MANDYLAND: NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU

MANDYLAND: NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU
By Mandy Richardson for Echo Weekly
May 27 - June 2, 2010

Mark your calendars, folks, because it’s about to go down NYC style in the only place that matters: C to the mutherflippin’ Bridge, yo! It’s time to prepare yourself for a night of graffiti, hip hop, drum n' bass, and topless hotties, because on Friday, June 4, Spun Turtle Productions and Mandyland Promotions are bringing you the First Annual Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show.

This much anticipated event, featuring renowned New York graffiti artists Ski and 2esae of Ur New York and exclusive artwork from the infamous Destroy and Rebuild NYC, takes place on Friday June 4 from 7-11:30pm at the Nutty Parrot at 30 Water Street in Cambridge. The cost is $10 for a ticket in advance, or $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at The Nutty Parrot, Underground Gallery, streetdreamsgraffiti@gmail.com, or by joining the Facebook event page, Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show.

The night will include DJ’s Victim and Jay Pilon; topless beauties ready to be tagged by both local and NYC graffiti artists; exclusive artwork and t-shirts by UR New York and Destroy and Rebuild NYC, Stick ‘Em Up Wall Graphics by Sensu, and artwork by Spun Turtle, Ean Kools, Justin Taylor, REOR and Dave Hoover.

This is a 19–plus event sponsored by the Nutty Parrot, Spun Turtle Productions, Stick 'Em Up Wall Graphics and Underground Gallery. Come support local artists while experiencing the notorious NYC vibe, and be part of the future we’re creating for our city’s artists and their craft.

And if that’s just not enough kickassness for you, then join us again on Saturday, June 5 from 10 am-10 pm for the Cambridge Arts Festival at Cambridge City Hall at 50 Dickson Street. This annual event has been going strong since 1995 and its mission is “to ensure that all local artists have the opportunity to display their art forms in a pleasant location to be viewed by members of their own community.” The festival makes room for artists of all disciplines, including writers, painters, photographers, dancers, buskers, drum circles, musicians, singers and actors.

Here’s some of what and who you can look forward to on Saturday: Kandy Cakes, The Grand Bakery, and more to spoil your taste buds; Helene Weaver, Dave Menary, and more for us literary enthusiasts; Twegen, Nervous Wrecked, Two Crown King, and more to get your music fix; Diamond Martial Arts, Fire Spinners and more to entertain you. Harlequinn Hoops, Angela Werstine, WTF Photography, and more give your artistic eye some pampering. And of course that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

So after your night at the NYC-inspired Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show, mosey back downtown when you wake up for a beautiful day of sun, fun, music and performances, as well as a hearty dose of the visual, literary and culinary arts at the Cambridge Arts Festival. With free admission, free parking and free water that day, you just can’t go wrong. Add in a graffiti wall to be painted by our artists as you watch, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for the most kickass weekend of 2010, hands down.

What’s more, you can expect to see all the artists from the Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show at the Cambridge Arts Festival because when it comes to celebrating our artists, Cambridge has got it goin’ on.

If you are an independent business owner and/or a visual or media artist and would like to be featured in an upcoming Mandyland column, or have an art related event to promote, shoot me an email at herhappyhighness@gmail.com and let me know what’s up. Past columns and everything else Mandy related can be found on my blog, Her Happy Highness.