Lower East Side's Woodward Gallery currently has on view The Great Outdoors, a terrific group show celebrating some of the top names in street art including Royce Bannon, Darkcloud, Michael De Feo, El Celso, LA II, Kenji Nakayama, Neckface, Lady Pink, Matt Siren, Stikman, and Swoon. Typically, when thinking of "the great outdoors" visions of vast green landscapes come to mind. However, for street artists, the great outdoors happen to be their venue and workspace and as the show's press release states, "[T]hese artists carry on the enlightened tradition of adapting their artwork to weather, people, space and situation." Their "exposed" and "unprotected" art stands up to "the elements of extinction, theft, decay and urban renewal," and as Woodward Gallery hopes to prove with this exhibit, the work is capable of conjuring "inspirational effect" and "cultural exchange" when brought into a gallery environment.
Street artists not only risk being caught by the authorities, they also chance their work being destroyed, vandalized, or stolen when leaving the fruits of their labor out in public under dubious circumstances. As the press release states, these artists have mastered the art of survival. More than just graffiti or tagging, the pieces on display are skillful works in varying media and styles created by talented and dedicated artists whose "individual works have become indelible, iconic images for the public." Drop by Woodward Gallery to check out The Great Outdoors and be sure to say hello to Lucy and Ethel - the sweetest and furriest gallerinas in town! Learn more at Woodwardgallery.net. Through July 24th.
RD, Insubordinate, 2010
Stikman, Outside In, 2010
Michael De Feo, Flowers, 2009
Swoon, Myrtle Avenue Windows, 2008
Lady Pink, Untitled, 2010
LA II, Pegasus, 2010
Darkcloud, Dead End, 2008 and El Celso, Otto's Dream, 2010
Neck Face, Brittany Shaved Her Head, 2007
Matt Siren, Mistress, 2009
Royce Bannon, Three Heads are Better, 2010
Kenji Nakayama, Concrete Jungle 1 and 4, 2007
Ethel (left) and Lucy (right)
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