Interview and photography by adam wallacavage steve powers has the ability to say 10 things in one sentence, which is good when he is trying to paint something fast, especially largescale murals. Steve powers mural arts philadelphia mural arts philadelphia. Painters, im thrilled for the release of a love letter to the city public library. So his and her best friend toni advises him to write her an anonymous letter. In 2000, powers gave up graffiti to become a fulltime studio artist. Mar 14, 2014 new york graffiti artist stephen powers daubs his supersized murals and messages on city walls and rooftops from brooklyn to philadelphia, belfast to sao paulo his new book, a love letter to. New york graffiti artist stephen powers daubs his colourful murals on city walls.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. This project was finished in 2009 and is comprised of 50 rooftop murals that span from 45th to 63rd streets along the market street corridor. Steve powers also known as espo was born and raised and philadelphia, then moved to new york city in 1994. One of the most popular projects in our history is steve powers a love letter for you. A love letter to the city powers, steve, eleey, peter on. As if kagami didnt have enough fake love letter issues in the manga, the anime has her receiving a note while on their class trip, leaving her distracted the rest of the day. Yancys book unpacks the trigger points of his article, seeking to explain why the article evoked so much outcry, and in the. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Oct 07, 2011 for this weeks goings on about town opener, gus powell photographed steve powers painting love letter to brooklyn, a series of commissioned brick valentines on the walls of macys. Love letter by steve powers grant the pew center for arts. In philadelphia, stephen call him espo and his crew call them icy painted more than 50 walls along the elevated train along market street in west philly. New york graffiti artist stephen powers daubs his supersized murals and messages on city walls and rooftops from brooklyn to philadelphia, belfast to sao paulo his new book, a love letter to the.
Books of his work, the art of getting over and a love letter to the city, were published in 1999 and 2014, respectively, while his illustrations have graced the pages of the new yorker. A love letter to the city by stephen powers goodreads. From steve powers love letter series, west philadelphia. A love letter to the city and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle.
Thats where powers conceived and developed his latest public art project, a love letter for you. Now, powers is back with another love letter, this time for the near west side community of syracuse, ny. Jul 06, 2009 steve powers has a great new project beginning soon in philadelphia. Love letter is documented in a film, directed joey garfield, and a catalog.
Powers new book, featuring all of these projects, was recently highlighted in the guardian. Steve powers imprint is all over philadelphia20 blocks of the city, in fact. Some are poetic, some photographic, some cartographic, some illustrated, and some private. Powers paintings were featured in the touring exhibition and accompanying documentary, beautiful losers. Above and beloware the first two lines of a love letter spanning 50 walls and roof tops to be painted in west philadelphia facing the marketfrankford elevated train.
Composed of a series of 50 rooftop murals from 45 th to 63 rd streets along the market street corridor, the murals collectively express a love letter from a guy to a girl, from an artist to his hometown, and from local residents to their neighborhood of west philadelphia. Building on what he started in ireland, powers is now working on an ongoing mural project about the complexities and rewards of relationships titled a love letter for you. Graffiti artist steve powers started painting his espo alias across the walls and rooftops of philadelphia in 1984, just as the citys antigraffiti network was launched. On the last day before summer vacations michael receives a glowing, but anonymous, love letter. A love letter for you seamlessly mixes documentary and narrative, love and loss, community and solidarity, art and crime, to paint a compelling portrait of two artists and their impact on the. While powers was here, he received a copy of a letter. They kindly presented me with a copy of the book a love letter for you brick valentines on the philly skyline by steve powers as espo icy. Steve powers was born and raised in philadelphia, and then moved to new york city in 1994. Love letter is literally a love letter painted on the walls facing the market elevated train in philadelphia. Steve powers is a west philadelphia native who now lives in new york and is well known for his project. Steve powers espo, with the help of the youth of west philadelphia is painting a love letter through philadelphia from 63rd to 45th via huge signs.
Say goodbye to steve powers love letter to brooklyn vice. Aug 24, 2009 encompassing 50 painted walls throughout a designated section of philadelphia, famed artist steve powers, also known as espo, teams up with the city for a special project, entitled love letter. Powers stopped writing graffiti and tending bar in 1999 to dedicate himself to art full time. We exhibit at select fine art and antiques shows throughout the year. Dedication to making the world a better place may seem overzealous for an artist but steve powers is the exception to the rule.
Powells is an independent bookstore based in portland, oregon. Paulo his new book, a love letter to the city, collects them in one place. A love letter for you steve espo powers roots of philly graffiti. Love letter artist paints literarythemed mural at clinton. Love letter by steve powers grant the pew center for. The accompanying book a love letter for you, shot by photographers adam wallacavage and zoe strauss, was published by free news projects and is now available. In 1994 barry mc gee wrote me a letter and invited a 24x24 7 color screen print on 335 gsm coventry rag in a signed and numbered edition of 50 hand pulled in brooklyn at espos art world. A love letter to the city gathers the artists powerful public art project for the first time, including murals on the walls and rooftops of brooklyn and syracuse, new york. Philadelphia mural arts program presented steve powers book a love letter for you to shoreditch street art tours.
The mural on the cover was painted in philadelphia the day. Stephen espo powers talks in the strands rare book room about his latest book, a love letter to the city and his recent mural and paintings. Brick valentines on the philly skyline 20021224 on. Love letter is being painted from fortyfifth street to sixtythird street on the rooftops and walls of market street in west philadelphiafifty murals, created by stephen powers, who has done similar projects in dublin and belfast. Jan 03, 2012 in 1984 steve powers started climbing rooftops in his neighborhood and painting his alias espo as a dues paying member of the icy graffiti club. Stretched across city walls and along rooftops, stephen powerss. Powers has since realized love letter projects in dublin, johannesburg, sao paolo, syracuse, and new york. A love letter to the city princeton architectural press 2014. Steve powers, love letter, philadelphia unurth street art. Stephen powers was born and raised in philadelphia, where in 1984, as an overgrown sixteenyearold, he started writing the name espo around his neighborhood and eventually around the world. Steve powers bookfilm a love letter for you london. Steve powers and a team of sign painters worked in west philadelphia in 2009 to paint a love letter meant for one a love letter to the cityhardback 2014 edition. A love letter to the city stephen espo powers youtube.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Powers outrageously honest introduction retraces his debut into the graffiti world under the moniker of espo in philadelphia. Stephen powers presents at creative mornings lecture series held at moma november 6, 2014 stephen powers a love letter to the city book launch on march 25 march 14, 2014 a loveletter to the city by stephen powers out this march january 24, 2014 stephen powers us embassy mural november 8, 20. Twentyfive years later, in the summer of 2009, he returned to philly, armed with 1,200 cans of spray paint, 800 gallons. A love letter to syracuse is meant to be from syracuse to syracuse.
We found, as we were painting, that the love letter is also dedicated to industry. Stretched across city walls and along rooftops, stephen powerss colorful largescale murals sneak up on you. A love letter to the city tells the tale of how artist steve powers witty lettering and profound insight turned advertising on its head. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. In 1984 steve powers started climbing rooftops in his neighbourhood and painting his alias espo. Graffiti artist steven powers aka espo in conjunction with the city of brotherly love philadelphia, has launched a series of new works part of the artist series love letter street mural exhibit. A love letter to the city paperback february 4, 2014 by steve powers author, peter eleey foreword 5. Brick valentines on the philly skyline documents in full color the art and the neighborhood that inspired powers work, and is designed as an open valentine love letter for all to use.
Oct 07, 2010 in april, i featured a love letter for you sign painter and street artist steve powerss wonderful ongoing graffiti love letter to philadelphia, stretching across 50 building facades along 20 blocks. A love letter for philadelphia steve powers, street. Stephen powers is a contemporary american artist best known for his textbased conceptual works. In april, i featured a love letter for you sign painter and street artist steve powers s wonderful ongoing graffiti love letter to philadelphia, stretching across 50 building facades along 20 blocks. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. A love letter meant for one but with meaning for all. So his and her best friend toni advises him to write her an anonymous letter in return. Authored by powers himself, the book is a visually astonishing compilation of his large scale. How artist steve powers made sign painting the voice of the community. After six months of community meetings and six months of painting, fifty walls painted with the give and take of relationships now greet 10,000 commuters daily. The first time i met steve powers, he climbed out of the big white bopa family van sporting a yellow raincoat and a guided by voices t shirt. While he was in town, curbed philly caught up with powers to talk about how all 50 murals came to be and how his west philly neighbors got on board with his crazy idea. Feb 09, 2010 love letters is a public art project by steve powers, 40 local and international artists, and the philadelphia mural arts program encompassing 50 painted walls between 63rd and 45th street on the walls facing the market elevated train in west philly.
He is now a mixed media artist, working in drawing, painting, printmaking, and installation art. See more ideas about steve powers, love letters and street art. But few come close to the beautiful and heartening typographic murals artist stephen powers has been painting in cities around the world for over a decade, working closely with the local community to give breathtaking visual voice to a neighborhoods narrative. A love letter to the city princeton architectural press. Oct 18, 2016 the new mural by artist steve powers, originally painted by p. The new mural by artist steve powers, originally painted by p. Later, konata calls and admits that she left a fake love letter in kagamis desk at graduation, but kagami went home without noticing it. Steve powers and a team of sign painters worked in west philadelphia in 2009 to paint a love letter meant for one, but with meaning for all. Steve powers contributor, adam wallacavage contribution by. See available prints and multiples, paintings, and sculpture for sale and learn about the artist. A love letter to the city by stephen powers nook book.
As a longtime fan of his work, which i first encountered in the brain pickings birthplace of west philadelphia years ago and which appeared in sign painters, im thrilled for the release of a love letter to the city public library a magnificent monograph from princeton architectural press, in which powers takes us through the creative process and cultural context of his murals spanning brooklyn, syracuse, coney island, philadelphia, dublin, belfast, sao paolo, and johannesburg. Artist steve powers says of the nowiconic philly love letter murals, i wanted to provide something for the people that took the train every day. After i stopped writing my name on stuff, i made a lateral move into sign painting. Powers is also the author of a book detailing his personal graffiti history, the art of getting over st. A love letter for you, published 2010 under isbn 9780977652372 and isbn 0977652378. Photograph by gus powell at the cherry lane, the actor jesse eisenberg stars in asuncion, his debut as a playwright, for the rattlestick. Artist stephen powers leads a team of 40 painters crafting a series of murals along an elevated train route. Aug 07, 2014 however, philadelphia native stephen powers has employed that very language to empower his own personal vision. As a fulbright scholar in 2008 powers painted a love letter to the streets of dublin and belfast, which in turn led to having. About love letter one of the most popular projects in our history is steve powers a love letter for you. Nov 03, 2014 fall in love with more of steves work here. Bopa, baltimore, miss hudson, mr johnson, ryan patterson, ryan clifford, jeff thompson, maggie villegas and ed. Composed of a series of 50 rooftop murals from 45 th to 63 rd streets along the market street corridor, the murals collectively express a love letter from a guy to a girl, from an artist to his hometown, and from local residents to their neighborhood of west.
Cope with an excerpt from the celebrated street artists book, a love letter to the city. Steve powers curated love letter project monday, august 24, 2009. A love letter for you, stephen powers with the city of philadelphia mural arts program. The murals have garnered international attention and been published in a coffee table book, featured in. In 1984 steve powers started climbing rooftops in his neighborhood and painting his alias espo as a dues paying member of the icy graffiti club. Steve powers was born and raised in philadelphia, and then moved to.