Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die

I grew up listening to punk and metal. But mostly punk. Dead Kennedys. Sex Pistols. Minor Threat. Suicidal Tendencies. Skate. Surf, etc. I still love this music and I have a ton of respect and appreciation for the DIY ethos–and aesthetic–that this culture created. And not just the music either. I’m drawn to the art, the films, and particularly the photography from this era. It’s impromptu. Off the cuff. Simple. Tactile. It’s accessible and unpretentious, and its so freakin’ RAW.

All that’s why I wanted to share that there’s a great gallery show I’m heading down to LA to check out next week at Shepard Fairey’s Subliminal Projects gallery in Echo Park, “Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die,”. It’s a retrospective of punk/hardcore photography and related art, featuring Edward Colver, Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman, Jenny Lens, Dave Markey, Raymond Pettibon, Jordan Schwartz, and Winston Smith. From the press release:

a “…selection of photography, art and ephemera from the California Punk & Hardcore scene with an emphasis on the explosive period of the late 70’s and early 80’s. This exhibition features both photographers and artists who were present for the detonation of the Southern California scene and whose imagery helped capture and craft it’s angles, attitudes, music, fashion and sub-culture. Reflections of other punk scenes throughout California are included as well as contemporary collaborations inspired by one of the most potent and important periods of free expression in the California story.

The show is open till March 26th. And if anyone has already checked it out – please report back. I’m stoked to check it out.
The shot above is by the great documentarian of that era Glen E. Friedman.

[ASIDE: if its Wednesday when you’re reading this, don’t forget that I’m LIVE with pulitzer prize winning photographer and award winning director Vincent Laforet right now at chasejarvisLIVE. Tune in now at http://www.chasejarvis.com/live. Come visit and ask some quesitons of Vince via my @chasejarvis twitter handle using #cjLIVE.]