It’s not just athletes that are congregating in London. An exhibit of Los Angeles graffiti artists is on display this month.
Neon Sign, by Risk
Photo © ArtLyst 2012
The exhibition is called “Letters from America.” It features a number of LA’s most well known street artists, many of whom were featured in MOCA’s Art in the Streets show. Shepard Fairey created the UK’s largest mural, a 60 by 80 foot vintage-looking billboard with a message of free speech. Pop surrealist Ron English painted a mural with 100 humorous speech bubbles that people can take their photos next to.
“There’s a definite feel that makes it stand out as American,” said Jan Corey Helford, co-owner of Culver City’s Corey Helford Gallery, which mounted the exhibit. It’s set in the London Pleasure Gardens, a run-down, former industrial 12-acre expanse located near the Olympic grounds, that’s being transformed into a round-the-clock center for art and music.
“It’s just like a Disneyland for adults,” said Helford. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Flag of the National Healthcare Services, by Saber
A companion show at the Black Rat Gallery opened July 4th. L.A. artist Saber contributed three modified flags, two of the Stars and Stripes and one of the Union Jack, which he covered in gold leaf.
“It’s not desecrated, it’s not changed in any way,” said Saber. “It’s a piece that honored the national health care system.”
In fact, he later donated the artwork to Britain’s National Health Care Services. Saber said these pieces come out of his frustration with having epilepsy but lacking insurance.
Risk is the handle of another legendary L.A. graffiti artist with work in the exhibit. His pieces have both American and British cultural resonance, including a tagged-up Bob’s Big Boy statue, and a fully-painted double-decker bus.
Both Saber and Risk said their work celebrates and critiques the American dream – celebrating the freedom to speak their minds, and the ability to create a career out of making street art. But they also want to criticize things like the prison system and the War on Terror. Saber said their show’s opening just before the Olympics is an irony in itself.
“Usually when the Olympics comes into town, the first thing they go after is the graffiti,” said Saber. “And so recently they went and raided a bunch of non-active old-school graffiti guys to prove a point, that there will be no tolerated street art during the Olympics.”
Famed street artist Banksy this week revealed his own Olympic-themed artwork. It features a javelin thrower, hurling a missile.
Howdy! This blog post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Howdy! I just want to offer you a big thumbs up for your great info you have right here on this post. I am coming back to your blog for more soon.
Whoah this weblog is wonderful i really like studying your articles. Keep up the good perform! You recognize, quite a bit of men and women are hunting round for this information, you can assistance them drastically.
Each Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg play off of every other considerably greater than you may well expect as the titular characters, and Michael Keaton – once once again, this summer – steals just about each and every scene that he’s in as the Guys’ more-calm-than-he-probably-should-be captain.
Amazing! Your article has a bunch comment posts. How did you get so many bloggers to view your post I'm jealous! I'm still learning all about posting information on the internet. I'm going to view pages on your blog to get a better understanding how to achieve success. Thanks! http://www.louboutin-hommes.org/content/1-christi…
Excellent blog! I absolutely love how it truly is simple on my eyes and the data are effectively written. I’m wondering how I could be notified when a new post has been made. I have subscribed for your feed which must do the trick! Have a good day!
I actually found this look for something similar for south america, but this was still a great read. Might link to you when I write my article about street art in Colombia
Bucaramanga
When going to blogs, i often appear for any pretty great content like yours ,
Are you the Mother or Father of the Bride? Are you the Best Man or Maid of Honor? Whether a formal wedding with hundreds of guests or a casual affair with 50 close friends and relatives ,http://www.sampleweddingspeeches.net/ immediate family and wedding members are usually called upon to make wedding speeches that will be remembered forever by the newly married couple. Where do you find sample wedding speeches?
o_O…
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day. It’s always exciting to read content from other authors and practice a little something from other sites.
I just could not depart your website prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often in order to check up on new posts
I like riding on trains stricle because of the metal clashing around together.
This is my first time visit at here and i am really impressed to read everthing at
alone place.