ArtsWestchester Announces Lineup of Community & Folk Art Events to Bring New Urban Art Exhibition, “From the Streets,” to Life

Dynamic Public Events Explore Hip Hop Culture at ArtsWestchester Gallery in Downtown White Plains

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (April 17, 2017) – From urban art-focused documentaries and spoken word performances to hip hop dances and lively discussions on the evolution of graffiti, ArtsWestchester has announced a series of community programs in conjunction with its newest exhibition: From the Streets: An Exhibition of Urban Art. The exhibit chronicles the rise of the urban artist from vandal and outlaw to cultural trendsetter.

Having just opened to the public this week at the ArtsWestchester gallery in downtown White Plains, the exhibition features graffiti murals, paintings, photography, sculpture and installations from artists at the cutting edge of their discipline. The ground floor of the gallery highlights legendary artists who rose to prominence in the 1980s, a pivotal moment in graffiti’s burgeoning culture. Artists exhibited on the gallery’s second floor are internationally recognized for creating provocative work informed by the attitude and style of street art’s pioneers.

The community programs accompanying the exhibit include a series of film screenings and music happenings that position the artwork within a broader cultural context. These include screenings of the documentaries “Saving Banksy,” and “The Mural Kings.” Also planned are: a panel discussion with museum and art-world professionals, a Women of Hip-Hop performance, and an evening with the legendary rapper and songwriter Grandmaster Caz, accompanied by GrandWizzard Theodore, the DJ credited as the inventor of scratching.

Folklorist Elena Martinez arranged three of the community programs focused on hip hop elements as grassroots or folk art forms due to their origins in the community-based practices. She said it’s important to highlight the context from where the exhibition’s art forms emerged as they place the work in the larger cultural framework and historical trajectory.

“Public programming helps people get a more well-rounded understanding. The unique programs that coincide with From the Streets provide a way for people to learn about the transformation of street art and its musical form, hip hop, in more ways than one,” Martinez said.

The following calendar of community programs is available to the public:


Wall Writers: Graffiti in its Innocence
Documentary Screening
Thursday, April 27, 7pm
ArtsWestchester Gallery – Suggested Donation

Narrated by John Waters and directed by Roger Gastman, “Wall-Writers” is a feature-length documentary on graffiti in its innocence, focusing on the legendary writers of 1967 – 1972. Graffiti and street art today are largely considered the rock n’ roll of visual arts. This documentary is an exclusive account from the artists, journalists, and politicians who lived the beginnings of the largest art movement of the Twentieth Century.

 

*Meet the Mural Kings
TATS CRU: The Mural Kings documentary screening, followed by a Q&A with TATS CRU
Saturday, April 29, 7pm
ArtsWestchester Gallery – Admission: $10            

Go behind the scenes with legendary muralists and graffiti artists, TATS CRU. Enjoy a viewing of the acclaimed feature documentary “TATS CRU: THE MURAL KINGS”. Following the film, exhibiting TATS CRU artists (BIO, BG183, and NICER) will join Director Mark Kotlinski for a Q&A.

 

Vandalism vs. Capitalism – Which is the Dirtier Word?
Monday, June 12, 6:30pm
ArtsWestchester Gallery – Admission: FREE

What is the place of street art in the global market place? “Vandalism vs. Capitalism” will be a lively discussion among artists, gallerists, and museum professionals, moderated by Angelo Madrigale, VP/Director of Contemporary Art for Doyle Auction House.

 

*Stories & Sounds From Back in the Day
with Pioneers Grandmaster Caz and DJ GrandWizzard Theodore
Friday, June 16, 7pm
ArtsWestchester Gallery – Admission: $10

Join us for a night of performance and storytelling with songwriter, MC, and DJ, Curtis “Grandmaster Caz” Brown – an icon of early hip hop as a member of the Cold Crush Brothers. Caz will be accompanied by GrandWizzard Theodore, the DJ credited with the “scratching” technique.

 

*The Sisterhood of Hip Hop
Saturday, June 17, 4pm
ArtsWestchester Gallery – Admission: $10

Throughout the history of hip hop, female performers and artists have pushed the boundaries and stereotypes of the art form proving that it isn’t just a man’s world. “The Sisterhood of Hip Hop” will feature a lesson in party dances from “back in the day” led by Deena Clemente, a panel discussion with graffiti artists and b-girls, and will be followed by a DJ and dance performance. Participating artists include DJ Perly, Karen “KayLove” Pedrosa and Peaches Rodriquez.

 

Saving Banksy
Friday, July 14, 7pm
ArtsWestchester Gallery – Admission: $10

“Saving Banksy” is the story of one misguided art collector’s attempts to save a Banksy painting from destruction and the auction block. Featuring some of the world’s top street artists, this film poses the question “What would you do if you owned a million dollar painting that the artist doesn’t want sold?”

 

Event tickets can be purchased at the door at ArtsWestchester or in advance at: artsw.org/fromthestreets

*This event is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts program and is made possible in part by the New York State Council for the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

On view now through July 15, From the Streets exemplifies the scope and evolution of a subculture that has become a global movement. Artists featured in ArtsWestchester’s exhibit include: AL DIAZ, ANDREW SCHOULTZ, BG183, BILLBOARDS HACKER, BIO, BLADE, CRASH, DALEK (JAMES MARSHALL), DAMON JOHNSON, DASIC FERNANDEZ, DAZE, EL MAC, GILF (ANN LEWIS), GREG LAMARCHE, GUMSHOE, ICY & SOT, JANETTE BECKMAN, JILLY BALLISTIC, LADY PINK, LI HILL, LOGAN HICKS, MARE 139 (CARLOS RODRIGUEZ), MICHAEL HALSBAND, NICER, QUEEN ANDREA (ANREA VON BUJDOSS), QUIK, SAGE, SEN2, SKEME, TKID, and ZIMER.

ArtsWestchester is located at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains, NY.  The exhibition will be on view through July 15.  Admission is free to the public. Docent tours of the exhibit are available to the public and for private groups with a suggested per person donation. ArtsWestchester gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday, 12-5pm and Saturday 12pm-6pm. For more information, visit artsw.org/fromthestreets

About ArtsWestchester

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.