Having found themselves satisfied with his work on a limited edition Cognac label design, Hennessey has sponsered a documentary profile detailing New York’s acclaim street legend Futura. In the six minute cinematic feature,  Hennessey travels throughout present day New York City as Futura discusses his journey towards progressive self evolution as a painter, tagger, and spiritual member of the artistic community. Indeed, this melange of spirits and spray paints helps highlight the creative evolution of the pioneer who changed the game stylistically for New York City’s street art scene. We can drink to that.

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We love New York City!, especially in the Summer time. It’s great to be back to visiting friends and seeing all the new graffiti in the streets.
This past Sunday we began a new mural in Chelsea, on the exterior wall of PS 11 (320 West 21st street ) together with the legendary Futura2000. The project was organized by Allen Benedikt (from AKANYC and 12ozProphet.com) with support from the Artists, AKANYC, Montana Colors and in conjunction with the Nike World Basketball Festival.
The idea was to bring a ‘Gigante’ to NY, as we’ve done in Greece, Holland, Lisboa, London and Sao Paulo.
Uniting two different styles from opposite extremes was one of the challenges, as well as the objective. The idea was to unite two styles that are completely different so they become one. The concept behind the flags (with the colors completely altered from their originals) signifies unity, a world without borders, combined to form “one world one voice”.
Without distinction to language or race…
We also sought to establish a visual communication with the children of PS 11 and the surrounding community that walk by the mural each day.
Futura working on the pattern for the shirt, which we hope will prove that two styles from different extremes can combine harmoniously….

Information courtesy of OsGemos.com

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International street artists are currently conquering the art market, with auction houses, collectors, and galleries demanding top prices for their work. This book and DVD package features interviews with key artists including Banksy, Futura, Ramm:ell:zee, Os Gemeos, Invader, Barnstormers, WK Interact, Zevs, Blek le Rat, André, Noki, and Eine. Graffiti-inspired street art pioneers Futura, Ramm:ell:zee, and Blek le Rat discuss their own work, how street art was born out of the days of subway train graffiti, spraypainting and tagging, and how the new movement of street artists are doing things differently.

Filmed in New York, London, Paris, São Paulo, and Tokyo, the accompanying documentary shows the artists at work: Zevs practicing his “Visual Kidnappings” of advertising billboards, Blek le Rat sticking up outsized stencils, Os Gemeos painting their lyrical, folklore-inspired murals; and Invader putting up his unique mosaic wall tile images.

Goetz Werner is a TV director and print journalist, and a regular contributor to Lodown magazine. Sebastian Peiter is Managing Director of UK based TV company Urban Canyons Ltd, and Series Producer of the URBANATION TV series.

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Known for pioneering a more abstract style of graffiti writing, Futura played a major role in the NYC’s graffiti scene of the ’70’s. As the popularity of graffiti art flared in the 70’s and 80’s, Futura’s work was shown alongside artists such as Basquiat and Keith Haring. As his style developed, he began designing, and has collaborated with numerous artists and companies, including The Clash, Supreme, A Bathing Ape and Nike.

(vi@ AJANAKU)

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