The New Queen Bee

Barely a decade has passed since the urban arts scene in Buenos Aires really began to explode, and at the beginning of a new one the buzz continues to grow louder. Local businesses have long since picked up the trend, with a number arranging graffiti walking tours around the city, and documentary series like “Paredes que hablan” that offer intimate portraits of the city’s most prominent street artists to anyone with basic cable. International media stories and books published on the subject have also put Buenos Aires on the world map of the urban community.

This explosion of graffiti and street art in the public eye is a testament not only to the nature of the art itself, but to the growing number of arts organizations focused on this growing minority within the art world. One of those organizations is Honeycomb, a bi-city community of artists dedicated to cultural exchange and providing new venues for exhibiting young contemporary artwork. Inspired by the street art in Buenos Aires and the city as a whole, Honeycomb founder Trystan Bates set out in 2009 to create something unique. While certainly not the first startup group inspired by the urban art in the city, Bates has taken this initiative a few steps further both conceptually and geographically, producing creative spaces for social and environmental issues arising both in and outside of Buenos Aires.

Like Bates himself, Honeycomb is based in Buenos Aires and New York, but has members in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Honeycomb operates as part creative agency, part social organization, and part arts collective, functioning much like its namesake—a supporting structure that grows and develops through its many parts. Kicking off the year in Buenos Aires, Honeycomb’s first event takes place on January 15th at ThisIsNotAGallery in Palermo. Entitled 500 Con, the one-day pop-up exhibition will invite viewers to watch 21 urban artists creating posters on 500 sheets of paper that will cover theinterior space of the venue. The artists will be divided into two groups to create two collaborative murals for four hours. The murals will later be disassembled into individual works that can be purchased by the general public. A portion of the proceeds will go to Honeycomb’s charity partner, Wild Again, an environmental organization dedicated to buying land for the purpose of reforestation. Also present at the event will be Puro, the Argentine streetwear company, who will set up a station where artists will paint on sneakers. There will also be an acoustic concert with local band Recoveko and prize drawings throughout the day.

Coming up in 2011, Honeycomb has a two-month show based on the theme of rituals planned for New York, and another large exhibition planned for 2012 in London. Centering on the theme of war and peace, the exhibition will be produced in conjunction with Laura McNamara, a Birmingham-based artist agency and curator who works with street and contemporary artists. There is another large crossover event planned for Buenos Aires and New York in 2012 as well, but Bates wouldn’t reveal much about it right now, promising only that it would involve a large scale collaboration and that the group has “hopes for it changing the urban art scene” in Buenos Aires.

In the mean time, Honeycomb is always open to new ideas and projects, with events taking place as they come along. If you would like to know more about Honeycomb events, you can sign up on the contact page of their website. Bates adds that the group is always on the lookout for new artists to join the group, and if interested, they can send images to artwork@inthehoneycomb.com.

The New Queen Bee

Barely a decade has passed since the urban arts scene in Buenos Aires really began to explode, and at the beginning of a new one the buzz continues to grow louder. Local businesses have long since picked up the trend, with a number arranging graffiti walking tours around the city, and documentary series like “Paredes que hablan” that offer intimate portraits of the city’s most prominent street artists to anyone with basic cable. International media stories and books published on the subject have also put Buenos Aires on the world map of the urban community.

This explosion of graffiti and street art in the public eye is a testament not only to the nature of the art itself, but to the growing number of arts organizations focused on this growing minority within the art world. One of those organizations is Honeycomb, a bi-city community of artists dedicated to cultural exchange and providing new venues for exhibiting young contemporary artwork. Inspired by the street art in Buenos Aires and the city as a whole, Honeycomb founder Trystan Bates set out in 2009 to create something unique. While certainly not the first startup group inspired by the urban art in the city, Bates has taken this initiative a few steps further both conceptually and geographically, producing creative spaces for social and environmental issues arising both in and outside of Buenos Aires.

Like Bates himself, Honeycomb is based in Buenos Aires and New York, but has members in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Honeycomb operates as part creative agency, part social organization, and part arts collective, functioning much like its namesake—a supporting structure that grows and develops through its many parts. Kicking off the year in Buenos Aires, Honeycomb’s first event takes place on January 15th at ThisIsNotAGallery in Palermo. Entitled 500 Con, the one-day pop-up exhibition will invite viewers to watch 21 urban artists creating posters on 500 sheets of paper that will cover theinterior space of the venue. The artists will be divided into two groups to create two collaborative murals for four hours. The murals will later be disassembled into individual works that can be purchased by the general public. A portion of the proceeds will go to Honeycomb’s charity partner, Wild Again, an environmental organization dedicated to buying land for the purpose of reforestation. Also present at the event will be Puro, the Argentine streetwear company, who will set up a station where artists will paint on sneakers. There will also be an acoustic concert with local band Recoveko and prize drawings throughout the day.

Coming up in 2011, Honeycomb has a two-month show based on the theme of rituals planned for New York, and another large exhibition planned for 2012 in London. Centering on the theme of war and peace, the exhibition will be produced in conjunction with Laura McNamara, a Birmingham-based artist agency and curator who works with street and contemporary artists. There is another large crossover event planned for Buenos Aires and New York in 2012 as well, but Bates wouldn’t reveal much about it right now, promising only that it would involve a large scale collaboration and that the group has “hopes for it changing the urban art scene” in Buenos Aires.

In the mean time, Honeycomb is always open to new ideas and projects, with events taking place as they come along. If you would like to know more about Honeycomb events, you can sign up on the contact page of their website. Bates adds that the group is always on the lookout for new artists to join the group, and if interested, they can send images to artwork@inthehoneycomb.com.

Kustom art

Kustom art

Argentinian artists, Paula Duro

Argentinian artists, Paula Duro

Agriculture in an Art Space?

Articultores is sowing seeds in Buenos Aires - literally. This group is bringing urban agriculture to the most culturally diverse areas of the city, getting communities to work together to develop public vegetable gardens in unused corners of the city. Free Culture, Sustainable Development and Free Communal Space for all is the manifesto; agriculture as a collaborative cultural and artistic process is the vision.
Two stages make up the process of re-farming the city: practical workshops and GUERRILLAHUERTA! 

You can learn how to make seed bombs - small balls of earth, clay and seeds designed to yield greater production with as little human intervention as possible. Construct mini electronic consuls to monitor the irrigation of the urban plots. Be inventive - create plant beds on wheels for ease of mobility and hanging baskets to get maximum use out of scarce city space.

GUERRILLAHUERTA! (agricultural guerrilla warfare serves as a rough translation) is the actual process of farming the city, and gives you an idea of the sense of humor and fun these guys throw into the mix when it comes to recruiting and managing their 'troops'. These are the rules: make the seed bombs, choose the target, attack said target, spread green fever in your neighborhood, send in the photos. This last bit is important as the internet is a key part of the project; experts and novices, locals  and newcomers alike can share their experience and knowledge.

The articultores base their activities in migrant hotspots: Abasto and San Telmo in Buenos Aires, and Lavapies in Madrid, so idea exchange and collaboration gets global. These bohemian, working class areas are hubs for immigrants and artists, perfect for Articultores' aim to get different ethnic groups working together to farm their neighborhoods. In the eyes of Agricultores, an immigrant is much more than a symbol of economic values. It's time to investigate what they can bring to their new community, and for the locals to welcome them and learn from them. Urban agriculture is the vehicle through which Articultores develop this principle.

Agriculture in an Art Space?

Articultores is sowing seeds in Buenos Aires - literally. This group is bringing urban agriculture to the most culturally diverse areas of the city, getting communities to work together to develop public vegetable gardens in unused corners of the city. Free Culture, Sustainable Development and Free Communal Space for all is the manifesto; agriculture as a collaborative cultural and artistic process is the vision.
Two stages make up the process of re-farming the city: practical workshops and GUERRILLAHUERTA! 

You can learn how to make seed bombs - small balls of earth, clay and seeds designed to yield greater production with as little human intervention as possible. Construct mini electronic consuls to monitor the irrigation of the urban plots. Be inventive - create plant beds on wheels for ease of mobility and hanging baskets to get maximum use out of scarce city space.

GUERRILLAHUERTA! (agricultural guerrilla warfare serves as a rough translation) is the actual process of farming the city, and gives you an idea of the sense of humor and fun these guys throw into the mix when it comes to recruiting and managing their 'troops'. These are the rules: make the seed bombs, choose the target, attack said target, spread green fever in your neighborhood, send in the photos. This last bit is important as the internet is a key part of the project; experts and novices, locals  and newcomers alike can share their experience and knowledge.

The articultores base their activities in migrant hotspots: Abasto and San Telmo in Buenos Aires, and Lavapies in Madrid, so idea exchange and collaboration gets global. These bohemian, working class areas are hubs for immigrants and artists, perfect for Articultores' aim to get different ethnic groups working together to farm their neighborhoods. In the eyes of Agricultores, an immigrant is much more than a symbol of economic values. It's time to investigate what they can bring to their new community, and for the locals to welcome them and learn from them. Urban agriculture is the vehicle through which Articultores develop this principle.

Enjoy The Silence Tanghetto

You’ve had the French Connection with Gotan Project… Now go for the real thing if you want to discover what electrotango is all about: Tanghetto brings to London a new wave of Latin music. A unique blend of dance tunes and tango rythms. Coming from Buenos Aires, these five inspirational musicians cross-pollinate electrotango with traditional Argentinean acoustic elements. For the past five years, Tanghetto have performed in South America, Europe and the US, receiving accolades from their audiences and the music industry alike, with their visual, flamboyant, upbeat dance style. - 2004/2005 Latin Grammy Nominees - Three subsequent gold records: Emigrante, Buenos Aires Remix & Hybrid +Guests Poligriyos (Tango and other songs from the pampas) Live Neo-Tango Performance Cesar & Carolina - David & Kim

Enjoy The Silence Tanghetto

You’ve had the French Connection with Gotan Project… Now go for the real thing if you want to discover what electrotango is all about: Tanghetto brings to London a new wave of Latin music. A unique blend of dance tunes and tango rythms. Coming from Buenos Aires, these five inspirational musicians cross-pollinate electrotango with traditional Argentinean acoustic elements. For the past five years, Tanghetto have performed in South America, Europe and the US, receiving accolades from their audiences and the music industry alike, with their visual, flamboyant, upbeat dance style. - 2004/2005 Latin Grammy Nominees - Three subsequent gold records: Emigrante, Buenos Aires Remix & Hybrid +Guests Poligriyos (Tango and other songs from the pampas) Live Neo-Tango Performance Cesar & Carolina - David & Kim