Feb 12: “Dark Progressivism” Art History/Graffiti Documentary Screens at Orange County Museum of Art

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Screenshot 2016-02-08 14.02.22

Cartwheel Art is thrilled to announce that the Newport Beach Film Festival and Orange County Museum of Art  will be presenting a free sneak preview screening of the feature length documentary Dark Progresssivism at the Orange County Museum of Art, Friday February 12th at 7pm, followed by a Q&A with director Rodrigo Ribera d’Ebre, producer James J. Yi, artists Jose “Prime” Reza and Big Sleeps.

Rodrigo is a frequent contributor to CartwheelArt.com, and, with Lisa Derrick, editorial director for CartwheelArt.com, co-curated the 2014 show “Dark Progressivism: Devils’ Town” and the 2015 LA Art Show special exhibition, “Dark Progressivism: Metropolis Rising.” in the Cartwheel Art booth. Cartwheel Art is the media sponsor for the feature length documentary which features revealing and insightful interviews with Big Sleeps, Chaz Bojorquez, Chris Blatchford, Chris Brand, Cryptik, Defer, Gajin Fujita, Steve Grody, Roberto Gutierrez, Prime, and Hector Tobar, plus music by Prayers.

From the blood on the streets to the walls of the galleries, Los Angeles artists, academics and journalists, share their experiences in the built environment and discuss how that has influenced their creativity. Out of the explosion of the crack epidemic, gangs, vandalism, and stepped up police response during the 1980’s, a new urban mentality developed. The community’s reaction to police suppression resulted in criminal artistic expression as a form of rebellion against the social ramifications suffered on the streets and a rupture of previous art styles. Narrated through first-hand accounts by artists and academics such as Defer, Prime, Big Sleeps, Gajin Fujita, Chaz Bojorquez, Chris Blatchford, Hector Tobar, Chris Brand, Cryptik, Richard Valdemar, Steve Grody and others, this eye-opening documentary tells the story of a local nativist tradition in artwork that helps explain how the dark aspects of the built environment combined with forward-thinking principles have influenced contemporary art.

See trailer here.

Facebook invite here. 

Dark Progressivism, A Film about Los Angeles Art
Friday February 12, 7pm
Orange County Museum of Art
850 San Clemente Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 759-1122
Food truck onsite for dining options.

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