NOTE: this exhibition caused quite a bit of controversy regarding issues of appropriation & copyright. If this kind of stuff interests you, check out some dialogue here & an article here & here. 
A May Karp Photo Exhibition
From September 6 through 27, 2008
The Moore Gallery
80 Spadina Ave. #204
Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11am-5pm
Opening Reception: Saturday September 6, 2pm-6pm
At 76, May Karp is a freedom fighter for the art-form of graffiti - a veteran of 30 years of in-your-face advocacy against civic politicians hellbent on eradicating this form of expression.
This September, in her sixth one-woman exhibition, Toronto photographer May Karp continues a love affair that began 30 years ago in Paris on the banks of the Seine River. What Ms. Karp saw for the first time was “graffiti that was not scrawl... “I found the rounded shapes lyrical and sensual. It was very pleasant. As a result over the ensuing years whenever I traveled I kept my eyes open in the hope of finding more good graffiti. I also began reading about it in order to understand what I had seen in Paris and about its genesis.”
Her latest exhibition represents two years of Ms.Karp’s travels through Spain, France, Portugal, the Canary Islands, Miami, New York, and Toronto, documenting the incredible graffiti that exists in each city through her photographs. In some places, the art is appreciated and encouraged by local authorities, with city space specially allotted to this artistic expression. In other places, it remains an outlaw art form, soon erased, with photos as the sole testament to their existence.
To that end, May Karp is an archivist of the most ephemeral of art. Her work bears witness to a vast array of masterpieces produced by “art orphans” from around the globe. Some of these works were only in existence for a few hours. Ms. Karp has successfully immortalized the incredible work of graffiti artists in her photographs, and proudly displays this form of communication and expression which she defends and supports.
The exhibition will take place from Saturday, September 6th to Saturday, September 27th, 2008 at The Moore Gallery, located at 80 Spadina Ave, Suite 404. The gallery will be open from Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
The opening reception will take place from 2-6pm on Saturday, September 6th and Ms. Karp will be in attendance.
3 Comments:
I think this is terrible. Exploiting emerging artists in order to make a profit. I went to the show and non of the artists who's pieces were featured in these photos got any sort of recognition and they are definitely not receiving any financial compensation, not to mention this brings up copyright issues. The Moore gallery is acting irresponsibly and May Karp should know better as a professional photographer.
The artists (and their lawyers) talked with the gallery and artist - didn't get anywhere. So theyserved them with a 'cease and desist" and the galley pulled the show. May Karp supposedly still thinks she has done nothing wrong - I think she sees herself as a victim. If she'd been a little more flexible when I first brought this up with her it might have unfolded a little better.
Check the comment string here - Flickr comments
thanks for your comments...i added links to the main post so that people can learn more about some of the issues raised by this show.
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