NEW WEBSITE

        this blog is done. redirect to : 

www.gabrielletesfaye.com

MSSV TALK

Check out my interview with MSSV WORK

MSSV TALK - Tesfaye

View more work at http://mssvwork.com

Late NYC film photos

Im a late blogger.
Here are my film photos from my last NYC trip. I didn't take as many photos as I normally would, I was too busy living in the moments instead of capturing them. (;
My next trip to NY is in a few weeks and I will also be going to Philly for the first time during my trip, to see FKA twigs. excited!!! enjoy.

Afro Punk 

Afro Punk

Afro Punk

Afro Punk 

Ciera cheesin at Afro Punk

Hands up. Afro Punk

SZA

My beautiful friends.

Homes not Jails. someday

Harlem

My amazing cousin blessing my book

Found on st marks. Defend 

Bookstore of all revolutionary literature. 

Upcoming show~

I haven't been posting art lately on any of my pages since I came back from New York because I've been busy making a big piece for this show, all are welcome! See you there.  -------->

______________________________

Crossing Over 2014

UWM Peck School of the Arts Department of Visual Art 2014 Scholarship/Fellowship Invitational Exhibition

October 16 – November 7, 2014

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 16 5-8PM

All events free and open to the public

Crossing Over showcases work created by the undergraduate students of the UWM Peck School of the Arts Department of Visual Art who received scholarship and fellowship awards in 2014. The exceptional artwork produced by these emerging artists covers a wide variety of mediums and topics.

Cosponsored by: Peck School of the Arts Department of Visual Art and Union Art Gallery

M K E -----> N Y C

Currently away loving life and being loved by New York City ....

A day to be remembered 

Im looking forward to seeing what the first piece I work on when I get back looks like. There is inspiration everywhere in this city, from 102nd floor of the Empire State Building, to the magic at a Shabazz Palaces concert in Brooklyn, to the fruit markets on the streets of El Barrio, down to the screaming of the subway underground. There is so much to look at and I've absorbed it all, but still haven't seen it all. I think that may be my favorite thing about this city, there will always be an unknown, there will always be people you haven't met yet and places you've never been to.

With so many people in one place it really gives me a different perspective on human life. A place like this is where you realize you are more than just yourself, you are apart of everything, walking in the big crowds you are not just walking by yourself but in a huge crowd of people, going with the movements of the people, the movements of the people going with you. But that is not to say you are not important, you are so important, without you we would have one less, so always ask yourself- "What am I contributing to the world?" And there's nothing too fear besides the idea you've created thats only blocking yourself. Divinity is hiding everywhere and is waiting for you to vibe with it.

Some shots from the trip so far

Lauren's perfectly torn book 

Swoon installation at Brooklyn Museum

Swoon Installation 

Piece of live painting at AP

SZA performance

AfroPunk Fest 2014

You know what it is

Dear AmeriKKKa

It is getting hard to escape a repeating past
Get me out of here
It is getting hard to escape a repeating
Get me out of here
It is getting hard to escape a
Get me out of here
It is getting hard to escape
Get me out of here
It is getting hard to
Get me out of here
It is getting hard
Get me out of here
It is getting
Get me out of here
It is
Get me out of here
It
Get me out of here

Get me out of here

red like blood

standing taller in love with art more everyday 

and becoming more patient. and accepting 

of the way it wants to move

and paths it wants to explore.

with each piece i try to do something i've never done before

the same thing becomes boring. i don't know how other artists do it.

but one thing I've learned is sometimes you need to go through your phases

they are, inevitably, at that very moment, transitioning into new ways.

lately i've been doing lots of characters in profile (side of face) view

i've been trying to draw a woman in front face view, but couldn't create anything i liked.

i'll stay in this profile phase, but change it up every time

and see where it leads to next.

this in progress painting is done with oil on wood, i haven't painted with oils in forever  

because i've been doing so much marker work this summer

sometimes you need to relearn old mediums, like hanging out with an old friend again.

Art Is My Weapon Part 2: Art Gun

As seen in previous art I've done, I create 2D ‘art guns’ that resemble designs of AK 47’s, but replace instruments of the original weapon with art tools. The final outcome is an instrument that from first glance represents a gun, but as you look closer you see spray cans, pencils, paint brushes, rolls of film, and other tools I use to create my own art with. The entire meaning of the 'weapon' changes, from a weapon of a destruction to a weapon of creation. Why does one use a weapon? To protect, to fight, to carry. It has a tendency to also defines of ones path in life. Art is what I use protect myself. Art is what I use fight against hate and social injustices. And art is what I carry with me everywhere I go, my badge of love, the definition of my life. Art is my weapon.

Photos by Ray Chi

Feature on APT20

Check out my feature on Apt20! Amazing blog run by the talented Marquese Robinson, a MKE homie now based in California.
Go to blog Here

ARTIST vs KKK = …..

Photos by Karl Reeves

Find the entire series here

Tra

Putting in work in the studio

Art Is For Lovers Gallery official hours:

• Friday 12-5
• Saturday 12-5
• Sunday 12-5

http://trais4lovers.tumblr.com

Art Is For Lovers Gallery - Anonymous 2 Anonymous

     

Designed by: Tesfaye

                        Art Is For Lovers Gallery's (located in Bronzeville) first show, Anonymous to Anonymous, featured the work of Milwaukee graffiti artists in various forms; canvasses, stickers, phone booths, wood carvings, zines… the list goes on. Each artist was also asked to create a tribute piece for Corey Stingley, a 16 year old African American who's life was taken by the hands of West Allis's injustice… The three men who killed him have still not been convicted or even arrested of anything.

     Corey's dad came to hang up banners in the room we dedicated for Corey, and Fox 6 came with him. We did not know Fox 6 would come, and we told them they were not allowed to film any of the other rooms except for Corey's, since the work in the gallery was the actual work of the graff on the streets. Despite this, there were a few a pieces in Corey's room that did include the graff writers names and were exposed on TV on Fox 6 (watch video here). Although this may be looked at as a bad thing, we realized this may be one of the first times in Milwaukee's history where graffiti was shown on the news in a POSITIVE light, and also in a non exploiting way, and the artists were pleasantly surprised. Every time you see graffiti on the news, it portrays the artists as good for nothing vandals, rebels without a cause. Although graffiti is an underground culture and will stay that way, we think the show did give people a different perspective on this esoteric life style. Most of the time people walk write past all the stickers and the tags, but once you notice it just once in a different light, you will notice it forever. Now you may look twice at a tag or a slap, maybe even try to decipher it.

         The rest of the show went so beautifully. If you've ever been to an art gallery's opening exhibition before, you already know it's usually a situation where you come in, look at the art, enjoy some cheese and crackers, then leave. What we loved about this show was how people came, found Karl or I to pay the entrance fee even when we weren't at the door, socialized and met new people, bought buttons, postcards and shirts in the AI4L gift shop support the gallery, and stayed until the very last performances.. This is community, this is love. I don't think anyone felt one bad vibe that night. Amazing energy and love flooded the entire space, everyone congratulating and complimenting the gallery, expressing to us how excited they are for future shows. Another awesome thing was that the gallery was so diverse, lots of different scenes in Milwaukee were there- from south side graff crews, to north side rappers, to east side bikers, to high school students, to MIAD graduates, to.. everything. Sometimes we don't quite understand what we are living in because we are so engrossed in it.. yet  I see categories the least in a diverse room. I see them the most when diversity is absent. Everyone socialized, everyone was respectful.

        Friday night proved that Milwaukee is ready, the people are ready. There will also be a video coming out soon of a recap of the show and setting up of the show filmed by Channing Sabir. Thank you for all the support, Art Is For Lovers Gallery is here to stay and will be giving you more amazing shows soon. 

photo cred: Bren End

setting up

setting up

setting up

setting up

photo cred: Bren End