The Birth of The British Rock Artists Group

The British Rock Artists Group – or B.R.A.G. – was formed by the talented individuals who attended my Master Class workshop in Brighton, UK on May 18 and 19 of 2006 – a class which I taught as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival. Many thanks to BDI Screenprinting for the use of their excellent facilities to teach this class!!!

The Fringe Festival was inspired by a visit to SXSW, Austin, Texas and its gig poster expo Flatstock. So in May 2006, Brighton Fringe Arts Production brought together over 25 national and international artists to transform an edgy and raw venue – The Basement – into a visual feast of contemporary screen printed, letter-pressed and lithographed gig posters.

Never content to stay within the bounds of exhibition – SubScreenSonic was a collection of events designed to encourage artists, the public and the music industry alike to reignite the passion that existed in the 60s & 70s for gig posters & kick start the UK scene here & now.

My students’ eagerness to kick start the British poster scene was the very result for which I had hoped when I taught this class. Six months later with 50 posters to their collective credit, my hopes were realized. Thus was formed B.R.A.G. from the people who attended my workshop.

Presently, I am organizing a San Francisco Master Class Workshop for members of B.R.A.G. to take place in late August and early September 2007. The Workshop will cover silkscreen printing techniques, poster creation, and business aspects of the field – by introducing the students to artists, critics and art directors from the San Francisco Area. And just for the full SF experience, The Workshop coincides with the Summer of Love Festival and a TRPS sponsored poster show to be held here in San Francisco the weekend of September 1, 2007.

Here’s my release for the Firehouse Workshop with BRAG:
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Firehouse Kustom Rockart Company in San Francisco Presents:

“The BRAG Invasion”

The British Rock Artists’ Group Peacefully Invades the USA
Starting with SF

At Aspect Gallery
731 Polk Street (between Ellis and Eddy)
San Francisco, California
415-563-3596

September 1, 2007
Opening: 5pm – 10pm

(cases of free beer! thanks to Anchor Steam Brewery)

Sponsored by The Rock Poster Society. Many thanks!

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Firehouse Workshop with BRAG – project to create 6 limited edition
silkscreen posters for the Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Festival
to be held at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
on September 2, 2007.

These limited edition serigraphic posters have the blessing of 2B1/ Council of Light –
the organizers of the festival – and they will receive an official BRAG number for the event.

Firehouse Workshop Openhouse:
Firehouse Kustom Rockart Company
179 11th Street
between August 25 – August 31
business hours
Stop by, watch and participate in the creation of these posters.
Many artists, professionals and collectors have been invited and will be in residence throughout.

Posters will be released at the Aspect Gallery show!
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Here below, I’m happy to publish a statement of purpose from B.R.A.G.:

“British Rock Artists Group… We are B.R.A.G.,British Rock Artists Group,a Brighton (UK) based collective and currently have 20 active members.

The silkscreen music poster tradition still thrives in the USA today and is illustrative of the symbiotic relationship between music and poster art. With the progression into this century, everything seems possible in the sphere of silkscreen printing. Conventional themes are no longer valid, and the design knows no boundaries. The silkscreen-printing scene now includes a diverse array of artists from graphic design, contemporary art, traditional and Art Nouveau-motifs, all of whom incorporate new ideas, themes, materials and forms.

Whilst the British Movement of silkscreen poster printing is still in its infancy compared to the thriving tradition in the US, there has been a huge growth of interest, reflected in articles published in the Guardian, Creative Review, Grafix Magazine, and Design week. And, with the Flatstock Poster Exhibition exhibiting in Europe for the first time this year, enthusiasm for silkscreen printing is growing . In addition, we have begun to establish collaborative relationships with members of the entertainment industry and bring the joy of collectible posters to the community.

Exhibited in January 2007, Estonia, invited by the collective Non Grata. Fifty posters were displayed showcasing our work, contributing to an international print festival that was held in Parnu. We are currently working on prints for the Hector’s Live nights at Hector’s House as well as other gigs around …