DC v. LA?

This review of Wreckfest @ Tiffany's as part of the Collectors Select show at Arlington Arts Center appeared in the Falls Church News-Press Online a while back. Been meaning to post something about this before now. Oops. Anyway, here's the pertinent passage:

As edgy and cool as this could have been, to cover the walls in nothing so much as your “tag” — your graffiti alias — seems like a great opportunity that somebody didn't know what to do with. Sort of like those folks who buy personalized license plates so they can tell us they are in fact driving a 1991 Buick. Well for better or worse, D.C. isn't a great graffiti town like Los Angeles.

Writer Kevin Mellema is not a fan of this classic graffiti style and prefers the graphic forms of LA street art. I too love LA style! But I think he sorta misses the point of this installation and writes the usual kind of art review: art as an object to be admired or ridiculed. In contrast, I focus on art as a vehicle for artistic expression, communication, and provocation. (Please read my statement about this installation for more on this subject.) I don't think we'd have gotten that message across as strongly or effectively if we'd covered the walls of the Tiffany Gallery with pretty graphics that looked more like recognizable figures and forms. I'd like to see this installation spark more conversations about the nature of art. So come to the closing party for this installation on March 28 to check out the work for yourself! (See sidebar for more info.)