If you want to catch an eclectic grouping of creativity this Fall, then this will be the show to see.
Mesa Contemporary Arts has earned a national reputation for exhibiting cutting edge contemporary artwork and has previously explored subcultures and alternative lifestyles that have grown to become popular in mainstream society. For the Mesa Art Center’s Season Kickoff, MCA is focusing on two themes that capture the essence of American creativity and ingenuity along with the rebellious spirit and individualism that has helped shape our country—Rock Music and Motorcycles.
I’ll share but some highlights in this posting.
Six String Masterpieces
Six-String Masterpieces is a charitable art exhibition featuring a impressive collection of Dean Electric Guitars that have been hand-painted, illustrated and sculpted by leading musicians and contemporary visual artists.
Artists who have donated their talents to paint guitars for this exhibit include Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Kerry King of Slayer, Les Claypool of Primus, Bret Michaels, famed pyschedelic painter Alex Grey, contemporary art faves Mark Ryden and Ryan McGinness, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Mark Dean Veca, Erik Foss, Jon Davis & Munky of KORN, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Kelly Clarkson, video director/photographer Dean Karr, pop surrealist Chris Mars, Shawn Barber, renowned tattoo artists Aaron Cain and Filip Leu, and many more.
Here are a few guitars, you’ll recognize the names…
Ozzy Osbourne
Photographer/Director Dean Karr
California tattoo artist Aaron Cain
Played with Fire by Minnesota artist, Chris MarsGrover
From paintings on canvas as well as discarded guitar bodies to sculptures made from motorcycle parts, this exhibition showcases over 20 Arizona artists with artwork inspired by music and motorcycles.
Zebra Guitar by Phoenix artist Carolyn Lavender.
Tucson’s Ben Beshaw Guitar
Such Sounds As This by valley Graffiti artist, Such Styles
Mesa artist Helen Norsigian Rowles, Painted Mandolin (back of mandolin)
(front of mandolin)
Artwork and Artists in Easy Ridin’ and Hard Rockin’ AZ Style:
→more info
Talavera Gas tank by artist Monica Aissa Martinez
(I wrote about my → motorcycle gas tank in an earlier posting)
Rock Around the Sky by Phoenix artist, Deborah McMillion Nering
Presented on a motorcycle windscreen (in progress above)
Media: Art created on an iPad with SketchbookPro
Radical Rides, The “Art” of Motorcycles
→ more info
El Moises – (painted for Paul Yaffe)
Laura Klock
Ron Finch
Detail
LEGO(R) artist Nathan Sawaya
(lego exhibit in the Project Room)
There’s lots of things ….and I just can’t get it all straight. So you’ll have to get out there and soak it in yourself.
MESA CONTEMPORARY ARTS OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, September 9, 2011: 7pm-10pm
Free and open to the public Premiering Exhibitions:
Radical Rides: The “Art” of Motorcycles – Wilson and Ruby Dobson Main Gallery
Six-String Masterpieces – South Gallery
Easy Ridin’ & Hard Rockin’ AZ Style – North Gallery
Lego Experience – Dr. Ruth Tan Lim Project Room
Altered States: Dreams, Nightmares and Fantasies – SRP Permanent Collection Gallery
GUITARS & HANDLEBARS SEASON KICK-OFF FESTIVAL
Sept 9-11
Friday, Sept 9th, 2011: 6pm-10pm
Saturday, Sept 10th, 2011: 10am-10pm
Sunday, Sept 11th, 2011: 10am-4pm
The public is invited to attend Guitars & Handlebars, a blowout event featuring rock music, motorcycles, cars, great art and showcasing the upcoming season at the Mesa Arts Center theaters and studios. The event is free of charge and festival goers can visit the galleries, watch demos in the Art Studios, see live music and theater performances, tour MAC’s four theaters, and explore a motorcycle and car show in which many of the top customized vehicles in the Valley will be exhibited. Saturday evening will feature World Classic Rockers live in concert, an all-star group that brings together former band members from Santana, Journey, Steppenwolf, Toto, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Boston.
Monica Aissa Martinez 