There will be an opening reception for “The Art of Saying No,” a new show of Michael Stenerson’s aerosol paintings Friday August 8 from 6-8 pm at ArtiFactory (120 N. Dubuque). The show runs through the end of the month. Free admission on Wednesday and Friday 4-6 pm and Saturday 1-3 pm, or by appointment (artifactory.artsiowacity.org).
“The Art Of Saying No” is the umbrella of Michael’s art practice, which consists of paintings and drawings in the genre of Style Writing, an art movement birthed on the NYC subways in the late 60’s and pioneered in the 70’s and 80’s. The art focuses on letterforms and the abstraction of the letter’s architecture, exploring them through color, movement, and form.
About this artform, Michael (also known by his pen name WOLF1200), says, “What’s always drawn me to graffiti is its energy–the raw, expressive quality of it, and especially the way artists interpret and manipulate letters… At its most complex, [graffiti] is an entire culture, a visual language, and a form of personal expression that spans styles, cities, and decades.”
A native of Duluth, Minnesota, Michael grew up skateboarding, doing graffiti, photography, and music. He received a BFA from the University of Minnesota before moving to Iowa City. He’s worked as a professional photographer for most of his career.
