For several years I have seen these happy faced hearts wheat-pasted all over my neighborhood in Brooklyn. Popping out of graffiti covered doors or on decayed walls, they add fun to the urban landscape and often a smile to my face.
Well, I never knew who created them until last week I walked by a graphic novel bookstore on Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg called Desert Island. Talk about DIY, they always have the best window displays. This is what I saw in the window:
I went in and the gal behind the counter gave me the artists info. CHRIS UPHUES. I emailed Chris to see if these hearts I have admired for years were for sale. He said yes and the display was scheduled to come down this week. I made my way over that weekend and had the nerve-racking choice to make of which hearts to choose within my budget (I collect affordable street art). I found myself feeling sorry for the hearts I couldn’t adopt, I mean, purchase that evening.. oh the power of art and those cute-sy damn heart faces! If you too want to make these hard choices, Chris creates art and products based on his artwork, all for view and sale on his website http://chrisuphues.com/
Well, I carried home my art that night:
I was looking to replace this piece on my wall. It’s sweet but it’s a print of an Eels cover that someone had made. That someone being an x-lover so what better thing to do that replace it with some hearts!
So I wired the back of my hearts:
and hung them in my bedroom. As you climb my stairs, you get the surprise of them!
Leah Jungkind
How did you make a choice – it would have been hard for me – I love them! very fun – I believe that a designed space should have a surprise somewhere – something that catches the eye – I love that it is hanging on the stairwell – you get to see it everyday!