RETNA and EL MAC have teamed up for another mural, this time in Culver City. Their newest mural, titled Of Our Youth, can be seen on the side of Graphaids art supply store, on La Cienega between Jefferson and Washington.

The imagery and text used in this mural was inspired by their time spent at Skid Row, while painting their previous mural. The artists met a man by the name of Ralph Woodruff aka Chato and were inspired by this man’s past hardships, experiences and overall outlook on life. His ability to recognize his mistakes and atone for his sordid past was something that resonated with RETNA. The text which reads, “So today I’m trying to change a few things to rectify the situation of my past. So today I’m looking towards the future (of our youth highlighted)” is a quote taken from their conversation.

The mural was made possible by Graphaids , Rivera & Rivera Galley, and RVCA.

Photo Credit: Kohshin Finley

My Man Greg Bojorquez, rolled through while Mac n I were painting this piece of Dianne, Dianne also rolled thru to see the progress. This was a fun piece, that corners pretty hot, we enjoyed all the distractions that floated our way, let me tell you.

My man Thomas from Paperworks Labratories, brought over Cat Cult to do some photos for a project he is working on here are a few snaps he took.

This is a new mural my good friend Mac and I just did.

I was a great time as usual hanging with the brethren, Miami what can I say, again my gratitude to all who made it possible Primary Flight, Books , Typoe, Lynnieroc, my man Hox had a few tricks up his sleeve, to make it work, Slow n the TCP fam, the MSG players. To all the good people of Miami who always have a way of putting there best foot forward and dealing with all their lil step children who come in town to parlay for the holiday, THANK YOU.

So as you know MacDog paints the magnificent portrait of a man he met in SF, he told me a lil about him, so I took off from there.

Two people came by and helped with the title the first was the photographer for the Herald. He Said “Seeing Signs” which I liked a lot. Then another lady came buy and said her and the city of Miami had already taken ownership and called it the “CONDUCTOR” hence the name . Seeing Signs ” aka the Conductor…. Playing the sounds of the street following the signs on the walls.

Heres what is sais,

IF I TOLD YOU A STORY
WOULD YOU LISTEN TO WHAT
I HAD TO SAY,

THE VOICE
IN MY HEAD NO ME DEJA
DESCANSAR, LA VIDA,

SO AQUI VA LA CUENTA

HACE MUCHO TIEMPO
NACIO UNA TRADICION DE
MI GENTE
CALLEJERA

DE LA TIERRA SOMOS
COMO LAS CENIZAS VOLANDO
CON EL VIENTO, A UN
DESTINO
ESTRANO,
LA NOCHE ESTAN LLENA
DE COLORES

PINTAMOS LAS PARED
DE TODOS NOS VARRIOS
DE NUESTRA TERRITORIAS
Y TE DEHAMOS LA
MURALIA HECHO CON
LA SANGRE DE MI
PERDIDAS HERMANOS

UN DIA REGRESERAMOS
UNTIL THE END OF TIME,
TO RUN THIS AGAIN

LET ME REST ON MY LAST DAYS
THROUGH PEICES

LOS VAGOS DE LA CALLE SOMOS
LOS NINOS DE FUERZA
Y TENEMOS LAS MARKAS

Translation

IF I TOLD YOU A STORY
WOULD YOU LISTEN TO WHAT
I HAD TO SAY,

THE VOICE
IN MY HEAD, DOESNT LET ME REST
IN LIFE.

SO HERE GOES THE ACCOUNT

A LONG TIME AGO
A TRADITION WAS BORN
FROM MY PEOPLE
OF THE STREET.

FROM THE DIRT WE ARE,
LIKE THE ASHES FLYING
WITH THE WIND, TO A
UNKNOWN DESTINATION

THE NIGHT IS FILLED WITH COLORS.

WE PAINT THE WALLS
OF ALL THE HOODS
OF OUR TERRITORIES
AND WE LEAVE YOU THE
MURALS MADE WITH THE
THE BLOOD
OF MY LOST BROTHERS.

ONE DAY WE WILL RETURN
UNTIL THE END OF TIME
TO RUN THIS AGAIN

LET ME REST ON MY LAST DAYS
THROUGH PEICES.

THE VAGRANTS OF THE STREET WE ARE
AS WELL AS THE KIDS OF FORCE,
AND WE HAVE THE THE MARKS.

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This are a few photos of a piece titled Ave Maria - Mac and I just created at Fice in Salt Lake City.

The Mac & Retna “Vagos y Reinas” / Limited edition exhibition catalog

The catalog offers a unique glimpse into the the preparation, installation, and execution of the artist’s first ever collaborative exhibition.

Documenting photography by / Yuri Hasegawa

Introductions by / Owen Taylor, Robert Berman and Brett Aronson.

Layout + Design by / Arango Designs

The catalog is limited to 100, and will never be reprinted.

- Signed by both artists
- Numbered out of an Edition of 100
- Embossed cover w/ printed slip collar
- Crated in a screen printed kraft mailer
- 54 Pages

$100 + S&H

AVAILABLE HERE

I was always impressed by Retna’s eclectic technique, his lines, his calligraphy: his handstyle is awesome. I had the pleasure to personally meet El Mac some weeks ago and I found not just a pure talented artist, also a really genuine person. Their work together is a perfect combination, well, even more, a symbiosis! Their styles fit together in such great harmony!

-Angelo Lospinuso from Montana Colors

Upper Playground recently announced a collaborative project with Montana Colors to create artist series Hardcore cans by four artists. The third MTN x UP Limited Edition artist can in the series features the collaborative work of El Mac and Retna.

Each of these artists has developed his own distinctive style and technique; Retna is renowned especially for his bold calligraphic brushwork, and Mac for his uniquely stylized painting of lifelike faces and figures; El Mac uses spraypaint and Retna uses spraypaint and acrylic for paintings; oil, acrylic, enamel, pencil, and other mediums on paper, canvas, and wood.

El Mac and Retna have combined forces a number of times in recent years, and have gained increasing attention and applause for the powerful and beautiful murals they’ve painted in Los Angeles and several other cities around the globe. Last month, they released Alianza, a 96-page hardcover book that highlights their collaborations, along with a selection of individual paintings and photos by each artist, as well as a collection of lifestyle photos, photos of the artists working and their travels, and close-up views of the murals themselves.

The MTN x UP El Mac/Retna Limited Edition artist can and Alianza are available now in limited quantities and will be sold at Upper Playground retail stores and online on the Upper Playground web store.

El Mac & Retna have risen to worldwide prominence in recent years with their graffiti, murals and canvases attracting massive praise. This superb new book documents the artwork of these two artists over the last six years, and is the first to fully present their collaborative murals.

Each of these artists has developed his own distinctive style and technique; Retna is renowned especially for his bold calligraphic brushwork, and Mac for his uniquely stylized painting of lifelike faces and figures; El Mac uses spraypaint and Retna uses spraypaint and acrylic for paintings; oil, acrylic, enamel, pencil, and other mediums on paper, canvas, and wood.

El Mac and Retna have combined forces a number of times in recent years, and have gained increasing attention and applause for the powerful and beautiful murals they’ve painted in Los Angeles and several other cities around the globe.

Alianza – El Mac and Retna features the highlights of these collaborations, along with a selection of individual paintings and photos by each artist, as well as a collection of lifestyle photos, photos of the artists working and their travels, and close-up views of the murals themselves.

96 pages, Hardcover, 6 ¼” x 8 ½” (159 x 210 mm)
85 Illustrations, English

These photos are from a set that Yuri took while she came to visit while I was setting up for the show with MAC, Vagos Y Reinas.