Pimp my ride - part 2

And since we celebrated The Doors post with an addendum, nothing more fair than doing the same for the post of a month ago, Pimp my ride. Here, some other rides that deserve some respect.

The Doors - part 2

After last week's post, I found so many other interesting doors, I had to make an addendum.

The Doors

I have a thing with doors. They are beautiful, strong, mysterious, surprising. Specially when hundreds of unknown people come together to make it even more impressive. This is what happens when art, democracy, destiny and a door meet.

The Giant Hasselblad

Hasselblad is a swedish company that produces these cool cameras since ever. Just so you have an idea, when men landed on the moon, they brought Hasselblads. This unexpected scene wasn't seen on Halloween. It was just a regular day. And this kid was wearing this inside the subway. A man asked him who had done it and he said it was his mom. They guy promptly answered: "Your mom is the coolest mom on Earth!". There goes an overstatement, but anyway, it was really cool. But then he broke the poor kid the truth he didn't want to hear: "Kid, you're not getting laid tonight. But it's all about the statement. It's an art statement." Well, it certainly was. The kid didn't get laid that night (and probably for many other nights). But he surely made a lot of people's night much better.

Pimp my ride

What do you do when you can't drive but you can do mosaics? Well, here's the answer. The owner of this car couldn't pay for fixing it right, so it found a different way to make the best out of it. He can't use the driver door, but who cares when you have a car like that?

Monkey business

Monkeys are... our ancestors, to say the least. But they are also always a good inspiration. They are always intriguing. Maybe because they are so similar and so different. Only 1% of DNA and a few million years separate us. So I think it's fair to say they will always be there for us. And it help us find out... why so many street artists paint Monkeys?

Human pins, inhuman heat

You really must love art to take it to the next level. This group - and I have no idea who they are - "performed" this "act" during high summer in NY. It was probably around 90F when I saw them for the first time. Their act consisted basically in walking around dressed as black human pins. The visual was really interesting and intriguing, and they would just stop for a while and keep walking around. I saw them more then once. It was surely a very creative idea and clearly though through. The costumes where well done and there were male and female pins. I'm not sure what was the point exactly but it doesn't matter. I think that's true for most art pieces, isn't it. Congrats to these "fellas" for doing what they believe, even if that includes dressing like a black human pin on the hottest days of they year.

My pet the pigeon

Not all pigeons are born equal. This one doesn't know yet that he's actually a flying rat. It's a little bit like the mouse from Ratatouille. It likes good water, as it should. It's one of those rare moments that one cannot forget.

Sidewalk art

The quality and color of this picture doesn't really help, but I couldn't let this one pass. This illustrations were made on the sidewalk, in a place of small visibility. They are actually two awesome sketches made on the ground, probably with some kind of asphalt. It's not like you are in a table with you pencil, comfortably drawing. The author here had a canvas on the ground, had to be watching for the cops and had only one shot. And here's the result.

Death of art

One day I saw this corner, and it was beautifully dirty, a perfect mix between chaos and art. It had many layers of street art, made probably by many different anonymous artists. It was a cloudy and rainy day, so I came back a few days later to take another picture. To my surprise, the corner had been painted, and everything had disappeared. It was a nostalgic and sad moment to find out that unique, random combination of street art was gone. But at least, I was there to witness its last moments. Long live anonymous art.

Pianos and rats

It was Sunday night, around 1AM. I was coming back from work - at the time I was freelancing at a major digital agency in Times Square - when I saw a guy playing the piano at the Union Square Station. I couldn't help but to ask myself many questions. Questions that will never be answered: How did this guy got this piano here? Why is he playing it here? To who? It was a scene I'll always remember as one of the most unexpected displays of human spirit. Nothing stopped that guy. The rats, the noise, the smell, the heat. He kept playing it beautifully, to a very empty station, as if the subway was the perfect place for such a display. And for a few moments, it did sound like that. Even the rats deserve a bit of good music.

The City and the Teddy Bear

I'm sure no one out there has the guts to say this is not art. You? Didn't think so. This was seen by Bryant Park, at 6th Ave and 42nd St, one of the busiest places in one of the busiest cities in the World. Yes, you heard me right. And this time, this is not an overstatement. Look at this guy. He found his little nest, behind a vase, on a 90F day. It seems all you need is to cuddle up with a dirty Teddy Bear and all the problems disappear. I'm sure it wasn't on purpose, but this poor guy has somehow just made art. Congrats my friend! Sleep tight.

Private property, not private art

I find this image paradoxical (wow, is that a real word?) because while the sign says this is private property, well, it clearly isn't. This is art now, my friend. And it's there, for everyone to see it. So chill. Your private property is now anonymous not-so-private property. Better for everyone, right?

How much do you care?

One thing that amazes me is the ability and the courage some people have to just tell the truth. To just be themselves in any situation, be it among friends, at work or any other social gathering, fancy or not. Some people just have that talent. And I found through the years that this rare type of person usually is successful. On the other side, there's the type of person who is good on politics, who plays the game. They can have different personalities to each different situation. And with time, I found out that those, too, are as successful. In a less "honorable" way, but successful nonetheless. The question is, my friend, how much are you willing to give up on the dreams you had when you were a child? On my side, I found this beautiful piece so true, but so true that it even hurts. And that's the beauty about it: I don't know who you are, but I agree with you and I know immediately that we have a lot in common. And I don't care if you know someone who knows someone. Do you?

The Magic Garden

I am still trying to understand what makes someone create such a wonderful garden like this. And I'm also still trying to understand what exactly this is. Apparently it is a parking lot full of old cars, where the owner showcases all stuffed animals he finds on the trash. Or maybe he buys them. Not sure. It doesn't matter anyway. It is just another beautiful of the unexpected display of human genius. A place where spider man (or is it venom?), blue dolphins, pink mini-monkeys, cows and hat wearing gorillas can live in perfect harmony.

Do not touch the Penguins

I love signs. And this one is probably one of the best signs ever done (overstatement). I saw this one during a trip to Cape Town, in South Africa. Probably the designer meant something else, but I think it means "DO NOT TOUCH THE PENGUINS INAPPROPRIATELY". You know...do not touch their private parts. Don't worry sir, I will not touch your penguins in their groin area. Anyway... what kind of people does that? I'm not sure this kind of sick perverts exist but they would probably be called penguinphile (I know, I tried to avoid but could not miss that joke). Or something like that. Doesn't matter what happens to you, you're warned: DO NOT TOUCH MY PENGUIN!

Anonymous Glory

I was walking on the street the other day when I heard (and saw) a guy playing his guitar and singing a few songs in front of this record store. Since there were a few people standing on the middle of the street just to hear him, I decided to also give him a shot. To my surprise the guy was actually really talented and when he started playing the harmonica I had no doubts: I took my Iphone and recorded the whole song with the new voice memos application that comes with the new operational system. I was delighted when I heard the recording. Even thought I was more than 15 feet away, the sound was crisp and clear. I may never find that guy again, but I will always remember him. And I believe if you hear his song here, you probably will too. His song is full of heart and soul, a honest, humble tale of his own life (or at least that's the impression it gave me, what would make him a real artist.) And I dedicated it to my girl, my princess. Click on the post title to download it. Or just enjoy the audio, with no video. Or none. Or all. Well, you get the idea.

Stop Reciclying

Over time we all, even the smartest people, have been led to believe that recycling is the solution to our ultra-consuming way of life. "Go, consume, recycle and you'll be forgiven. The world will be saved." Companies love to say their packages are recyclable, but that doesn't mean they WILL be recycled. Even if you separate your trash, place it in that overpriced blue bag and wait for the right day to put it on the street, it most probably won't be recycled. Yes, I know, it's sad but it's true. So think about it before you buy it. And don't rely only on the fact that you are buying recyclable stuff. Being conscious is very democrartic. And it's an anonymous, selfless thing to do. And it just makes everything better.

Fafi in Brooklyn - remembering

This beautiful piece by the world recognized French Artist was made in Williamsburg. Unfortunately it lasted only 3 weeks. It disappeared since it was painted over a wooden fence, which was stolen. It was a very democrartic piece, but it lasted only a few days. It became private art for some lucky bastard. I saw it inside a store nearby.

Sunset for free

Nothing is better than free art. Well, while this may be an overstatement, free art is always good. And in my point of view, sunset is a piece of art, done daily, always different, always worth seeing. This sunset seem today was incredible. It rained all day, so when the sun set, it lit the heavy clouds from below, creating this beautifully textured sky. It doesn't last forever, but while it lasts, it's awesome. And it's free. The author of this incredibly piece is still unknown. If you are out there and see this post, please contact me.