Pablo Picasso once said: "Art is a lie that makes us realize the
truth." Mirroring the political and economical turmoil of the 1980's,
which birthed the modern punk movement, today's age of global unrest
and injustices have created a far darker and grittier backlash against
the mainstream world at large. With an art world so caught up in it's
own pomp it serves itself more than the public; a music industry
caught up in subculture dividing and cookie-cutter practices; and a
political regime responsible for irrehensibles crimes, the ethos of
punk and art activism has risen from the 20 year fog with a helluva
hangover and a taste for more.

Spearheaded by main stays in the East Coast punk scene, up and coming
photographers, illustrators, tattoo artists, and graffiti writers have
combined forces to form the Shut Up & Rock art series which is
celebrating its 2nd Anniversary with an opening April 1st at the
Rockstar Bar in Brooklyn, NY. Featuring art from: Jason and Brian
McKown, Tyler Cancro, James O'Brien, Rob Harrigan, Gary Floyd, former
front man for the punk trailblazers the Dicks, Robert Lotzko, Doug
Williams, the East Coast Weasels, Stephanie Buscema, Dan Storer, and
many more. Featuring performances by Check Your Face, Banana Oil,
Invade, and Robots and Empire.
Abandoning the idea of galleries, wine and cheese, they replaced them
with punk, beers, and bars. And with that change they shook off the
dust and archaic practices of the art world and embraced the DIY
mindset that has shaken up the establishment again and again.
Keeping with the stride of dada, the surrealists, and the founding
punk father's practice of combining art with music, a show with
protest, a new generation of artists and bands spanning from Brooklyn,
the Bronx, Uptown, Downtown, East Coast, West Coast, U.S. and Europe,
have picked up the flag, dusted it off, and are waving it for all to
see.
You are invited to join us at the Shut Up and Rock Art show 2nd
Anniversary, April 1st at the Rockstar Bar, at 349 Kent St. Brooklyn,
NY under the Williamsburg Bridge. Come join us in some punk,
dissention, celebration, and art.

"Drink the wine from the rich man's cask, this revolution won't be the
last…Viva La Revolution."