Author Archives for Brett Callero

Live And Let Kneel

“We use that flag to sell mattresses and beer. We wear it as a swimsuit. We wrap our bald head in a bandana and stick it in our pants because we disrespect that flag everyday.”

These words from Dale Hansen (sportscaster and Vietnam veteran) echo the thought I’ve had for years on the subject of the American flag. The flag is not meant to be a product or a prop. That’s why I don’t wear anything meant to appropriate the American flag (that’s also why I don’t wear anything that appropriates military camouflage).

All this noise about kneeling or standing in the NFL is just the by product of another prop for a product. The teams were in the locker rooms during the anthem until eight years ago. In 2009, the NFL brought the players out for the anthem basically to be a prop for their product. It was a marketing strategy made in order to make the players (and the league) look more patriotic. The Department of Defense and the National Guard also payed the NFL for permission to stage on-field patriotic ceremonies to increase military recruitment.

Don’t be played by the sideshow. The first amendment IS first for a reason. Live and let kneel.

LIES: Loyalty Above All Else

Loyalty above all else will result in lies of one kind or another.

My latest body of work is a series of posters promoting a brand called Lies. The slogan for the Lies brand is Loyalty Above All Else. This is an idea that was conceived and specifically made for the streets. This series is intentionally more straightforward than the non-sequitur based imagery I typically create.

These posters are intended to be a sign of the times. Direct statements about the culture we inhabit in 2017. They are statements that critique our political culture and consumer culture. This statement belongs on the street, not in a gallery.

In our political culture, facts are more often being manipulated beyond recognition. Beyond that we have a leader that doesn’t know how to lead. A man that values loyalty over honesty and integrity. In our consumer culture, manipulated facts are accepted and commonplace. Brand loyalty is what matters most.

At this point, the Loyalty Lies series includes 8 different posters that serve as advertisements promoting the Lies brand. The Lies brand logo comes in two versions (as seen in the first photograph). Background photos are my own (taken straight from my Instagram page). The future is wide open in regard to where this concept goes next.

Lies: Loyalty Above All Else.

 

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Open Studio Art Sale 7/9/17: List Of Available Work

The following paintings are available for purchase at my Open Studio Art Sale on 7/9/17. See the Facebook event page for more details (https://www.facebook.com/events/1480397305314412/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%224%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%22308%22%2%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D).

Please note, this list of available work will not be updated as it changes.

new-tricks1
New Tricks
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
40″ x 20″ (2 panels, 20” x 20” each)
© 2016 Brett Callero

looking-for-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel
Looking For Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2015 Brett Callero

half-past-you_blogimage
Half Past You
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
3 panels, 20” x 20” each
© 2015 Brett Callero

the-new-civility_blogimage
The New Civility
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
3 panels, 20” x 20” each
© 2015 Brett Callero

alpha-fail
Alpha Fail
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2015 Brett Callero

frequency-force-duration
Frequency, Force & Duration
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2014 Brett Callero

super-hit
Super Hit
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2014 Brett Callero

screaming-blue-secrets1
Screaming Blue Secrets
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2014 Brett Callero

white-horsesred-skies1
White Horses/Red Skies
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2014 Brett Callero

three-sides
Three Sides
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2014 Brett Callero

backordered1
Backordered
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2013 Brett Callero

one-after-another2
One After Another
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2013 Brett Callero

derivatives
Derivatives
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2013 Brett Callero

get-it-while-you-can
Get It While You Can
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2012 Brett Callero

shortcuts-and-long-shots
Shortcuts & Long Shots
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2012 Brett Callero

vulgar-praise
Vulgar Praise
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2012 Brett Callero

 

we-all-serve-the-truth
We All Serve The Truth
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2012 Brett Callero

cutting-back
Cutting Back
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2011 Brett Callero

the-attrition
The Attrition
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2011 Brett Callero

reliable1
Reliable
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2009 Brett Callero

the-undefeated
The Undefeated
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2009 Brett Callero

extended-play
Extended Play
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2008 Brett Callero

bargain-hunter
Bargain Hunter
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2008 Brett Callero

heavy-lifting
Heavy Lifting
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2008 Brett Callero

user-friendly
User Friendly
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2008 Brett Callero
public-relations-disaster
Public Relations Disaster
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2008 Brett Callero

hit-points
Hit Points
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2008 Brett Callero
fixin-to-diversify
Fixin To Diversify
Mixed media on canvas mounted on panel
24” x 48”
© 2008 Brett Callero

What Is Old Is New Again (God Machine)

Yesterday was a big day. I finally installed another large scale paste up installation. This time I was assisted by my colleague and friend Mike Brown and SCAD-Atlanta students Daniel Byrd, Sally Burns, Carmen Reyes and Ruby Chen. All students in Mike’s Street Art class.

I decided against using the wall on Wylie Street I used last year. It’s location is perfect, however it’s ridged surface was too difficult to work with. The weather was able to get behind the work which made it deteriorate too quickly. Those three works lasted about 8 months before complete deterioration. Therefore, I needed to find a flat wall so my work could be viewed for a longer period of time.

The students asked me what this work, titled “What Is Old Is New Again (God Machine)” is about. I can sum it up in one sentence. It’s about the business of religion.

The work is located in Reynoldstown, on Fulton Terrace, near the intersection with Chester Avenue.

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John Lennon

“When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system’s game. The establishment will irritate you – pull your beard, flick your face – to make you fight. Because once they’ve got you violent, they know how to handle you. The only thing they don’t know how to handle is non-violence and humor.”

Donald D. Quinn

“If a doctor, lawyer or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn’t want to be there and were causing trouble and the doctor, lawyer or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the teacher’s job.”