The second annual LA Art Book Fair starts this week from January 31 through February 2nd at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. As part of the programming, MOCAtv will screen “The Art of Punk” series at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum (111 North Central), which is adjacent to The Geffen Contemporary.
Long before the explosion of digital interactive media, online social narcissism/stalking and pre-packaged mall rebellion, there was punk rock (Thank goodness!). And with punk rock came the DYI spirit and aesthetic – not only in music, but in philosophy and the visual, which included album artwork, posters, flyers, fashion and more.
MOCAtv’s “The Art of Punk” explores the artwork of iconic punk bands such as Black Flag, Dead Kennedys and Crass. Artists highlighted in the series include Raymond Pettibon, Winston Smith, Dave King and others. What was the relationship between the artists and the musicians? What were the historical comparisons to the Dadaists? What types of detournement was used in that particular media landscape of the time? The three-part series touches on these concepts with insightful interview footage from the artists themselves.
The series also examines the aesthetic and historical impact of punk rock show flyers. Kids today often hear about upcoming shows via Twitter or Facebook. Back in the old days, we heard about upcoming shows through punk flyers, which were handed out shows, stapled to telephone poles, left on cars etc. Often crudely made and photocopied collage pieces, these punk flyers were the medium of communication for many in the punk movement.
In 2000 Bryan Ray Turcotte published the book “Fucked Up + Photocopied: Instant Art of the Punk Rock Movement,” a fascinating book filled with band flyers, rare photos and compelling essays about punk from musicians and artists. The publisher was kind to send me a review copy. It was a pleasure and honor to review the book, which was one my favourite books to review. After the magazine ran my review, the intern editor bailed town and took my book with him (Stop! Theif!).
Come help me find another copy of “Fucked Up + Photocopied: Instant Art of the Punk Rock Movement” or Bryan Ray Turcotte’s “Punk is Dead Punk is Everything” or other coveted art publications at Printed Matter’s LA ART BOOK FAIR!
“The Art of Punk” will screen at Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair 2014, Friday January 31, 2pm, 3pm/ 4pm talk — Tateuchi Democracy Forum, 111 North Central (next to Geffen Contemporary). Free.
For more information on the LA Art Book Fair events
Special thanks: Bryan Ray Turcotte and Bo Bushnell, Emma Reeves (MOCAtv), Lynn Winter and Nancy Lee (MOCA)
