The Lookout: Ladies Night Out with Adine
It’s too easy to say women have to struggle for the respect of their accomplishments. Despite many obstacles, the strong will always surface. Women increasingly influence today’s graffiti/street art scene, and they literally leave their mark in the public space. As this movement expands into different variations of "street art", we at Sold Magazine honor the females who make their voices heard.
As we know, the standard wheat paste is an easy & affordable liquid adhesive made from flour, sugar & water. Originally used for Papier-mâché, street artists find it to be the quickest way to get multiple images on the streets in a single night - with a bit more staying power than a sticker. While that trend continues, there are other solutions that achieve the same result. Riding the line between street installation & wheat pasting; female street artists Adine & Jilly Ballistic were both gracious enough to let me tag along to document 2 alternative ways to get up on the NYC streets & subways...
Women increasingly influence today’s graffiti/street art scene, and they literally leave their mark in the public space.
Originally from Madrid, Spain, Adine began by documenting street art 8 years ago. Her curiosity for public art and what the environment does to it over time was her focus; abandoned buildings, alleys with old graffiti and found objects. The decaying scenery became influential in what she wanted to express. Today she puts her photographic images onto the streets, but choses a heavier material than a piece of paper wheat paste would keep in tact.
While photography is her tool, found metal is her canvas - installed with caulk. Adine explores oxidation, and how rust takes over, creating a new piece over time. In the public space, she shares her ideas on the corrosion of life. Her images are personal; friends and family, and also uses vintage family portraits handed down from her grandparents.
Adine explores oxidation, and how rust takes over, creating a new piece over time.
Adine chose her desired spot weeks before our night out of installing the piece, which she identifies on her commute to and from work. She wants her images to fit right into the scene; corresponding other artwork or adjacent to an existing architectural doorway. While I worried about my presence drawing more attention to her task at hand, I noticed the streets were empty and peacefully quiet on this January night.
After a few beers, caulk gun in tow, Adine installed her piece on the already bombed-out door. As we walked away, I looked back through the rain. The eye watching seemed to have been there forever – despite the caulk not even dry yet!
