Over a period of two weeks, the Long Beach Museum of Art gave a group of contemporary artists free reign over their walls for their latest exhibit, Vitality and Verve. The result is a convergence of graffiti, street art, mixed media installations and traditional canvas paintings. The museum’s Executive Director, Ron Nelson adds:

“One of the goals behind Vitality and Verve is to spotlight artists who are stepping out of their studios to paint on a grand scale using outdoor walls as their canvas as well as urban artists who are beginning to work in a traditional studio setting.”

 

The exhibition will run through September 27, 2015 and once it’s over the walls will be painted white once again. While the thought will sadden many who enjoy the works, the ephemeral nature of the exhibit reflects an aspect of street art these artists know all too well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In “Too Many Names“, graffiti artist SABER wrote the 534 names of people killed by police in the United States in 2015 to date, including local Long Beach teenager, Hector Morejon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special thanks to Ron Nelson (pictured above), Executive Director of the Long Beach Museum of Art and Bob Maguglin and Loren Simpson of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau for the gallery tour.