MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS | THE ART OF WAR

New works by Karl Erickson and Andrew Falkowski
September 8 – October 13, 2007
High Energy Constructs, Chinatown LA

Not your typical anti-authority, anti-war perspective, this exhibition is a considered response, reflecting arbitrary and insufficient answers to the untenable power struggles that envelope us all. The absurdity of our historical moment cries out for a reaction. But when has art ever produced an appropriate response to war? Guernica, a hallmark of cultural resistance, didn’t stop a civil war, it didn’t stop Franco and it didn’t stop fascism’s ascendancy in Spain and beyond. Leon Golub didn’t do a goddamn thing to change the torture in South America. Perhaps the complaint is misplaced….So what if art is limited? The Magnificent Bastards describe a mood: the angst and hapless bewilderment of an entire generation. Arrogant? Accurate? Okay! The Art of War is that expression: If you can’t stop’em, describe’em.

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About Jay Babcock

I am an independent writer and editor based in Tucson, Arizona. I publish LANDLINE at jaybabcock.substack.com Previously: I co-founded and edited Arthur Magazine (2002-2008, 2012-13) and curated the three Arthur music festival events (Arthurfest, ArthurBall, and Arthur Nights) (2005-6). Prior to that I was a district office staffer for Congressman Henry A. Waxman, a DJ at Silver Lake pirate radio station KBLT, a copy editor at Larry Flynt Publications, an editor at Mean magazine, and a freelance journalist contributing work to LAWeekly, Mojo, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Vibe, Rap Pages, Grand Royal and many other print and online outlets. An extended piece I wrote on Fela Kuti was selected for the Da Capo Best Music Writing 2000 anthology. In 2006, I was somehow listed in the Music section of Los Angeles Magazine's annual "Power" issue. In 2007-8, I produced a blog called "Nature Trumps," about the L.A. River. From 2010 to 2021, I lived in rural wilderness in Joshua Tree, Ca.

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