Museum Visit: Vitality and Verve @ LBMA- Part Uno

"Vitality and Verve" at the Long Beach Museum of Art
“Vitality and Verve” at the Long Beach Museum of Art

Art in the Streets” at MOCA, The Geffen Contemporary, in 2011 saw the beginning of museums opening their walls and exhibition space to the burgeoning street art community.  The who’s who of the international street art scene were present at that show, past and current.  We’re talking Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Kaws, Retna, Futura, Lee, Fab 5 Freddy, Os Gemeos, Barry McGee, Steve Espo Powers, Todd Reas James, Neckface, and these are just the artists off the top my head.  “Vitality and Verve” seem to be looking to tap this niche as well.

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Street Hunt: POW! WOW! Long Beach- Part Uno

At the Varden Hotel on 4th and Pacific in Long Beach, CA

Street art purists bemoan the loss of ephemerality of sanctioned walls, that it no longer requires artists to employ stealth, speed, and creativity to complete a mural all while dodging law enforcement, and that it loses its impact of unexpectedly running into a powerful image in the street that wasn’t there the night before.  I can agree with that.  However, I think there’s still room for community participation in street art that invites casual observers to dive in headfirst to naturally grow the movement.

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