Style Messengers: Where Graffiti and Social Commentary Intersect Through the Lens of New York and the Bay Area
Opening Reception + Panel Discussion moderated by Dr. Susie Lundy
Artist Panel Discussion w/ Leslie Lopez “ Dime”, Eric Norberg “Spie One”, and Zulu Williams “Serge One”
Exhibition March 1-March 29th
For decades, graffiti art has played an instrumental role in calling in young people to larger conversations about colonialism, capitalism and hegemony. It remains one of the last unfiltered and unmitigated forms of popular expression available to the public. For the past 25 years, East Side Arts Alliance has supported young writers to develop into critical thinkers and active members of their community while seeking freedom from the confines of systemic violence and bigotry. The lineage of lifting up and calling in young graffiti artists at Eastside stands on the legacy of Greg Morozumi. His invitation to be in conversation with all members of the community through this raw form of expression was inspired by his own mentors and visionaries, Amiri Baraka and Yuri Kochiyama.
Greg’s call to writers was to educate themselves and others about the systems of white supremacy, patriarchy, and extractive capitalism that this country was founded upon. With decolonization on his mind, Greg understood the power of this sophisticated artform with its explosive vibrancy and creativity to affirm the experiences of those whose voices have been silenced and erased. The artists in this exhibit have all been touched by Greg’s lifework. They have not shied away from amplifying the truth about how economic violence, environmental racism, colonial displacement, and the sanctioned police brutality has deeply harmed their own communities (and had far reaching devastating impacts around the world). In writing about the influence Malcolm X had on him, Greg said “ We stand by our elders’ contributions to the cause and the regeneration of new leadership from the neighborhoods, especially the potential of young sisters, to develop culture for community empowerment.” We welcome you to see his vision manifest in this exhibit celebrating the legacies of the graffiti movement, ESAA, and Greg.
In celebration of Eastside’s 25th Anniversary all programming throughout this year will be free of admission! Please consider donating to people powered programming so that EastSide can continue to grow and provide a haven for revolutionary thought and truth telling.
