“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.”
The video below shows a master at work installing his California contribution in Oakland and is sweetly bookended with a tandem bike ride with Barry’s and the late great Margaret Kilgallen’s daughter Asha (who was last seen on film in our Beautiful Losers as a toddler).
Go see Barry’s art if you’re in the Bay (installation at the Oakland Museum)…
The very first time I saw a Barry McGee drawing of a sad, anguished face on a wall in the streets of San Francisco in the early 90’s, it was the first time I began to look at “street art” as my art. At the time Barry (aka TWIST) and his wife at the time, the late great Margaret Kilgallen, were tearing up SF with murals, signs, stickers and tags, large scale pieces and beautifully detailed line work the likes of which had previously not been seen in the streets. The art, which could easily be seen walking or riding the bus, completely blew my mind and would help usher in a new format for a different type of artist to showcase their talents.
Fast forward to over ten years later, when in the summer of 2007 Aaron Rose gave me the opportunity of a lifetime: edit the film Beautiful Losers. The documentary, which featured Barry and Margaret and many other artists I appreciated and looked up to (Shepard Fairey, Steve Powers, Geoff McFetridge, Ed Templeton, and more), was an absolute dream job come true. I can proudly say we made a film that captured the spirit of creativity and inspiration I saw on those San Francisco streets that had a profound effect on me so many years ago.
As The Armory Show and PULSE art fairs make their annual return to New York this weekend, a couple of Los Angeles galleries have joined in on buying and selling art fun with Roberts & Tilton of Culver City and West Hollywood’s M+B.
Roberts & Tilton will be showcasing stalwarts such as Barry McGee, Ed Templeton and Kehinde Wiley among others at the aforementioned Armory Show.
Roberts & Tilton-The Armory Show
March 4-7, 2010
Pier 94 Booth 502
12th Avenue & W 55th St. Manhattan, New York, NY 10019
M+B brings with them the works of gallery artists Martin Denker, Alex Prager and more to PULSE New York.
Martin Denker
Alex Prager
M+B-PULSE New York
March 4-7, 2010
330 West St. @ West Houston St. New York, NY 10014
Also…a Busy-Being pop up shop with curated artist made goods will be on hand with a porton of the proceeds going to support for the cause.
But first, more from the Manifesters:
“The MANIFESTEQUALITY Gallery, issues an inspiring, visual call-to-action, with hundreds of artists motivating public energy toward true reform on a local, state and national level.
MANIFESTEQUALITY will be open to the public, Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 through Sunday, March 7th, 2010 between the hours of 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM with extended hours Friday - Sunday.”
MANIFESTEQUALITY
Wednesday-Saturday, March 3rd-7th
1341 Vine St. (between Hollywood & Fountain) Los Angeles, CA 90028-8141
March 3, Wednesday
10am - 6pm Gallery Open to the Public
8pm - 1am Opening Night Party:
Musical Guest: Uh Huh Her, Fitz & the Tantrums, and more
DJ Sets by: Tim Biskup, Chris Holmes, and Booby Trap
2THEWALL
Opening reception: Saturday, February 20th, 7-10pm
New Image Art
7908 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046
Show runs from February 20 through March 2010
“Art plays a pivotal role in creating cultural momentum, and this is your chance to get involved. The MANIFESTEQUALITY Gallery invites you to join artists from across the nation who are using their voices and talents to amplify and motivate the grass roots movement to fight for full & unrestricted equal rights for all Americans.
Submission is simple and quick. Just click here to submit images of your original artwork. You can submit any kind of visual art: painting, illustration, sculpture, collage— 2D or 3D. MANIFESTEQUALITY will be accepting submissions from Wednesday, January 20th, 2010through 11:59 a.m. PST on February 19, 2010.
Our amazing panel of JUDGES will select up to thirty works of art from among those submitting to the art contest. FIVE First Prize Winners pieces will be shown along side some of today’s most respected contemporary artists, onsite, at the MANIFESTEQUALITY Gallery in Los Angeles, which will run from Wednesday, March 3rd to Sunday, March 7th, 2010.
TEN Second Prize Winners will be selected by our judges and displayed along with the FIVE First Prize Winners in the MANIFESTEQUALITY Online Gallery.
The MANIFESTEQUALITY Online Contest will center on six themes: EQUALITY, JUSTICE, RESPECT, UNITY, CIVIL RIGHTS, and LOVE. Artworks on any one, or all of these themes, will be considered for inclusion.”