Eddie Colla X D Young V at The Cotton Mill Oakland

Our buddy Night Owl invited D Young V and I to do a piece for this project over by The Cottonmill Studios in Oakland back in July. It was a good Friday followed by a free barbecue Saturday. The City of Oakland even kicked in a few bucks on supplies for this project (I’m not sure who arranged that) and I will always take city money cuz they ALWAYS take mine.

D Young V X Eddie Colla “Memento Mori”

Art Works Downtown is excited to present: “Memento Mori” a unique two-man exhibition by Bay Area artists Eddie Colla & D Young V.

Memento Mori, a Latin term for ‘remember death’, is an artistic symbol for remembering the inevitability of death, and is a continuing theme throughout Eddie Colla’s and D Young V’s work. The artists’ installations depict the end of the world juxtaposed to the rising up of a new world from ashes, and a future reduced to the tasks of survival and memory.

The show opens Friday, August 30, 2013 and runs through Friday, October 11, 2013 in the Art Works Downtown main gallery located at 1337 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA, 94901. An opening reception will be held on September 13, 2013 from 5-8 p.m. A closing reception will be held on October 11, 2013, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Art Works Downtown is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Included in this exhibit are the individual artists’ drawings and mixed media works on found objects. The gallery will also showcase a number of collaborative pieces designed specially for Art Works Downtown. These installations represent years of artistic collaboration, both on the street and in galleries, where their mutual styles, ideas, influences, and perceptions become clearly evident.

“Fruitvale Station”

A few months ago I was asked to do a mural for the film “Fruitvale Station” which is about the killing of Oscar Grant and was released this week.

I had done a few pieces regarding those events in the past which some of the people at Weinstein Co. had seen and liked.

I have some pretty strong feelings on this subject and it had a deep impact on the community I call home (East Oakland). I drafted several layouts of what I was going to do, all of which were very similar to the work the film makers had seen. We had a few debates about the appropriateness of merch (t-shirts, stickers etc.) and also hashtags being included in the mural. I also suggested that the mural be in Oakland and not San Francisco. I was told that they didn’t want to do it in Oakland because it may cause a situation and this was a very hot button issue in Oakland.

After a lot of back and forth, I received an email with a list of requirements that were apparently from the director Ryan Coogler and not from Weinstein Co.. Essentially, I was told that my image was too dark and negative and there was a concern about upsetting people, particularly in the bay area. In my opinion if you tell the story of an innocent, unarmed black man being shot in the back by a white police officer while restrained and people are not upset and outraged than you haven’t told the story correctly. People should be upset, very upset. There was also a list of “cannot’s”

It cannot

– show pictures of anyone but oscar

– have a gun

– focus the issue on the trial or his murder

At this point the mural could not in any way make reference to Oscar Grant’s murder or the police. The film (which I have seen) is about Oscar Grant’s death. Had Oscar Grant not been murdered, Mr. Coogler would not have made this film. Had Oscar Grant been murdered by another young man, a civilian, this film would not have been made. To my mind to exclude the murder and the police from my image would be dodging what is at the core of this issue.

There was also a list of objectives that were just ridiculous. “ The piece should come from a place of love”, “The piece could see to connect us all, and show how we should all care about each other”

I’m not sure where I was suppose to find love in this story. I didn’t know Oscar Grant, so I certainly could not have loved him and for me to somehow feign an affection that didn’t exist seems ingenuine and disrespectful. I am also not sure how Oscar Grant should be used to make us all feel connected and care for one another. There are a lot of deep seated reason that people of color are predominantly the victims of police brutality. There are also a lot of reasons that justice is rarely served in these circumstances. I feel pretty confident that those reasons are not a simple lack of care for one another. There didn’t seem to be any interest in confronting the issues or affecting the audience (of the murals) and I had no interest in doing what was starting to feel like a big elaborate inaffectual movie poster.

So I quit the project.

Eddie Colla X D Young V – limited Edition print release

D young V and I collaborated of this piece in  November. The Original piece is a 16×20 foot mural that was created as a part of Oakland’s First Fridays gallery walk. The Mural was reproduce on a 1 inch to 1 foot scale as a 16×20 inch Giclee print on 300lb Itlaian made cold press watercolor paper. This VERY limited edition print is a run of 20 only. Each print is signed by both artists and numbered.

Available at fiftyseven-thirtythree

Eddie Colla X D Young V X Art Murmur

Our good friend Nite Owl got us involved with this project for Art Murmur Oakland. A 16×20 ft wall to do whatever the fuck we pleased with. D young V and I  only had a couple of days to bang this out . I actually like short deadlines because it cuts through all the bullshit and indecision. You just get it done.  Awesome group of artists too. Nite Owl, Filth and Grime, Aura, Roar, 7seas, croma, onedr, Lydia Emily etc….

Indoor Mural Project – 941 Geary

I was fortunate enough to be invited to do a piece for 941 Geary’s “Indoor Mural Project” last month. This group of artists is amazing, Blek Le Rat, Chor Boogie, Apex, D Young V, Hugh Leeman, Casey Gray, Skinner, Augustine Kofie, Brett Amory, Hush, Damon Soule and more. Below are some pics of the piece, which is a self standing wall made out of newsboxes.

The doors are open to the public starting April 1st and will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 12-5 until the closing party on April 23rd, 6-9pm.

Eddie Colla @ Candybar SF

Back sometime in January, Tan from CandyBar asked if I’d be interested in doin some work on the walls. There were 2 fat walls, so rather then hang some work I thought it would be cool to just fill the whole space with 2 8ftx 8ft pasters. It will be up indefinitely. Go check and get some crazy good desserts . Thanks To Tan for the Walls and Ramon for puttin in work on the install.

Urban Osmosis at LoPo Gallery SF

Ken Harman at spoke art managed to put together yet another amazing group show. I got to show my work alongside an amazing array of talented artists. Kelly Towels, Gats, Ras Terms, Safety First, Nina, Dead Eyes, Cuss and Political Gridlock, Shark Toof, Chor Boogie, Eon75, Sfaustina, Hugh Leeman, Cryptik and of course D Young V. The opening was on New Years Eve and the show runs through January. Below are some great photos by SF phtographer Steve Rhodes

Eddie Colla – “My Life” Opening Reception

This will be on Thursday Night @ Ma-Velous Cafe 1408 Market St. I’ll be there along with most of the fiftyseven-thirtythree Crew. So stop by.

The Mural “My life” is based on a character that Eddie has developed over the last year. The character functions as a vechicle, for calling into question ideas about our changing world and the future. The text on this piece, loosely translated, reads “I have a name, but that doesn’t matter. This is my life.”. Within that life and that character, as within any life, are a complex set of overlapping contingent issues, disconnected observations and fantasies.
Read more about the mural here: http://warholian.com/?p=1038

Video of “My life” can be viewed here:

Eddie Colla – “My Life” Mural

Please join us for the opening reception of Eddie’s 50 ft. Mixed media painting entitled “My life” The Mural “My life” is based on a character that Eddie has developed over the last year. The character functions as a vechicle, for calling into question ideas about our changing world and the future. The text on this piece, loosely translated, reads “I have a name, but that doesn’t matter. This is my life.”. Within that life and that character, as within any life, are a complex set of overlapping contingent issues, disconnected observations and fantasies.
Read more about the mural here: on warholian.com
Thursday, November 11 · 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Ma Velous coffe and wine bar
1408 Market St.
San Francisco, CA