Lets Meet a collection of queer stencils from the past year by Jeremy Novy
San Francisco, CA (November 3, 2010)— The San Francisco LGBT Center is honored to present “Lets Meet”, a collection of queer stencils from the past year by Jeremy Novy. Novy's is considered one of the up and coming street art celebrities of San Francisco and street art world itself. His koi fish stencils found through out the city have gained him acceptance by not only the street art community of San Francisco but also complements from the Cities Department of Public Works. Yet this exhibit is about something much deeper then just adding beauty to urban blight. It's street art with a social message against homophobia. This exhibition, opens with a reception on Thursday, December 2nd from 6-9 pm and runs through December 30th. Novy has made a limited edition print, signed and numbered, for the 50 guests, along with having Pabst Blue Ribbon beer on hand. Novy was recently commissioned by Joe Pabst, owner of the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, WI, to stencil koi around the Mansion pool.
In the 80's queer artist made a bold move to put messages of social unjust on the streets in the form of street art. Groups like ActUp covered the nation, while individual artist like Keith Haring and Felix Torres Gonzales took there message to the streets of New York City. Unfortunately these died from the disease they were trying to make society aware off and the homophobia impacting queer culture. In the past 30 years queer culture has lost the drive and the power activism behind queer street art. Yet we are still faced with similar issues that were addressed by street art. People heard what queer culture was saying and things changed due to the impact of good old Do It Yourself activism. Novy asks you “Does that check you send to your favorite queer organization cut it?”
Novy's intention is to bring gay imagery into the homophobic subculture of street artists by covering hateful and distasteful graffiti in our communities. Novy wants the gay street artist community to flourish and not be bullied or afraid to express themselves with their artwork. Novy states that "street art itself is a dominantly male heterosexual community; being out of the closet is not accepted. Gay street artists have been assaulted, their art supplies stolen or damaged, and their works covered up." He would like to see everyone's artwork—not just the heterosexual males who dominates the street art subculture—have an opportunity to be seen and appreciated. His unique stencils of legendary drag queens, gay pulp and local talent and Koi fish have been spotted all over town and were responsible for netting him a showcase at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Besides being flown to Milwaukee to stencil the Pabst Mansion. Jeremy’s stencils have benefited non-profit foundations, advocacy organizations, and community service programs, and have been featured in books, magazines, newspapers, museums, private collections and in film.
For the past ten years, Jeremy Novy has utilized stenciled street art to explore social and political issues. Novy has lived in San Francisco for two and a half years having moved from Milwaukee, WI after receiving his second art degree from Pecks School of the Arts.