If you love graf, if you love the smell of paint; if you can’t get enough of 80s graffiti, “Wild Style”, or “Downtown 81” – you have to go the MOCA Geffen Contemporary’s new exhibit “Art In The Streets”– which runs through Aug. 8 – the art will arrest you every which way you look.
“Art in the Streets” is the first major U.S. museum survey of graffiti and street art. The curators did a tremendously outstanding job. They include: MOCA Director Jeffrey Deitch, Associate Curators Roger Gastman, and Aaron Rose.
The exhibition takes you into development of graffiti and street art from the 1970s to the global movement it has become today, with the likes of mega graf icons, Shepard Fairey, Banksy, Futura 2000, Jean-Michel Basquiat, RAMMELLZEE, Lee Quiñones, KAWS, Revok, Keith Haring, Lady Pink, Mr. Cartoon, Os Gêmeos, and Pony to name a few.
My personal favorites – and he really stepped his game up – is Lee Quiñones’ two paintings: the Madonna on subway and larger than life canvas – still-in-progress – 149th and Grand Concourse self-portrait, which includes impressive renditions of his fellow graf comrades, Blade, Futura, Fab 5 Freddy, Lady Pink, RAMMELLZEE, Noc 167, and Cliff 159.
You also have to visit what I call the graffiti’s wonderland a.k.a. “Street” or “Donut Time,” created by a collection of artists: Todd James, Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, Devin Flynn, Josh Lazcano, Dan Murphy, and Alexis Ross. This little neighborhood includes a winding backstreet feel; a sex, drugs, and graf church; tattoo parlour, vending machines, a graf-obsessed kid’s bedroom – it is a graf head’s dream come-to-life! A MUST-SEE.
This exhibit will surely bring out the young to visit the museum. Admission is $10 or you can visit Thurs. for FREE btw 5PM-8PM.
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