REVOK-ORDINARY THINGS @ the Library Street Collective

In the most simplistic terms, the majority of graffiti art is dependent upon making your presence known, by illegally painting your pseudonym on public or private party over and over again. This historically roots itself with the wild-style era of the 70's and 80's, and despite the risk of incarceration, has been wildly popular for over thirty years now.

With the proliferation of the Web in the late 90's, graffiti exploded into a global phenomenon. The downside of this is individual voices have been drowned out by the sheer numbers of kids now entering the fray. There are exceptionally talented graffiti writers dedicated to moving the art form forward, but they exist within the framework of a movement over-saturated with an abundance of imagery, making it easy to "bite" styles from the innovators leading the way.

To create art, that doesn't solely rely on the practice of repeatedly spray-painting your name on a wall, is a challenge for writers longing for creative growth outside of the flooded waters of graffiti culture. This can make for an awkward transition, or in some cases, it can result in the implosion of one's confidence, as an artist attempts to adjust to new ways of making art that don't resemble the redundant, all too familiar methods they've grown accustomed to while painting on the streets.

Very seldom do you see talented graffiti writers who feel comfortable creating art for a gallery setting. The cultural and political significance of painting illegally, that is central to graffiti art, gets lost in translation when making the jump from street graffiti to the smooth white walls of a gallery. Too many writers fail when attempting to transplant that which is meant to exist within the context of the urban environment, and reenact it within the confines of an indoor space.

Living in Detroit since 2010, Los Angeles graffiti writer REVOK is someone who seems up to the task of expanding his palette beyond the temporal world of street art. Since 1991, REVOK has been making a name for himself by dominating all aspects of graffiti art in cities across the country. With a distinctive style, and a competitive drive unmatched within graffiti circles, REVOK has achieved the global status reserved for a select few.

This Friday, REVOK's one-man show, "ORDINARY THINGS", can be seen at the Library Street Collective in downtown Detroit. The show is a compilation of pieces that are made up from a collection of recovered objects cultivated from the streets of Detroit, then thoughtfully reassembled in what could be considered a geographical timeline: one that records the neighborhoods and streets that REVOK has continuously used as the backdrop for his street art since moving to Detroit. Although there are echoes of his background in graffiti art, REVOK is plowing forward with an individual voice as an artist, willing to transition without the shackles of graffiti art trailing behind him.

"ORDINARY THINGS" is anything but ordinary.



Public Reception for "REVOK-ORDINARY THINGS" is Friday, November 2nd, 2012, from 8-10pm.
The show runs till January 26th, 2013. The Library Street Collective is located @ 1260 Library Street, Detroit, MI 48226 ~ ph#313.600.7443 ~ http://www.lscgallery.com