Wearing a video game t-shirt or sporting a decal on your notebook that professes your love for Metroid is one thing, but you move into the realm of high art when you pick up a print that has Mario smoking a butt and chugging a pint of beer. Thankfully, there are people dedicated to bringing you such works of art, and they're putting on a bigger, bolder, and badder show in Los Angeles soon.
Can't make it to Los Angeles? They'll also be introducing a brand-new collector's art book on the opening night of the exhibition, and you'll be able to purchase that anywhere. It shows off art from all of the iam8bit shows over the years, and is a pop culture blast of video game imaginings that will make your coffee table look intelligent, hip, and snazzy. We'll be there covering it with video and interviews, but read on to check out the details, and if you're in town, stop by and see it for yourself.
Collector’s Art Book by Same Name to be Released Opening Night, August 11
SUPER iam8bit, the ultimate art exhibit designed to celebrate the place of videogames in culture, will open Thursday, Aug. 11. The late summer Los Angeles art scene will sizzle with the return of the popular recurring group art show, now more robust than ever.
An art book documenting this year’s event as well as other classic contributors will be published under the same name as the exhibit. SUPER iam8bit, the book, will go on sale opening night, and will be available for sale worldwide after.
“SUPER iam8bit will be the most vibrant celebration of interactive entertainment through art to date,” Jon Gibson, co-curator of the show, remarked. “We are equally excited about our new book, which will be an incredible showcase of the artists and works that we display at the show, and allow anyone not in the Los Angeles to experience the intimacy of being in the gallery.”
Key participating artists include JoseEmroca Flores, Jude Buffum, Scott C, Carlos Ramos, Scott Belcastro, Mike Mitchell, Sky Burchard and nearly 100 others from around the globe. A special tribute to Galaga’s 30th anniversary will feature the world’s largest “arcade cabinet,” designer decal collective, BLIK, will be transforming the 4,500 sq. ft. gallery into an 80’s gaming wonderland, and Double Fine artist, Drew Skillman, will be displaying an interactive, retro Kinect hack.
SUPER iam8bit will be on exhibit at iam8bit’s newly renovated headquarters in Echo Park. The show will open Aug. 11 and run for a month.
What: SUPER iam8bit
Where: 2147 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
When: Aug. 11, 2011, 7 - 11p.m. (running until Sept. 10, 2011)
