Graffiti forms one of those dividing lines in contemporary American life, much like presidential elections.
Some people view it as nothing more than vandalism, while others see it as street art. For evidence of the latter, just witness the number of coffee-table books focused on the topic and the growing number of graffiti artists, as well as those inspired by the painting style, who have been shown at private galleries and public museums.
For her exhibit, “Urban Works,” opening Friday at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Gallery, Tucker artist Christina Bray said she wanted to explore that conflict. But the 11 highly representational paintings themselves, some of which can be previewed on her website (www.christinabray.com), don’t make obvious which side of the divide the artist is on. Though the painterly skill with which she executes them certainly suggests some sort of emotional connection to these altered urban spaces.
When we asked Bray for her position, she was quick to share: “Actually, I do see graffiti in general as a valid art form, and I think that when it’s colorful and is technically advanced, it adds vibrancy to otherwise run-down buildings. I like the graffiti that appears on defunct industrial buildings. These sites are interesting and appealing to me, and that’s why I chose them as subjects.
“However,” she added, “I don’t condone the activities of ‘taggers’ who paint on people’s houses or businesses.”
Bray’s acrylic-on-canvas paintings, which range in size from 20 by 24 inches to 40 by 30 inches, capture some of Atlanta’s most popular canvases for graffiti, including an abandoned Glidden Paint Factory, the Pullman Rail Yard and the Krog Street tunnel. The riot of color and rot of sites such as these has also caught the attention of many photographers, who have filled online Flickr sites with their images.
“I’m also interested in how each building is transformed from its original use by the addition of the graffiti,” added Bray, 40, an Atlanta native who did undergraduate studies at the old Atlanta College of Art and received master’s degrees from the University of Georgia (fine arts ) and Emory University (theological studies). “I like the way each building or space retains some architectural hints of its original use but has now been converted into a sort of ‘proving ground’ for the graffiti writers.”
An opening reception for “Urban Works” will be held 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Callanwolde is at 980 Briarcliff Road N.E., Atlanta. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Through March 23. Free. 404-872-5338, www.callanwolde.org.
ARTS FUNDING
Group awards grants
for ‘visionaries’
Idea Capital, an Atlanta independent arts funding group with the mission of supporting what it calls “Atlanta visionaries” who produce “innovative, risk-taking works unlikely to be funded by more traditional revenue streams,” has announced seven grants totaling more than $8,000.
This year’s award recipients and the works being funded are:
● Blake Beckham and Malina Rodriguez — “Threshold,” a debut dance performance incorporating architectural elements and examining the multiple meanings of home.
● The Art Officials — In an ongoing strategy of lampooning the art world, Matt Sigmon and Antonio Darden will stage a star-studded documentary film premiere with accompanying book focused on Atlanta’s burgeoning art scene.
● Jeff Demetriou — “Life After Dark” continues the artist’s renegade projections of “graffiti” video works onto public buildings.
● Karen Shacham — The public art installation “Couples: Reimagined” will feature life-size photographs of gay, transgendered and other unconventional couples at sites around the city.
● gloATL —At sites around Atlanta for two weeks, dancers will offer impromptu dance classes to passersby.
● Roni Nicole Henderson —Experimental short films will be projected as “pop-up” street art, focusing on alternative visions of black men.
● Shelby Hofer — Will complete a live, mixed-media, interactive performance to be staged in winter 2012 about preteen girls and their developing sexual identities.
Idea Capital’s fifth annual grant winners were selected from more than 50 entries following an open call and a review process. More information: www.ideacapitalatlanta.org.
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