Steve Powers: The Magic Word

October 20, 2007, to January 27, 2008

Morris Gallery, Historic Landmark Building


Powers, who was born and raised in Philadelphia's Overbrook section and has resided in New York since 1995, is an internationally known graffiti artist who has recently been embraced by the contemporary art world. Using the idiom of the billboard and the storefront, Powers, using his graffiti moniker ESPO, has created many illicit outdoor murals which riff off the capitalist marketing experience. Beginning in 2004 and ongoing, Powers participated in and co-curated Dreamland Artist Club an ambitious project on the Coney Island amusement boardwalk, in which he and several other artists worked with low-income business owners to improve commercial signage. Recently, Powers has been making narrative painting installations, still very much informed by signage, in which he recounts through a clever balance of verbiage and imagery, graffiti tall tales, autobiographical missives, and various urban legends.


Tonight is also Alex Baker's final curatorial effort at the Academy. He will be re-locating to Australia for some surfin' and a bit of art'in! Alex has been one of the most supportive believers for us here at FreeNews and we owe him a countless number of thanks for his goodvibes and true love for art in all its forms. Please come by this Friday evening and say hello (or farewell).

For more information about Mr. Powers exhibit, click
here!