The Kids Call Them Slaps

The kids call them slaps. Stickers. Well, when used as street art they’re are called slaps or sticker slaps. At least that’s what I’ve been told.

I went to the Krog Street Tunnel to add some slaps. Just a little of my flavor added to the constant storm of visual stimulation in this location. While there, I found a group of kids having fun and gave them some stickers to spread around other locations in Atlanta. Spontaneous assistance. It’s nice to have help when taking care of business like this.

The Zig Zag Wanderer

My entire life has been about zigging when much of my contemporary culture zagged. It’s not something I’ve always been aware of. It’s not even something I’ve always been happy about. For example, in high school, I was obsessed with fitting in yet was unable to do so no matter how desperately I tried. Turns out it wasn’t in my nature and to my great frustration, I just hadn’t yet realized this.

Over the years self-awareness and self-acceptance slowly grew from within. An unstoppable need to wander (mentally or physically) fills much of my time. My life has been spent learning to accept and embrace this revelation. I have no issue with it personally. However, professionally it’s a different story. It means that I’ve always been out of fashion. Never quite the perfect match for anything. It can still be a frustrating place to be at times. However, at this point in my life, I know who I am, The Zig Zag Wanderer.

Shakin’ Things Up

Yesterday afternoon I walked to the street art Mecca of Cabbagetown in Atlanta. I live in the area. Just two short blocks from the epicenter, the Krog Street Tunnel. It’s a crazy kitchen, but I still want to add a little of my own flavor to the stew.

I’m not finished. I’m just getting started.

I am not alone nor do I want to work alone. I want help spreading these stickers (and the future ones I make) around on a local and national level. Reach out to me via private message (or other means) if you’re interested and I’ll get some into your hands one way or another.

A New Street Art Series

It’s hard for me to work on one series of art at a time. Back and forth I go between mixed media paintings, map drawings and street art. My exhibition came together in a whirlwind and left me in a bit of a haze. Blowing out of that smoke came the need to further explore the work I have been doing in my other two primary areas of interest: map drawings and street art. Also, I am pursuing a new medium, screen printing. I am discovering fresh new energy at a time when I need it most. I am excited by the challenges of learning a new medium. Beyond that, I have started a new series of map drawings that have me excited. I also feel recharged by exploring different ways of making street art.

All of this is what led to the decision to make a series of stickers. Not unlike my mixed media paintings, this is commentary on contemporary culture. However, in the street art format, I am intentionally more sharp and direct. The first in the series is shown below.

Ken Nordine – Colors

I just learned that Ken Nordine recently passed away at 98 years old. R.I.P.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-ken-nordine-dead-0217-story.html

Who is Ken Nordine you ask? He’s the greatest voice-over artist that ever was and ever will be. He’s also from my sweet home Chicago.

He is also responsible for this amazing spoken word composition. This will be required listening for all my future Color Theory students.

 

The Importance of Design

I’ve had this dresser in my all of my bedrooms for 40 years. Why? Excellent design. The design and craftsmanship were made to last. It still looks good. It’s still as sturdy as the day my parents bought it. It was more expensive than typical kids furniture but because it was good design it became so much more. Also worth much more than its initial price.

He Was Sent to Washington to Shake Things Up

There it is – all packed together for you in one image. Millions of words will be written about this one single image. History will always remember this photograph. So many visual symbols and metaphors for the downfall of America in one place. Good ol’ Honest Abe in a frame is the cherry on top of this golden toilet sundae.

That’s right, Donald J. Trump was sent to Washington to shake things up. This is America, 2019.

Mastering the Art of Contradiction: Exhibition Photos

The curtain has fallen on the first rendition of Mastering the Art of Contradiction. The exhibition has concluded. I was very happy with the work and how it looked in the gallery space. Thanks again to all that came out to take a look. Here are some photos from the exhibition.

This exhibition will be on display again in September 2019 at Glynn Visual Arts, in St. Simons Island, GA. More details to come.

In the meantime, please remember that all work is for sale through me, the artist. Contact me directly at brett@brettcallero.com with any inquiries about prices and availability.

The Message

This message originally came in a fortune cookie and has now been taped to my easel(s) for over 20 years. Its message is still something I have to remind myself of every day. Not just in regard to art, but life as a whole. I know that I’ve come a long way in that regard over those 20 plus years. That feels good, but I’m restless, I still have a ways to go. #thejourneyisthedestination

Opening Night Is Here

Tonight is the night.

Please join me at the opening reception for my exhibition of new mixed media paintings. Opening reception is from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The gallery will be open until 10:00 p.m. for the Castleberry ArtStroll. I will be there the entire time. Send me a message if you have any questions.

The exhibition is on display from October 12 – November 16.

Please note, the exhibition will still be on display Friday, November 9 for the next Castleberry ArtStroll (same hours as October 12). I’ll be at the gallery that night.

Also, you all should know, I’d be happy to meet anyone at the gallery during their hours of business, just send me a message. Gallery hours by appointment only, see hours below.

Address: 163 Peters St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Parking: 161 Mangum St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Phone: (404) 577-3660
www.besharatcontemporary.com

www.brettcalleroartist.com

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment.

Hope to see you there!

Besharat Contemporary
163 Peters St. SW,
Atlanta, GA 30313
http://www.besharatcontemporary.com

The exhibition runs from October 12 – November 16. Please see gallery website for weekly hours. Here is a prewire of some of the work. It’s all coming together.

Mastering The Art Of Contradiction: Artist Statement

The most recognizable symbol for the United States of America is the bald eagle. The bald eagle has no natural predators. Its greatest cause of death is from drowning in the process of hunting salmon or trout. This happens on occasion when it wrongly estimates the size of a fish and is subsequently pulled underwater by the weight of its prey. When this occurs, the bald eagle drowns if cannot unlock its talons quickly enough.

The bald eagle’s downfall is caused by misjudgments formed through its own overconfident sense of existence. For this reason, the greatest enemy of the bald eagle is itself, just like the nation it symbolically represents.

We are living in an age filled with hyperbole, contradiction and a pervasive sense of tension. These days of overconfidence and insecurity have unsettled the moral and ethical standards of a civilized society. These paintings are observations on this current condition.

The scope of my investigation became smaller during the development stages of the work. Turning inward, I focused on what was happening to me in the moment. This process revealed expansive but raw feelings about my experiences living and breathing through times like these. The results are deliberately reflective but far more autobiographical in nature than I ever expected.