Riverside CA – The Riverside Art Museum (RAM) announces the opening of Baby Tattooville on Parade. The exhibition runs from October 1 to November 8, 2011 with a special reception on Saturday, October 8, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for RAM members and a general public reception from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with $5 admission for non-members. The October 6 and November 3 Riverside Arts Walks are always free to the public and will also feature Baby Tattooville-related activities and artists’ talks.
‘Strange, fun art’ serves as an overarching description for Baby Tattooville on Parade, this fall’s contemporary art exhibition held at the Riverside Art Museum. Originally created by founder Bob Self as a part of Baby Tattoo Books, Baby Tattoo is a collective of artists working loosely within the Pop Surrealist and ‘Lowbrow’-inspired genres. Held in conjunction with their annual private collectors’ event at the Mission Inn, RAM’s companion exhibitions have taken place for the past four years and continue to draw fans from across the globe.
Deriving inspiration from such sources as: Street Art, Comic Book Art, Science Fiction, Fantasy Illustration, Hot Rod culture, and Pop culture, Baby Tattoo consists of a wide variety of styles and artists, all of them riveting, some shocking. This year, to celebrate their fifth anniversary, all of the artists that have participated in years past have come together for a monumental two-gallery exhibition at RAM. The show heralds such locally and world-renowned artists as: James Gurney (illustrator for the Dinotopia book series), Anthony Ausgang, William Stout, Ron English, Michael Hussar, Jeff Soto, Shag, Coop, Lola, and the attributed father of the ‘Lowbrow’ art movement, Robert Williams.
Included in the exhibit (which totals nearly fifty works) is footage from the collaborative ‘Art Jam’ paintings done in past years, as well as a number of sculptural and large-scale works. Selected Baby Tattoo artists are expected to arrive around 6:30 p.m. via ‘Hot Rod Jaunt’ (a parade of sorts featuring restored classic hot rods) from the Mission Inn to the Riverside Art Museum on October 8 before RAM opens for the Members’ Preview reception at 7:00 p.m.
RAM relies on the generosity of members and donors to support its exhibitions, education programs, and special events. A 50-plus-year-old, private, non-profit cultural arts institution housed in a National Historic 1929 building designed by Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan, the museum welcomes over 50,000 visitors a year. The museum is open Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For information on exhibits, events, classes, memberships, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.RiversideArtMuseum.org. Find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/riversideartmuseum) and Twitter (RAMRiverside).