There are so many layers to Gigi Bio. She’s a painter, illustrator, a real deal fashion designer by day and “Urban Reconstructionist” photographer by night.
Layers are also a major feature of Bio’s work. In this part of the interview Gigi Bio explains where some of those layers came from by explaining where she came from. In case you missed it here’s Part 1. (more…)
The first time Gigi Bio showed me her work she said, “See, this is what it looks like in my head”. So what’s in her head are photos from multiple views, images of New York City’s urban landscape, herself, and those she meets in her travels. Each image layered upon each other is unique like the snowflakes that come together to blanket her adopted city in the middle of winter.
The single image formed can show anything from hard angles in architecture softened in a layered, 
loose, curvilinear composition or a reflection of the ever shifting energy of urban life swirling around a singular figure simply waiting for a walk signal on a street corner.
I told her my first thoughts were of cubism, specifically Marcel Duchamp’s cubist inspired “Nude Descending A Staircase No. 2″ pictured left, which depicts a woman at multiple moments while in motion through still images, abstract lines and planes presented all as one image. Gigi shut down that label with the quickness!
I set out to find out what the stuff in Gigi’s head is, how it got there and what she intends to do with it next. Oh yeah, and why she doesn’t want to be called a cubist! (more…)
p l a t o o n [#3] by Jesse Wright
During the holidays my attention turns to those in the military among others. And well, art, music and the environment are always on my mind so I decided to ask my former schoolmate, the incredibly passionate artist Marthalicia Matarrita, a few questions about the unique position of an artist in the military.
She is one of the founders M-Squared Art Productions; a collective grounded in the four elements of hip-hop. M-Squared integrates art and music into the party landscape of New York city with Marthalicia’s specialty in live painting. In this interview she explains how she managed to express herself in the military with her boots.
Madam Toussaint: Please state your branch or the military, your rank and your years of service.
Marthalicia Matarrita: Army National Guard, 91 Bravo Combat Medic. I enlisted on October 1999, and received my HONORABLE DISCHARGE papers on 2005, ending rank: e-4 Specialist. (6 years Active Reserve, and then 2 years inactive for emergency purposes, in case of a home war).
Were you ever in war when you were in the military?
I was called for duty while I was in college in New Paltz, on September 11, 2001 and (more…)
Here in part 2 of my interview with DJ C-Reality he explains some of the inner workings of DJing, the personalities of Djs and some advice from a purist on how to get stating in his line of work. If you missed part 1 you can check it out here AN INTERVIEW WITH DJ C-REALITY: HE’S NOT JUST A DJ HE’S A HIP HOP PURIST PT.1
Kurt Cobain, late lead singer of “grunge” band Nirvana, once said “people who really love music usually make it” (paraphrase). DJ’s don’t exactly “make” music- or do they? And where do you think DJs fit into the Cobainian Theory?
DJ’s totally make music, real DJs that is. A DJ has the ability to be any sound that exists on that record, whether its an instrument, a voice, an effect, anything.The art of scratching is so complex and involved that even after 20 years of playing I am constantly learning new things. Working with groups as I have done has give me a whole different outlook on how cutting can be applied like any other instrument. Just look at some of the things Rob Swift has done,working with all kinds of musicians. Its the human jukebox DJ I spoke about earlier that gives the real guys a bad name. Just like today’s bullshit rappers give real lyricists a bad name. People on the outside of the culture are only exposed to the fake shit unfortunately, so they equate DJ’s and MC’s with what the see and hear on TV and radio.
So many DJ songs to choose from, kind of. I decided to go with one that’s likeable and actually made me dance in public once.
I’m just going to ask the question flat out and elaborate later if you like: Are DJs manipulative?
I think we can manipulate hearts and minds, and really have the ability to make people feel a certain way, which is very gratifying, I know as a person (more…)
Photo credit: “DJ C-REALITY” by Gigi Bio
The first time I spoke to DJ C-Reality was after one of his sets on The Underground Railroad with Jay Smooth on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York (also streaming live). I called the station and mumbled “That was a really nice set…nerf” and felt like a punk afterward because what I really meant to say was this:
One day I heard DJ C-Reality do a set and it was like I heard this music I’ve heard most of my life again for the first time. With a commitment to what we’ll call the “authentic” side of Hip Hop music and the breakbeats that birthed it, to me C-Reality truly makes art. With artfully done cuts and selections this somewhat jaded Hip Hop music lover will always appreciate the freshness of his sets. He’s been called a “purist” and that’s correct. I had a Q and A with New Jersey’s own DJ C-Reality. Hope you enjoy it.
What are the origins of your name?
Twizz, the MC in the group I worked with for years gave me that name. He said I always had the ability to see the reality in any situation, and since my first name is Chris it just fit.
Could you tell us a little about yourself- your background as a DJ.
I have been DJing about 20 years now, early on in my career I tried to create a local hip hop scene in New Jersey where I live, but people were always more interested in a more generic, top 40 type of event so I left that scene alone for a while. A few years later I hooked up with three of my childhood friends who also shared the same passion for the music that I did and we formed a group called,”Myndcrukz”. We signed a deal with AV8 records to release a single called Remember The Face that did really well in the underground scene. We performed all over NYC with other popular underground acts at the time. Company Flow were friends of ours and we performed a lot with them, DJ Mr. Len and I go way back to DJing house parties together! AV8 records was not the right place for us since they were not used to marketing actual groups, they are more known for their party records and that was what they focused on.
Check the shout to their DJ C-Reality towards the end…
We were totally lost in the shuffle at AV8, although we had critical acclaim and a decent fan base they just didn’t do enough on their end to help us get to the next level.The first time I ever went to WBAI’s Underground Railroad radio show was when we were promoting our single, that is how I made the connection with Jay Smooth and the reason why I am a part of the show now. I have also worked with several live bands, (more…)
“Vectorized” Josh Goldstein by Madam Toussaint
Here’s part 2 of my interview with Josh Goldstein. If you missed the first part you can click on AN INTERVIEW WITH JOSH GOLDSTEIN- ARTIST AND NYC BODEGA ENTHUSIAST PART 1. In this last half of Josh’s interview we learn how the dynamic artist feels about the graffiti scene, Chinese food take out menus and his own “Happy Family”. We also discuss the color purple (not the movie) and how he feels about the color green (the color and the environment).
MT: What kind of gear do you use to take your photos?
JG: Trade secret…ok fine, a Canon Power Shot.
Supermarket Chain (2003), photo on russian baltic birch multi-ply plywood, 48″x8″, private collection, Brooklyn, New York
MT: When I see your work I can see Hip Hop has clearly been an influence on you. Were you ever on the graffiti scene? Who are your favorite graffiti artists? If want to see dope graffiti in NYC where should I visit?
JG: Damn, I wish I could say I was, but the truth is I was too busy collecting baseball cards in Indiana. Favorite graf/street artists – Doze Green, Banksy of course, Swoon, Lee Quinones, Taki 183, and the guy who wrote “gang mafia” on the wall of the bodega on my corner.
Best place to see dope graffiti? 5 Pointz in Long Island City for sure – best seen out of the left side of a Flushing-bound 7 train. Also check out the piece on (more…)
Untitled (2005), photo on russian baltic birch multi-ply plywood, 72″x48″, corporate headquarters, Vitamin Water.
I got the opportunity to throw some questions out at artist Josh Goldstein about his art, his love of New York City and a major theme in his work, NYC’s local convenience stores- bodegas.
Madam Toussaint: The economy is effecting our corner stores now too. I never thought I’d see the day when even bodegas would be going out of business, not mention the exterior replacements with “impermanent vinyl awnings”. In these times it seems your work is taking on a historical/archival tone. You couldn’t have predicted the economic crisis but how do you feel about the tone of your work possibly changing?
Josh Goldstein: I love bodegas. Especially a classic bodega with all the Dominican candies in the plastic canisters on the front counter, and an endless supply of tropical sodas from the Bronx, and the Yankees game playing on a small TV above the deli counter. But I’ve never really thought of my work in an archival way. It’s true that I’ve focused a lot on bodegas, but mostly it’s their energy that inspires me, not really their particular look from a particular time. It’s that raw energy that I try to use as a starting point to capture the energy and chaos of New York. (more…)
