We are proudly announce that we are a media partner for the Prism: Urban Art and Culture Festival, and 6th Annual Estria Graffiti Battle. This is an amazing event that will take place this weekend in Oakland, CA. In addition to the Battle there have been a series of events planned and already in progress. One of the events involved a pop-up print sale to raise money for the Estria Foundation at 1am Gallery. You can still buy prints available here if you would like to support the event.
When we think back to most of our beginnings as artists we have to remember our introduction to graffiti and that feeling of excitement. Growing up as graffiti artists there weren’t many venues growing up that embraced the artform in a positive way, which is what makes an event like the Estria Battle so important. The vision has lasted 6 years now and through hard work and support from countless volunteers it was able to happen again this year. Oakland is a great city, yet one that is in desperate need of channels for the youth to be able to express themselves and be inspired by the artists that the battle has brought to Oakland to participate. It was for these reasons and many more that we wanted to make sure we helped spread the word. There are people that talk about making a change and those that make that change through their dedication and self sacrifice to a vision. We applaud the Estria foundation for giving this gift to the community and our youth. Please anyone in the city come out and support, or check out their website and donate to make sure they are able to continue this great event. See all the information below.
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Schedule
October 3rd ~ Estria Battle Pop-Up Art Exhibit at Gallery 1AM, 1000 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103, (415) 861-5089 http://1amsf.com/ This is a month-long gallery exhibition featuring the work of nationally renowned urban artists including Risk (LA); Cope2 (NY); Defer (LA); Doves (NY); Estria x Angry Woebot (Hawaii); Indie184 (NY); Jesse Hernandez (SF); Poesia (San Jose); Like (Chicago), Codak
October 10th ~ Pecha Kucha Night Oakland at the New Parkway Theater, 474 24th Street, Oakland, CA – (510) 658-7900 All ages. Tickets are $10.00 online and at the door if not sold out. Seating is limited. http://PechaKuchaOakland.eventbrite.com
Pecha Kucha Night Oakland is a dynamic slideshow presentation. The theme for this edition is “Underground Renaissance.” A panel of artists, educators and activists present 20 images for 20 seconds. The Panelists: Hodari Davis / Youth Speaks & Life Is Living Festival Director, Favianna Rodriguez / Artist and Founder of Culture Strike, Nancy Hernandez /#WaterWrites Mural Project Director, Ayesha Walker & Eddie Zazueta / Youth Radio, Rachel “Pixelina” Escoto / Street Photographer, Eric Arnold / Community Rejuvenation Project Director, Andre Rosario / Ride It or Die, Diana Alonzo / Attitudinal Healing Connection ( Through Our Lens Youth Photography Program), Maria “TooFly” Castillo / Artist & Designer
October 12th ~ The Life is Living Festival at Defremery Park presented by the Estria Foundation and Youth Speaks, 16th St & Adeline St., West, Oakland, CA 94607 All ages, free admission.
In addition to the Estria Battle this day long event includes the following:
Stencil Workshop: A youth-focused interactive arts education activity where participants select positive images and spray paint them on t-shirts, creating an original design.
Blackbook Battle: Youth ages 14-21 create a drawing based on the day’s theme. Mentor artists judge the competition and provide positive feedback and supportive critiques. The first 50 participants receive a free sketch “blackbook” to take home.
Youth Mural Battle: A live painting and visual storytelling competition featuring prominent young visual arts organizations from the Bay Area, Southern California, and Arizona. Contestant teams use mixed media of acrylic paints, markers and spray paint to develop murals addressing a given topic. Winning canvases will be displayed at the Oakland Public Library’s “Teen Zones” where free urban arts workshops will be held for youth through March 2014.
The Yerba Buena Center for Arts will be hosting the the Dance Stage with music from Samba, East and West African dance traditions.
September 28 – October 12, 2013
www.estriabattle.org
The Prism: Urban Art and Culture Festival encompasses a series of public events organized by The Estria Foundation. Oakland boasts world-class sports teams, rich urban culture, a ranking as the nation’s most sustainable city, a booming start-up company and non-profit hub, and a thriving art scene. Contributing to Oakland’s creative culture, civic enthusiasm and love of community events, Prism: Urban Art and Culture Festival will feature an array of activities beginning on September 28 and running through October 12th. These events will address social justice concerns utilizing visual art, music, dance, symposium and sustainable culture practices in an effort to emphasize live art projects and arts programming for the community.
Prism: Urban Art and Culture Festival aims to engage Oakland residents and visitors in a dialogue that will galvanize a creative and holistic approach to community. Concurrent with Prism’s event schedule, October 12th will highlight the return of The Estria Battle, an all day arts event at the historic DeFremery Park (Lil’ Bobby Hutton Park). This is a free, family-friendly event with a focus on public art and environmental sustainability. Youth are invited to participate in a series of arts activities including the Blackbook Battle and the t-shirt Stencil Workshop. Attendees are also welcomed to enjoy a range of artistic performances and are encouraged to participate in generating energy by dancing on the “Pedal Powered Stage” which transforms human exuberance into pure energy.
In its sixth year the Estria Battle remains the premier graffiti art competition in the United States. Sixteen renowned artists from across the country will compete in what has become one of the nation’s most talked about spray art events. The panel of judges will be Doze Green, Risk and Codak. Returning artists are 2011’s 1st and 2nd place winners, Vyal One from Los Angeles, and Doves from New York City. Besides several local Bay Area artists, other contestant artists will be traveling from Chicago, Austin, and Miami.
The Estria Battle encourages graffiti writers to visually articulate social justice issues by empowering communities with the spirit and beauty of public art. These events aim to elevate street art through community building, public education, and engagement.
