Banksy in Oceanside?

So, popular celeb gossip website, TMZ, has reported a sighting of graffiti artist Banksy at work here in our own backyard. The photo is of the side of Oceanside's Bull Taco Shop on the corner of Coast Highway and Cassidy St. While an obvious display of Banksy style, we can't help but be skeptical. It seems as though this may be a "fake". (And/or, just a really good marketing ploy by Bull Taco, cashing in on the hype surrounding the artist and his films nomination at the Academy Awards this Sunday.) And with that being said, is there really such thing as authenticity with an artist who no doubt has several people collectively producing his artwork? This recent pop-up has sparked a lot of debate, and I want to hear what you think! What do you think about Banksy as an artist, or is he now a brand? Maybe both? Is he just a rip-off of Blek le Rat, an older graffiti artist who created rats long before Banksy started showing them in his artwork? It's all speculation, I want your opinions!

Check out the coverage here and here. . . and while your at it, go check out the piece and decide for yourself what it's all about.

For Colored Girls is For Everyone.

Since February is Black History Month, and March is Women’s Month, I thought that I would share with you all a movie I watched recently that combines the two.

I had seen little snippets of this movie trailer and wanted to see it in the theater, but with a busy schedule it was hard to make it out. This last weekend I went to Blockbuster on a whim, saw For Colored Girls instantly, grabbed it, and headed to the door. I took it home and after making dinner, my Mom and I decided to sit down and watch it. By the end of the movie I was blown away. My stomach was in knots, no doubt caused by a mix of emotions—anger, sadness, shock, and mostly realization. This movie, adapted to screen, produced, and directed by Tyler Perry, paints a beautiful portrait of 8 women of color in modern times.(It’s actually adapted from its original 1975 stage production by Ntozake Shange, “Colored Girls”.) I was torn up by the fact that these women, though fictional characters, represent a slew of women who have really experienced these issues; namely rape, domestic violence, disease, loss, insecurity, and heartbreak. For Colored Girls stays true to its original stage format, using poetic prose (and dance) instead of mundane dialogue, which adds a dimension to the flick that demands a deeper sense of meaning and understanding. This film is not for the faint of heart. I would, however, recommend it for women with a strong heart. A heart for other women, and the issues that plague them, all around the world and from all walks of life. This film is for women who have a heart to stand with them in some sense of solidarity, if for only the fact that we share the same sex and some of the same struggles. I would recommend this film  for all women and all men who have lived through hardships. It’s time to operate on a human level, people. Go watch it, and feel.

x Carissa

A couple interesting write-ups here and here .J

Watch the trailer here.

St. Paddy'z Day is a Commin

We are less than a month away from my boyfriend's and so many other's favorite holiday,
St. Patrick's Day!  In celebration of the holiday the Center Museum will be throwing a party.  The Irish in me is proud to say that you will be able to hear some Irish Punk/Rock music in our Sculpture Court as you fill up on all kinds of Irish beer and whiskey.

Sláinte
Sunday, March 6, 2011
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (This is a 21+ event)

$15 per person/$25 for two

Kick off your Paddy’z Day celebrations with the Leperkhanz.

[We are super excited to have the Leperkhanz play for this event.  They will be giving us an extra long set so save up your vocal cords and stomachs. Visit the Leperkhanz MySpace page to hear a selection of their music.  I recommend the song Black Tanz.]

Ticket includes tastings of a variety of Irish whiskeys and beers. ‘Dirt’ the Whiskey Master will lead you through your whiskey tasting and if whiskey isn't your flavor don't despair there will also be plenty of Irish beer!
Sláinte is generously sponsored by the Holiday Wine Cellar, Bushmills Whiskey and O'hara's beer. 

*Proceeds support arts education at the Center

Here are some images of how people around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day. 

Chicago - They dye the river green every year.  It is pretty awesome, I lived there for four years during undergrad.  The Chicago river is a little scary year round, you fall in and expect a trip to the hospital and some shots [so I have been told].

San Francisco's St. Patrick's Day parade and celebration is among the largest in the U.S. The parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day parade west of the Mississippi, stretching from 2nd and Market, up to Civic Center Plaza where it culminates in an all-day festival celebration.

St. Patrick's Day parade in New York.  5th Ave.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum, Art Classes

Here is some info on two classes we have coming up that I am really excited about.  Write in if you have any questions.

Tara

Travel Buggin': Here and There, Back and Forth

If you haven’t already been able to tell, I have a travel bug and I’ve got it BAD. The large-scale, interactive map that went up right next to my desk isn’t helping any. In fact, it’s making it worse; leaving me to stare and daydream and contemplate my next big adventure. My last big trip was Istanbul, Turkey, and now I’m trying to decide on what I’m going to save for next-- I refuse to let my backpack get too dusty. So, being left up here to my own devices, studying this map and the places people have picked out for themselves as places they love to call home or would love to be, it makes me realize that I’m not alone in my scheming. It’s amazing and sometimes overwhelming to consider how many different varieties of life there are as compared to the limited amount of space that we’re sharing on this planet. The inspiration that can come from this is infinite, as seen in Patricia’s work. She grew fond of a place halfway around the world, a place that contains people with a different lifestyle than what we, or even she, is accustomed to, and used these feelings to create beautiful work. I wonder what artworks I would create to represent places I’ve been and are going to go. What would your creations look like if they were influenced by the spot on the map that you find yourself gravitating towards the most? Where is your “here” and where is your “there”? Right now, I have way too many and I’m looking to add to the list. Come add yours to our map here at the museum, and tell me a story about it. I’m always looking for new places to visit and a new face to gab at!

x Carissa

The Art of Protest

With the historical uprising in Egypt these past 18 days, and its liberation on the 11^th, I can’t help but burst with excitement. It’s so amazing to see everyday citizens take action in order to change their government, and ultimately their lifestyles, for a better way to live: freely! It’s inspiring and encouraging to say the least, and I would just like to express my solidarity.

With that being said, having looked through several galleries of photos from Cairo the past few weeks, the imagery has been overwhelmed with posters expressing the sentiments of the people, using art and text. It reminds me that art can be the silent force which unites and strengthens a movement. Political art has served in several movements throughout history and has proven effective. In our own recent political climate, we saw Shepard Fairey create quite a rise-up of young politicos when he created his ubiquitous poster of Obama for the 2009 election. The poster was adopted by the entire nation and has even become the template for other politically charged image campaigns, whether they be serious or satirical. In earlier times, Emory Douglas , from Oakland, CA, was the leading artist of the Black Panther Party in the late 60's and early 70's. It was his images that led the civil rights movement of the time!

The advantage of having great political poster art is that it can be easily spread and interpreted by many. It says a million things, but people understand it in one split second. It provides a face for an entire movement of people and motivates them to take action. The often bold colors, bold lines, and simple text serve to put a spark in people to act accordingly: boldly take simple steps to a better future. Art is a universal language, and it’s best used, I think, when it has something good to say.

Here are some images of recent political art posters. . .  

Iran

Egypt

Egypt (Graffiti)

Artists in New York are organizing an artistic recreation of the Egyption protests here. Check it out.

x Carissa

Patricia Patterson: Here and There, Back and Forth

Well we did it.  The Center Museum's latest exhibition Patricia Patterson:  Here and There, Back and Forth is up and running!  The opening was wonderful and filled with energy.  For all of you who didn't make it here is a little peek at the evening. 

Congratulations to Patricia and the curators of this exhibition, Mary Johnson and Olivia Luther.  [See image below of Mary and Olivia]