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Nothing more needs to be said about San Diego’s Museum of Contemporary Art’s large scale urban art show Viva la Revolucion other than that it involves Banksy, Blu, the Date Farmers, David Ellis, FAILE, Shepard Fairey, Invader, JR, Barry (TWIST) McGee, Ryan McGinness, Os Gemeos and Swoon amongst other street legends. Viva la revolucion indeed.

Click here for details and full artist lineup from MCASD.

Also…click here for some amazing behind the scenes photos from the always-on-the-spot Arrested Motion.

From MCASD:

“For the first time in history, the majority of the world’s population lives in urban communities. The urban setting and its corresponding lifestyle are major sources of inspiration in contemporary culture. This is an historic revolution in visual culture, in which the codes and icons of the everyday—found on the streets in graffiti, signage, waste, tattoos, advertising, and graphic design—have been appropriated and used as an integral part of contemporary art-making. The urban landscape inspires and serves as both a platform for innovation and a vehicle for expression for many artists. The city itself, its buildings, vehicles, people, and advertisements, are not only the surface where the art is applied. The city fuels the practice.

A multifaceted exhibition that explores the dialogue between artists and the urban landscape, Viva la Revolución: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape features works both in the Museum’s galleries as well as at public sites throughout downtown San Diego.”

(following photos courtesy of Arrested Motion, Jonathan LeVine and Mike Maxwell):

Barry McGee, Amaze, Resq, Stefan, Deej

Os Gemeos

Invader

the Date Farmers

Shepard Fairey

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The Carmichael Gallery’s contribution to the Culver City Art Walk books Booked, a group show featuring Banksy, Blek Le Rat, ESPO, Henry Chalfant, Martha Cooper, Faile, Shepard Fairey, Retna, Saber, Nick Walker and WK Interact among many, many more contemporary art world heavyweights.

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With Jeffrey Deitch moving to Los Angeles to become the new director of the MOCA effective June 1st, the ubiquitous Shepard Fairey has been tapped to close out New York’s famed Deitch Projects with his latest show titled, May Day.

His work already known and seen everywhere by just about everyone in the world, Shepard has stepped it up these past few years as he starred in our film Beautiful Losers, helped create a pop art icon with his Obama imagery, is the only street artist to have his work hanging in the Smithsonian, gone to war with the Associated Press and most recently starred in Banksy’s doc Exit Through the Gift Shop (coverage here).

But these days you can find Shepard hitting the streets of New York, and hitting them hard as seen in his piece on the infamous Houston and Bowery Street corner (via the always amazing Arrested Motion). If you’re in the New York area it’s a must that you check out Shepard whether it be at the last Deitch show (which is history in itself) or inevitably on the streets (where his own rich history was created).

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Banksy, in all likelihood, is the most notorious contemporary artist in the world. But he’s not the only one rockin’ the stencil style and smart-ass street sarcasm out there. France’s Blek Le Rat is a distinguished stencil trailblazer and has been doing it almost as long as I’ve been alive (I’m old. Also see Blek Le Rat speak highly of Banksy here.) And Above has a distinct stencil and lettering style that you’ve probably seen on the streets-driving by an arrow on a wire, walking by a rolldown gate or trying to read his writing.

It’s an extremely rare occasion that these two should be having firsts together, and San Francisco’s White Walls Gallery has the distinction of honoring them both.

Blek Le Rat journeys to the West for his first show in San Francisco as the White Walls gallery presents Faces in the Mirror. And Above joins in on the bay area fun with his inaugural gallery show aptly titled Transistions. Makes me wish I was in SF even more!

See more here from the wonderful White Walls.

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The notoriously elusive Banksy, quite possibly my favorite millionaire-prankster-street artist, makes his film debut with Exit Through The Gift Shop. Labeled as “the world’s first street art disaster movie”, the documentary stars Banksy himself presumably, Shepard Fairey, Mr. Brainwash and more of their fellow guerrilla artists. Making it’s highly anticipated premiere this Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival, look for Exit Through the Gift Shop to (hopefully) hit theaters later this year.

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Last week marked a homecoming for the worlds’ most notorious street artist as Banksy opened his largest and most ambitious show to date. Appropriately titled Banksy Versus Bristol Museum, the installation features over 100 pieces (including 70 brand new ones!) of what Banksy does best: taking peoples’ perception of “art”, challenging it, making it his own, and mocking it every step of the way. Click here for more on Banksy’s latest, including pics of selected works via Juxtapoz.

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Today marks the opening of three shows at the Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art, including the much hyped group show Get Rich Quick! This isn’t just any group show mind you, this is a group show featuring a selection from the collections of collector’s collections. So basically it’s like an all-star team comprised of all-star teams. From the gallery:

“Carmichael Gallery is proud to present a selection of artwork from some of the strongest voices in the contemporary art world, including Adam Neate, Antony Micallef, Banksy, Barry McGee, Bast, D*Face, Dalek, David Choe, David Choong Lee, Faile, Herbert Baglione, Ian Francis, KAWS, Nick Walker, Paul Insect, Shepard Fairey, Sixeart, Skullphone, Space Invader, Swoon, and Will Barras. Both original works and a selection of rare, sold-out prints will be available for purchase. Please note that these artists are not represented by the gallery.”

Also opening tonight at the Carmichael is one of Paris’ best know graffiti artists, Alëxone. Featuring new works on acrylic, ink and mixed media works on paper, the show will be the centerpiece of the evenings openings.

And last but not least, Brazilian artist Thais Beltrame’s debuts his first U.S. solo show with When All the Stars are Gone. A new series of ink and watercolor works on paper will be on display, as well as a site-specific installation.

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I know mine. And while editing Green Day’s latest music video for “Know Your Enemy”, like on most projects, it was sleep and time. Fortunately I was working alongside Motion Theory’s man with the master plan, director Mathew Cullen, who shares my ultra obsessiveness when it comes to creating good product. Spending many a late night at Motion Theory’s Venice digs, we were supported by a talented team of at least a dozen other artists, animators, and producers, who all had a hand in putting this thing together. With hidden messages, subversive imagery, and a killer performance by the band, this one ranks as one of my favorite music video edits I’ve cut. I’m pumped and proud of this piece, especially since it’s only the second music video I’ve edited since focusing more on films and art projects over the past year. Congratulations to all the Motion Theorists who put in the time and hard work to make such a cool piece!

Global television premiere today, April 24th at 8pm ET/5pm PT on all channels that still play music videos. Check it out on a big screen!

Green Day “Know Your Enemy”

Also, check out the behind the scenes video for some candid moments with the band on location in downtown Los Angeles here on MTV.com.

21st Century Breakdown hits streets May 15th, 2009 with album artwork by street superhero Banksy.

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I love fake things. Or rather things that are known to be fakes but are cleverly created with the intent to to look as if they could actually exist (fake foods in display windows being one of my all time faux faves). Why the fondness for the fakeness? I’m not really sure. But when it’s done right, I think the answer lies somewhere between the sarcasm, the irony, the artistry and the chance to have a laugh at the gullible. That and the fact that this is a fake website. Here’s a look at some high quality genuine fakes I’ve seen recently:

• This is a series of fake stylized 60’s paperback movie novelizations of contemporary films created by a graphic designer named Spacesick. Really well done and humorous to boot. Click here or the book below to see the entire set including one of Ghostbusters-”Now a major motion picture starring Ernie Hudson”.

• Fake t-shirts are common forms of sarcastic fashion fakery, from the pioneering tuxedo tee and it’s cousin of the ruffled variety, the classic skeleton and it’s opposite bodybuilder/bikini tees, the gold chain, Star Wars of course, Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” jacket, and even homages of shirts worn in cult movies. But two recent additions from opposite ends of the spectrum that have caught my eye are the glow-in-the-dark Venkman Ghostbusters tee and Tobin Yelland’s much more subtle and ironic camera tee designed for Keep.

• And finally, fakeness oftentimes comes pre=packaged with a substantial message. In the vain of Banksy’s Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill storefront in Greenwich Village NY last year, “the Surfrider Foundation joined forces with Saatchi & Saatchi LA to sponsor the aptly titled Catch of the Day guerrilla ad campaign. Trash was collected from beaches across the US, then sorted, packaged like seafood, and strategically placed around local farmers’ markets. Directly targeting seafood consumers, this creative campaign draws attention to the gross debris littering our oceans and highlights how this pollution affects the consumer directly through the food they eat.” (via the Provisions Learning Project) Click here or the delicious looking condoms below to see more fresh catches of the day as well as a trashy surf video. Mmmm…fake seafood….

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NOTCOT: Banksy’s Village Petstore & Charcoal Grill from Jean Aw on Vimeo.

Banksy up to it again, this time under the guise of a “petstore” in the heart of Greenwich Village for his first show in New York. For anyone and everyone on the East coast, the Village Petstore & Charcoal Grill has been open daily since October 9th from 10am until midnight and will continue through October 31st. For everyone else, you can check out the “animals” Banksy has filled this one of a kind shop with in action here:

The Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill - Rabbit

The Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill - Sausages

The Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill - Leopard

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