Here we have a powerful painting from an original member of the Fashion Moda Group in the New York city. The signed painting is titled "Damn Good Joe", and it was painted by listed artist Loulyn (L.S.) Carstater (1941-1998). He was a New York street artist who joined the Fashion Moda Group in 1980, even exhibiting in the same show as Basquaiat. There's something very haunting about this Cubist painting. It's a graffiti art painting that will fit right into a New York city art gallery.
Here's a bio from his obituary in The Morning Call:
"A freelance artist and poet, he was a former middle school art teacher in Parish County, New Orleans, La., for 12 years. He also was a street artist in New York's Soho District and participated in group exhibits at the Jersey City Museum and Neo Persona, New York. In 1980, he was part of the Fashion Moda Group, New York."
Here's background on Fashion Moda from Wikipedia:
"Fashion Moda was founded in 1978 by Stefan Eins. He was soon joined by artist Joe Lewis and William Scott, a young teenager from the neighborhood as co-directors. Defining itself as a concept, Fashion Moda quickly became a strong voice in the New York art world during the late 1970s and the 1980s. Fashion Moda crossed boundaries and mixed metaphors. It helped redefine the function of art in a post-modernist society. Fashion Moda spotlighted such artists as David Wojnarowicz, Keith Haring, Jane Dickson, Stefan Roloff, Jenny Holzer, Mark Kostabi, Kenny Scharf, Carson Grant, Joe Lewis, Thom Corn, John Ahearn, Lisa Kahane, Christy Rupp, John Fekner, Don Leicht, Jacek Tylicki, Stefan Eins himself and graffiti artists like Richard Hambleton, Koor, Daze, Crash, Spank, and many others. In addition to highlighting new talent, Fashion Moda was a major force in establishing new venues. In 1980, Fashion Moda collaborated with the downtown progressive artists organization Colab (Collaborative Projects Inc.) on "The Times Square Show" (June 1980), and Now Gallery which introduced uptown graffiti-related art to downtown art and punk scenes.
Fashion Moda in the South Bronx was located in a building at 2803 Third Avenue near 147th Street and the Hub, a shopping center. The South Bronx location allowed it the freedom to explore the questions "What is art?" and "Who defines it?" Funded largely by grants from the NYSCA, NEA, and other, outside money, the space encouraged the production of creative art, unhampered by the contemporary art market and academic art training. As such, it was a center for many downtown and local South Bronx artists, writers, and performance artists to workshop their ideas and first display their works. Fashion Moda was also closely tied to the global emergence of Hip Hop. In the latter part of its existence the storefront exterior was painted by graffiti artist Crash. The name ("Fashion" in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian) was painted graffiti style on top, over a spray painted depiction of a rat, toxic waste and a graveyard. In 1993, Fashion Moda closed its South Bronx location."
The Cubist painting measures 25.5" x 18.75". The actual painting measures 17.5" x 11.5". I believe the painting is gouache on paper. Please see all pics as they are part of the description.
I ship to the continental USA only. Free shipping on this piece.
This is one Damn Good Joe.
