AeroSoul
HipHop Hieroglyphics
Aerosoul is an arts and cultural Society designed to promote the Black /African experience and legacy in Spray Can Art History. Aerosoul is also an educational mechanism designed to expose,teach and culturally enrich inner city youth about Spray Can art history. Aerosoul student Youth are given the chance to learn technical skills associated with the genre as well as opportunities to exhibit work at a professional level. The Aerosoul cultural society promotes Spray Can Art as cultural advocacy in Black and Brown communities struggling with youth Violence. We understand that the visual landscape youth interface with daily shapes their thinking and behavior. Because of this fact Aerosoul has committed to creating a movement to address the issues facing the struggling communities by brightening the landscape with mural of hope and inspiration. Aerosoul has an annual international conference, exhibit and fundraiser to promote cultural heritage, generate cultural continuity with youth and to engage in community building through mural painting. It is our aim to help initiate a vision of Love, Peace, Unity and fun in our communities. We believe that this inspirational trust will help rid our neighborhoods of violence, destructive life styles and mental illnesses associated with the aforementioned. For more information on the Cultural Society and the community outreach programs lead by Aerosoul go to www.AeroSoulArt.org
Photo by Zoraida Lopez
AeroSoul: HipHop Hieroglyphics
(an International African Diaspora Spray Can Art showcase)
In honor of African History we are focusing on the Black/African contribution and experience in Spray Can Art. The art genre known culturally to its practitioners as “Writing” has been a vital part of the American inner-city landscape since the late 1960’s. Sprouting roots from the ghettos and subways of New York City, Spray Can Writing has extended its cultural influence to youth around the world.
AeroSoul will showcase some of the most cutting-edge, dynamic Black/African HipHop Calligraphers in the world, featuring artists from Writing’s east coast origins to the new lettering stylists of the day. We regard this historical event to be of utmost importance in giving particular recognition to the Black/African contributions of this urban craft. The fact that these contributions are rarely shown in their proper historical context if acknowledged at all has also been a driving force for us to bring these HipHop gems to light. African/Black contributions to world history have been more than ample and significant particularly in the field of the arts.
The Bay Area Aerosol Heritage Society is proud to present the 3rd annual AeroSoul event, following the first successful Pan African Diaspora International show that took place in Oakland California during February 2011. This year AeroSoul 2012 will kick off a six month ehibit at the historic African American Cultural Complex in San Francisco. Starting June 7th through December 22nd AeroSoul will offer series of events including an artist panel, slide show lectures, youth art workshops, live painting, and educational seminars. With a showcase of over 50 well-known Aerosol artists from around the globe, AeroSoul has the propensity to bring forward a movement that will enlighten the minds and spirits of the community at large, sending shock waves of change to a society in desperate need of social face lift.
Art Exhibit (July 13th-February)
Slated to open at the African American Cultural Complex in San Francisco Thursday, June 7th, AeroSoul is both a Social Action and a Cultural Celebration.
Black/African icons of the Spray Can Art movement from around the world will come together to promote the essence of Spray Writing culture. By participating in this show of racial and cultural unity, artists will demonstrate the creative benefits of the art form, including how it is a means to address many of the social ills facing black/brown community youth, as well as a tool for collective empowerment, cultural liberation, education and a means to ending youth violence.
Hosted by the Universal Zulu Nation, the June 7th opening is an opportunity to celebrate rich culture and the high caliber art works movement. Many of the artists will be present to share and discuss their works. All Hip Hop cultural elements will be represented at the event opening through music, dance, and visual art. It will be open to all ages and free for youth 18 and under. This event also aligns with San Francisco’s monthly Art Crawl in which art galleries open their doors to the public to engage in cultural sharing and dialogue.
Mural Painting (July 14-15th)
In addition to the gallery presentation of their artwork, visiting artists will paint murals in San Francisco’s and Oakland’s inner-city neighborhoods with youth trained in the artform by local Bay Area AeroSoul muralists. The cultural practice of bringing together older artists and the youth they mentor has the purpose of collective community engagement in defining and designing the public spaces in which we live. The end result will be public artworks that foster a healthy and vibrant environment in which Bay Area youth can grow, develop, and learn a rich tradition they can pass on for generations.
Panel Discussions/Presentations (throughout the 6 month period)
Diverse speaking events complementing the exhibit will take place throughout the month at various art and education venues. All events will be open to the public; youth and adults of all ages are invited to participate and attend.
Date TBA, African American Cultural Complex: Panel lecture, discussion, and slide show from visiting artists on the state of the artform and its cultural context from a black/African perspective.
Date TBA, San Francisco State University: Lecture and slide presentation by Writing Historian CRE8 of Los Angeles and Refa1 of Oakland.
Date TBA: Panel lecture on research being conducted, scholarship being produced about the impact of using Aerosol Art and Hip Hop cultures in classrooms and other youth learning settings. This will include discussions on art, culture, and education; language and literacy theory; and Hip Hop culture as a critical pedagogical framework for youth learning and development.
Urban Calligraphy Workshop (Date TBA, AACC SF)
AeroSoul coordinators and local legends, Refa One and Kufu, will host a 3-hour workshop and community art project for and with youth from across the Bay Area.
Gallery Tours: (July-February 2012, Time TBA)
Artist Historian Refa One will guide you through the gallery explaining the cultural significance of the genre as well as giving insight into the art work displayed on the gallery walls.
NEED FOR SUPPORT
AeroSoul, its coordinators, and participants appreciate your support in ensuring that this historic event reaches its potential to positively impact youth and communities, and build Aerosol Art and Hip Hop culture. In order to achieve this potential, funding is needed for the resources and materials necessary to organize and execute the exhibition and accompanying events. To show your support, please contact Event/Project Coordinator and exhibit Curator,
Refa One
Email: refa1@hotmail.com
www.AeroSoulArt.com
AeroSoul will showcase some of the most cutting-edge, dynamic Black/African HipHop Calligraphers in the world, featuring artists from Writing’s east coast origins to the new lettering stylists of the day. We regard this historical event to be of utmost importance in giving particular recognition to the Black/African contributions of this urban craft. The fact that these contributions are rarely shown in their proper historical context if acknowledged at all has also been a driving force for us to bring these HipHop gems to light. African/Black contributions to world history have been more than ample and significant particularly in the field of the arts.
The Bay Area Aerosol Heritage Society is proud to present the 3rd annual AeroSoul event, following the first successful Pan African Diaspora International show that took place in Oakland California during February 2011. This year AeroSoul 2012 will kick off a six month ehibit at the historic African American Cultural Complex in San Francisco. Starting June 7th through December 22nd AeroSoul will offer series of events including an artist panel, slide show lectures, youth art workshops, live painting, and educational seminars. With a showcase of over 50 well-known Aerosol artists from around the globe, AeroSoul has the propensity to bring forward a movement that will enlighten the minds and spirits of the community at large, sending shock waves of change to a society in desperate need of social face lift.
Art Exhibit (July 13th-February)
Slated to open at the African American Cultural Complex in San Francisco Thursday, June 7th, AeroSoul is both a Social Action and a Cultural Celebration.
Black/African icons of the Spray Can Art movement from around the world will come together to promote the essence of Spray Writing culture. By participating in this show of racial and cultural unity, artists will demonstrate the creative benefits of the art form, including how it is a means to address many of the social ills facing black/brown community youth, as well as a tool for collective empowerment, cultural liberation, education and a means to ending youth violence.
Hosted by the Universal Zulu Nation, the June 7th opening is an opportunity to celebrate rich culture and the high caliber art works movement. Many of the artists will be present to share and discuss their works. All Hip Hop cultural elements will be represented at the event opening through music, dance, and visual art. It will be open to all ages and free for youth 18 and under. This event also aligns with San Francisco’s monthly Art Crawl in which art galleries open their doors to the public to engage in cultural sharing and dialogue.
Mural Painting (July 14-15th)
In addition to the gallery presentation of their artwork, visiting artists will paint murals in San Francisco’s and Oakland’s inner-city neighborhoods with youth trained in the artform by local Bay Area AeroSoul muralists. The cultural practice of bringing together older artists and the youth they mentor has the purpose of collective community engagement in defining and designing the public spaces in which we live. The end result will be public artworks that foster a healthy and vibrant environment in which Bay Area youth can grow, develop, and learn a rich tradition they can pass on for generations.
Panel Discussions/Presentations (throughout the 6 month period)
Diverse speaking events complementing the exhibit will take place throughout the month at various art and education venues. All events will be open to the public; youth and adults of all ages are invited to participate and attend.
Date TBA, African American Cultural Complex: Panel lecture, discussion, and slide show from visiting artists on the state of the artform and its cultural context from a black/African perspective.
Date TBA, San Francisco State University: Lecture and slide presentation by Writing Historian CRE8 of Los Angeles and Refa1 of Oakland.
Date TBA: Panel lecture on research being conducted, scholarship being produced about the impact of using Aerosol Art and Hip Hop cultures in classrooms and other youth learning settings. This will include discussions on art, culture, and education; language and literacy theory; and Hip Hop culture as a critical pedagogical framework for youth learning and development.
Urban Calligraphy Workshop (Date TBA, AACC SF)
AeroSoul coordinators and local legends, Refa One and Kufu, will host a 3-hour workshop and community art project for and with youth from across the Bay Area.
Gallery Tours: (July-February 2012, Time TBA)
Artist Historian Refa One will guide you through the gallery explaining the cultural significance of the genre as well as giving insight into the art work displayed on the gallery walls.
NEED FOR SUPPORT
AeroSoul, its coordinators, and participants appreciate your support in ensuring that this historic event reaches its potential to positively impact youth and communities, and build Aerosol Art and Hip Hop culture. In order to achieve this potential, funding is needed for the resources and materials necessary to organize and execute the exhibition and accompanying events. To show your support, please contact Event/Project Coordinator and exhibit Curator,
Refa One
Email: refa1@hotmail.com
www.AeroSoulArt.com
