Hip-hop inspired artwork to (finally) share space with ‘great old masters’

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s famous, namesake founders could have never fathomed such a display.
The same stately building known for its Baroque art masterpieces will soon house contemporary works by a roster of African Americans, Latino/as, Japanese-Americans, British, Caucasians, gay, male and female artists.
Dubbed “Beyond Bling,” it’s being billed as the first exhibition to feature 10 artists who all operate within, and are informed by, hip-hop culture.


The artists exhibited are Michael Anderson, Iona Rozeal Brown, Vince Fraser, Gajin Fujita, Luis Gispert, Sofia Maldonado, Nadine Robinson, Mickalene Thomas, Hank Willis Thomas and Kehinde Wiley.
Each work on display was created in the past decade.
“Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art” can be experienced at the Ringling Museum Saturday through Aug. 14.
Curator Matthew McLendon, Ph.D., started formulating the cool concept following an experience in 2007 at Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the most important art shows in the country.
“I turned the corner and was confronted by a massive painting of an exquisite, African-American woman studded with thousands of rhinestones,” McLendon said. “It was something very different by Mickalene Thomas and I started investigating how hip-hop is influencing our art.”
To enhance the most cutting edge experience in Ringling Museum history, McLendon had hip-hop station WiLD 94.1 compile a playlist for “Beyond Bling” attendees to enjoy while viewing the street culture-inspired artwork.
“When people hear the term ‘hip-hop’ the first thing they think about is music,” McLendon said. “Two-thirds of the people will find a soundtrack distracting, but for those interested we’ve provided free iPods to use.”
Four major events augment the actual exhibit.
Rennie Harris Puremovement will perform Thursday through Saturday at the Historic Asolo Theatre. Founded in 1992 by Harris, RHPM has established itself as the top international ambassador of hip-hop dance theater.
Purchase a ticket for the Friday show and receive free admission to the happening hip-hop lounge.
Held in the Museum of Art Courtyard from 9 p.m. to midnight, the vibrant event features DJ Imminent, a custom cars display by Mad Marks and a hip-hop dance routine by Urban Spiral.
The critically-acclaimed play “The Word Begins” will be staged at the Asolo Theatre May 26-28. It’s described as “the journey of two men traversing the chaotic and confusing landscape of race, religion, sexuality, love, and mass communications.”
On June 2, McLendon will lead attendees on an informal walk and talk through the largely graffiti-inspired galleries of “Beyond Bling” before a screening at the Asolo Theatre of “Exit Through the Gift Shop.”
World-famous, British street artist Banksy -- who has managed to keep his real identity hidden despite global popularity -- directed and makes a carefully obscured appearance in the Oscar-nominated 2010 film.
“The documentary is perhaps the most entertaining I’ve ever seen,” McLendon said. “Plus, it’s incredibly educating.”
The special events portion of “Beyond Bling” concludes with “ViewPoint: Tagging: The History of Street Art.” It features a talk, reception and book signing by famed photographer, author and lecturer James Prigoff.
He’s the co-writer of “Spraycan Art” (1987), “Painting the Towns-Murals of California” (1997), and “Walls of Heritage-Walls of Pride” (2000), a history of African American Mural Art.
“Jim’s one of the acknowledge masters of street art,” McLendon said.
Hip-hop and its culture has been around since the late 1970s.
So, it’s silly to call this exhibition ground-breaking or even timely considering most music experts will tell you hip-hop peaked sometime between 1986 and ’92.
But for the Ringling Museum, “Beyond Bling” represents a major improvement in the diversity department.
“We’re realizing the full potential of what the Ringling is,” said Dwight Currie, associate director of museum programs. “This is an incredible step forward.”