Beyond The Streets: 'Vandalism As Contemporary Art'
Markie and his dad just finished playing on the New York inspired handball court so we pant our way up the steps into the gallery entrance. When you look up the canopy reads "Beyond The Streets: Vandalism As Contemporary Art." The smell of spray paint is dominant as soon as you walk into the museum. Retna's iconic calligraphy style dominates the first corner room with a simple chair that we take photos in. Followed by a wall of Krylon cans, an admired paint brand that now sits in the past times of graffiti.
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As we walk through the showroom invested in each piece we are focused on reaching our ultimate goal; Mr. Cartoon's church and Estevan Oriol's 'LA Fingers' wall.
The West Coast legends often remain hidden in the underground world of street art, despite leaving long-lasting impressions on what the LA aesthetic truly embodies. Mister Cartoon, famous for doing endless celebrity tattoos and Estevan Oriol, recognized primarily for documenting it all in a way often imitated but never replicated.
Cartoon's name is hand painted above the arch entrance and outside walls read "Saving souls; Hoodrats, gangsters, tweakers, winos." Dark wooden pews face a beautifully airbrushed green casket surrounded by photos of locally loved angels like Nate Dogg, Eazy-E and more. Throughout the golden age of hip-hop, Joker Brand founders Mister Cartoon and Estevan Oriol were in the midst of it all. We drop a dollar donation in the jar sitting to the left of the room, scribe names of loved ones who have passed away in a small black book, and take photos Cartoon's artwork against each wall.
On the other side of Cartoon's church wall, Estevan Oriol's LA fingers are put on display as three large posters. Provocatively in your face as a familiar icon you never really found the source to but always recognized. The most used imagery in the museum's promotional media and a necessary choice to rightfully establish Estevan Oriol as the originator of these symbolic 'LA Fingers.' Recently in lawsuits with H&M and Brandy Melville for copyright infringement, Oriol often finds himself getting ripped off by mainstream brands making the imagery trendy in American suburbia.
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The museum's new summer event series was introduced with an intimate conversation including Estevan Oriol and Angel Oriol to talk about the origin of the iconic photo. A raw unfiltered hour of both hilarious and challenging memories the two shared over the years. From him touring with Cypress Hill to becoming "an internationally celebrated professional photographer, director, and urban lifestyle entrepreneur."
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To be honest, the rest of the museum became mute to us after we passed these two LA legends. Like proud fans, we relished in finally seeing recognition in the artists we've been admiring for so long. After, stopping at pieces by timeless figures like Banksy, Takashi Murakami, and Jean Michel Basquiat.
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We 'exit out the gift shop' and are reminded of the value these independent artists have, grabbed what we could afford and left. Not before catching a quick hit up on the Venice art wall of course.
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Illustrators, photographers, tattoo and graffiti artists all play a part in responding to the mainstream media we are exhausted with on a daily basis. Vandalism presented as a contemporary art form reveals just how valuable street art is and how strongly it has influenced our culture.
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Beyond The Streets has thankfully extended their stay and will be open until the end of August. Tickets are available on their site but follow them on social media for a chance to attend one of their summer night events.
For more information: Beyond The Streets
