FAB 5 FREDDY: P3STUDIO
Press Release
FAB 5 FREDDY
December 15, 2010 – March, 2011
P3Studio
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Fred Brathwaite, aka Fab 5 Freddy, is a legendary graffiti artist, filmmaker, and hip-hop pioneer. His credits include producing and starring in the popular cult film, Wild Style, a longstanding job as first host for the television show YO! MTV Raps and graffiti works that have made history. He is premiering his new body of work at P3STUDIO.
Fab was an integral part of the downtown New York art scene during the 1980s, and one of the first to champion the city’s street culture to a worldwide audience. His latest project continues his celebration of this country’s popular entertainment. Photographs of celebrated boxers and anonymous show girls are enlarged and printed on canvas, then adorned with Swarovski crystals, artfully placed to make the works pop. Fab situates his commentary in the discrepancy between the gritty images and the glamour of the crystals.
“These pieces are about light and the movement of the viewer, part of a narrative set on a Kabuki like stage where these boxing gladiators are newly illuminated, a reflection of the gloss on their lifestyle and sport. And the crystals add glow and power to these women, set on the same stage.”
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is committed to building a platform for fresh, innovative, and provocative content that sits at the intersection of art and technology. Through a consortium of non-profit organizations, artists, design schools, and partners, TCLV aims to serve as a catalyst for creativity and culture, developing engaging programs that expose guests to new and established artists and inspire their interest in art and music.
With an ambitious commitment to building a program that can be appreciated by the most novice consumer as well as the most sophisticated critic, it is a goal to satisfy the cultural sensibilities of the guests, foster a greater awareness, understanding and appreciation of art and music, and reach audiences that might otherwise look past Las Vegas.
The artist-in-residence program at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas represents one component of its larger art program, in which artists create projects that are interactive and participatory, giving guests the opportunity to connect at an authentic and personal level. Developed and curated in partnership with Art Production Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to producing ambitious public art projects, it strives to reach new audiences and expand awareness through contemporary art.
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