Paint The Town

French photographer JR has launched nearly five urban photography exhibits recently in five different countries. Each exhibit has had one thing in common: the local people, often those without a public identity, are given a face to match their environment.

The most notable recent project, Women Are Heroes, occupies nearly the entire facade of one of largest the favelas in Rio, where the gap between rich and poor is larger than anywhere else in the world. The photographs are emblazoned across the front walls on the hill, and capture the women of Rio who are victims of police violence in the favela.

The second project in Spain, Los Surcos De La Ciudad, combines photographs of some of the oldest residents with the facades of the city's oldest buildings, melding the wrinkles and cracks of the subjects with their crumbling surroundings.

To check out the full collection of this astonishing work, visit JR's portfolio.

Banksy Takes On Alabama

After his Louisiana trip, Banksy stopped in Alabama for more. He has always been great, but this cross-country project simply is next level. Im guessing there is more of this to come. Stay tuned.

The Break Room: David Byrne

Back at it with our new weekly section spotlighting Brooklyn musicians outside of the hip-hop scene.

This week David Byrne, lead singer for the Talking Heads and original New Yorker, takes the award. Mostly because he is Kanye part II...he is versatile in the art, fashion, and design scene as much as he is a part of music.

Aside from recently releasing an album with Brian Eno (first track below), Byrne just designed and installed nine unique bike racks throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan as part of the City Racks Design Competition. You can view the whole set of designs at davidbyrne.com.

Also worth a visit is City Racks, where you can see the other finalists. One design will be released throughout NYC as THE bike rack design, period.

DAVID BYRNE - STRANGE OVERTONES

Banksy In New Orleans

Banksy, whose identity was recently unveiled, showed up in New Orleans on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and knocked out a number of pieces throughout the city that are flat out ridiculous. Most have a biting commentary on the situation there, which as you may have heard, is about to become even more hellish with another oncoming disaster.

You can view the pieces both here and here.