"Mark Vallen has become an accomplished Social Realist for the early 21st century. He honors his predecessors by focusing on the pressing issues of

our own perilous times. Proud to embrace the same label, he does in the late 20th and early 21st centuries what generations of political artists accomplished during their own turbulent time".

- Paul Von Blum, author of, The Critical Vision: A history of Social and

Political Art in the U.S.

"... LA artist Mark Vallen establishes himself as one of the most profound political artists of our time."

- LA.com review

"For art that reaches both the heart and mind and has something relevant to say about the city we inhabit,

this exhibit is a must see."

- LA Alternative Press

SLIDE LECTURE BY MARK VALLEN

HIROSHIMA DAY

FRIDAY AUGUST. 6th. 8 p.m.

The artist will appear at the A Shenere Velt Gallery on Hiroshima Day to present a slide show and lecture on the subject of art and its intersection with political and social issues. Vallen will address matters pertaining to art in times of war, censorship, and the function of the artist as both social historian and leading light in the development of social progress (free).

THE EXHIBITION

With paintings, drawings, and prints, Vallen documented the upheavals and social realities that helped to shape the face of L.A. The topics addressed

by the artist range from the Vietnam War to the battlefields of Central America, and the resulting waves of immigration these conflicts engendered.

Vallen submerged himself in the city's original 1977 punk rock explosion, and created portraits of the fans and musicians involved. In fact, the name of the retrospective is borrowed from the byline used by Flipside, one of L.A.'s first punk magazines. The artist's brush railed against apartheid and the Cold War of the 1980's, and captured the Rodney King riots of 1991. This solo exhibition presents a chronology of studio works, pieces created as public art, illustrations for books and newspapers, and artworks never before shown.

GALLERY HOURS

Monday - Thursday 10 am - 5 pm

Friday 10 am - 3 pm

Group and guided viewings can be arranged. The artworks will also be on view during regular events at the Workmen's Circle.

CONTACT:

A SHENERE VELT GALLERY - WORKMEN'S CIRCLE/ARBETER RING

1525 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Telephone: (310) 552-2007

Fax (310) 552-3417

Web: www.circlesocal.org

E-mail: circle@circlesocal.org