August 25, 2008
What The Hell Happened To Wooster?
A short not to say that we're taking a bit of break (without much internet access) in the New York countryside (Woostock) as we close out our summer vacation.
We'll be back to full steam next Tuesday, after the Labor Day break.
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| August 12, 2008
If you're one of the 1400 people following us on Facebook...
...we're very sorry.
Today, without any warning, Facebook completely wiped out our profile (Wooster Art) because - so we've learned - we created an account presenting the Wooster Collective as a single person (Wooster Art) rather than as a "group" or a "page".
For us, this really sucks because the sole reason we created a profile for Wooster on Facebook was that we really enjoyed getting daily updates on what everyone else was doing around the world. We enjoyed seeing photos uploaded, new groups created, messages being sent, etc..
In short, the cool thing for us about Facebook is seeing what everyone else is doing.
And because of this we're bummed tonight because suddenly - without any notice - we've lost touch with over a thousand people living in places all across the globe...
Damn.
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July 17, 2008
See You Tomorrow At The Tate!
Just a short note to say that we're back in London and looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night, Friday, at the Tate Modern for our talk/slideshow at 18:30.
After the talk we're hoping to find a pub nearby for some beers and food, so definitely stick around if you can.
Best,
Marc and Sara
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July 14, 2008
What The Hell Happened To Wooster?
Just getting settled in Paris. More posts coming soon.
Marc and Sara
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July 7, 2008
Wooster Talk At The Tate Modern - July 18th at 6:30 pm
Later this week, Sara and I (along with Samantha) will be heading across the Atlantic for two weeks in London and Paris.
A week from this Friday, July 18th, Sara and I will be giving a talk and slideshow at the Tate Modern at 6:30pm in the Starr Auditorium. If you're in the area, definitely try to make it out for it.
In addition to the Tate Modern talk we're planning on meet-ups in both London and Paris we artists and art lovers. More soon..
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June 5, 2008
Wooster Hits Facebook
Earlier this afternoon we finally dipped our toes in the water and joined Facebook
On Facebook we're "Wooster Art" and there's a Fan Page that we launched called "Wooster Collective"
While we're forward to connecting with people on Facebook, we're even more excited about connecting people together on Facebook through the message boards and tools.
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May 23, 2008
Where's Wooster?
Sorry for the silence the last few days. We've taken off a little bit early to enjoy the bank holiday this weekend. Will be back on Tuesday with tons of new stuff.
M&S
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April 4, 2008
Where's Wooster?
Over the last few days we've been preparing to move the site to some new servers. This weekend we make the transfer, so stay tunes for new posts hopefully later this weekend.
Marc and Sara
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March 21, 2008
With Great Sadness, We Honor The Passing Of Bill Elias
Two years ago we had the great fortune of meeting Caroline Cummings and Bill Elias. It was both Caroline and Bill who donated their builidng at 11 Spring Street to us and the artists in what would become an incredible weekend of free art in New York City.
Tragically, last week Bill died unexpectedly in New York, leaving his family and partner behind. We want to thank and honor Bill for giving us and the artists the opportunity to experience the magic that was 11 Spring.
Our prayers and good wishes are with his family and loved ones.
Marc and Sara Schiller
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February 7, 2008
Welcome Madeline Fairey!
Congratulations to Shepard and Amanda Fairey, who on January 31st, 2008 celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Madeline Shepard Fairey. Welcome Madeline!
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January 3, 2008
Back In The New York Groove
A quick note just to say that we're finally back from vacation. Should have a ton of new posts up by morning.
Hope everyone had a terrific New Years.
Marc and Sara
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December 22, 2007
Going Off The Grid
Update will be sparse (if at all) for the next week or so as we head off the grid for some much needed R&R in Belize and Guatemala. We'll be back on January 2nd.
Happy Holidays and A Terrific New Year!
Marc, Sara, and Samantha
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October 31, 2007
A Quick Note From The Wooster Collective
We have only one motivation for doing this website. And that's to share with you those things that inspire us.
In the five years of updating this site each day, we have never disclosed the identity of an artist without their permission and understanding.
We know that many of you have sent us emails and links with good intentions, but please know that featuring photos that allegedly show the identity of an artist who wants to be anonymous is just not something that we are interested in doing. We have no idea if any of the numerous photos we receive each week are real, and in truth we couldn't care less one way or the other.
Plain and simple. It's not what we're all about.
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October 30, 2007
Where Was Wooster?
Took a quick trip with Sammy to the Bahamas. Hope to be all caught up with new posts by morning.
Marc and Sara
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October 2, 2007
Where's Wooster?
... On our way to a quick trip to Istanbul. More updates as soon as we find some wi-fi.
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September 24, 2007
Mezzoforte's Cat
Over the years, we've featured the work of Mezzoforte many times on the Wooster site. Most of the Mezzoforte's work on the street featured his cat, Basquiat. We were saddened to hear the news...
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September 19, 2007
Where's Wooster?
.. offline for just another day but back on Friday for sure.
Marc and Sara (and Samantha)
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August 7, 2007
Meet Samantha Lily Schiller, The Littlest Wooster
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The Littlest Wooster Has Finally Arrived!
Sara and I wanted all of you to know that this morning the Wooster Collective welcomed it's newest member.
Samantha Lily Schiller.
She was born early this morning, 08/07/2007 at 12:32 am and I'm happy to report that she and Sara are doing incredibly well.
In the end, it could not have gone any smoother. Samantha was born at 7 pounds 6 ounces and looks absolutely adorable.
As many of you know, the last few months have been an absolute roller-coaster ride for us. For months we were told by the doctors to expect the baby early, as they told us that the chance of Sara going full term was almost zero. While we were always hopeful, there was a time when Sara and I had to prepare for the fact that things were not going to go as we had wished. But in the end, the incredible thing is that Samantha arrived three days past Sara's due date.
Life is indeed full of surprises.
Sara and I can not tell you how much all of the love and support from people around the world, most who we have never met in our lives, has meant to us. Our friends Bo and Microbo told us late last year that the street art community was really one big family, with people all over the world in very different places and cultures all sharing a similar view on life. That view of life is one that Sara and I have come to admire and cherish.
All I can say is that we can't thank all of you enough for the support you have shown us.
Watching your own child be born is absolutely the most incredibly experience you can ever imagine.
It's everything people tell you it it. Absolutely breathtaking.
Sara and I can't wait for all of you to meet her!
With much love,
Marc and Sara
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August 3, 2007
Where's Wooster?
Unfortunately we're having some computer problems. Hope to be back up and running later today or tomorrow....
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July 6, 2007
Back Soon
Off for an early weekend. Back on Monday with lots of new photos...
M&S
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July 5, 2007
Announcement: New Wooster on Paper Book - "All My Friends Are Made Of Paper"
After more than a year in development, we're extremely pleased and excited to announce the release of "All My Friends Are Made Of Paper" - A Survey of The Work of Armsrock" , the latest limited edition book in our "Wooster On Paper" series.
It was back in October of 2005 when we first learned of the work of Armsrock, an artist originally from Denmark who has been living for the last few years in Bremen, Germany. In December of 2005, Swoon chose Armsrock as her favorite new artist of that year. She described Armsrock's work as "full of magic". We couldn't agree with her more.
His work sprouts from fragmentary moments of observation gathered in the raging stream of signals that fills the urban space. He attentively portraits his fellow humans, attempting to capture the stories impersonated in their moving forms. He creates life-size paper portraits of strangers and friends alike, each a complicated and original drawing, to honor the originality and complexity of the human nature. His artwork is limited to a temporary existence, it is as ephemeral as the encounters on which it is based.
By making hundredths of singular images, each constructed from fragments of reality, processed through sketched lines of black, returned to the streets where he first found them, he attempts to create a vast set of "open sketchbooks", documenting as many facets of life in the urban society as possible. Showing his admiration for the "real and grim beauty" that houses in every life. He is trying to create a counterweight to the fabricated air-brushed reality created by the commercial imagery invading our visual turf. He uses his work in attempts to understand the world as it unfolds around him.
In choosing who to portrait, he has a clear priority for that part of humanity which is products of our cities, but isn't granted any space within them. He "steals" space to tell stories that we all know and encounter daily, but which has grown so common that they no longer have any impact on us. By returning every image to the urban space, he conveys a signal of passionate attention. His work is a small disturbance in the rushing current of signals in the streets, a little voice, "asking us for a moment of pause, so that we might pay attention to it too."
So at the beginning of 2006, Sara and I talked about doing another book in the "Wooster On Paper" series, this time concentrating on the work of a single artist. When we sat down to come up with a short list of artists, Armsrock was the first name written down by both Sara and I. Later that night we called Armsrock and invited him to visit us in New York.
A few weeks later, Armsrock arrived at our flat with hundreds and hundreds of photos. For the next four days we sat together drinking wine, going over images and talking about possible designs and essays. Once we decided on the type of book we wanted to publish, we called our friends Thundercut and invited them to work with Armsrock on developing the final design of the book.
We're absolutely thrilled with how the book has come out. In addition to lots of color photos and essays from Armsrock and Swoon, there's 16 pages from Armsrock's sketches. We hope you like the book as much as we do. Here are the specs and an exclusive link to purchase it online.
"All My Friends Are Made Of Paper"
A Survey of the Work of Armsrock
With An Introduction By Swoon
Limited Edition of 2000
$25.00 USD plus Shipping and Handling
96 Pages / Color
Hand Screenprinted Cover
Softcover / 6.5" x 8.5"
Armsrock bio
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June 21, 2007
BREAKING NEWS: IS THIS THE SPLASHER AND HAS HE BEEN CAUGHT TONIGHT AT SHEPARD FAIREY'S SHOW IN BROOKLYN?
By taking his desire for attention to a new level, has the "Splasher" actually been caught tonight while trying to sabotage Shepard Fairey's high profile opening in Brooklyn?
Here's what went down a few minutes ago:
Two young guys entered Shepard Fairey's opening night party at 81 Front Street in Dumbo with a backpack. Moments later they were seen attempting to light a homemade stink and smoke bomb that was hidden in a coffee can. As they were setting it off, two guys nearby saw what was happening and managed to stop the guys from igniting it before it went off. Seeing the scuffle, the security guys hired for the evening caught one of the two guys (shown above) while the other was able to get away.
So as we write this the police are now detaining the guy as they figure out what, if any, charges to file.
So why might this be connected to the Splasher?
For the last few weeks speculation has been circulating amongst the art community here that is was the Splasher who lit off a similar stink bomb at the Faile show a few weeks back in Nolita. Going beyond it just being a practical joke, the guy who lit the stink bomb then called the police informing them that there was a gas leak in the building. Minutes later fire engines arrived and the show was cleared out.
One thing seems clear - there are two motivations that have been driving the Splasher. Attention and a jealous desire to sabotage and ruin the work of well known artists who have gained a certain amount of notoriety. It then makes sense that after gaining a ton of press over the last few weeks, that the Splasher would try to take things to another level by not only ruining the artwork on the streets of people like Faile and Shepard, but by getting even more attention for ruining their gallery shows as well. Since it would be all too obvious to walk into an art show and throw paint on the wall, why not then attempt to close down the show by causing a panic?
Obviously at this point we don't know if the guy above is indeed the Splasher. But in the next couple of hours we expect that now that a photo has been shown of the guy caught tonight for trying to sabotage Shepard's show, that more of the story will come out.
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June 1, 2007
Looking For An Intern To Help Us Out
After six years of maintaining the Wooster site each day, we've realized that it has become a bit overwhelming for the two of us to maintain by ourselves and so we've decided that we need some help with not only with the site, but on a few special projects that we're working on.
As Sara and I count down the weeks until the baby is born, we're now looking for an Intern or two to help us out. The characteristics and skills we're looking for include:
passion for street art
strong ability to write
good communication and interpersonal skills
highly organized
experienced (or at least interest) in organizing events
We can be flexible in terms of working location and hours, however ideally we'd love someone in the NY metro area so that we can meet face-to-face.
The opportunity for you is to deepen your knowledge of street art, write, meet new people and become part of something special.
If you are interested, please send your resume along with "Intern" in the subject line of the email to woostercollective@gmail.com
Thanks,
Marc and Sara
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May 24, 2007
A Quick Note...
... to say that we'll be offline until Tuesday due to the bank holiday and the "official" start of Summer here in the States. We hope to catch up a bit on email this week and are planning on putting together some terrific posts for next week and the weeks to come.
Also, as it's been a few weeks since we mentioned on the site that Sara was having some complications with her pregnancy, we wanted to say thanks so much for all the well wishes. The good news is that over the last few weeks things have going extremely well. While still on bed rest, Sara's feeling great and the baby is healthy.
We're now at 30 weeks, which is great, so each week that goes by is a good thing.
So far, so good :)
Until next week...
Marc and Sara
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May 23, 2007
Welcome Ginevra Liu!
Congratulations to Django on the birth of his beautiful daughter, Ginevra Liu!
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May 17, 2007
Welcome Easton Coney!
A warm congratulations to Dan and Kalene (aka Thundercut) on the birth of their son Easton.
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May 14, 2007
Welcome Kenzo Neate!
Congratulations to Adam Neate and his wife Waleska on the birth of their beautiful son Kenzo.
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April 1, 2007
Happy Birthday Andrea!
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March 23, 2007
Unfortunatley, Things Don't Always Go As Planned
This was a week with some incredible highs and lows for us. And because we won't be able to attend the GOOD Magazine event tonight, Sara and I felt that it was important for us to explain why.
First, some good news: On Tuesday Sara and I found out that we're going to be having a little baby girl. Since there aren't many girls in my family, this wonderful bit of information came as an incredibly welcomed surprise for the both of us. To say that we're thrilled would be the understatement of a lifetime.
But unfortunately things don't always go as planned.
During the ultrasound, the doctor noticed that while the baby is healthy there was a problem with Sara's cervix. She asked us to return the the next day for another examination and a few hours later, Sara was admitted into the hospital for an emergency surgery.
The surgery went fine and we returned home late last night.
The good news is that both Sara and the baby are doing well. But for now, Sara needs to be at home on bed rest.
Our hope is that for the next few weeks (and hopefully months) the baby will stay put and continue to grow and gain strength before being born.
We're extremely optimistic and hoping for the best.
This little girl's definitely a fighter and we're rooting for her.
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What Happened To Wooster?
Sorry for the light postings. Hope to be back on track next week.
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March 1, 2007
There's Not Much That We Have To Say...
Sara and I have talked a lot about whether or not we should address the issues that have been raised surrounding "the splasher" on the Wooster site. As you can tell by our silence, our stance has been not to say anything at all about it. The truth is that it's not something that we're all that interested in, and commenting on it only gives the guy more attention, which is exactly what he wants. The Wooster site is about the inspiration and joy that street art brings, not a showcase for those who want to destroy it.
But things changed a bit today as during a conversation with a reporter from the New York Times, we were asked about it and while we told the writer that we weren't all that interested in the story, he included a couple of short quotes in a story that ran this morning.
Because the only quote in the article was from us, today's story in the Times has lead to more reporters calling us for interviews. But our feeling is that we've said all that we want to say about the situation in the Times, and aren't all that interested in talking any more about it to the press.
For us, the situation is pretty simple - it sucks that someone is defacing artwork that people in the city love and connect with. What many people have learned is that while much of this art is done illegally, it beautifies ugly spaces. It counteracts the negative effects of the proliferation of advertising, and adds a lot of joy to the residents of the neighborhoods where street art flourishes. (Not the Upper East Side)
We don't buy into the pseudo intellectual argument that the activist is claiming to make, because, for us, destroying art is purely a selfish act that has only to do with the person destroying it, not the object of the anger. While claiming to be intellectual, the more you think about what he's doing the more you realize that it's completely irrational. And as my mother used to tell me - "It's not possible to be rational with an irrational person"
The bottom line is that we feel that person who's destroying the work has probably bullshitted themselves into believing that by destroying art they can get a name for themselves as well. (i.e. How can i get famous?)
What's unfortunate to us is that now that the mainstream press has picked up on the story, attention is exactly what he's getting. But our interest is not to fuel his ego any further than it has already been fueled.
The one upside in all of this is the possibility that from articles like the one in the Times this morning, more people will find out that this movement brings a lot of joy to our daily lives and should indeed be celebrated.
The most important line in the Times story is the last one:
"That was a revered and respected piece of art," he said. "This is just vandalism"
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