There are some really cool things going on in LA this weekend, here's one exhibit to check out at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA entitled
ART IN THE STREETS
Art in the Streets, the first major U.S. museum exhibition of the history of Graffiti and Street Art. The exhibition will trace the development of Graffiti and Street Art from the 1970s to the global movement it has become today, concentrating on key cities where a unique visual language or attitude has evolved. The exhibit will showcase installations by 50 of the some of the most dynamic artists from the Graffiti and Street Art Community, including Fab 5 Freddy (New York), Lee Quiñones (New York), Futura (New York), Margaret Kilgallen (San Francisco), Swoon (New York), Shepard Fairey (Los Angeles), Os Gemeos (São Paulo), and JR (Paris). MOCA’s exhibition will emphasize Los Angeles’s role in the evolution of graffiti and street art, with special sections dedicated to cholo graffiti and Dogtown skateboard culture. The exhibition will feature projects by influential local artists such as Craig R. Stecyk III, Chaz Bojórquez, Mister Cartoon, RETNA, SABER, REVOK, and RISK. The exhibition will also feature a memorial presentation of Battle Station, a rarely seen work by legendary artist and theorist RAMMELLZEE.
There will also be a special emphasis on photographers and filmmakers who documented graffiti and street art culture including Henry Chalfant, James Prigoff, Steve Grody, Gusmano Cesaretti, Estevan Oriol, Ed Templeton, Larry Clark, Terry Richardson, and Spike Jonze. A comprehensive timeline illustrated with artwork, photography, video, and ephemera will provide further historical context for the exhibition.
Here's the thing. I've already heard and read a lot of backlash concerning this exhibit. Some people in the Graff Community in Los Angeles might feel like this exhibit left out a few artists they felt should have had shine. I can totally understand the frustration behind that. In many scenes, there will always be a few people that never get the recognition they deserve and you lay back and think "I coulda' put together a better exhibit". Truth is, I'm not too familiar with some of the artists listed, but my intention is to go and find out for myself. They specifically say that the MOCA exhibition will focus on "Los Angeles’s role in the evolution of graffiti and street art, with special sections dedicated to cholo graffiti and Dogtown skateboard culture". So I say DOPE!! Because most people that know me, KNOW that I love Cholo Culture and the Z-boys are definitely a historic part of LA History! So I'm definitely down to check it out, and see what this exhibits got to offer. You should too. And in the end, if we still feel there should have been more Artists included... then get to it. I mean shit, I'd LOVE to see an exhibit that's well put together featuring L.A.'s grimiest Artist. Cuz you know what? I'm gonna be pretty upset if this is just another Hipster show :/ We'll see.
In The meantime, you should give it a try. I am :)
Art in the Streets opens to the Public April 17th and runs through August 8, 2011 at THE GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY AT MOCA. For more info click
HERE!
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