A Love Letter To Brooklyn

This Saturday marks the ending of Phase 1 of the mammoth art installation undertaking A Love Letter To Brooklyn, the latest project by Steve “Espo” Powers. The A Love Letter For You project is an incredible visualization of Steve’s philosophy between the ties that bind people together in love, as well as the love that connects people with their homes, and literally transforms the very cityscape, using it as a blank canvas to words that express undying love and passion.

Steve Powers, Dublin Ireland, 2010

Steve Powers, Syracuse NY, 2011

Steve Powers, Philadelphia PA, 2009

Steve Powers, Brooklyn NY, 2011

The Love Letter To Brooklyn project will be shown this Saturday, November 19th at 3 PM at 200 Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Steve will be joined with Todd James and they will be showing pieces from the Street Market exhibition that recently was featured in the Art In The Streets show at Museum Of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. This is a must see. You need to be there to witness this for yourself. As someone who sees this on a regular basis, the majesty of it needs to be experienced in person.

Here is an interview that my friend DJ Synapse did with Steve for Frank 151 that goes a bit into his process and background. And below is a film of Steve giving a Ted Talk earlier this year where he starts off his speech by generously shouting out my mom and my sister as to 2 people who were instrumental in his development as a yute, and then embarrasingly confesses to refusing to be my mentor as a kid after being asked by my moms. Eeesh… Steve definitely knows how to blow up a spot or two. But yes, you must go. You must.

Detail from Street Market book from the original Street Market show at Deitch Projects, featuring me & Futura 2000, done in 2000 as well as the original “paint pan” from Street Market hanging in my old studio.

Days With Steve Powers

A very cool video of Steve wreaking havoc in the studio, accompanied by young Malcolm and a John Coltrane soundtrack. Days, days days, 100 days, 100th daily painting.

Speaking of St. John Coltrane, here’s the first half of “Olé” featuring the classic quartet of Tyner, Garrison and Jones. Doesn’t really get any better than this crew.

It’s summer now, and summer always reminds me of days spent in West Philly, walking under trees…