You see it every day — block-letter names on underpasses; messages addressed to everyone (or no one) on billboards; colorful and insightful murals on the sides of otherwise unremarkable buildings. Amid a society suffering through a worldwide pandemic, street art – yesterday’s graffiti art – is having another moment, embracing a civil rights and equality movement unparalleled in scope compared with any other in the last 60 years.
Today, July 9, “Bruce Presents,” the Bruce Museum’s monthly series featuring thoughtful leaders in art and science, hosts a Zoom webinar, “Taking It to the Streets: A Conversation with Contemporary Street Artists.”
Five panelists, representing a cross-section of this evolving visual art form, will discuss their work and assess its impact. They are:
- Holly Danger (experiential designer and video artist);
- Ana De Orbegoso (multimedia artists, including public projections);
- Yedi Fresh (illustrator, painter, digital artist, muralist);
- Jahmane (graffiti artist, large-scale muralist, canvas artist, photographer, fashion designer);
- Epic Uno (graffiti artist, package designer, illustrator);
“Taking It to the Streets” will also spotlight Tatiana Mori, executive director of the Greenwich Arts Council, which named Epic Uno and Yedi Fresh the first two members of its Artists-in-Residence program. Greenwich-based artist-curator Ben Quesnel will co-moderate the Zoom event, along with Leonard Jacobs, producer of the “Bruce Presents” series.
“’Bruce Presents’ offers ‘Taking It to the Streets’ at an inflection point in our nation’s history and discourse,” says Jacobs. “History teaches us that art and artists always lead the way toward confronting injustice and driving systemic change. There is perhaps no better example of this than street art – truly the art of the people. Our artists and speakers are not only engaging with Black Lives Matter and other social change agents, they are the vanguard of a world that must be — and will be – equitable for all.”
Participation in the “Bruce Presents” on Zoom, for the benefit of the Bruce Museum, is $10 for museum members, $15 nonmembers. To reserve a place, visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376. A link to join the online conversation will be sent to registered attendees one hour prior to the program. Support for “Bruce Presents” is provided by Northern Trust and Berkley One, a Berkley Company.
– edited by Georgette Gouveia
