Last weekend I visited Baxter and Cook in San Francisco to attend the opening debut of an Oakland street artist. “Eddie Colla” is his name and though as a name it might not ring any bells, visually speaking anyone who pays attention to the abundance of street art in Oakland, on the Bay Bridge or graffiti hot spots like Linden Alley in San Francisco will know who I’m talking about.
Eddie first made a splash on the political street art scene during the Obama Presidential Campaign. After the election, Eddie continued his street level activism with imagery calling for the overturning of Prop 8 as well as justice for Oscar Grant. With his debut gallery show, Eddie Colla has managed to bring elements of his dynamic street pieces into the gallery setting… which is as close as you’re going to get to seeing his work in person, unless you’re willing to climb some walls, jump some fences, and occasionally, run from the police.”
My show Filling Space opened at Baxter and Cook last week in SF and the opening was a good time. There were a lot of people there and a good number of friends. My friend Judy (who modeled for several of the pieces) agreed to show up with her friend Amanda dressed in character. It was a blast chatting with everyone. Mad thanks to everyone who came and made it a good time.
The folks at Baxter and Cook thought it might be a good idea to have some video of me working for the show. So with the help of LO we put this together. It was kinda fun editing video and a nice change from what I usually do.
getting ready for my show at Baxter and Cook. I’ve made a lot of progress but there’s a lot to wrap up. Plus photoshoots this week and next and a possible Linden alley colab piece next week.
…back to work
Baxter & Cook Art Advisors LLC is pleased to announce the first solo exhibition of paintings by the Oakland based and nationally recognized artist Eddie Colla. Please be our guest at the opening reception on January 14th from 5-8PM
While Eddie has been actively exposing his wheatpastes and stencils for the two years throughout public spaces in the Bay Area; Eddie’s began to garner national recognition when his street art began incorporating images of Obama. Throughout the 2008 Presidential election Eddie created many variations of a total of six Obama designs including ‘Obama in New Era hat’ and ‘Forward’ which was translated in three languages. His growing popularity landed him attention on internet blogs, features in four published books, and participation in the “Manifest Hope Art Gallery” shows at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and at the Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C. His designs have been transformed many times over, from stickers, album and magazine covers, and even on t-shirts notably worn by star Spike Lee during a CNN interview.
Eddie has participated in group exhibitions at San Francisco’s Space Gallery and Secession Gallery. Some of his well known public images include ‘Bike Girl,’ ‘Love Ain’t the Problem’ and ‘No More Excuses.’ He is included in the following four books, Art for Obama – (Designing Manifest Hope and the Campaign for Change) edited by Shepard Fairey & Jennifer Gross, Design for Obama by Aaron Perry-Zucker and Spike Lee with Steven Heller, Hope A collection of Obama Posters and Prints by Hall Elliot Wert, and San Francisco Street Art by Steve Rotman
January 14th, 2010
5-8PM
Baxter & Cook Art Advisors LLC
2 Henry Adams Street, Suite 358
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-865-0321
RSVP at info@baxterandcook.com
After Party:
Please join us at the new Eve Lounge for the official “Filling Space” after party to begin around 9PM. Eve is located at 575 Howard Street. 415-543-LUSH
I spent this week playin with new approaches to depth, color. I like the idea of teetering back and forth on that edge between photography and illustration or painting. How much image is necessary? How much color is necessary? How much does a image simply fall apart as you approach it. It’s just a investigation.
Design for Obama. Posters for Change: A Grassroots Anthology was released on Nov. 4th, one year after the election of Barrack Obama.
This collection was curated by Spike Lee and Aaron Perry-Zucker. I have 3 pieces in this one. Here’s One
Taschen published Design for Obama. Taschen is a class act, they even sent me a nice letter via luftpost and addressed to “Mr. Eddie”. There is some really good design work in the volume. Check it out.
