Crossed Lines @ Backspace
Date Posted: January 25, 2008 Posted By: ArtPDX
Backspace kicks off the month of February with “Crossed Lines”, an off-the-hook show bringing together 5 graffiti artists from up and down the west coast including Milan Basic, Aden Catalani, Frustr8, Ashley Montague and Peter Taylor.
“Crossed Lines” opens on First Thursday, February 7th at 7:00pm and will feature live painting by Frustr8 and Milan Basic, DJ sets by Redeye Jedi, Vinnie the Squid and Ricco plus libations by Widmer Brewing Company
Milan Basic - Vancouver B.C.
Milan Basic discovered art through graffiti in the late 1980’s. This led to portrait art, automotive airbrushing, graphic design and wall murals. After focusing primarily on walls, it was after much prodding that he try applying these images to canvas. Starting with spray paint on canvas, curiosity and experimentation led to a multitude of mixed media works. The original canvases were strongly graffiti inspired, which then evolved into photo-realism and naturally, surrealism. Evolution brought originality. Not wanting to regurgitate the usual selection, it was decided Milan would introduce all of his influences into his current productions. Using techniques learned from years in the film industry combined with styles taken from his many years of involvement in the graffiti culture and adding other ideas inspired by renaissance art and even anime art. What is being produced today by Milan is the bastard child of all these elements being used to convey his messages and ideas forming what is clearly a truly original style. Don’t blink, this artist is not afraid to throw more curve balls into the soup. After all, he is in a constant state of change and thirsts for the next step. Currently experimenting with resin pours and moving toward sculpture for the near future.
(source: Milan’s site.)
Aden Catalani - Oakland, CA
In his own words, Aden Catalani describes his work as:
…concoctions of past and present experiences traveling, collages of traditional cultures merged with modern symbolism. They reflect deeply into the music and subcultures I’ve grown up with: Hip Hop, Punk, Electronic, Dub and Jazz. Sumi as taught to me by old Mr. Chu when I was six, Energy auras taught to me by my mother, relentless perfection in “something, anything, whatever it is you wanna do” drilled by my father.
…metaphors for my family, a group traditional; torn but also brought together by this culture clash existence that the United States ferments in. A cloud of uncertain passion that my relatives, past away and present close guide me through.
…prolonged night time exposures of taillights smashing north and south along the I5 corridor, Train stations of ancient European architecture and the trains that slow from 200 mph to stop in them. In short, these are a veritable mix of tradition and technology, the speed of the human spirit and the life of color.
(source: Pitcairn Scott Gallery)
Frustr8 - Los Angeles, CA
I’m aware of my role on earth as a link to your life. I’m a part of your absolute force. I chose what role I play. I chose where I shall go and how heavy my impact will be. I also know that I call myself into the realm of responsibility when I play this game. The stakes have gotten higher. Its that simple…and yet it is extremely difficult. Maybe it’s hard because now I’m aware of the biggest and smallest incidences I generate in everyday life. My artistry doesn’t reside in my color and panels. It resides in you. My artwork is only a reflection of my relationship with you.
Ashley Montague - Portland, OR
Ashley Montague has been working in the medium of aerosol/mixed media techniques since he was a youth. Raised by artist parents…most of his free time was spent drawing/painting. While growing up, art was equally mixed with skateboarding, music, and just causing ruckus. Back then, drawing was always second to skateboarding, and was on anything you could find. Which followed by sharpie drawings on many an apartment wall, furniture, and clothing. Over the past 3 years art has been pushed to the main focus, using constantly changing concepts and techniques to push his vision forward, and to reach those realms beyond words.
Peter Taylor - Vancouver B.C.
Central to Peter Taylor’s approach… is a self-aware ambiguity and openness—the paintings avoid heavy handedness and dogmatism in favor of the effect contained in a gesture and a glance. By depicting his figures at near-human scale, he encourages his audience to identify and interact, while recognizing at the same time the paradoxical nature of this approach: just as they approach human size, the characters defy proportion and verisimilitude by their at-times bizarre contortions and swollen features. Similarly, Taylor is aware of the appearance of naivety embodied in the expressions and gestures of his figures. But they should not be misconstrued as reflective of the artist’s naivety, nor of any perceived on the part of the audience—“these ideas are not my evasion or denial of our reality,” assures Taylor. Rather, they are conduits in an exchange of ideas and impressions in a broader dialog, encouraging us to reflect on our own fears and insecurities under the calming gazes of the host of wise sages.
(source: Ayden Gallery)
