutique
-housed two doors down- this galleryfeatures monthly exhibits from
the world's most popular urban artists such as Shepard Fairey, Dalek
and David Choe. Work on display at this gallery can be purchased
on-site or at their website.
Receiver Gallery Situated in San Francisco's
Mission District beside the
Blackthorn Tavern, this gallery has a large windowed
front that creates an inviting setting for visitors to enjoy. The
gallery has played host to artists such as Chris Pew and Nancy Chan.
Receiver also carries artist apparel, and hosts a weekly podcast
featuring music and news about the San Francisco art community.
The Lab 101 Gallery Emphasizing group exhibits, this gallery can be found on
Washington Boulevard. Group exhibits at 101 often contain the work
of artists from a variety of mediums, which makes every visit to the
gallery an eclectic one. Past contributors to this gallery include
California
native Sam Flores, and television personality Jason Lee.
New Image Art Gallery Since 2000, the New
Image Art Gallery has been showcasing a veritable who's who of
contemporaryurban art. Past shows have included collaborative
installations by the all-star trio of Faile, Swoon and David Ellis,
the work of Brazilian trailblazer, Herbert Baglione and a special
outdoor live-mural-painting event by Mear One.
ThinkSpace Gallery Established in 2005, ThinkSpace has dove head-first into the
contemporary urban art scene. Inside and out the space is covered
with murals by artists such as Mear, Ekundayo and the London Police.
ThinkSpace has been profiled multiple times in Juxtapoz magazine and
Sour Harvest, an online periodical.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
1.Nrgiza; Graffiti Stylaz; Berlin, Germany
2.Matt Whitby; Banksy Stencil in Brick
Lane, West End; London, England
3.Robert London; "Sinful Pleasure" by Faile; London, England
4.George Tapia; c/o New Image Art Gallery; The Burning House
by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon - Opening Night Event; Los
Angeles, CA, USA
5.George Tapia; c/o New Image Art Gallery; The Burning House
by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon - Opening Night Event; Los
Angeles, CA, USA
6.c/o Thinkspace Gallery; Mear One Mural; Los
Angeles, CA, USA
Bherd Studios -- Art & Clothing with an Urban Edge
Gallery Hours: Wed - Fri from 12-6pm + Every 2nd Friday
from 6-9pm.
8537 Greenwood Ave. N | Suite 1 Seattle WA 98103 (206) 234-8348
Courtesy: Greenwood/Phinney
First Monthly Art Walk.
