(This is the first of 10 posts on a series of 10 political prints currently being produced at Self Help Graphics in East LA.)

Self Help Graphics has long been a hub of creativity and artistic growth for the Latino community in Los Angeles and beyond. The community arts center was founded by Sister Karen Boccalero and a small group of Chicano artists in an East Los Angeles garage in 1970.

Self Help’s on-going legacy of using art as an agent of social change started with their first batik and silkscreen workshop that culminated in a group exhibition and prompted Sister Karen to seek funding from art enthusiasts, endowments, and the Church. After their first official workshops and exhibitions, their vision to be “the pre-eminent center for Latino art in print-making, exhibition, and training” brought them to their current location on Cesar Chavez  Ave., where  shows and workshops are still bringing young artists into the spotlight. The studio is home base for all artists, staff, and students, but Self Help also has a history of bringing the studio to the street.

One of the first models for community outreach was the Barrio Mobile Art Studio, a van equipped with art supplies that instructors took to schools and gathering places to teach people of all ages about “alternative modes of self-expression.” Even gang members were welcome to publish their newsletters and garner an appreciation for Chicano culture. In 1980, Self Help opened The Vex, an all ages venue that welcomed East L.A. musicians to play for their own community and further the mission to advance all kinds of Latino art. The Atelier Program marked the beginning of another phase for the studio that introduced serigraphy, which expanded the artists’ modes of expression and boosted Self Help’s reputation as a source for high quality, original art. Another cornerstone was the 1993 Chicano Expressions exhibit, a show of 20 artists that toured the world and created networking opportunities in South Africa, Colombia, Germany, France, and other countries. In 2008, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art exhibited “Los Angelenos/Chicano Painters of L.A.: Selections from the Cheech Marin Collection,” which featured dozens of Angeleno artists, many of whom got their start at Self Help.

In keeping with the tradition of exploring Chicano culture, many Self Help artists have incorporated political themes into their work, including contributions to the annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration and exhibitions of politically-themed posters.  Last year's political print series brought together Farmlab and Chora Prints for "New Political Posters from TJ to LA," a 22 poster collection that addressed issues of the artists' choosing from the November elections to Mexico-US relations.

This year, Self Help's Master Printer Joe Alpuche teamed up with Yo Peace's John Carr to collaborate with ten artists on another politically-themed poster series. Carr's statement on the overall atelier theme explains: "Politically astute art in the service of education, sanity and compassion is now needed more than ever in our world of manipulated minds and manufactured crisis. This print atelier is comprised of a diverse group of 10 visionary artists drawn from the 'Yo! What Happened to Peace?' artist network, whose disciplines range from drawing, painting, photography, photomontage, graffiti, digital and stencil art. Each has her/his own way of bypassing the limits of polite conversation into difficult but rewarding challenge. Following inspiration from the Self Help Graphics traditions of unity, defiance and commitment to excellence in craft, this serigraphy print atelier aims to bring the best and the boldest in graphic art to the greater community."

Artists included in this series are (tentatively in order of printing) John Carr, Contra One, Favianna Rodriguez, Vyal, Werc, Melanie Cervantes, Jesus Barraza, Karen Fiorito, Mear One, and Overton Loyd.  John Carr's print is a 4 color piece titled "Stop U.S. Aggression." It is a comment on the U.S. led conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan and features the likeness of President Obama with a map of the aforementioned war zone superimposed. 

Color separation films for John Carr's "Stop U.S. Aggression" print.

Self Help Graphics Master Printer Joe Alpuche with assistant Josue printing John Carr's piece.

Joe doing quality control.

The finished edition.

Self Help print studio's newest mascot: Peggy!

Next post will be on the artist Contra One's print portrait of John Trudell.

Technorati Tags: Activism, Activist, Antiwar, Art, Culture, Design, Graffiti, Politics, Political, Poster, Printmaking, Protest, Screen Printing, Urban,War, Obama, Afghanistan, John Carr, Self Help Graphics, Chicano

Recent pasteups seen on the streets of LA.

Hundreds of mysterious posters are being wheat-pasted up across the US in a puzzling turn in the street art scene that has been co-opted by radio/internet personality Alex Jones. The poster depicts President Obama in Heath Ledger-style Joker makeup along with the words “socialism,” "new world order," or "fascism" at the bottom. Jones, the notorious libertarian broadcaster who alleges a new world order conspiracy, is offering a prize of $1,000 to any fan who uploads "the most effective video" of themselves posting the art on public property.The “poster offensive” aims to “awaken the people about Obama’s agenda.”

Although most sources claim the poster’s origin is a mystery, Bedlam magazine links to Firas Khateeb’s Flickr account where the image is seen as part of a photoshopped Time Magazine cover. The supposed original was posted on Flickr on January 18th, 2009 and the first caption read “not indicative of my political views.” Khateeb88 notes “I’m really surprised at how this image has been taken and reproduced and the media coverage it’s getting. I’m even more surprised so many outlets (CNN, Fox News) haven’t figured out who the ‘mystery artist’ is. All you need to do is a quick Google image search on ‘Obama Joker’ and you find the original!”

Equally perplexing is the fact that street art and wheatpasting have been adopted by a radio host who has gone so far as to broadcast an entire show in Joker makeup. Despite Jones’s adoption of the image, the statement behind the posters is still open to interpretation. There is criticism of the portrayal of Obama in whiteface or clown white, and of the connotation of violence in the bloody mouth and black eyes. Also there is the fact that The Joker revels in chaos and is more akin to an anarchist than a central planner. But Infowars blogger Kurt Nimmo explains the poster's intended message is that the Commander in Chief is "the current and transitional face of this high-tech murder and economic violence machine." He goes on to say that "Obama is not necessarily a psychopath . . . but by the standards of his office he is a master criminal, or rather a frontman for a cartel of master criminals." Regardless of the origin or meaning, it’s interesting to see how street art can clash or coalesce with varying political messages.

Technorati Tags: Culture, Graffiti, Politics, Political, Street Art, Streetart

Opening in Downtown LA at Crewest Gallery is a groundbreaking show called "From the Streets of Iran: Works on Paper by Urban Artists in Iran", curated by friend of yopeace.org, Shervin Shahbazi. This exhibit is the first of its kind in the U.S. featuring graffiti-based works on paper by ICY, SOT, FRZ, MAD, and CK1. These artists have exhibited their work in Europe and Australia, and this is their United States debut.

From the press release: "The artists draw inspiration from Iran’s rich heritage of calligraphy, visual arts, revolution and the state in which they live, as well as their exposure to graffiti and urban art in the West. Their work encompasses a broad range of subject matter—from urbanism and political resistance to scenes of everyday people and the innocence of youth. Each of the artists practices their own aesthetic. In some works, detailed hand styles overlap with spray can imagery; in others, stencil work and careful attention to texture affect a stylized photorealism. However the individual styles may differ, the works as a group resonate with hope and a determination to realize the promise of a better future from the streets of Iran."

Preview images look amazing...can't wait! The two pieces pictured here are stencil paintings.

Opening Reception Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 6:00pm
Runs through Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 9:00pm

Crewest
110 Winston St.
Los Angeles, CA

Technorati Tags: Art, Poster, Exhibition, Graffiti, Painting, Politics, Printmaking, Stencil, Street Art, Streetart, Urban, Iran, Iranian

I'm looking forward to the upcoming Los Angeles installment of the Bicycle Film Festival, now in its 9th year. Combining film, art and music across multiple venues, it is looking like it will be a blast. It takes place August 26-30 here, but other upcoming U.S. cities include Chicago, Boulder, Orlando, Milwaukee, San Diego among many others, plus a there are a bunch other international dates. Check their website for dates near you.

In a related but different event, this coming weekend August 16th will be Bike Day LA, an event taking place in Hollywood at Space 15Twenty. 

Technorati Tags: Art, Culture, Film, Bicycle, Cycling, Festival

Curator and artist Josh MacPhee is putting together another exhibition of his now classic Paper Pollitics print show.

Details:

Paper Politics: Socially Engaged Printmaking Today
200 prints from 200 artists

Ghostprint Gallery
220 W. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220
www.ghostprintgallery.com

Opening Reception:
Friday, August 7th, 7-10 pm

show runs August 7th-August 29th, 2009
Wed-Sat, 1-7pm or by appointment

Technorati Tags: Activism, Activist, Art, Political, Poster, Exhibition, Printmaking, Josh MacPhee, Richmond

Since June 13, 2009 there has been a movement in Iran protesting election results which declared Mahmoud Ahmadinejad President of Iran once again, under the rule of "Supreme Leader" Ayatollah Khamenei. To date, the protests continue as well as a deep fissure within the government itself regarding voting results and the tremendous human rights violations, mass arrests, brutality and/or killing of activists, protesters, bloggers and journalists which continue to take place. On June 20, 2009 - on one of the most violent days of government crackdown on protesters - a young woman was shot in the chest while standing on the street and the disturbing video captured with a cell phone records her last moments - her name was Neda....Neda Agha-Soltan. The expression in her eyes will forever be etched in my memory and heart as a reminder of spirit, the fragility of life and the necessity to always work for humanity and justice. Neda was not the first death, the only death nor the last death in this movement - but she quickly became a symbol for the voice of justice in Iran. Tomorrow, July 30, 2009 is the fortieth day of Neda's death - the fortieth day being very significant in the ritual of mourning. There have been a number of images commemorating Neda from around the world, for now I will share a piece from artist ABCNT.

Technorati Tags: Activism, Activist, Art, Political, Poster, Art, Urban,Iran, Neda,

Afrika Bambaataa, widely considered the godfather of Hip Hop, was one of the first artists & leaders to insist that political/social/historical consciousness be fused with the culture of the genre. His life as a gang leader in the Bronx during it's rough 70's heyday influenced him to form the Zulu Nation, a Hip Hop organization dedicated to driving the street culture traditions of pride and competition away from violence towards self-knowledge, excellence and respect. His expansive worldview led to some of the first crossovers between Hip Hop and Punk. Contrasted against the blight of much of today's mindless rapping about being drunk in a nightclub (notwithstanding the great Hip Hop artists that continue to inspire), his achievements stand like a monolith in troubled waters.

A limited edition fine art screen print poster of Bam was released by Hard Pressed Studios on November 12th, 2008 to coincide with the official birthday of Hip Hop and the anniversary of the Zulu Nation. The image is a portrait by photographer Theo Jemison and remixed by graf artist Kofie One. This 18" x 24" limited edition screen print was printed with 8 colors (including metallic gold ink) at Hard Pressed Studios in Los Angeles CA and signed by Afrika Bambaataa, Kofie and Theo Jemison. Each of the 100 prints is priced at $135. yodepot.com.
Technorati Tags: Activism, Activist, Afrika Bambaataa, Art, Culture, Graffiti, Hip Hop, Kofie, Music, Political, Poster, Art, Urban

January 20th, 2009 and the Obama regime couldn't come quicker!  Illustration by Steve Bell.

Technorati Tags: Bush, Steve Bell, Art, US Presidency

The kind of radical change brought forth by Obama's possibly presidency has a lot of us inspired as we imagine what this means for generations to come.  The grave flipside of all that feel good-ness is the knowing that 4 years of McCain would suck the marrow from all that is creative, transformative and healing on our planet.  By no means am I in support of the dominating two party system that exists within the US.  But for the love of creativity, please VOTE THIS TUESDAY!  Or better yet, vote in advance.  No election has ever been this important. 

Below is a PSA from Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and other H'wood heavyweights..