the kid belo

I would like to thank Rob Mabee and Axis Contemporary Art for seeing me through the last 3 years of my career. Rob was the first to harness my talent after the successful group show, Art Under Pressure, at the Art Gallery of Calgary in 05-06. He was impressed by my work and introduced me to the talented, Tim Okamura. As most know, Tim and I connected well and have since partnered on many works and two collaboration shows.

I have decided to leave Axis Contemporary Art on great terms. I want to pursue my career both in art and entreprenuership after seeing a successful 2009 and beginning of 2010. Thank you for all you have done and for all the support, clients and opportunities, Rob. My hats goes off to you and I am forever indebted to you for your love and support.

Thank you.

David Brunning

AEROSOL ARTISTS any hopes for the future of graffiti? By Andrew R. Mott

As a little girl bends down to take a photo of a graffiti bug on a low-rising, cracked concrete wall, it becomes apparent that what is considered worthy of collection and preservation changes with the generations. Calgary is a conservative, corporate town that is willing to throw advertising just about anywhere that can turn a profit, while it buffs out street art in the name of eliminating the scourge of society. Elevator doors in hospitals are plastered with suburban dream home lottery ticket propaganda and all elements of the transit system, including entire buses and trains, are paid advertisements for companies that can afford the space. While the statistic of the average daily exposure to advertising varies from 300 to 3,000 messages, the fact is that our modern society is barraged with attention-grabbing commercials in every possible arena of human life. While ads are geared towards getting people to open their wallets, street art aims at connecting people with their emotions. The city of Calgary seems to be drowning its sense of self with an alcoholic wash of gray and off-white; fight emotion with the hopeless wish that it goes away.

David Brunning, aka TheKidBelo, is renowned for his creative talent and passion for street art that is rivaled only by very few. As a graffiti artist painting for the pleasure of the community, Brunning's most current aerosol expressions are of dynamically changing variations of the word “Amor.” At this point in his prolific career, he considers no other word a better term to visually engage society with than “Love.” It's this ardor that has driven Brunning to get involved with teaching respect to the next generation.

"The future of Calgary's scene is dire unless attitudes change," says TheKidBelo as he pours over images of the world's best graffiti artists on Flickr.

With spirited fervency, he talks about how “graffiti kids” need to respect the history of the art form and research its roots and stylistic movements. He's sick with how tags get etched into Mom n' Pop shop windows with an aggressive behavior that can only be considered vandalism. It's one thing to “blow it up” and “bomb” all the best spots in town with classic letters and personal flare, but something else altogether to piss your tag all over fences, mirrors and inside school hallways. Brunning is dedicated to promoting the long-term effects that the education of social values and respect for your neighborhood provide.

Working with high-risk teens in six-week sections at the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary, he shows new ways to look at life through art. For 12 years, Brunning's been involved with youth groups and has built a reputation of character that has landed him work teaching both junior and senior high school art. He encourages students to learn through researching any kind of creativity that interests them and ends up providing lessons that focus on color theory, composition, line and dynamics in a natural way.

Upset by the short-term angst and fear that causes the city to keep throwing money at the losing battle of eliminating graffiti, Brunning will forever forge forward with the simple tools of leading by example and showing respect. He wishes that there was legal space in Calgary like in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto, all cities where he can actually paint without breaking the law.

Rick Haddow, the City of Calgary's manager of community relations and contact for graffiti awareness, had never heard the term “aerosol artist” before and needed a redefinition to understand that it's essentially a conservative handle for a graffiti artist. Rather than speak street jargon and create the tension that results from conflicting semantics, BeatRoute asked if there are any free walls in Calgary that street artists can use to paint murals for the public. An expected and starkly assertive "no" was heard through the phone, followed by, "We haven't had any success with free walls." In a jubilantly helpful manner, Rick was quick to direct inquiries to contribute to the public canvas of Calgary to the city's arts and culture division manager, Beth Gignac.

It seems that the municipal government does still have an interest in providing space for graffiti artists; it’s just buried in bureaucracy. So it will be through following the right avenues and putting in a lot of hard work that the burgeoning color of this city will creep like moss and breathe vibrancy back into an oppressively drab community.

Things are steady moving forward in 2010.

TKB Bikinis will launch soon with information on the Facebook Fan Page. I am out of the country for two weeks in the beginning of May and will return to a solid and packed month.

Summer is looking great and hopefully some headliner projects will be under way.

As for you art collectors, the new work is looking great with a more solid approach to a timely process and layering effect in the work. I have begun combining the graffiti element with the abstraction detail, but fusing color, composition and subliminal details to create a greater, more personal effect in my work. I am excited to release some new images in the near future.

As for a show, stay tuned. I am looking at a solo show possibly with some collaborative efforts from fellow friends in the late summer, latest early fall.

As always, stay tuned, join the fan page and keep the support up!

Many blessings and happy spring!!!

TheKidBelo

This is from my blog post on RichBeyondBills. Please read.

Getting our hands dirty. Staying up way past late. Combating a growing number of reproduction art store. Making original works. Trying to educate buyers and the public. Seeing Ikea and other stores mass produce “art”. Fighting against the politics of fine art. Doing it for the love. Understanding a growing and ever changing business. Selling a piece of ourselves. Critiques that challenge our understanding of art and our work leaving us more concerned with perfection and originality. Living the dream and facing the reality which sometimes makes us wonder if the world is half asleep, not us…

Trust me people, this list of things could go on and on when it comes to processing what and who the artist is. The artists, with their creative minds and talented strokes, seem to forever be wanting to express what they feel is their art, and somehow we have been lost amidst a consumer’s society of mass produced ideas of art, prints and the ever growing challenge of defending price points and gallery mark-ups.

Some have been most fortunate in their success, being able to market and sell their work with rising popularity in a culture that seems to be on both sides of the sink at times. Either you’re hot or you’re cold, and the tap is always turning! As soon as someone receives a reward for what they do, as in an exchange either in product or monetary value, the game changes. The process takes on a new shape and the artist has now entered into production mode. It is not abnormal for those who do not create to assume that the artist is able to produce work like an accountant is able to sit at a desk and crunch numbers all day. Yet this is not the case. Art originates from another place, a place that few know of and many more do not fully understand. It is a process.

Do not misread the text, we are not aliens or special creatures, yet we are given gifts that seem to add life, light, inspiration, thought and much more to someone’s world, whether in small doses or very loud installments. We are artists and when it comes to applying our craft to the world at large, well, we fight against a growing population of uneducated buyers and collectors. We have left the explanation up to the artist themselves, or to the gallery which represents them. Most often, the “artist statement” is what best informs a buyer on the collection of work and then the transfer of conversation is left up to the buyer’s eyes and mind with the work they see before them.

So how do you purchase art? How do you pursue the idea of investing in someone’s creativity? How do you know the value of what you are looking at?

I would like to try and educate you on what I know at this time and hopefully shed light on how you will go about viewing original art in the future, making informed and wise decisions on investing in an artist, in original artwork and ultimately, their lives.

How do YOU purchase art?

Think about that for a minute. What makes you spend money on covering up your walls in your home, office or business? What do you think is fair value for the work? What do you actually know about the work or the artist? Ask yourself these questions. Many people often will go through these questions in their minds when looking at artwork, but do not understand what they are processing. Obviously, if you like the work, that is the first and most important realization. That is where you start. However, what if you do not know what you are looking for or you have never purchased your own art, leaving decisions up to your friends, an interior designer or someone with more time? Educate yourself. Simply done, take the time to Google an artist, viewing their work, their collections and their information whether it be previous clients, CV’s or the like. This only takes about half an hour of your time and makes up for a much better decision in the long run. After all, you live in your space, not your friends or your interior designer.

With the newly formed view on the art or the artist, take the time to reflect on how it may work within your space. Measure it out. Know the medium the artist used. Look at the price. Think of how it makes you feel. Think about these things and more, but in the end, make a decision.

Decisions, decisions.

How do you finally decide? That word, final, is received with apprehension in our modern day where things are changing on the hour and commitment is a topic that seems to be widely discussed in a variety of opinions. Since we are so often changing, we have allowed a market of price-friendly prints to enter into our homes and hang on our walls in frames build out of cheap wood. Artists have bought into the realm prints as well, making their art more “accessible” and more readily purchased which seems to be growing in popularity. Personally, I prefer original art, yet I do have two prints by an amazing artist in the UK currently hanging on my wall. I am unable to afford his original work at this time, so I chose to go the route of buying the prints. This is not a bad choice and it is completely understood. Often it is an older collector with the financial security whom is able to purchase original works. I would like to show you some options as a collector, whether you are young or old.

Budget.

When you are desiring to own someone’s work, budget for that work by setting aside a sum of money each month. Sometimes an artist or gallery will allow payment plans with an initial down payment. Do not be afraid to ask either if you desire to go this route. It never hurts to ask. If it is important to you, you will make it a priority.

Affordability.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is my strongest point I would like to bring home today. Priorities seem to run our time, and indirectly, our funds. When we are younger we often prioritize experience and fun which can cost a lot if you travel, like looking the part, enjoy the life of the party or desire to have some type of status. It is not unfamiliar to spend hundreds of dollars a week/weekend in the pursuit of our experience. I would like to bring this to your attention however, that in the pursuit which sometimes is like throwing hard earned money in the toilet bowl, you are in fact proving to yourself that you do have the funds to purchase the art you most desire. Ikea art is filler art, if you haven’t noticed. The original pieces and prints they purchase and then mass produce are great, obviously, as they have purchased the rights while the masses purchase the reproductions at growing rates. This is also easy art. You do not have to think much about these purchases which makes it easy for you do to and easy for you to just hang on a wall. As rapper Nas says in his track Not Going Back, “Real millionaires spend 60 mil on paintings”, which is to say most people spend money on things that depreciate in value, making them look rich but in the end they are broke. Money goes to brands, fancy cars, high priced dinners and big tabs at the club, making the idea of art investment something that you do later in life, when established. Real investment appreciates and it sometimes takes a while, which requires patience. A lot of foolishly spent money is often the tuition cost to receiving this kind of education. I would just ask that you put some thought into your choices if in fact you love art, appreciate it and desire to have it.

Commissions.

If you are looking for an artist to commission a work, please just contact them via email or phone. Often commissions take longer to produce and may be more expensive than a piece within a body of already produced work, but again, just ask. Please be patient with an artist and make a formal agreement for the work, whether in contract or verbal agreement. This type of work is sometimes very personal so establish some good rapport with an artist and though you desire to share your ideas for the work, allow them to be who they are. In other words, if you commissiona piece, share your ideas but let them do what they do best!

I do have more thoughts to share, but will refrain at this time. I just really want to encourage you to look at your living space differently and to pursue purchasing original artowrk, whether is a painting, sculpture, photography or any type of creation from the hands of the hardworking artists.

And to my artist friends, the art world at large and those who desire to pursue art as a living – be also, patient. Create quality work, building integrity through your process and have faith that in the end that it will sell. Your time, talent and process are appreciated! But please, think of your collector and your buyer and do not cheapen the process in search of monetary gain. Our community at large needs integrity. Be patient. Create. And let what you love come through in what you do.

Thank you, that’s all for now,

TKB.

Ryan Jespersen invited me to do a segment on Tuesday, April 6th. It was quite early but aired the morning after I finished an installation up in Edmonton for Mac's Convenience Store. The URL for the clip is below or just click "Visit Site" in the top left. Thank you again, Breakfast Television.

http://blogs.btedmonton.ca/ryan/graffiti-art-not-an-oxymoron

Check it out.

I will be featuring my art and doing a segment on City TV's Breakfast Television Wednesday, March 31st. The airtime should be 8:00 AM or 8:20AM. Tune in and check it out.

As well, I just uploaded a new piece that I did for TEDxYYC, part of the TED Talks.

I'm heading up to Edmonton for some work at the beginning of April. I will return to some commission projects to finish off the month. I will be leaving the country for some time in May and in the meantime, arranging what my summer looks like for private and corporate clients.

Hmmm, let's see, fun stuff...well, I'll hopefully be able to paint some walls during this summer, most likely not in the anti-graffiti city of Calgary, but abroad I hope. I am looking at throwing a show in the summer or by early Fall, so stay tuned for news on that.

As for current works, please do not hesitate to visit Ginger Group to check out what is available (in person) or view the Store online, here, and let me know what if you are interested in the work to liven up your home or office.

Mucho gracias!

TheKidBelo

Yo!

It's been some time since I have updated this site with images, but I am proud to present to you the new look for 2010. Aaron Glenn once again did a great job at developing the new site, replacing the older '07 site.

You'll notice the BLOG link now which will be my updates and whatnot, as well as in the CONTACT area you'll find a link now to my fan page on Facebook.

There may still be some fine tuning in regards to the smaller things on this site but should that happen and when it happens, you'll be sure to know through the BLOG.

Have a look through the site, the images and stay tuned.

Much love. TKB

Here is what things are shaping up to look like, so please read on.

I have recently done a photo shoot with the talented Shane Yuhas for the updated and revamped site, www.thekidbelo.com. The new layout will be directed by the creative design of Aaron Glenn, who is responsible for the first site that has been running since its inception in 2007. I will also be working alongside Aaron creating the new site. Expect to see the launch some time in early 2010, possibly January or February at the latest.

As far as art work is concerned, I will be doing some live painting events in December. I will also be taking on some commission work, though it will be light in nature and specific. If you are wanting to book me for an event, please make sure you do so at least a month in advance, minimum, as my schedule can be busy. Thank you.

In regards to my personal profile on Facebook, David Brunning, I have all but shut it down and have brought it to a minimum. For any work related things, please contact me at info@thekidbelo.com, not through my Facebook inbox. Thank you. I recently saw the birth of a new form of interaction for me and started a blog site called, richbeyondbills.wordpress.com. So far, so good. It's a little more personal than Facebook and you are able to subscribe to it, so please check it out.

There are some pieces to be seen of the latest collaborative work from Tim Okamura and I that are available on Show & Tell Gallery's website, www.showandtellgallery.com, so please view our latest work from our show in October of this year, titled: Love, Strength & Soul. The show was great and the latest work is beautiful.

Which brings me to the next point - transition. Both in my artistic and personal life there are major shifts happening - all for the good! However, every time change occurs, you shed some things and gain some new skin. I will be revealing 4-5 new pieces in the beginning of December (at The Ginger Group), so be prepared, and will continue down this road of revamping, reshaping and reorganizing my wonderful life (and art work!) in order to make this city and culture a brighter, more vibrant place to live in.

Thank you for your time reading this. I appreciate it. David Brunning, TheKidBelo & Tevi Kenan Bomberg (the alias).

Love, Strength & Soul

Tim Okamura & TheKidBelo host a new body of work at Show & Tell Gallery in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Here is the Press release:

Show & Tell Gallery is proud to present the second collaborative exhibition from NYC based painter Tim Okamura and Calgary’s premier graffiti artist TheKidBelo (David Brunning) titled “Love, Strength, & Soul”.

Featuring several collaborative canvases as well as selected works by the individual artists, this exhibition investigates the thematic content of the title through Okamura’s gritty realism, and detailed depictions of inner-city subjects, and TheKidBelo’s boldly precise and often colorful architectural letter forms. At once complimentary and divergent, these two artists’ contrasting styles also serve to echo the wide variance found in the emotional associations with Love, Strength, and Soul – from subtle displays of altruism to resolute courage to introspective ponderance. Though both artists understand the possible interpretations in relation to these themes are boundless, they have found a starting point for their explorations within a decidedly urban context.

Tim Okamura continues to investigate identity, environment and contemporary iconography in the “Love, Strength, & Soul” series through a unique approach that combines an essentially academic approach to figure painting with collage, spray paint and mixed media. Okamura’s paintings simultaneously express interest in the individual captured on canvas, as well as the larger metaphor for human experience that can be found portrayed by the same subject. The idea of transmitting “Courage” or stoicism through the studied expression of a subject’s face or a particular posture, or finding the subtle glimmer in someone’s eye that communicates the elusive concept spirit or soulfulness is of utmost importance to him. Additionally, layers of visual elements that support more inconspicuous means of elucidating particular ideas in these paintings are often created as a result of an observation of the visual encounters on the streets of New York. The organic build-up of street signage, posters, random felt marker tags, stenciled street art, and more refined graffiti pieces that together form a complex cultural motif that Okamura often emulates on canvas through textural oil paint, rough-hewn collage, and spray cans.

TheKidBelo’s distinctive graffiti style elicits a visceral reaction that may or may not be in alignment with the literal definition of the words he employs as the basic building block for his spray-painted creations. Popular connotations associated with the word “Love”, for example, may be celebrated or cast aside in favor of a darker insight, as dictated by either the emotive qualities of a particular color choice, or the inherent characteristics of his letter forms, whether they are sharp and violent or more fluid and calming in rhythm and design. It is the interplay between the linguist, the colorist, and the draftsman who understands how perception can be affected by the idiosyncrasies of organic and geometric shapes that enables TheKidBelo is able to delve into the complex themes of this exhibition. His work manages to strike a balance between accessibility while still maintaining relevance in the street culture from which graffiti art originated.

When the words in the title of the exhibition “Love, Strength, & Soul” appear in the work of Tim Okamura and TheKidBelo, they are written in several different dialects – “Love” becomes the Spanish “Amor”, Strength becomes the Latin “Fortis”, and Soul is translated into the Swahili “Nafsi” – as a means of acknowledging the universal emotional resonance inherent in these paradigms of human experience regardless of language.

For sales and media inquires please contact: Show & Tell Gallery Director Simon Cole simon@showandtellgallery.com +1 647 347 3316

Tim Okamura & TheKidBelo Love, Strength, & Soul

Writers across the city...

Listen up.

The Shaw Millennium Park free wall has been temporarily shut down to be reassessed and restructured due to the first two days of usage. The program was to be 3 months. The cards handed out are temporarily void. There will be more information handed out after the meetings this week with city officials and bylaw. I will keep you all in the loop.

The landmark building was to be the only building used to paint upon. The paint was never intended to be on the actual skating surfaces or other parts of the park (bowls, tranny's, posts, etc.) Some of you knew this, and some of you didn't. It's taken a long time to get something like this going so please respect it.

As for your voice - email me your thoughts on what has happened and your ideas or concerns, so I have something to show this committee! If you don't write me, I only speak from what I know and what I've heard from a few of you. So please do this so I can speak upon the result of two days. If you've been harassed by police or bylaw, lemme know! If you have ideas as to how it should run, lemme know. If you're pissed off, lemme know. But word it well so that I can bring the emails to this meeting. You have 24 hours (until Tuesday the 25th at noon).

I understand not much was explained about this spot and there was no forum for it where I could meet you all and lay out the plan. I'm doing my best and will continue to.

Stay tuned.

Thank you, and I apologize for this situation occurring! Brutal!

email: info@thekidbelo.com

THEKIDBELO!!!

Hello - I am out of the country and overseas in Hawaii. Any inquiries can be made via email at info@thekidbelo.com

Other than that, I need a vacation and am enjoying it!

Cheers and see yall soon.

TheKidBelo will be at Stampede this year with a booth/studio area. Again, like in 2007, it will be focused on live art (no spray cans though, as it is indoors). He will also be featuring the live art of some of his apprentices: Davey Gravy, Jaryd of Phil Robbins, Steve of Myriad, Kai and Cody Light & Soul Creations. So if you're around the the Big Four Bell Gateway, say hello. You can catch me most mornings and some afternoons from Sneak-a-Peak on July 3rd till the evening of July 12th.

Some previous work will be on display.

* Also, stay tuned for a new mural on The Banff Centre coming in July as well as some graffiti done for Shakespeare in the Park running all of July at Prince's Island Park.

It's a busy summer.

X's

TKB

I want to write each and everyone of you personally, but that would be ridiculous as it might take up some time.

So here it is...

I sincerely thank each and every one of you who attended my first solo show, Procession, at The Gallery. You made my night and made this show such a success! I was very proud to release this new work and this show's concept.

I wasn't able to personally share what each piece meant to me but then again, to each their own with interpreting art! 19 out of the 24 pieces sold this show and there are still some amazing pieces available.

I would like to thank my most supportive parents and siblings (all 5 of you!), my close friends of whom I would not be able to have made it through the season I just went through without, my fans who love and support me and encourage my growth as a creative individual and of course, the One who gave me this gift - cause it is a gift and I see that more than ever now.

Thank you! Thank you Aaron, Leo, Ryan, Jess and Melissa, Natalia, the boys at Promotional Products Plus, Rob Mabee, Wyze Won, Paulo, Darski, Christina, Ramin, Jill, Tiffany n Kim n Jordan, James and Babs for your direct involvement! To my crews (FAS, EK, OG, ASK) and fellow artists, thank you for the inspiration!

I am grateful to share the work with you all and to look forward to my show in Toronto in October with Tim Okamura at Show & Tell Gallery.

I hope you all feel inspired, proud and happy to be a part of my life, my work and this city! With mad love!!! X's and O's

aka Tevi Kenan Bomberg, TheKidBelo - David Brunning

Check out TheKidBelo fan page on Facebook and of course The Gallery fan page also.

*And be sure to check the show if you missed it - it is up until June 25th. Reporter bags, limited Le HVY Style Est "Alias" T and TKB booty shorts still available at The Gallery!

Keep makin' art!

A solo exhibition featuring new works from TheKidBelo.

**The show will be running until the beginning of July for those who cannot make it to the opening night. As for those who plan to attend, please know that the space is limited in The Gallery, so waiting might occur if capacity is reached. My apologies but I hope you all can understand.

Thursday, 21st of May 2009, 7PM

Location:

The Gallery Street Life & Styles
113-1013 17th Ave SW Calgary, AB

Flyer for show is in Drawings section of site

May 21st, 2009...Stay tuned as more information will follow. I am doing a solo show in Calgary with a wide variety of sizes and prices of my new work. I am excited with the direction the art is going...

...I hope you will be too.

You're going to see a lot of new work in the next while all stemming from a new direction of exploration and creativity. This past year I took quite a few months off painting and traveled some, listened some and then regrouped those thoughts onto canvas. The work is mainly a step in the direction of abstraction.

Happy Holidays.

It has been some time since I've done an update so here goes...

My Mac crashed...boo! I never knew these fine machines could. Anyway, it is back up and things are on a roll. I revamped my studio and have begun a bunch of works, some of which you will see this month.

My boys, Dragon Fli Empire, started a blog site. Here is the link to the little questionnaire their threw my way...

http://www.livefromcgy.blogspot.com/

I also collabed with the design mind of my great friend, Tyler Power, to work out the new cover of Dragon Fli Empire's latest album, Redefine. It looks great and should sound great!

There are two shows coming up in 2009 as well as my 30th birthday bash! The 30th bday party will be in January! The first show of the two will be in Vancouver (May) and then in Toronto (Oct).

Keep posted. Invest in art, support your scene and live out your dream - as cheesy as that last bit sounds, it's worth it.

Much love,

TheKidBelo

Live at the King Eddie in Calgary, AB. - painting live via computer projection on the side of the King Eddie...

...first time I've down this, so swing down and check it out.

Event: The King Eddie Lives

The historic King Eddie Hotel is finally going to be brought back to life and we are throwing a free street party to celebrate.

• Live musical performances
• Live art and light show by world renowned graffiti artist TheKidBelo
• Food and beverage vendors

Presented by CMLC and The Cantos Music Foundation

Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008 Time: 5:30pm - 9:30pm Location: King Eddie Hotel Street: 4th St and 9th Ave SE City/Town: Calgary, AB

See you there...we'll see how this works out. I am used to paint...

Peace, TKB

So I'm to the mecca of this art...off to New York (Sept. 4, 2008) for the first time to see some new heads, meet up with Tim Okamura and enjoy some travels. I hope to paint, but then again, the time down there sounds busy already. After New York I fly off to Los Angeles and enjoy the sunny coast! Second time down to LA this year already so that should be good.

I'm stocked up with canvasses and excited to travel, get some inspiration and head back to the lab to paint up some new pieces. The site has had a big upload of new walls and soon, new canvasses.

I'm excited to get into the new season! Check out the Facebook Fan Page and be tuned for more work!

Much love and respect as always! If you ain't learning, you ain't growing!

Always learning...

TheKidBelo

Well, I'm glad to thank APlus New Media for the update. The site has a fresh look and the STORE feature has been added.

Many have asked what is for sale and what is not. Well, now it is clear. Also, many ask how pricing goes for projects. Murals and canvases are both priced per job. You will notice similar sized canvases with different prices - don't be alarmed. Each custom piece I create goes through a process with the client and I working out the details and the cost.

Some of the work I have is available through Axis Contemporary Art in Art Central, Calgary, Alberta. Other work is available through me directly. To inquire, just email me at: info@thekidbelo.com

Don't be alarmed by pricing or fearful of inquiring about work. Each commission is individually priced and created.

I hope you enjoy the site's new look and Store feature. I also hope to create more and more this upcoming year as I begin to work on new ideas.

Thanks for keeping with TheKidBelo.

Much love,

TKB

It is an honor to be recognized as the Best Visual Artist for 2008 by FFWD Weekly's Best Of Issue. I was humbled upon hearing the news and was more than willing to do the cover work for the issue and an article within. Thank you so much for this honor, Calgary, and those that love my work; my family, friends and fans!

You can read the article through the "Visit Site" link up top.

Cheers.

TheKidBelo

Hello!

Okay, first thing first - it's warming up! That means painting outside should soon commence. Secondly, more sun and possible more trips.

I have a few things on the go as of right now. I have just entered a submission to The City of Calgary for a public art competition to detail the 7th Avenue LRT Station Canopies. This is a big deal and hopefully I will see some great response to my submission, creating my next piece or body of work.

I have also been in contact with a few businesses in the Calgary area for jobs around town and abroad. This too is exciting!

If you are on Facebook, "TheKidBelo Fan Page" is now up and running, detailing previous pieces now in collection and work for sale.

As it stands, prior to the upgrade on this site, any pieces for sale are shown as "title of piece (FOR SALE)". Inquiries can be made at info@thekidbelo.com for pricing. Feel free to contact me for available pieces or commission works. Commission works have a greater time period to them so be patient, please.

And, as always, a huge thank you to you who frequent the site, enjoy the work and are supporters of what I do. I am richly encouraged by the response to my work and will continue to please your eyes best I can!

So stay tuned as summer is just around the corner!

Respect,

TheKidBelo.

Hello...just into the New Year here after a successful show with Tim Okamura and some much needed time to relax and snowboard and feeling great.

I just celebrated my 29th birthday. I am braving the cold in Calgary here and just wanted to give everyone the heads up for the next while.

Janaury 23-31: Suitcase Interactive installation.

February 8: University of Calgary live graffiti demo.

February 9-17: Montreal visit.

February 18-26: Holt Renfrew installation.

February 27- mid March: canvas completion for private clients.

Thank you for the support and the viewing of what has been going on. There are a lot of requests for custom work, be it installations or canvas work. I am talking those serious requests and slotting them accordingly into my schedule.

LE HVY STYL EST clothing should see new articles by Spring 2008 and will be available at Giant 45.

THEKIDBELO.COM looks to add more to it's menu with a LE HVY STYL EST section and a STORE page in the near future.

Thank you again and keep ya cans up and your eyes open for art...support your locals, travel abroad and don't stop creating.

Peace,

TheKidBelo

Hello! Most in Calgary will know that the joint show with Tim Okamura and I (Tim Okamura & TheKidBelo present Brooklyn Mythology: The First Nations Cycle) is showing at Axis Contemporary Art in Art Central until December 29, 2007. The collaboration works are amazing and the individual work is very strong also. Please head down to check it out.

As for work (murals, canvasses, etc.)...I will be busy from this day until the end of January. The work that does not sell at Axis will be back in my possession after the closing of the show and will be sold privately, for those who are interested. Feel free to contact me at: info@thekidbelo.com

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the Holidays and look for the new work soon. Also, be on the lookout for many articles this month and in January, particularily Avenue Magazine.

Respect. TKB

Hello yall...

It's been a busy season! I have just finished the beginning pieces to Brooklyn Mythology: The First Nations Cycle, a show with collaborative works from Tim Okamura & Thekidbelo. It runs November 29th through until December 29th, 2007 at Axis Contemporary Art. This show is going to be quite interesting as it displays the works of two very distinct artists with very distinct styles and mediums. I'm sure you'll be very pleased with the outcome as the groundwork which was started here in Calgary is now under the hand of Tim in New York. Mark it on your calender for the opening. www.axisart.ca

I have a lot of work to be shown during this collaborative effort with Tim Okamura and many commissions between now and the end of the year - so stay in contact and updated...pictures to come soon.

Thank you.

Thekidbelo

August 30th is a day to be remembered. Our hip hop community in Calgary and the broader community of friends and family from all walks of life will lovingly miss and grieve the loss of Jay Lepke. He was tragically taken from us and will be survived by us all! My heart goes out to those of us that danced with him, laughed with him, shared life with him, grew with him, supported him, walked with him and felt his presence in the brilliance that it was. Rest In Providence, Power and Peace dear friend.

*I'll teach you those handstyles and can control some day bro! I ain't gonna forget.

Belo

Many people are enjoyin' the designs and the likes of my clothing line, LE HVY STYL EST, so this is where you can find it....Giant 45 in Calgary. There are 4 designs that were launched during the Calgary Stampede and for those who missed the launch, they can head to Giant 45 here in Calgary and pick up the T's for $35 each.

Giant 45 can be found at 1403 11th St. SW 403-244-5845. You can also grab T's from me at the same price. Support Calgary's local hot shop boutique Giant 45 and the brand LE HVY STYL EST. Thank you.

Also, you'll see a new production up in the Walls section with Star and I painted in Kelowna. OG Crew got up this past week and freestyled the wall in the beautiful Okanagan sun! Look out for new canvasses in the near future...

TKB

Thank you to everyone who supported my launch at the Calgary Stampede this year! LE HVY STYL EST did remarkable and was well recieved by everyone. My apologies for the time it has taken to launch the site, but we had to make sure things were in order. If there are complications with emailing me then use thekidbelo@hotmail.com.

I wanted to thank Lindsay Ell, Phil, Dan and the rest of the Stampede staff for making this launch a success. The 10 days were amazing! I also wanted to thank Kelly and Bill at Mode Models for the support and all their staff and models who helped out, hung out and supported my brand. Big thank you to my family and friends!!! Jon, Chrissy, Nitty, Babs, Stephen, Cody, Elisha, Aviva and those who came by to show love, buy prints, canvasses and t-shirts - much love!

I am on vacation from the 20th until the 28th or so and will be right back to painting some amazing work come the end of the month! So enjoy the images, the work and stay tuned for new work and the upcoming show with Tim Okamura at Axis Contemporary Art and possibly some work with an amazing artist, Donna Rupert. Thank you, TKB.

It's finally up everyone...thekidbelo.com! I just wanted to say welcome to the site and to the display of my work. I hope you enjoy the images and the site navigation as well as the updates! Bookmark this site and check back on the regular for new pieces and works of art. Already it has been a busy year and the summer and Fall doesn't look much different. It's gonna be steady.

Welcome, again, and enjoy...big thank you to Beautiful Code, Nitty and those who helped in making this possible. Thank you to Scott Furkay for photos while I was painting and big ups to my crews - BURN DEM (Demer, Curly), EK (Coset) and OG (Star, Art Child, Liks, Horus). Thank you!

TKB