Fairey Visits Gowanus

Shepard Fairey or one of his minions has recently paid a visit to the Union Street Bridge. Anyone know how long this has been up? I saw it for the first time last night.

He has been in town for his big May Day show at Deitsch Projects in Manhattan and to cover the wall on Houston Street that used to have that big Keith Haring mural. Honestly, I haven't been following it. I never really liked Fairey until I saw him in a skateboarding documentary and he seemed surprisingly unpretentious and true to his beliefs and was into hardcore punk in the 80's so naturally I liked him. He is for the people. I also like that he does his images by hand stencil, he doesn't use a computer.

ANYWAY. I am no art critic.

Frequent F.I.B contributor David Kaplan actually had a conversation with Fairey on the street a few weeks ago in front of that wall (what a schmoozer!). You can read all about Fairey's battle with the Associated Press over his Obama/Hope image in David's interview here.

This is the perfect moment to mention that David's lovely wife, Cat Weaver, has a new art related blog, focusing on the business end, called The Art Machine...The Art Machine!

Last Week To Go To Freddy's Bar & Backroom

The Backroom at Freddy's.
Yes it TOTALLY sucks that Freddy's is going to be knocked down for a hideously stupid basketball stadium, but at least they will continue on in a couple of months in a new location. As Manager Donald O'Finn says, "Freddy's is not merely a building on a street corner, it is a grand idea."


I had a grand time there last Saturday night, where Les sans Cullotes celebrated their, correct me if I'm wrong, their 12th anniversary! This video captured the energy and spirit of the show, who needs steady cam when you can shoot in the round?

P.S-Freddy's is throwing a Victory Party on Friday, April 30th to celebrate the little guys who've been fighting a land-grabbing billionaire and the corrupt New York government agencies that he greatly influences.

Check this schedule for all the info you need about happenings occurring during Freddy's last week.

*Video shot by F.I.B correspondent David Kaplan.