Heavy Meor & Kris Murray @Sino Shop March 31

Come by Sino Shop on Saturday the 31st of March to check my photo expo with Meor. It's gonna be a great show with all the regular garnishes. We'll both be showing off shots from around town and our travels abroad. I've also got some graff in context shots and some nice ones from around Rosemont and the Rouen track area, maybe some from Vanhorne to include as well. Stop on through and check the show.

Monk-e @ Sino Shop Jan 27 2012

Monk-e put on an exhibition of some of his recent works at Sino Shop this past Friday. I stopped on through to check out his latest, crack a brew, and chill with some folks. For the most part it was a pretty good show backed by some solid beats, and good company. The place was pretty packed and there was a lot going on from one end of the room to the next. People were conversing, checking out the paintings, black booking, there were ciphers popping up randomly, and in general there was a good feel to it all. 

 

But I think that's kind of how it is with Monk-e. Although I didn't think this was his best work to-date, the pieces and the show were very much in line with the type of character this gent is. In general, his spiritualism and thirst for a higher consciousness tend to be prevailing themes in his work. As are culture, sexuality, enlightenment, visions of the inner mind, of things that should or could be, and the need to see the world in a different way. I would even go so far as to argue that a primary message in his work is not only to see the world in a better, more inclusive and positive way, but to construct the world in those better, more inclusive and positive ways that we imagine in our minds. In any case, I think the work he had up at the show was very true to the kind of person he is, or at the very least, aspires to be. Anyone who is a fan of his work in general will most certainly enjoy the series he has up at Sino Shop this month.

 

There were portfolio binders showcasing his other works, both legal and not, that many were avidly checking out though out the evening. The shelves just below the left wall had a constant stream of folks pouring over them. Monk-e was a great host too, you could catch him kicking up random ciphers with groups of folks through out the shop and I even got me a couple on film too. The sound quality wan;t the best as I don't have an external mic (mental note) but I'm sure there are some vids of it all out there and yet to be published as there were a few videographers covering the floor as well.

Monk-e is part of a larger hip hop collective of writers and artists call ed K6A. He's been performing and doing music for years. I remember seeing him perform in Lachine years ago when I first got into all this so it's great to see him reaching for higher successes with the crew still to-date.  K6A recently dropped a new album and got a lot of stuff going on. If you haven't checked their new video "Protège Ta Nuque" that's a solid ode to the original Wu-Tang's Protek Ya Neck from '93 then check it out here. It's a pretty awesome and well choreographed video that you can tell a lot of work went into. If you want to get a copy of that album, old albums, other goodies or if you just want to keep up with what's up with K6A then check out their website here or their facebook page here.

I genuinely enjoy this guy's work and the show as I have been following him for the better part of the last nine years on the street and the gallery. Do yourself a favor and check it out if you're around Sino Shop and maybe you'll find something that reaches out to you. You can check shop hours here at the Sino shop website or for more details if you are interested in purchasing.

More to come soon. Stay posted.

Neuf is Enough: Sino Shop Dec 3 2011

I got a special invite to attend 'Neuf is Enough' at Sino Shop on the 3rd of December that featured canvasses by nine of Montreal's finest: FOne, Zek, Stare, Fluke, Nixon, Tchug, Scan, Five8, Sino. Although there was only one canvass per artist the show was really a nice mix of style, form, and substance. Sino was gracious enough to provide drinks, food, and some good beats, along with the good company of all those in attendance, the evening was full of good conversations, great art to check out, finger foods, and Stella Artoise. 

In speaking with some of the artists it was really interesting to hear some of the techniques they used to complete their canvasses or why they used a particular style or form. Stare's piece looked like a printed Polaroid on canvass with his signature in marker on the corner. On closer inspection, however, you could tell that it wasn't that at all. In fact he had painstakingly hand painted the entire canvass (down to every little brink) including the signature that wasn't in marker at all, but in fact was hand painted to appear as such. Solid canvass and a reminder as to why he's one of the premier artists out there.

Zek's piece was awesome and honestly one of the few times (if not the first) that I have seen a work that does not include his letters. Zek is a Montreal staple of letter form and style, his signature letters are regarded as some of the best in town and he's got years of experience to back it up. This piece featured a miner's skull in the forefront of an industrial design that had some wicked color fades and smoke trails. What sucks is that I didn't get a full shot of the piece, just a close up of the detail but if you stop by the shop you can get it in all it's glory. Although this piece was a break from what we nornally see from him, being 'sans lettres', it was finely executed and served a harsh reminder that Zek has got game on all fronts.

Fluke, Five8, FOne, Tchug, Scan, and Sino all had great signature pieces up with tight style and form. Nixon's piece was unmistakably his with a myriad of funky characters surrounding a snow remover. I love the organic feel that all of his pieces have, street or gallery. Five8 has been kicking out some solid portraits over the last while and this one was great addition with a nice multi-colored blend. You can view more of his work on his flikr here. All these guys put some hard work into their pieces, and it showed. I didn't get to talk to everyone about their pieces but just a look shows you the effort and skill they put into each of their works.

You can check out Sino shop here for info on the artists and contact info or you can contact Ashop here for the same info. 

 

All in all a great night or food, drink, art, and conversation with some good company. Thanks for having me along. Stay posted. Big updates coming as soon as I get out from under the pile of work that's been bogging me down. Check out the rest of these shots from the night, additional photos provided by Katrine Couvrette who got some great shots of the evening too.

Stay posted.