RENOWNED ART COLLECTIVE CALIFORNIA LOCOS RELEASE BOOK RENAISSANCE AND REBELLION BY DRAGO PUBLISHER IN ROME. 

The CALIFORNIA LOCOS, five Los Angeles artists whose work epitomizes West Coast culture, announce their final art events in L.A. for the foreseeable future ahead of a European tour that will take their exhibition schedule beyond the middle of the decade.

 Renaissance & Rebellion limited edition book | Pre-orders will be delivered from Rome-Italy in August 23.

“After this Summer’s book launch and exhibition, we’re taking our show on the road to Europe, beginning in Rome,” said Dave Tourjé, one of the original five Locos and the group’s ringleader. Tourjé has authored CALIFORNIA LOCOS RENAISSANCE AND REBELLION a compendium documenting the first decade of this cultural collective pushing the zeitgeist of what it means to be a California artist.

The 432-page tome is published in Rome by DRAGO PUBLISHER. Europe is welcoming the collective, eager to embrace the cultural mélange that the West Coast of the United States offers and that the California Locos manifest. “This is a union between the City of God (Rome) and the City of Angels (L.A.)!” said publisher Paulo von Vacano.

In her 8,000 word essay, RIDING THE WAVE OF REBELLION — CALIFORNIA LOCOS AND THE “BIRTH OF NOW”, art historian Michelle Deziel Hernandez observes “Asymmetrical and authentic, the California Locos are artists who create their works which are deeply rooted in their experiences growing up and living in the various neighborhoods and subcultures of postwar Los Angeles.” Her comprehension of the historical narrative within Southern California serves to contextualize where the Locos fall on the art timeline, “With decades of success behind them and as a reimagined L.A. Cool School, they offer another stop on L.A.’s long, chaotic and illustrious art historical continuum.”

The book launch opens June 17 at EASTERN PROJECTS in L.A.’s Chinatown and marks the first of several Locos events happening in Los Angeles this summer and fall.

California Locos at the Renaissance & Rebellion book launch – click arrows to see image gallery.

“West Coast culture has always been appreciated in Europe, from the jazzers to Hendrix to punk rock and the avant-garde” observed Loco member Norton Wisdom, “so it looks like history will repeat for the Locos!” 

The first 100 limited edition signed CALIFORNIA LOCOS books are available at EASTERN PROJECTS for $100 on a first come, first served basis at the June 17 launch.

•WHAT: 
Book release of CALIFORNIA LOCOS RENAISSANCE AND REBELLION 

•WHEN:
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 4-8pm, EASTERN PROJECTS GALLERY 
900 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 90012