Risk's new gallery in Los Angeles - Grand opening coverage by Dan Plasma

No Risk, No Reward

by Dan Plasma

LA graffiti legend Kelly Graval, a.k.a. Risk, opened his new BuckShot Gallery in Santa Monica, California, at 3129 Pico Blvd. The opening group show, Noche de Calaveras, was an eclectic show of painted skulls by Seen, Kenny Scharf, Saber, Slick, Everlast from House of Pain, Estevan Oriol, and other contemporary masters.

The opening night was awash with wealthy investors and collectors with designer bags blending with scrappy graffiti artists with blunts, black books and neck tattoos. The work wasn't displayed in an impressive fashion, but the works by Risk, Seen, Sel and others were so well thought out that they didn't need fancy presentation. A backyard area housed hundreds of hungry art fans in what would turn out to be one of the greatest parties of the year.

Plasma, Feli, Risk

Themes of the skulls ranged from pop art to metaphysics and beyond. For being an art gallery in Santa Monica, it was quite a lively show. By 3 am, the collectors had Seen and Risk tag their wives' and girlfriends' Gucci and Luis Vuitton purses with spraypaint tags. The whiskey and wine were flowing and the party at Risk's new gallery opening literally raged until dawn. Every type of high-end libation was sitting on the bar, but by 4 am everyone was just thirsting for water.

Plasma gets his girlfriend's Luis tagged

Security and bartenders retired for the evening, and the beanbags in the backyard graffiti wall section of the gallery served as a tent area where people passed out for the night. What began as hundreds of hoodrats, hipsters and wealthy collectors, the most bizarre mix ever, filtered down into dozens, a tribe of sorts...

There were no longer cultural or socioeconomic distinctions, those who had partied too hard at Risk's opening and passed out on the massive beanbags in the back were one tribe, one clan, one people, some were in business suits, some in shorts and t-shirts, seemingly unbathed for days....it felt surreal, apocalyptic, like we were... the last dozen real humans left... and being that we were in fact in Santa Monica, this well may have been the case.

Risk popped his head out back every 20 minutes to make sure everyone was warm and had water and blankies. With his Jesus hair and beard it was like he appeared to us in the night... and indeed, blessed with his Jesus hair and beard he performed miracles that night a plenty. Lo, How is it that what seemed like one bottle of Gentleman Jack satisfied 300 party goers? Perhaps I just didn't see them replace the bottle but I continue to believe.

How is it that we would all follow this wise man on this night and many of us who brought blackbooks and the women who brought designer handbags got them tagged and blessed? It was all a bizarre teleportation to a summer in high school where money didn't matter nearly as much and time stood still....

Feli (visual artist) and Feli (recording artist)

But in truth what was most surreal and the greatest miracle was the work itself and Risk's new presence on the brick-and-mortar gallery scene.

Every month millions in art is sold in Los Angeles. But how many of those artists come from the heart and did it out of love, when they were teenagers like Risk, Sel, Seen and everyone else in the show???

It shows in the work, these works came from the heart, they were a work of uncontrived expression, with the same timeless energy that comes from their
Krylon roots.

If you didn't know better you might think that graffiti and street art are the redheaded stepchild of the contemporary art world. In fact, Risk, Seen and others are being hailed as founders of the only unique contemporary movement in visual art to originate in this country. And it shows. Despite Shepard Fairey's Gallery and events like the art crawl and open studios, the contemporary gallery scene in Los Angeles seems contrived, and commercial, since it is.

Backyard afterparty

Most people these days would rather discover an amazing piece of street art than go to a gallery or museum to have their mind blown. Both the energy of the works, and the show itself, at BuckShot capture that spontaneous genuine street energy. The show and space and event itself was a work of art, proving that Risk has nothing to prove and that in art and life, he's blind to the status quo and thoroughly dedicated as an artist and a man to his genuine identity.

Sel.WCA

 🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗

Buckshot Gallery

3129 Pico Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 90405 USA

Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-7pm

info@buckshotgallery.com

Phone: (+1) 310-310-8471

CA, Los Angeles: Jun 8 - Sep 21, 2014: Scratch

Experience 11: Scratch

Many events, check the link. Zine fair and calligraphy course are next.

http://esmoa.org/experience/experience-11-scratch-june-8-until-september-21-2014/

SCRATCH Artists   AiseBorn | Alex “Defer” Kizu | Arbe | Atlas | Augustine Kofie | Axis | Big Sleeps | Bob Roberts | Charlie Roberts | Cryptik | David Cowan (Miner) | Demer One | Design 9 | Devin Flynn (Relm) | Dr.Eye | Earn One | Eder | Enkone | Eric “Cre8” Walker | Eyeone | Fearo | Fishe | Gajin Fujita | Gorgs | Heaven | Hert | Jeffrey Saunders(Dye5) | Jose “Prime” Reza | Kasl | Keo One | Kopey | Korea | Kozem | Krush | Kyle Kyote | Lokus | Mark 7 | Patrick Martinez | Nuke | Pedro Balugo (PJ) | Plek | Pyer | Raymond “Gramps ”Green | Roder 169 | Saber | Sano | Steven Tishkoff (Mist) | Swank | Tanner | Tempt | Thanks | The Phantom Street Artist | Versus 269 | Vyal | Wram One
.

CA, Los Angeles: Aug 30, 2014: Blade - King of Graffiti book signing & Freedom show opens (through Sep. 13)

BLADE

BLADE is considered “The King of Graffiti” because by 1980, after painting 5,000 wildly creative trains, he stopped counting. Known and loved by the graffiti community, BLADE is not a myth but a crowned head visionary who has painted a rich collection of artwork on the street and on canvas. BLADE’s first solo show in Los Angeles, this exhibit features new large-scale spray paint and paint marker artworks on canvas and NYC subway maps. Inspired by his own characters, letters, colors, and abstract imagery from some of his own subway train masterpieces from the 1970’s, the collection of artwork is a throwback to his innovative style that influenced generations of contemporary artists all over the world. Titles like “METALLIC MADNESS” and “METEROIC RAINBOW ” are reminiscent of the silver spray paint and metal trains that BLADE painted fiercely. His gifted perception for color and letter style are not just nostalgic but defining for the golden era of subway art. In “JOINT MAN ,” BLADE paints a character he originally created in 1976, at age 19, on an IRT Train. These new paintings are a look at the past fused with BLADE’s ever-future imagination of today. BLADE: KING OF GRAFFITI is a colorful hardbound collectible book about BLADE, the prolific and legendary graffiti artist from the Bronx. BLADE’s career has spanned over forty years and writer/NY graffiti artist Chris Pape, aka FREEDOM , sits down with him to recount his high’s and low’s in this 250 page book, packed with vintage photos of his life and artwork. This book parallels the New York graffiti movement almost from its inception, moving through its glory years in the mid-1970s, when BLADE earned his title, and ending in the global art scene, where he remains a major presence. BLADE helped New York graffiti become internationally famous by making it look fun, and, for reasons of quantity, quality, and, perhaps above all, for sheer spirit, BLADE may very well be the most popular graffiti artist with his peers. This recently released book is available for sale at THE SEVENTH LETTER STORE for $39.99.

FREEDOM

FREEDOM grew up on the Upper West side of Manhattan and his name became cemented in graffiti history when he painted what became known as the Freedom Tunnel from 1980 - 1996. The tunnel underneath NYC was once FREEDOM ’s personal hall of fame, featuring many of his silver and black spray paint masterpieces, which included recreations of great artworks from history to specifically homage the importance and influence they have on graffiti art.

The city of New York and Amtrak have since buffed much of the Freedom Tunnel unfortunately but FREEDOM has found another a tunnel to paint in Rochester, upstate New York.

Inspired by his new work in that tunnel, THE ROCHESTER SERIES is a collection of 12” x 16” paintings on wooden panels, larger works on canvas, and traditional NYC wild style piece book drawings reinvented with added collage. Exploring pop objects from his youth, FREEDOM is mining vintage imagery as if he is sifting through subway grating looking for urban archaeology.

Using color in ways he never could in the 1980’s, these works are bright with exciting hues. FREEDOM paints iconic comic book heroes and classic products with graphic cartoony logos incorporating distressed backgrounds to bring into the gallery walls his musings from his current tunnel spray paint installations. In “THE THING ,” FREEDOM tags up historical NYC graffiti writers FLINT , MIKE 171, TAKI 183, and many others, again referencing the impact and gravity of his graffiti community, the writing idols of the walls.

DC, Washington: Nov 2-30, 2013: Above the Radar

Defer

Hex

Inkie

Kofie

Kopye

Peeta

Thanks and Mice

Above the Radar III

Original works by 25 urban artists from Los Angeles, New York, UK, Italy, and more will be on display in Washington, DC for a month-long exhibition that opens November 2, 2013 at The Fridge.

Above the Radar III is curated by Luna George, a Los Angeles based Urban Art Curator, and will bring together a hybrid of realism, street art, abstract art, graffuturism, 3-d  work, typography, illustration, collaborative artwork, surrealism, and traditional graffiti.

Above the Radar III encourages the viewer to examine intricate lines, brightly hued & vibrant colors that infuse the urban painting aesthetic.

Mark Bode

The exhibit includes:

Installation focusing on contrast and bursts of color painted by Col (New York) featuring hand-built wood pieces with abstract silhouettes of letters that work their way throughout the wall.

Original work by Mark Bode, protégé of Vaughn Bode, whose characters  continue the legacy of his father's Cheech Wizard and friends, all of which have become a quintessential part of graffiti.

3-dimensional work from Italy and Los Angeles, the collaborative painting of a maniacal character by Mice of Millions (LA) on top of an insanely intricate, hyper abstract Photo of Defer by PhotoJenInc, an explosion of color painted by Thanks One (LA), the lovely illustrative styles of UK's Inkie, explosive graffuturism by Defer and Kofie from LA, and original works by the many other exhibiting artists.

A gift shop with selected merchandise by exhibiting artists, as well as a special release of DC Graffiti snapbacks by Graffiti the City made exclusively for the DC exhibit will also be available during the exhibition.

Artists exhibiting work are: Cale, Cat Cult, Col, Dcypher, Defer, Dytch66, Eric Skotnes, Heaven, Hex, Inkie, Jesse Smith, Kofie, Kopye, Marcel "Sel" Blanco, Mark Bode, Mice of Millions, Michael Pizarro, Peeta, Pyro, Ree, Robots Will Kill, Teck, Tewsr, Thanks, and Xist.

With so many sought-after and celebrated artists showing in this international exhibition, collectors should seek previews. For an online catalog for the exhibition, images, bios of exhibiting artists or questions, please contact Luna George at lunacrewest@gmail.com

Opening and artist reception:

Nov. 2, 2013  
7 - 11 pm

The Fridge
516 1⁄2 8th Street SE
Washington DC 20003

Gallery hours:
Thursday – Saturday: 12pm–8pm
Sunday: 12pm–5pm

The Fridge has presented magicians, performance artists, hip-hop, blues, folk and rock concerts, comedians, acrobatics and sideshows.

We're invested in the success of DC's slam poetry and storytelling communities, and are home to the DC Beltway Poetry Slam Team, which performs the last Tuesday of each month at The Fridge.

About the Curator:

The former assistant director at Crewest Gallery in Los Angeles for nearly half a decade, Luna George tirelessly promotes the urban art community through her passion and eye for great talent.

CA, Palm Springs: Sept 28 - Nov 3, 2013 - The Golden Era of Street Art

Gallary 446
446 S Indian Canyon
Palm Springs, CA 92262

Gallary 446 & GuerillaOne Presents 

"The 5th Element: The Golden Era Of Street Art"

September 28 to November 3, 2013.

Proceeds will be benefiting an anti-bullyng organization. Check out their website at BOO2bullying.org

MEAR ONE | CRYPTIK | DAVID FLORES | DEFER | ANNIE PREECE | CURTIS KULIG | GREGORY SIFF | SEBASTIAN WALKER | MOTEL | SKYLER GREY

CA, Oakland: Aug. 2, 2013 - one night only - LTS / KOG: Survive

SURVIVE is an exhibition featuring a conceptually coherent and significant, original body of work by emerging artists of the L.A. based graffiti crews LTS KOG: SINER, FISHE, DREYE, KYLE THOMAS, and NATHAN SMITH.

The exhibition will feature 36 3x4 ft. canvasses. The artists work from the same flat monochromatic palette mixing ink, acrylic, markers, brush, rollers, and spray paint.

Their abstract work on the street translates directly across surfaces, textures, and contexts onto the canvas. The fearless originality and brutal honesty of their works create a dramatic composition that reflects an aggressive obsession with technique and medium. The works’ distinctively raw aesthetic results in something chaotic, yet beautiful.

FRIDAY AUGUST 2, 2013
SEVEN TO ELEVEN PM
SHOW RUNS ONE NIGHT ONLY

2600 TELEGRAPH AVENUE
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94612

SURVIVE has consciously chosen Oakland to follow up the exhibition in New Orleans and Detroit to provoke a dialogue on the transformative power of art. Inviting Bay Area street culture purveyors and art audiences to the showcase of emerging artists in a formerly vacant structure, and now transformed ‘pop-up’ gallery space, the concept, the process, and the art reinforce the purpose: SURVIVE.

To view the making of the first in a series of murals and the journey of SURVIVE visit: SUPERVIVEREDESIGN.COM

Article: Chris Brown scares neighbors with painted cartoony characters

CA, Los Angeles: March 16-24, 2013: Beastie Boys: License to Ill

Photographer Sunny Bak will display her iconic Beastie Boys images featuring their License To Ill era in Sherman Oaks at

Basement 818 Gallery
Ventura Blvd at Van Nuys Blvd. 
Sherman Oaks
Hours: noon-10PM, 818/ 817-3114

Also on display will be the collaborative work of Ms. Bak and graffiti artist Cey Adams, a respected member of the Beastie Boys family.

Interview: Mear One on Infowars

Mear One discusses his political activism and symbolism in his work


http://mearone.com/

CA: Los Angeles: Dec 14-?, 2012: Graffuturism

Show info: http://graffuturism.com/2012/11/19/soze-gallery-presents-final-lineup-for-graffuturism-group-exhibition-dec-14th/

2501, Aaron De La Cruz, Augustine Kofie, Boris “Delta” Tellegen, Carl Raushenbach, Carlos Mare, Clemens Behr, Derek Bruno, Doze Green, Duncan Jago, DVS 1, El Mac, Eric Haze, Erosie, Franco “Jaz” Fasoli, Futura, Gilbert 1, Greg “Sp One” Lamarche, Graphic Surgery, Hense, Hendrik “ECB” Beikirch, Jaybo Monk, Joker, Jurne, Kema, Kenor, Lek, Marco “Pho” Grassi, Matt W. Moore, Moneyless, O.Two, Part2ism, Poesia, Rae Martini, Remi Rough, Samuel Rodriguez, Sat One, Sever, Shok-1, Sowat, Steve More, West, Will Barras.

It isn't clear when the show closes. Here's the gallery so you can call:
Soze Gallery location at 2020 E 7th St, Unit B, Los Angeles, CA, 90021 - in the LA Artshare Building.




http://www.sozegallery.com/#!contact/cvrh

http://www.sozegallery.com/#!current_exhibitions/c1yuo

New Book: Billboard Bandits

Billboard Bandits: Outlaw Artists in the Sky

A 208-page hardcover packed with photos and interviews, Billboard Bandits dives deep within graffiti and street art subcultures and their fascination with conquering the billboard.

The book's interviews include 18 top graffiti and street artists from the USA and UK, including Augor.MSK, the Billboard Liberation Front (BLF) and Ron English. They specialize in everything from integrating their pieces into the advertisement itself to adding their artwork to the blank billboard back. A few are "billboard liberators," manipulating the ads to convey their message (subvertising).  

www.billboardbandits.com
www.facebook.com/billboardbandits

NYC: Nov 9-24, 2012: Photographers Eriberto and Estevan Oriol [date changed to 9th]

Carmichael Gallery is pleased to announce
Like Father, Like Son : NYC 

a retrospective survey of works by renowned Los Angeles-based Chicano father and son photographers, Eriberto and Estevan Oriol. The exhibition debuted at Carmichael Gallery's Culver City space in the fall of 2011.

The New York edition of Like Father, Like Son : NYC will comprise fifteen limited edition black and white, color, silver gelatin and digital c-prints from each photographer, including works exhibited in Art in the Streets (April 17 - August 11, 2011) at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA). The exhibition, which offers a dramatic taste of the urban California lifestyle, marks the first showing of the Oriols' work side by side on the US east coast.

There will be an opening reception for Like Father, Like Son : NYC on November 9 (new date), from 6 to 8pm at 303 Tenth Ave in Chelsea. Both Eriberto and Estevan Oriol will be in attendance. The exhibition will run through November 24, 2012.


Estevan Oriol

From hip-hop club bouncer to tour manager for Cypress Hill and House of Pain in the late 1980s and early 1990s to the internationally celebrated professional photographer, director and urban lifestyle entrepreneur he is recognized as today, Estevan Oriol's talent, fame and success only continue to grow.

1992 saw the beginning of what quickly grew to be an influential relationship with best friend, fellow Soul Assassin associate and now world-famous tattoo artist, Mister Cartoon. Together, they created the increasingly lucrative and high-profile Joker Brand Clothing, just one of Estevan's ventures in the clothing industry, which range from Not Guilty, produced with Everlast, and his solo line Scandalous to his eponymous line with Upper Playground.

In 1995, however, Eriberto gave his son a camera, and what began as a means of capturing life on tour led to a career that has snapped up images of everyone from gang members and graffiti artists to hip hop stars and Hollywood celebrities.


Carmichael Gallery NY Pop Up
@ chashama, 303 Tenth Ave
New York, NY 10001

November 9 – November 24, 2012
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 9, 6–8pm
Please RSVP for the reception

CA, Los Angeles: Oct 20 - Nov 3, 2012: PUSH

PUSH

OCTOBER 20 to NOVEMBER 03 2012

PUSH | IN OTHER WORDS

On view October 20 – November 3, 2012

Known Gallery / Main Room
441 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
info@knowngallery.com
http://knowngallery.com/exhibitions/current/

NYC, Los Angeles: Oct 19-25, 2012: We Are Legions opens in theaters

We Are Legion

After a long wait, WE ARE LEGION: The Story of the Hacktivists will be OPENING IN THEATRES THIS WEEK! If you're in New York or Los Angeles, please come out & support the film. And, no matter where you are, please help us get the word out.

Independent films made outside the system often face an uphill battle.  Here are a few things that you can do to help:

1. WATCH AND SHARE THE TRAILER

2. GO OUT AND SEE THE FILM

New York

The Quad Cinema

34 W. 13th St., New York, NY 10011

Dates

Friday, October 19th - Thursday, October 25th

Showtimes

1:00pm, 5:15pm, 9:40pm daily

FRIDAY & SATURDAY @ 9:40

Filmmaker Brian Knappenberger & doc subjects Gregg Housh, PokeAnon, Sethdood, & (schedule-permitting) Vendetta will be on-hand for a panel discussion following the screening.

Los Angeles

Laemmle's Playhouse 7

673 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101

Dates

Friday, October 19th - Thursday, October 25th

Showtimes

1:30pm, 4:00pm daily

SUNDAY @ 4:00

Filmmaker Brian Knappenberger will be on-hand for a Q&A following the screening.

3. VISIT OUR STORE
http://wearelegionthedocumentary-shop.myshopify.com/

Independent films wedged between a largely corporatized national news media and a blockbuster-driven SOPA-supporting Hollywood often face an uphill battle making their budget back.  Due to a huge number of requests for the incredible Michael Byzewski designed poster from the film, we've decided to do a print run and sell some here to help with the costs.  

We are also very excited to start offering preorders on the DVD and BluRay.  The DVD and BluRay will be available after our theatrical run on November 23rd and in addition to the full film (with 5.1 surround sound) the DVD and BluRay will include an additional 22 minutes of material.  The extras will have extended in depth interviews with some of our film's subjects, some prominent hackers not featured in the documentary, more analysis and thoughts on Wikileaks, further discussion about Anonymous member-turned-FBI informant Sabu, and thoughts from tech author and speaker Richard Thieme on how technology is re-wiring our brains and why we need to nurture our "dark side."  

Proceeds from sales are going to the finishing, print costs, theater costs and further distribution of We Are Legion:  The Story of the Hacktivists.  In the spirit of the film should we make back our costs, we are donating ten percent of profits to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.  We are also donating another portion to Free Anons and to other human rights, or technology groups we think are behaving well defending human rights or freedom of speech in a digital age and we will continue to make disruptive documentaries about compelling stories and people we think are re-shaping our world.  Thank you for supporting independent film!

CA, Los Angeles: September 15 - October 27, 2012 - Retna

CA, Los Angeles: October 13, 2012 - Music/Street Art Festival

CA, Los Angeles: September 8 - October 6, 2012: Mare139, Rae Martini, Rough, Sixeart

Disambiguation - Carlos Mare, Rae Martini, Remi/Rough, Sixeart.

Carmichael Gallery, Los Angeles, September 8 - October 6 2012.

http://carmichaelgallery.tumblr.com/ more info.

http://www.mare139.com/
http://www.raemartini.org
http://remirough.com/
http://sixeart.net/

LA Weekly: "Los Angeles' War on Street Artists" [huge article, Aug. 30 2012]

Sight, in Los Angeles, fired from his job over talking to the press about graffiti

CA, Los Angeles: Sept. 1&2 Invisibl Skratch Piklz (and so much more) at FreeStyle Session