COLORFORNIA Comes To The Warehouse Gallery 9/13

Colorfornia is based on improvisation, and the notion that how and what they paint is recognizably Californian. Chor Boogie, along with long-time peers, fellow spray paint artist, Apex, and traditional brush paint artist, Jet Martinez will bring California street art to The Warehouse Gallery, located in downtown Syracuse, New York.

Anja Chavez, Curator of Contemporary Art at The Warehouse Gallery has taken a thoughtful curatorial approach and is curious to know how the impact of these artists and "street art" will influence the children and university students who are artists living in Syracuse.

She is proud The Warehouse Gallery is able to present major themes or topics that perhaps would not otherwise be shared within the vicinity. "Our communities are the curator's ultimate boss. We create exhibitions and programming for and with them in order to explore experiences that are vital to the lives of both the arts and our communities. Our aim is to have "Colorfornia" inspire our visitors to feel the present-day power and meaning of street art." Anja Chavez.

The three artists were chosen based on dynamic international content and their unique diversity. For instance, Chor Boogie is a master spray paint artist, heavily influenced by his surroundings and experiences while painting in California and internationally. This enables him to uniquely express his recognizable trademark color-therapy flair wherever he is throughout the world.

He, Apex and Jet have significantly contributed to public art in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and other major cities within and outside of the United States, including Beijing; Dubai; Oaxaca; Sydney; Tokyo; Zurich; and soon **Singapore. Their language consists of colorful abstract forms pertaining to optical illusions and movement, faces that evoke real and imaginary urban settings, as well as tropical imaginary landscapes.

Boogie considers Apex to be the best letterform painter in the world, and believes their combined artistic strength, alongside master of brush paint street art, Jet Martinez, will undoubtedly beautify the walls and minds of those who live in Syracuse.
Both Chor Boogie and Apex are sponsored and endorsed by * Montana 94 Spray Paint, and will be painting the temporary plywood canvas walls exclusively with this brand. Jet Martinez's use of metallics and glitter in his traditional brush paintings will add a fine art element in comparison to their legendary spray can applications and methods.

The site-specific installation inside The Warehouse Gallery will result in vibrant color-filled murals painted as individuals, unlike anything seen in this part of New York. At the conclusion of the exhibition, these murals will be removed and added to their own bodies of work. The opening reception is Thursday, September 15th, from 5-8 pm and includes a lecture featuring all three artists at 7pm (Please note: The Warehouse Gallery is located in Downtown Syracuse, and not on campus.) Additional support for the exhibition is provided by Tucker B. Culbertson and the Delavan Center, Inc and Montana Colors North America. Organized in conjunction with the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.

In addition to the exhibition, there will also be an on campus round-table discussion on "Street Art and the Use of Spray Paint": on Tuesday, September 13th, at 6:30 pm; the artists will be present. For more information, please visit: http://thewarehousegallery.syr.edu/

The Warehouse Gallery
International Contemporary Art Center
Syracuse University
350 W. Fayette St., ground floor
Syracuse, NY 13202-1202
(The gallery is located downtown, and not on campus.
The campus is about 10-15 minutes away via Connective Corridor Bus)

The Warehouse Gallery
Curator of Contemporary Art
Anja Chavez - achavez@syr.edu

The Round-Table Discussion on "Street Art and the Use of Spray Paint" is Tuesday, September 13th, at 6:30pm, Shemin Auditorium at Shaffer Art Building, Syracuse University. The artists will be present. Additional support provided by the Painting Program, as part of the Department of Art Visiting Artist Lecture Series. The September 15th opening reception will take place at The Warehouse Gallery, with the 7pm lecture taking place inside The Warehouse Auditorium, 350 W Fayette Street, Syracuse.