Art in the Streets @MOCALosangeles
April 24, 2011
I’m a huge fan of street art. My friend Matt introduced me to the beauty of graffiti and other urban art ages ago. We’d drive around town and look for new work. I actually think that’s how I ended up finding my loft in the Arts District six years ago. No one would come over here. It was pretty bare–except for the walls of the old buildings, which were decorated with spray paint. I fell in love with the industrial part of the city.
Shortly after I moved into my loft, I traveled to France, where I discovered one of my favorite street artists- Fafi. I used one of her pieces as the inspiration for my commercial design thesis.
I’m still so inspired by the work I see on the streets. Right now, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA as an exhibit completely devoted to Street Art. If you get a chance–you simply must check out this collection. It’s more of an experience than merely a trip to the museum.
See below for my experience in photos:
Celebrity Art @ Artworks for the Cure 2010
September 29, 2010
I had the privilege of attending the 2010 Artworks for the Cure, benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation (Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS research). It was a wonderful event put on by an amazing group of people.
(middle guitar designed by Brandon Boyd of Incubus)
While writing this blog entry, I decided to do some more research about the T.J. Martell Foundation. And what I found really hit home. From the website:
“It began with a promise from a father to his dying son….
In 1973, a high school student named T.J. Martell was battling leukemia. He asked his father, music industry executive Tony Martell, to raise a million dollars for cancer research so that “no one else will have to experience what I am going through.” Although he had no fundraising experience, Tony agreed.
Two years later, T.J. died at the age of nineteen, and as Tony explains today, “that put my promise in cement.” Soon after, Tony was joined by many of his musician friends like Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington to hold a fundraiser at Buddy Rich’s nightclub in New York. They raised $50,000 and the T.J. Martell Foundation was born.”
My dear cousin Melissa died of ovarian cancer at 21. And I have been very involved in charities that benefit research for ovarian/breast cancer since her death. Had I known about this charity earlier, I would have been involved years ago.
My friend’s family chaired the event this year. Here are some photos (mostly of the amazing art) from the Benefit:
Dali
Leonard Cohen
Mister Cartoon (famous tattoo artist)
Jimi Hendrix
Stanley Donwood (associated with Radio Head’s “Hail to the Thief”)
John Lennon
More designed guitars
Charles le Brigand
Reserved
Jason Mraz
KCRW’s Jason Bentley
Ryan Adams
Justin Bua
Cool Coke bottle
Brandon Boyd
David LaChapelle
Herb Williams
Frank Charles Dante Minuto
The Bergamot Succulent Car
