Beyond the Streets
Another one in my drafts section from Sept 2024…
Beyond the Streets is a graffiti and street art exhibition gallery created and curated by Roger Gastman that had a first appearance in 2018, popping up in different locations throughout the US until in 2022, where it found a permanent location in Los Angeles (city that had been host to a few shows already).
But before we get into it, who is Roger Gastman? A very tough question to answer. Trying to simplify it as much as possible, Roger is a historian, curator, urban anthropologist -I want to be an urban anthropologist when I grow up-, collector, author, and filmmaker. But what REALLY sets him apart is he is a STORYTELLER. Yes. With capital letters.
Through his extensive studies, time on the streets, constant documentation of all things “culture” he has managed to get an incredible tone of voice and is constantly sharing his findings. Beyond the Streets should therefore be considered an extension of everything this man brings to the world.
Now, up until now, I have simply put a few pretty words behind Roger’s name, but his CV speaks volumes on its own, but for you to better understand what this man has done, let me give you a few examples: he was part of the collective behind SWINDLE magazine, that kicked off in 2004 with Shepherd Fairey (better known for his work under the alias “OBEY”) in which they focused on capturing stories. Each issue turned into a coffee table book, it was so rich. He was one of the lead producers in Banksy’s Exit through the Gift Shop documentary/movie, and even one of the curators for the exhibition that took place in MoCA - Art in the Streets which attracted over 250000people. To say Roger is an institution would be an understatement. His shows and accomplishments have taken him to the far corners of the world and the venture with Beyond the Streets (BTS) is just another example.
Now, why am I telling you all of this? Well, because I had the enormous privilege of being in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago while Zak held it down at Flame HQ. And while I was there, I received the news that BTS was going to extend the current exhibition, and I would be able to catch it after all… an exhibition that had been top of my list of “things I would love to do”. The subject matter for this exhibition still gets me excited: it brought together two of the most influential forces that chronicled and shaped Chicano culture.
Who? None other than Estevan Oriol and Teen Angel.
Estevan Oriol saw an incredible rise to fame in the 90’s when he was working as the tour manager of Cypress Hill and House of Pain and started documenting through his camera what he was living. With a distinct eye to detail and composition, Estevan rose to fame thanks to his gritty-yet-perfect pictures shot on 35mm film. His most famous piece of art: the LA fingers picture. That image alone became a symbol for the city that saw him grow.
Since then, he has worked with brands and bands like Cadillac, MetroPCS, MTV, Apple, Eminem, Cypress Hill, Blink 182… and of course, Nike. The Netflix documentary LA Originals is also part of his extensive CV, and a real gem, as it gives a voyeuristic view into the rawest, realest, most exciting LA through Estevan’s lens and Mr. Cartoon’s artwork.
On the other Hand, Teen Angel is not only a prolific publication that ran from 1981 to 2006, but it became the alias of an artist who remained anonymous for years known as David Holland. David self-published a magazine that was focused on, and celebrated Chicano culture. The magazine consisted of lowrider art, poetry, community notices, comics, obituaries, articles on civil rights, and, of course, many times featured Estevan’s photography.
But back to Beyond the Streets. I was able to attend the show -which was thoughtfully named “dedicated to you” as a homage to both individuals who dedicated so much to the community- and it was amazing.
It was a compilation of Estevan’s pictures mixed in with the original sketches of the artist. Full print-ready layouts on display, and together with them, elements that make up Chicano culture. An ode to the city of Angels and the cultures that make it such a unique destination.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll let some of the pictures I took speak for themselves, but even these, I fear, do the incredible exhibition no justice.
Thanks for reading.
