Monday, July 1st will mark the closing of the 18 x 24 Street Art Group Show at Come Back Daily, an “experiential cannabidiol (CBD) hub” located in Manhattan’s East Village, according to a press release by the startup company. The show, curated by Harlem-native Savior El Mundo, showcases an impressive lineup of renowned NYC artists working in different mediums, from pop artist Pitch Black to collage constructor Denise Cummings, infamous wheatpaster SacSix and recent Bloomingdales feature Marco Santini. Each participant contributed a work matching the show’s eponymous dimensions, resulting in a colorful, diverse collection that stands out against the retail space’s clean white walls.
Miami-based street and graffiti artist Ze Florist served as the show’s headliner, making his first maiden journey to New York City to create a mural for the event. He is “most well-known for his large scale floral installations in vibrant color palettes,” which further accentuated the show’s lively energy, complimenting the luscious plant life already adorning Come Back Daily’s gallery space.
Savior brings a wealth of artistic experience to his latest curatorial endeavor. Since he began presenting his work in gallery settings between New York and Los Angeles in 2008, he has honed a “frenetic layered style” derived “from the wealth of inspiration the streets of NYC offered to him as a young man, hell bent on destruction, but ultimately choosing a life of creation.” His weekly event, “Collage NYC”, has been running since 2010 and has “created a place for artists to come and paint freely, connect with others, and gain recognition from NYC art enthusiasts.”
In a one-on-one interview regarding the show, told me that this was his first time working with Come Back Daily. He gained the opportunity through connections he built by being an active member of the street art community. He noted that the artists he recruited were willing to participate thanks to this activity, and the fact that “they always support, too.”
He noted that he and these artists had “all worked together on a lot of shows, a lot of group shows … I’ve known them for at least ten years doing street art together.” In an effort to get the best out of his peers, he requested that they bring something new, something they hadn’t really shown yet.
The space inspired Savior’s vision for the show, especially as he saw Ze Florist’s mural taking shape. Savior said, “I started getting the vision, I’d see [the] colors and then everyone else would bring the same kind of colors… so it went well with all the art. It pops.”
The multi-threat creative espoused the importance of learning to play multiple parts in the art industry, explaining, “I think every artist should be a curator at one point.” He stated that his work in curating informed his work as an artist, specifically regarding timeliness. “I was happy with everything. All the artists were on time,” he beamed. He attributes this to the understanding that if they didn’t make it on time they’d end up on “skid row” in the least desirable locations. “You have to be professional because people [will] want to work with you again.”
Ultimately though, his greatest joy comes from facilitating a sense of community, not only among artists, but also between artists and the small business in neighborhoods where they’re active. “The space is amazing, the work is amazing,” Savior said. “It was just a positive environment, especially in the Lower East Side [where] it’s kind of like the home of street art… I was kind of trying to bring that element back.”
“Everything’s about street art now. It helps each other, one hand washes the other,” Savior said, regarding the mutually beneficial relationship between local businesses and street artists “They’re supporting street art, and that’s a beautiful thing.” In hosting this show, Come Back Daily proves their an organization not only has a commitment to de-stigmatizing products that can change lives for the better, but also a mission to give back to the places where they conduct business. This enthusiasm is evident in the high-energy show found in the gallery space of their newest location.
The 18 x 24 Street Art Group Show is on view through Monday, July 1st at Come Back Daily, situated at 516 East 11th Street, New York City.
