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“Graffiti & Machines” with Steve Grody – DTLA Arts District

June 16, 2019 @ 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Graffiti & Machines Tour


Explore the past and present of the Los Angeles graffiti scene with two local experts. Graffiti documentarian Steve Grody will lead you through the back alleys of the DTLA Arts District and into a genuine graffiti yard. Along the way, he will identify different styles and forms of graffiti and explain how the art form has changed over the years.


Joseph “Nuke” Montalvo, a graffiti artist with the UTI Crew, will meet the group to talk about a mural production by his crew. Nuke offers an insider’s perspective on the graffiti subculture and shares how it has transformed his life.


After that, we’ll head to The House of Machines, a new hangout spot in the Arts District that celebrates “all things finely curated, well-crafted, and purposefully made.” Check out the vintage motorcycles on display, and try your hand at graffiti lettering as Nuke leads the group in a workshop. Food from Clutch is available for purchase, as are cocktails crafted by famed bartender Bad Birdy.




About Steve Grody: Steve Grody is a photographer, historian and the author of Graffiti LA: Street Styles and Art. Before Steve Grody earned his B.A. in fine arts, he was also involved in his era’s ‘pop’ graphics, psychedelic art. When he saw spray can murals popping up around Los Angeles’ walls, he immediately recognized their creativity and verve. Since 1990, he has been driving across L.A. and searching its back alleys, washes and abandoned lots in search of this vernacular art. Over the years he cultivated trust amongst L.A.’s most prolific, skilled and infamous graffiti ‘writers’ allowing him access to obscure locations, and through interviews clarified their motivations, and thoughts on creativity as well as the troublesome aspects of its illegality. His obsessive drive to document this distinctive youth underground has resulted in an archive of over 35,000 images. From this, he has chosen the best work to illustrate the range of styles and approaches of this urban phenomenon in Graffiti L.A.: Street Styles and Art (Abrams 2007).


In 2011 his photographs were in the MOCA “Art of the Streets” show and catalog, and he was co-curator of “Street Cred: Graffiti Art from Concrete to Canvas” at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. Steve has been featured on TedxSitka, as well as speaking at numerous universities and panels.


He is also an internationally respected martial arts instructor, and as a swing dancer, he was brought in by director Peter Weir to choreograph the dance scene in “The Truman Show,” working with Jim Carrey and cast.


About Joseph “Nuke” Montalvo: Joseph “Nuke” Montalvo is a multidisciplinary graffiti artist who has worked in Los Angeles for over 30 years. As a UTI Crew member, he has produced several murals in LA and Mexico. Nuke grew up in Boyle Heights; as a longtime resident, he grew up listening to stories of Zoot Suiters and the life of pachucos in the 1940’s, which had inspired his installation for Hidden Rooms, a recent project he participated in with Cartwheel Art. He is currently working on the restoration of Earth Crew’s 1992 iconic mural, “Undiscovered America,”  located in the heart of the Arts District. Nuke maintains a strong presence in LA. He has created public artwork relating to Native American cult and history for the MTA , Council Districts 12 and 14, and the City of Bell.


Special Note:


The Graffiti and Machines Tour and all other specialty tours designed by Cartwheel Art are available to be customized for private groups (6+). Private graffiti tours with Steve Grody are also available in other locations, including El Sereno. Contact us for inquiries and to learn more.


Additional Information: 
– Meeting location is at The House of Machines 
– Dress for the sun: hat, long sleeve shirt, and perhaps sunblock.
– Wear sturdy and closed-toe shoes (not sandals).
– A signed liability waiver will be required for all attendees
– Cartwheel Art reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the tour date, based on whether participation has reached the minimum of four persons.
– Advance Tickets Only. All Sales are Final. No Refunds or Exchanges.


THIS IS A KID FRIENDLY SUNDAY FUNDAY EVENT!

Venue

The House of Machines
2028 E. 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021 United States

Organizer

Cartwheel Art
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