PRISM: Urban Art and Culture Festival
The Estria Foundation will sponsor 2 weeks of cultural happenings and curated events for the community of Oakland and beyond.
September 28 – October 12, 2013
The Battle
www.estriabattle.org
October 12th will highlight the return of The Estria Battle, an all day arts event at the historic DeFremery Park (Lil’ Bobby Hutton Park). This is a free, family-friendly event with a focus on public art and environmental sustainability. Youth are invited to participate in a series of arts activities including the Blackbook Battle and the t-shirt Stencil Workshop. Attendees are also welcomed to enjoy a range of artistic performances and are encouraged to participate in generating energy by dancing on the “Pedal Powered Stage” which transforms human exuberance into pure energy.
In its sixth year the Estria Battle remains the premier graffiti art competition in the United States. Sixteen renowned artists from across the country will compete in what has become one of the nation’s most talked about spray art events. The panel of judges will be Doze Green, Risk and Codak. Returning artists are 2011’s 1st and 2nd place winners, Vyal One from Los Angeles, and Doves from New York City. Besides several local Bay Area artists, other contestant artists will be travelling from Chicago, Austin, and Miami.
The Estria Battle encourages graffiti writers to visually articulate social justice issues by empowering communities with the spirit and beauty of public art. These events aim to elevate street art through community building, public education, and engagement.
How does the Estria battle work?
1. Artists are invited to the competition based on skill level and their foundation in spray can art.
2. Artists are given 5 hours to complete a piece based on a word that is revealed at the beginning of the competition.
3. An 8 x 12 ft. canvas is assigned to each artist with a limited amount of spray cans and colors which are distributed equally amongst competitors.
4. After 5 hours, the piece (finished or unfinished) is judged by legendary graffiti writers, and the champion is announced at the end of the Battle.
1st Place winner will win 400 cans from Montana Cans.
The Life is Living Festival at Defremery Park presented by the Estria Foundation and Youth Speaks,
16th St & Adeline St., West, Oakland, CA 94607
All ages, free admission.
In addition to the Estria Battle this day long event includes the following:
Stencil Workshop: A youth-focused interactive arts education activity where participants select positive images and spray paint them on t-shirts, creating an original design.
Blackbook Battle: Youth ages 14-21 create a drawing based on the day’s theme. Mentor artists judge the competition and provide positive feedback and supportive critiques. The first 50 participants receive a free sketch “blackbook” to take home.
Youth Mural Battle: A live painting and visual storytelling competition featuring prominent young visual arts organizations from the Bay Area, Southern California, and Arizona. Contestant teams use mixed media of acrylic paints, markers and spray paint to develop murals addressing a given topic. Winning canvases will be displayed at the Oakland Public Library’s “Teen Zones” where free urban arts workshops will be held for youth through March 2014.
The Yerba Buena Center for Arts will be hosting the the Dance Stage with music from Samba, East and West African dance traditions.
Visual Arts Arena:
- Favianna Rodriguez & CultureStrike: Create your own butterfly for the Migration is Beautiful Campaign
- Rock Paper Scissors Collective: Create your own zine / Live painting
- Brett Cook: Community Painting Project
- Youth Radio: App Academy - Youth workshop to concept the creation of an app for the Life is Living Festival
Skateboarding demonstrations at Town Park, workshops, and competitions for all ages and skill levels.
Food vendors and booths from non-profit groups and sponsors.
More info: www.estriabattle.org
@estriabattle
#EstriaBattle
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