Renaissance & Rebellion - Flipbook - Page 131
CALIFORNIA LOCOS:
SOCAL ORIGINALS, MASTERS OF STYLE
–CHAZ BOJÓRQUEZ, CURATOR
T
HE MASTERS OF STYLE exhibition was developed after returning
from Rome with my wife Christina. I was invited to create new
artwork for an exhibition at the Rome Museum of Contemporary
Art. During our stay, we had dinners and conversations with many art
patrons about their collections and knowledge of Graffiti and Street Art. I was surprised
by their lack of enthusiasm and interest to collect West Coast artists. What they knew
well and only collected 1980’s New York Graffiti. But when I asked if they knew the
work of artist Robert Williams from California, an originator of the 1970’s cartoon
psychedelic movement and co-founder of Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine, the most
popular art magazine in the world, they replied "no!" That blew my mind.
"Take my picture" – Gary Leonard,
center, Eastern Projects, 2017
My astonishment turned into anger because I knew different
and wanted to do something about it. Together my wife and I came
to the same conclusion of “doing our own West Coast show”
without European, New York or Art Miami Basel validation, but
standing firm on our own art history. We would exhibit the best
artists and highlight our “Lifestyle” culture. Los Angeles is one of the
most dynamic cities of the new millennium. We have our own style of
Pop culture, we celebrate many forms like graffiti, street art, cartoons
and low brow art. Also skate, surf art, lowrider, hot rod art, Chicano
murals and Tattoo art, mixed with a rich history of the Hollywood
Entertainment Industry. This only happens in Los Angeles.
Set ups with curators Christina
and Chaz Bojórquez
CALIFORNIA 256
LOCOS
As primary curator, I chose the artists and my mission was
to honor and celebrate Los Angeles as a major world art center
that has popularized our creative contributions to the world.
My idea was not to have a typical art show but to present it as
a vintage Hollywood movie premiere with a searchlight on the
street beaming all night. As husband and wife co-curators, we
both share the same passion for the arts and have worked together
on numerous other projects. Therefore, I asked Christina to select
the artwork shown and design the gallery since she has over 300
exhibits in her 15 years of experience in the arts.
RENAISSANCE
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REBELLION
