WALL\THERAPY 2015 has rolled into town in a cloud of paint, sweat and healing inspiration. All of the participating artists are in town and adding to WALL\THERAPY’s city-wide exhibition with variations upon this year’s theme of surrealism and the fantastic. Co-curated with URBAN NATION BERLIN, the artists’ work celebrates thinking beyond the everyday, and bringing an extra level of imagination to the public sphere.
The first artist to finish his wall was none other than WALL\THERAPY 2013 alumni Daze. His mural, entitled “Rochester Dream,” centers on a young girl with closed eyes and peaceful, relaxed features surrounded by clouds of saturated color. The work was intended to be reflective of those who live in the surrounding neighborhood. Local artists Ephraim Gebre and Kokenas Singletary assisted Daze with the colorful border of the mural. It graces a highly viewable wall on Joseph Street just north of downtown.
646 Joseph Avenue – Photo by Mark Deff
Just a day later, California-based artists Jeff Soto and Maxx242 wrapped up a collaborative mural on a large wall in the Public Market. The mural features a woman’s head rising from a landscape of rolling hills and trees, topped with a headdress of a yellow owl with bright blue eyes. The mural is homage to the artists’ heritage: the owl is detailed with a plume of red, white and green, a tribute to Jeff’s Italian roots in Rochester’s north side, and the woman’s sugar skull-painted face is a nod to Maxx242’s Guatemalan heritage.
43 Public Market – Photo by Mark Deff
Jeff and Maxx completed their mural in the early afternoon on Tuesday, and then promptly headed to a new wall on which Maxx242 completed a scripted mural with the words “Love and Sacrifice.”
912 Hudson Avenue – Photo by Jason Wilder
Before starting his giant mural on Atlantic Avenue, artist Li-Hill created an installation piece in an undisclosed location in the Northwest side of the city.
400 Atlantic Ave – Photo by Jason Wilder
Also on Atlantic Avenue, Nate Hodge works on underpaintings for an environment of cloud-borne houses.
430 Atlantic Ave – Photo by Lisa Barker
Just around the corner from Nate, Vexta’s wall is anchored by a greyscale image of a masked woman with vibrant, colorful textures on a bright white background spanning out from the face and wrapping around the corner.
430 Atlantic Ave – Photo by Jason Wilder
Andreas Englund is painting his second-ever mural close by on Greenleaf Street, flanked by past WALL\THERAPY muralists such as Queen Andrea, Pixel Pancho and Samuel Rodriguez.
40 Greenleaf St. – Photo by Jenn Poggi
Just South of Daze’s first mural on Joseph Street, first-time muralist and Rochester local artist Brittany Williams is creating a stunning and surreal portrait of a woman’s head peeling away to reveal a shower of flowers.
488 Joseph Avenue – Photo by Lisa Barker
Along Capron Street, NEVERCREW is efficiently laying down one of their iconic whale murals, bisected by a bright orange and red ombré ray.
14 Capron Street – Photo by Lisa Barker
At times working late into the night under lights, Onur and Wes21 have made steady progress on a compelling image of nature’s retaliation against human domination.
880 E. Main St. – Photo by Jenn Poggi
At the Fedder Industrial Park, where 2014 WALL\THERAPY artists Addison Karl, Omen and Jarus made their mark, Rochester-based artists Joe Guy Allard and Matthew Roberts are at work on a massive, blockbuster mural of monsters versus aliens.
1237 E. Main Street – Photo by Mark Deff
Finally, Eder Muniz, who participated in the summer 2013 WALL\THERAPY festival, has arrived in Rochester. We’re excited to see this year’s theme reflected in his colorful work! He is at 430 Atlantic Ave as well!
EVENTS THIS WEEK!
THURSDAY – JULY 23 – FLOOR THERAPY at the Bug Jar!
$5 at the door.
WALL\THERAPY & The Lobby present the third annual FLOOR/THERAPY with Thievin’ Stephen, DJ Tim Tones, Stay Gold, Lord Krow, and more TBA. Come boogie as the 2015 roster of visiting WALL\THERAPY artists take a mid-week party break at Bug Jar. 10pm-2am Thursday, July 23.
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/655336504610239/
FRIDAY – JULY 24 – Brooklyn Street Art hosts BSA FILM FRIDAYS at the MAG!
Free and open to the public (limited to capacity of the auditorium)
BSA FILM FRIDAY LIVE
with hosts
Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo
Founders of Brooklyn Street Art (BSA)
Friday July 24, 2015 – 5:00 pm
MAG Auditorium
Memorial Art Gallery, University of Rochester
Take an entertaining trip with Steve and Jaime through many of their favorite short video pieces selected from the last 10 months of the popular BrooklynStreetArt.com section: BSA Film Friday. Experimenters, explorers, anti-heroes and dreamers all, you’ll see how WALL\THERAPY 2015 is on-point with this year’s theme of surrealism and the fantastic
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1010465602320305/
We hope you continue to join, tag , follow and most of all support us for this year’s exciting installment, starting this Friday!
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2015 artists are co-curated by WALL\THERAPY and URBAN NATION.
Many thanks to our other partners for #walltherapy15
Montana Cans – @montanacans_usa @montanacans
Brooklyn Street Art – @bkstreetart