Art of the Streets

Art of the Streets
Panel Discussion and Reception featuring DJ Puffs

Thursday, December 4, 2008
7 - 9pm


Autry National Center
Griffith Park
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Once regarded strictly as vandalism, street art has pervaded our culture, appearing on everything from public spaces to album covers, t-shirts to cell phone wall paper, corporate ads to presidential campaigns. So what makes this visual expression, sometimes seen only as a nuisance, an art form? Why is it appearing in museums and selling in galleries? What does it mean that L.A. has some of the most prominent and ubiquitous street artists in the nation? Join graff artists, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers for a discussion of the practice and presence of graffiti and more.


Discussion Panel with Chaz Bojorquez, ManOne, and Roger Gastman

Chaz Bojorquez
Bojorquez's iconic street style has distinguished his art for decades. He is the acknowledged O.G. veterano Godfather of East Los Angeles Cholo style graffiti for more than 37 years. His work spans city streets and includes exhibitions and collections in prestigious museums such as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Bojorquez's reach is international with commissions and artwork in Mexico, Spain, and Japan among other countries.

Roger Gastman
With deep roots in the worlds of graffiti and street art, Gastman has spent over 15 years at the forefront of street culture and the graff movement. Roger has produced documentaries and films, including Infamy and is at work on another about the history of U.S. graffiti. He founded two of the most respected pop-culture magazines of the last decade that include SWINDLE and serves as contributing editor of Juxtapoz. Gastman has produced more than a dozen art books and is a respect authority on street art.

Man One
Involved with the Graffiti Art Movement since 1987, Man One began his artistic journey on the streets of Los Angeles tagging and leaving his trademark of bold, colorful aerosol strokes as he searched for his artistic purpose.

Moderated by Elizabeth Morín
Morín is a frequent speaker on issues of cultural identity and representation, diversity in museum practice, and youth culture. She has organized a number of programs and exhibitions on urban art. Elizabeth is currently working on her next exhibition "Los Angeles Canvas: Graffiti Art and Culture." Morín informs and shapes policy on youth culture, arts education, and civic engagement as the head of Youth Arts and Education, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.

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Art of the Streets Panel and Reception are organized and presented by the Autry National Center in conjunction with the Maverick Art exhibition.

Admission of $5 includes panel discussion, light dinner reception featuring spinning by DJ Puffs, and access to the exhibitions Maverick Art and Bold Caballeros y Noble bandidas from 8-9 pm.

AutryNationalCenter.org - 323.667.2000