MEMPHIS ART BRIGADE

MAB represents protest art in many ways, not the least in its attempts to reclaim and problematize the idea of public space itself, a space typically not open to the public in many ways. For this reason MAB hits trestles, bridges, underpasses, and places of blight in an attempt to energize the space anew, not to beautify. MAB is not vandalism, but is rather its obverse. MAB protests also through its content, and is therefore pushing the boundaries of both graffiti art and street art, foregrounding cultural and socio-political issues in an attempt to generate critical thought in the community. MAB is not psychological expression, the rage of the streets, though it likes knowing that it’s out there. MAB is the spirit of anarchy that must be at the center of any true democracy, the violence that always threatens revolution and popular dissent as a check on power, tyranny, class oppression. MAB urges, therefore, the transformation of this violence into artistic critique and expression, and must be understood as a community voice rather than an individual outcry. MAB urges deliberate art, avoiding the topicality of much street art. MAB artists make their art off-site, and join in mass put-ups. MAB is about forcing the gallery system to open beyond market choices and dilettantism. Artists do not need galleries to make an art of meaning and show it to the community. Check us out at memphisartbrigade.blogspot.com. To join, all you need to do is put up, sign your work MAB, shoot a photo, send it to memphisartbrigade@gmail.com and we’ll find you (with contact info).

MAB will prove that though Memphis is designated as the poorest city, we are not poor in imagination and resistance.

Nos vemos,

MAB (Queen Mab)