All posts tagged: Control Gallery

Gordon Matta-Clark: “Graffiti Archive 1972/73” Presents Unseen Photographs

Gordon Matta-Clark: “Graffiti Archive 1972/73” Presents Unseen Photographs

A groundbreaking exhibition showcases over 200 photographs of graffiti by Gordon Matta-Clark.


Gordon Matta-Clark. Tag Wall. 1972. (photo courtesy Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark)

“GRAFFITI ARCHIVE 1972/73: An Exhibition of Photographs from Gordon Matta-Clark” provides a unique glimpse into the graffiti culture of New York City in the early 70s, shot by the New York artist at a time when the movement was just beginning to take shape. Matta-Clark’s exploration of this vibrant street culture reflects his eye as much as the burgeoning scene in evolution, a unique pairing of artists’ visions through film.

Gordon Matta-Clark, known for his significant impact on conceptual art and his critiques of urban environments, captured these moments with a different aim than most photographers of his time. Instead of simply documenting, he delved into the graffiti scene with an artist’s eye, capturing the raw and spontaneous energy of the city’s youth. His photographs from 1972 and 1973 reveal the early days of graffiti, where the art form was more about personal expression and claiming space in a rapidly changing city than about the notoriety it would later bring.

Gordon Matta-Clark. 7UP. 1972. (photo courtesy Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark)

Roger Gastman, a key figure in the graffiti community, has played a crucial role in bringing this collection to light. He speaks of the exhibition not just as a display of historical moments but as an important act of preservation, bringing well-deserved recognition to Matta-Clark’s work and the graffiti culture of the time.

“What really resonates with me is the sense of pride I feel to be able to share these photos,” he says. It’s not just about showcasing graffiti—it’s a genuine homage to real history, a glimpse into the ‘who,’ ‘what,’ and ‘where’ of these vibrant stories etched onto walls and trains. I can’t help but feel happiness, knowing that Gordon Matta-Clark had the foresight to capture these moments and that his estate entrusted us to put this show together—it has truly felt like a collaboration,” says Gastman.

He emphasizes the significance of these images, highlighting the collaborative effort between himself and Matta-Clark’s estate to showcase this hidden chapter of art history.

“Throughout the years, I’ve invested considerable time into unearthing vintage gems from the early ’70s—drawings, paintings, and ephemera that tell stories of a bygone era. This exhibition, for me, is like revealing a well-kept secret, placing these treasures in their genuine context,” he says.

Gordon Matta-Clark. SUPER KOOL 1 Tag Wall. 1972 (photo courtesy Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark)

The exhibition doesn’t stop with Matta-Clark’s photographs. It also features original artworks from notable graffiti artists of the period, such as SNAKE 1, SJK 171, LEE 173rd, WICKED GARY, TRACY 168, and STAY HIGH 149. These pieces offer a direct link to the images captured by Matta-Clark, providing a fuller understanding of the era and its artistic output.

Gordon Matta-Clark. STAY HIGH 149. 1973. (photo courtesy Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark)

BEYOND THE STREETS & CONTROL Gallery announce the opening of “GRAFFITI ARCHIVE 1972/73” on March 1 and continuing until April 13, 2024.

The opening reception for EXHIBITION 010: GRAFFITI ARCHIVE 1972/73 will be held on Friday, March 1,
2024 from 6PM – 9PM, running through April 13, 2024.

Address:
434 N La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Mister Cartoon at Control Gallery – ‘Just My Imagination’

Mister Cartoon at Control Gallery – ‘Just My Imagination’

“BEYOND THE STREETS & CONTROL Gallery are launching ‘Mister CARTOON’s ‘Just My Imagination,’ an exhibition showcasing many of the creative directions of the acclaimed artist and Los Angeles native. After a career that spans decades, Mister CARTOON has established himself as an artist with an admired and unique vision, bringing to mind his signature style of airbrushing, intricate drawings on diverse surfaces, and candy enamel automotive paint. The work is meticulous, ornate, full of swagger, and sweet nostalgia for the city he loves.

Mister Cartoon. Images courtesy of Beyond The Streets and Control Gallery. Click HERE for more information.

Born and raised, as they say, he began as a graffiti artist before venturing into murals, album covers, extraordinary tattoo work, and myriad logos. His artwork draws inspiration from the vibrant culture of Los Angeles, reflecting the emotions and experiences of growing up in this city during the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s. A solo show like this in Los Angeles is a milestone, following acclaimed shows across the globe in Tokyo, Paris, and London. Visitors encounter a body of work that collectively takes them into his mesmerizing fantasy world, the high gloss nostalgia, the fusion of car culture, graffiti, and tattoo – a haze of musical history accompanying his ride.

Mister CARTOON • Just My Imagination

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 10, 2023, 3pm-8pm
BEYOND THE STREETS – CONTROL Gallery

434 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Hollywood
On View: June 10 – July 15, 2023 • Wed-Sat 11am-6pm

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Beastie Boys “EXHIBIT” Opens in LA at CONTROL Gallery

Beastie Boys “EXHIBIT” Opens in LA at CONTROL Gallery

Beastie Boys EXHIBIT. Control Gallery – Beyond The Streets. (photo © Ari Marcopoulos courtesy of Beyond The Streets)

Here, for a few stolen moments, you can look at these items, most previously unseen, which floated through the lives of that nice Jewish boy band named Beastie back when Reagan was trickling down and the Dead Kennedy’s held forth. It’s called simply “Exhibit”; lending a bit of institutional weight to a curious and eclectic collection of personal items, artifacts, and ephemera— the kind of stuff you scan and absorb, inferring its weight, volume, and texture. You may imagine what the moment was like – and imagine what it was like to be a Beastie Boy.

Beastie Boys EXHIBIT. Control Gallery – Beyond The Streets. (image courtesy of Beyond The Streets)

Artists Cey Adams and Eric Haze figure strongly into the street-inspired visual aesthetic that packaged the unruly New York punk-hip-hop-abstract jazz trio during their rise in the 1980s and 90s. Just gazing across the collection, it strikes you again how our modern era gets much of its character from the legion of designers and artists who have presented it – in addition to the talent projected by the names on the marquee.

Now 40 years in and one very loved man down, the brash, uncouth manners and frankly nasty lyrics are tempered by our collective maturity, admitted to almost apologetically, and the ephemera and the work is what remains. The enthusiastic zestful energy that first busted a new identity in a chaotic sound field is here for you; in these displays, these videos, these vibes, and their intergalactic funk.

Beastie Boys memorabilia from Beyond The Streets NYC. June 2019. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

The first show of its kind about the Beastie Boys opens Saturday, December 10, at CONTROL Gallery on the US coast opposite New York – possibly more sun-drenched and skate culture inflected – but certainly bringing the “sonic irreverence of hardcore and punk, blended with the bawdy and rebellious sounds of emergent hip-hop,” they became known for.

“The story of punk rock, hip-hop, skateboarding, and graffiti wouldn’t be complete without a chapter on Beastie Boys and the inedible mark they made on a movement that harmoniously merged the worlds of music and youth culture into a soundscape and experience all of its own,” says curator and co-founder Roger Gastman in a press release.

Beastie Boys fans will see a full sweep of ephemera and priceless idiosyncratic memorabilia they collected while making and promoting their albums – from Licensed To Ill, to Paul’s Boutique, to Check Your Head & Ill Communication, Hello Nasty, The Mix-Up, and Hot Sauce Committee Part Two.

“We’re happy that someone besides us appreciates all the weird shit we’ve collected,” says Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz.

EXHIBIT is produced by CONTROL Gallery, BEYOND THE STREETS, and Goldenvoice.

For further details and information on Beastie Boys Exhibit click HERE

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