Oakland based arts organization, The Estria Foundation (TEF), known for their nationwide graffiti competition (The Estria Battle), and global #WaterWrites Mural project, is honored to announce ‘Urban Legends’, Celebrating 45 Years of Public Art Around the World, opening Friday, April 27th at the LA Mart Design Center, Downtown Los Angeles. This “first of its kind” exhibition with works for sale and auction, will showcase and celebrate 45 years of global public art, from the mid-1960s; through today, including examples of how this movement is affecting and uplifting urban life through the vibrancy of color and large-scale sociopolitical works of art, inclusive of all global communities, highlighting artists from the U.S., Europe, Africa, Mexico, and more.
The legendary roster of more than 40 includes distinguished pioneers of the '60s & '70s revival of muralism in Los Angeles, Judy Baca (USA), Kent Twitchell (USA), and Master typographical graffiti writer Chaz Bojorquez (USA.) In addition are many prolific artists of the hip hop movement, as well as traditional muralists who began in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and are now today’s most sought after, collected and internationally known urban/street/graffiti artists including, among others, Vyal, Mear One, Kofie, RETNA (Los Angeles); Estria (Hawaii); Brett “Dizney” Cook (Berkeley), SANER (Mexico), and Vogue TDK (Oakland).
In addition to the above mentioned are, documentarians such as Martha Cooper (New York), and longtime Los Angeles heavies, photographer/film makers, Eriberto and Estevan Oriol; Yusef Davis (Atlanta); Jher (Colorado); TEWSR, Warren Heard (Costa Mesa, CA); Ckaweeks, Katch (Hawaii); ABCNT, Canlove, Codak, Cryptik, Erin Yoshi, Andrew Hem, Sand One, Woier, Shark Toof, Alexander DC Smith & Hans Haveron, Evan Mendleson, John Park & Christina Angelina, Max Neutra, Van Saro, FOODONE (Los Angeles); Level (Miami); Cern, Doves, Mare 139, Meres (New York); BAM (Oakland); Chor Boogie, Pablo Cristi (San Francisco); EKLA (France); Herakut & MACLAIM (Germany); KIDGHE, LIBRE (Mexico); Aly Kouroma (Senegal); and Freddy Sam (South Africa).
The show will offer works for sale and auction, commissioned by The Estria Foundation, The DoArT Foundation, and L.A. Art Machine’s Vox Humana program, as well as showcasing on loan collections representing historical site specific installations from The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles (MCLA), Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) and Graffiti of War Project. A focal point of both the VIP and public openings will be, The MCLA’s inaugural slideshow screening of the Graffiti Visual Mural Tour, and an exclusive screening of SPARC FROM THE ARCHIVES: 36 Years of Community Mural Making. Select pieces from TEF’s Estria Battle, will be exhibited for the first time since the competition began five years ago, and will be included in the evening's live auction, and for sale.
The evening will conclude with the ‘Urban Legends’ Fine Art Live Auction, a first of its kind in Los Angeles, happening during the VIP opening. Included will be select works from past exhibitions, installations, and public art & music festivals, spanning decades, as individually curated by the contributing organizations - and auctioned under one roof the evening of Friday, April 27th.
Details for both nights are listed below, and are ticketed events, benefiting all artists, presenting and honorary partner organizations. Tickets may be purchased in advance at: http://www.publicartlegends.eventbrite.com/ (or at the door unless sold out.) The Estria Foundation was founded in 2010 by graffiti artist Estria Miyashiro, and Jeremy LaTrasse, co-founder of Twitter.
Free admission to ‘Urban Legends’ will begin May 1st. This exhibition is open to the public on select days Tuesday, May 1 through the closing on Saturday, May 26, 2012 and also by appointment. For sponsorship opportunities, press credentials, and media interviews, please contact: Shawni D. at: UrbanArtPR[at]gmail[dot]com // 213-255-0059 or Paloma Belara at: paloma[at]estria[dot]org // 415-992-1428.
- Hosted bar, hors d’oeuvres, live music performed by Mark D Clive Lowe Jazz Trio
- Recognition of a group or individual representing contributions made in the public art sector
- On loan collections representing historical site specific installations from MCLA, SPARC and Graffiti of War Project.
- On loan collections representing historical site specific installations from MCLA, SPARC and Graffiti of War Project.
