Urban Decay 4: Not Your Average Art Exhibition

Hip hop dancing, live graffiti, energetic music…not exactly what you think of when you hear “art exhibition.” Yet Urban Decay 4 is exactly that: an art exhibition with a twist.

 The exhibition features a display of vinyl toy submissions from the general public, a live graffiti demonstration throughout the day on June 8^th, and a reception on June 8 from 5-11pm, during which hip hop dancer Kenny Wells will perform along with local bands Lightspeed Rescue and Thrive. DJ’s will also be spinning all night, thanks to bassradio.fm & expansion broadcast.

The exhibition is presented in collaboration with Urban Art Syndicate (UAS), a Northern Virginia Community art group that features artists involved in low-brow art—art in the graffiti art, street art, and comic book art realms. Curator Debra Yarrington of UAS attributes the modern fascination with these types of art to the current time period.

“Our culture has changed,” said Yarrington. “Art has become more pop-centric because society has become so engrossed with superstars and modernity.”

Besides the unusual aspects of the exhibition, the pieces in Urban Decay have a unique feel as well.  “The art has edginess to it,” said Yarrington. “It makes you want to look at it.”

Join the conversation! Should low-brow art be considered on par with other art forms? What parallels do you see between society and low-brow art? Leave your thoughts in the comment box!

THIS WEEK AT THE WORKHOUSE

• Urban Decay 4, June1-July 28, McGuireWoods Gallery.
• Standing Room Only, April 20-June 16, Vulcan Gallery.
• Our Natural Places, aka OUTDOORS, April 13-June 16, Vulcan Gallery.
• Workhouse Farmers Market, Thursday 3-6=7pm, Workhouse Quad.
• Dinner & A Movie Nights: Blue Hawaii, Friday at 8pm, W-3 Theatre.
• FREE Yoga , Saturday at 8am, Workhouse Quad.
• 2^nd Saturday Art Walk, Saturday from 6-9pm, Campus-wide.
• Mount Vernon Nights, Saturday at 7pm, Workhouse Quad.
• Cabaret Series: Legends, Myths, and Fables, Saturday at 8pm, W-3 Theatre.
• June exhibitions in all seven studio buildings, Vulcan Gallery.
• Workhouse Prison Museum in Building W-9.

Stop by and visit us! 

The Workhouse is open Wednesday – Saturday from 11am – 7pm and Sundays from 12 – 5pm.  The Workhouse Prison Museum is open Wednesday – Friday from 12 – 3pm and Saturday – Sunday from 12 – 4pm.  Visit www.WorkhouseArts.org for more information, to purchase tickets or to register for classes.