In 2005,Richard &
Rosanna Ahrens of Sticky Rick's and Damon Robinson of Praise the Lowered, made an extraordinary discovery when they decided
to create PEEL HERE, an adhesive art exhibition, to kick off the Sticky Rick's
sticker printing company. They
discovered that people from all over the globe of all ages and socio-economic
backgrounds are crazy about stickers. Along with this overall love for
stickers, there exists a subculture that uses this medium to communicate a
language on the urban landscape.This urban language communicates messages of time, place and people -
stickers are personal, mobile, temporary works of art that speak for themselves
and are designed to be seen by the masses.
This year we are pleased to share
the stage with Self Help Graphics
& Art, whose historical social
consciousness through the arts is legendary.
SHG & Art's recent outreach to local youth through aerosol,
silkscreen & hip-hop workshops has become an important conversation amongst
community leaders. It's success is an example of how to effectively engage youth in the
arts and free speech.
"BRACE YOURSELF!" speaks to the
condition of our world both locally and globally through the eyes of the
artist. Economists, scientist, and
environmentalists have given their warnings about the economy, jobs, healthcare
etc. As responsible individuals we
need to peel back the layers of information we are being fed by the media to
understand the realities of the condition we are in as a people. Peel Here owes it to its young
participants to persuade them to consider and respond to the pressing dilemmas
we are facing in our world today.
Our Open Call submissions will require a response to these
realities.
