Chuck Sperry

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Humanity – Art Print Release – LA vs. War

Humanity

Edition of 50

6 colors on archival cream paper

22 x 33

Signed and Numbered

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My favorite revolutionary political posters are from the Cuban Golden Age of political graphics from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. There is a colorful fusion of psychedelia and political message. I did this poster in the spirit of clear, bold, direct communication.

I wanted to communicate the “visible” world and the “hidden” world that everything in objective reality depends on. Like the world of “ideas” and the world of “objects.” Or the world of spirit and the world of life. The individual struggle and the human struggle.

It’s a sort of yin yang idea….

There’s this greater submerged “underground” reality – it is larger – breaks over the bounds of the poster. It could represent spirit or humanity. The above ground living flower is represented as transitory (it is losing petals in the wind) – but it’s roots go down from the heart to the heart of the submerged reality – where it is fed – and eternal.

The hard part was to show something this complicated in a simple and pleasing graphic.

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I will be making a very limited release of this poster online through the Varnish Fine Art Emporium on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at a random time.

 

 

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Varnish Fine Art Relaunch Part I

September 24 – November 05, 2011 

After being displaced from our former location due to a transportation project, Varnish Fine Art reopens with an official relaunch group show of paintings and drawings at Varnish’s new location 16 Jessie Street @ One Ecker Place in downtown San Francisco.

Relaunch Part I marks the reopening of Varnish Fine Art at its spanking new space in San Francisco, CA, only a stones throw from the old digs.  The gallery “sets sail” on Saturday September 24th with its most exciting group show of two-dimensional artwork yet.

For an event of this magnitude, the gallery is relaunching with two group exhibitions, Relaunch Parts I and II.  As the first exhibition at the new gallery space, Part I features reunited artists plus artists who’ve recently come aboard to create paintings and drawings for this event.  Relaunch Part II follows on its heels with a group show of sculpture in a variety of media.

The 21 artists in the show include internationally-known artists represented by Varnish such as Chris Mars, Jennybird Alcantara, and Chuck Sperry as well as infamous guest artists Robert Williams–the big Daddy of Pop Surrealism–and Laurie Lipton, charcoal on paper artist of the highest caliber.

An opening reception that is also a gallery reopening event deserves champagne. For the opening reception, many of the artists will be in attendance, and will experience the new gallery space for the first time along with Varnish’s illustrious clients and friends.  In addition, the artist Dylan Sisson has prepared a special interactive piece to commemorate the party in the form of a “Monster photo-booth.”

Open to the public, the reception for Relaunch Part I will take place on Saturday September 24 from 4-8pm.

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High Volume: Rock Art From The Chuck Sperry Archive and Firehouse Goldenvoice Poster Series

An auburn-haired songstress holds a fawn.  Shocking magenta hair falls to the shoulders of a blue nude strapped with artillery.  A 1950s-model cop car rests peacefully at the bottom of the sea, washed in blues and purples revealing a silent white angel.  Each outstanding print on display represents a prominent rock band.  Each was created by Chuck Sperry.

In early 2011, Chuck Sperry, San Francisco artist and co-owner of Firehouse Kustom Rockart Company, made an unprecedented donation to the Library’s Art, Music and Recreation Department of over one-hundred limited edition, hand-printed rock art posters.  Officially entitled, The Chuck Sperry Archive, this collection comprehensively documents the Goldenvoice Music Series (at the Regency and Warfield Theaters) from 2008 to present, as well as selected Firehouse productivity related to the cultural-life of San Francisco.

This collection is exciting in both use of color and variety of content. Each silkscreen print is comprised of up to sixteen colors, applied as individual layers. The pieces reference styles ranging from Japanese nishiki-e, Austrian Expressionism, 1960s psychedelia, to the provocative punk poster tradition of Sperry’s youth.  Musicians such as Neko Case, Danzig, Bad Religion, Nick Cave, Soundgarden and The Black Keys are represented, as are a talented group of Bay Area graphic artists (Ron Donovan, Alex Fischer, Gregg Gordon, Dave Hunter, Alan Hynes, Scott Johnson, Dennis Loren, Chris Shaw, Frank Zio, and Zoltron) who contributed to the Firehouse Goldenvoice Poster series under the art direction of Chuck Sperry.

High Volume will be on display on the Fourth Floor from Oct. 7th, 2011 – January 6th, 2012.  An opening reception will be held in the Latino/Hispanic Room on Thursday, Oct. 20th beginning at 6 p.m.

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LA vs. WAR, September 9, 10, 11, 2011

As a follow up to the original LA Vs. WAR show held in April 2008, LA Vs. War returns as a massive three-day experiential art exhibition and cultural event presenting some of today’s most prolific, pro-peace/anti-war and political artists in multi-media. LA Vs. WAR II will mark the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks where artists from LA and beyond will examine the questions: After 10 years of the Global War on Terror, where do we now stand as a nation? Is the world a safer place? Where does the Peace movement go from here?

Large selection of fine art, limited-edition prints and pro-peace posters on view, chronicling the creative responses to the current military conflicts in the Middle East/North Africa/Central Asia, The Global War on Terror, the Drug Wars and other wars on marginalized peoples.

The growing roster of artists includes: Abcnt, Adam Smith, Amitis Motevalli, Ando Pndlian, Army of One, Art Hazelwood, Azul 213, Brianna Lengel Bail, Byron Jose, Chaz Bojorquez, Chuck Sperry, Contra One, Cryptik, Dog Byte, Doug Minkler, Eddie Colla, Elizabeth Wood, Elle Burchill, Enik One, Eriberto Oriol, Eyeone, Favianna Rodriguez, Free Humanity, Garrison Buxton, Geraldine Lozano, Glen Brooks, Graphonic, Guillermo Bert, Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca, James Bentley, Jesus Barraza, John Carlos De Luna, John Carr, John Fekner, Jon Paul Bail, Khadija Anderson, Kristy Lovich, Kyle Goen, Lalo Alcaraz, Leba, lilstickyrice, Lucky Bunny, Lydia Emily, Man One, Manuela Viera- Gallo, Mark of the Beast, Manny Torres, Max Neutra, Mear One, Melanie Cervantes, Michael Datcher, Nancy Popp, Not My Government, Nuclear Winter, Oremeh Bagheri, Oscar Magallanes, Paul Barron, Poli Marichal, Raquel Gutierrez, Raymundo Hernández-López, Rebecca Conroy, Ricardo Duffy, Robbie Conal, Ron Donovan, Septerhed, Shark Toof, Shepard Fairey, Slanguage Collective, Street Phantom, Two Rabbits, Vivian Wong, Vyal One, Werc, William Acedo, Winston Smith, Yem, Yuri Shimojo

The Vortex

2341 E. Olympic Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90021

Entry: $5.00 Suggested Donation

All ages

Friday, September 9th, 2011 – Sunday, September 11th, 2011 – 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM

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Live art demonstrations and workshops to engage the audience in creative activities ranging from painting, t-shirt printing, stenciling, performance art and altar-making

Teach-ins with grassroots activist-partners from Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), Code Pink, Youth Justice Coalition, Antiwar.com, Center for the Study of Political Graphics, and Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) in effort to inform and energize attendees in transforming their own lives and communities

Peace Photo Project will be taking portraits of attendees as activists for Peace, LA Vs. WAR video art program and more

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Curated By: John Carr of Yo! Peace, the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, Political Gridlock and Ad Hoc Art 

Produced By: Estée Ochoa

Participating DJs curated by ArtDontSleep and Dublab.com: Aaron Byrd, Adrian Younge, Al Jackson, Alfred Hawkins, Alter, Andrew Meza, Anthony Valadez, B+, Carlos Nino, Coleman, Destroyer, DJ Moni, DJ Shiva, Elephant & Castle, Expo, Frosty, GLK, Hawthorne Headhunters, Haycock, House Shoes, Jun, Kristi Lomax, Lady Sha, Lee Bannon, Marc deClive Lowe, Matthew David, Mike Fisher, Monalisa, Mr. NumberOnederful, Plann B., Rani D., Rhettmatic, Seano, Skott K & special guests.

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Ben Harper at The Warfield Poster Release

Ben loved the poster! He’s a way generous dude, gave me a lot of time, a very warm meeting at The Warfield. Artist Alex Fischer took this photo:

At one point I mentioned that I do a lot of art shows with Winston Smith who did Mr. Harper’s Relentless7 record cover, and Ben whips out his cell phone and said, “Oh yeah, man, I should text Winston, thanks for reminding me!” Very thoughtful. The show was outstanding! Here’s a snip where Ben Harper is singing it, live, no microphone (vid is mismarked 2010):


Ben Harper, Jenny O. at The Warfield, August 25, 2011

Firehouse Goldenvoice Poster Series No. 140

26 x 20

Edition of 275

3 colors (with very heavy silver metallic) on black paper

Signed and Numbered

SOLD OUT – Thank You!

 

 

Archives

Sperry Books: “Color x Color” • “Helikon” • “Chthoneon” • “Idyllion”

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