Veteran Graffiti Writer Chaz Bojorquez Visits TAMUK

Veteran graffiti writer from Los Angeles, Chaz Bojorquez, will be installing a never-before-seen graffiti work in the Ben Bailey Art Gallery, Texas A & M University, Kingsville (TAMUK); a permanent figure in Chicano art history, Chaz has been writing graffiti since the 1950s, when he first experienced Los Angeles Cholo style graffiti, and today he is considered a king of calligraffiti. His artwork is found in major museums (Smithsonian Institute) and in private collections (Nicholas Cage and Cheech Marin). A published author, he is an expert in calligraphy art, of which graffiti is a prominent world expression. Trained in art schools, Chaz is also a well known graphic artist, having worked in numerous Hollywood movies, such as Born in East L.A., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Star Wars. Lately, Chaz has been decorating skate shoes, T-shirts, and hats.

Writers from Austin, Kingsville, and Corpus Christi will join Chaz, contributing their graffiti pieces in a unique live performance project that has never been attempted in the South Texas Art scene.

Austin:

• Nathan “Sloke” Nordstrom

K-Space/Corpus Christi:

• Loring Baker
• David “Dose2” Flores
• Erin “EMA” Mahoney
• Christian “777” Siete
• Gerald Lopez
• Luis Omar “Ever” Rodriguez
• “Rooster Collective” (Lisa Harrison Ramirez, Kenny Harrison, Tony Yarbray)
• Michelle Smythe

Texas A & M University-Kingsville:

• Thermon Biggers
• Ismael Flores
• Students from International Student Services

Other writers, many from K-Space, an alternative art gallery in Corpus Christi, will also perform their individual “styles” in the gallery space. Students from the University’s Art Department and International Student Services Department will contribute their writing as well.

Graffiti or graff art is a world wide expression historically found in ancient caves, Roman buildings, and modern subways. The Berlin Wall was heavily covered with personal and social messages in graffiti done by German artists and world visitors. A permanent fixture in street art, graff today reflects fresh popular culture, edgy music, hot fashion, and anime, as well as artistic concerns and political statements. This exhibition at TAMUK will present individual and group expressions representing numerous graffiti techniques and themes to demonstrate that graffiti is a contemporary American art.

Additionally, to better advance the aesthetic and educate gallery viewers regarding graffiti art, Chaz will offer three lectures in the Art Department describing his life and body of work. To promote vanguard art, Chaz presents his writing contextualized within a performance expression.

Artist Lecture
Monday, Mar. 22 • 11am and 1pm
Chaz will start the week with a slide lecture of his work.

Room 149 Old Engineering KLBH Kleberg Hall 975 W. Ave. B

Live Painting
Monday - Thursday, Mar. 22 - 25, 2010
Chaz and the group of artists will paint in the gallery space, you are invited to come by during gallery hours.

Artist Reception/Gallery Talk
Thursday, Mar. 25 • 6pm
Chaz will lecture at 6:00 pm, followed by a public reception at the Ben Bailey Art Gallery

On View
March 23 - April 16, 2010
The completed graff works will be on exhibit through April 16, 2010 and will be open to the public.

Gallery Hours

M-F 8am - 5pm

Ben Bailey Art Gallery
916 W. Santa Gertrudis & Armstrong
For more information call (361) 593-2619

The Exhibit is made possible by the Presidential Visual & Performing Arts Series

Photos courtesy of the artist (Chaz Bojorquez)