Betti Ono is excited to open the Fall season with VIRAL: 25 Years from Rodney King

Art Responders, in collaboration with Betti Ono Gallery, presents:

VIRAL: 25 YEARS FROM RODNEY KING

Artwork by Overstreet Ducasse

On March 3,1991,motorist Rodney King’s savage beating by LAPD was captured by resident George Holliday. The public release of the footage and its international reach could arguably make the11­minute clip the world’s first ‘viral’ video.The acquittal of all four officers the following spring was the match that ignited the L.A. uprisings of April,1992. These seminal moments in L.A.history are a necessary reference point for today’s reinvigorated civil rights movement against racially motivated violence in law enforcement. 

VIRAL: 25 Years From Rodney King, is an exhibition and community arts project conceived by Bay Area based artist and educator Daryl Elaine Wells. VIRAL features more than 80 pieces of visual art as well as music, video, and interactive games in response to incidents of police violence by internationally recognized and emerging artists. The exhibition is on view from September 16 to October 22, with an opening celebration on Friday, October 7, 2016 from 6-9pm featuring storytelling and live performances to mark the 6 year anniversary of Betti Ono. Public programs and related special events will take place during the exhibition run, culminating in a community day of action on October 22, 2016 in conjunction with National Day of Protest Against Police Violence.

‘VIRAL: 25 Years from Rodney King’ asks vital questions about the disparate implementation of law enforcement between white neighborhoods and communities of color over the past quarter century. It also offers the opportunity to memorialize the victims of this ongoing American tragedy. In addition to the visual arts component this dialogue is stimulated through performances, speakers’ panels, education workshops and ongoing programs held throughout the six week run, engaging visitors and enabling audiences to share their experiences and views.Participating artists:

 Onyinye AlheriAswad ArifPaul BarronJim Batt & Kim Boekbinder with Molly CrabappleMicah Bazant & Sins InvalidRon CarterRenee CastroRobbie ConalBeth Consetta RubelBrett CookMargaret CusackKate DeCiccioTarah DouglasOverstreet DucasseSabrina FigueroaDan FontesQuerido GaldoJay GashAnt HallZeal HarrisErik Madigan HeckRyan HeniseyKristi HolohanLela Aisha JonesNina KatanBrian KiesDante KirkmanDavid KukoffSuzanne LacyDarryl LaVareSusan MahChucha MarquezLaura MarshallKeith MikellMatice MooreZoe MuehlerNot My GovernmentEesuu OrundideAlice PatrickPolitical Gridlock & Emory DouglasSanae RobinsonRen Salgado (Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist/True Skool)Sophie SandersMolly SegalRose TrocheRachel VisaldaDaryl WellsTina YbarraRavi Zupa

ABOUT ART RESPONDERS: Art Responders is a social media community founded in 2013 by artist, educator and community arts organizer D.E Stenvoll­ Wells. Established in the early days of the Black Lives Matter movement, Art Responders has become a forum for over 500 followers nationwide, sharing artists’ responses to police brutality, providing news and commentary on the cases and causes of this tragedy, and advocating for criminal justice reforms.ABOUT BETTI ONO: Founded in 2010 and voted Best of the East Bay three consecutive years in a row, Betti Ono is an award winning, experimentally minded space for art, culture and community. Through rotating exhibits, performances and monthly events, we amplify the voices of underrepresented artists and celebrate the culture of everyday people. 

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On view September 16 - ­ October 22, 2016

OPENING WEEKEND PUBLIC VIEWINGFriday, September 16, 12­-6pmSaturday, September 17, 1-­5pmFREE

OAKLAND ART MURMUR/BETTI ONO 6TH ANNIVERSARYArtist Talk + PerformancesFriday, October 7, 20166-­9pm FREEClick here to RSVP

NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE DAY OF ACTION & CULMINATING EVENTSaturday, October 22, 201611am-­6pmFREE

 

This exhibition is presented with the generous contributions of the Akonadi Foundation.