Top 2 Bottom: A Journey Through the Elements of Hip Hop Culture - An exhibit on display at Tompkins County Public Library, March 29 to June 14, 2013

Joe Conzo

TCPL presents Top 2 Bottom: A Journey Through the Elements of Hip-Hop Culture. Curated by Jason Otero of Art & Anthropology, this exhibit features the acclaimed work of Hip-Hop photographers Joe Conzo and Ernie Paniccioli - made possible by Cornell University Library's Rare and Manuscript Collections; a new body of work by Ithacan Jay Stooks; a showcase of early Hip-Hop memorabilia, including house party flyers, boom-boxes, mix-tapes, fashion and graffiti; materials from the collection of Cap Matches Color; and artwork created by Ithaca's youth at a special graffiti workshop. This unique exhibit will be on display throughout the Library from March 29 through June 14, 2013.

The opening reception, which is free and open to the public, will take place during Downtown Ithaca Gallery Night,  Friday, April 5 from 5 - 8 PM. 

Ernie Paniccioli

At 6:30 PM the unique opportunity is offered to attend a panel discussion about the exhibit featuring Conzo and Paniccioli and moderated by Dr. Sean Eversley Bradwell, assistant professor, Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity at Ithaca College. The discussion will take place in the Library's BorgWarner Community Room.  Special guests will include Hip-Hop Founder Afrika Bambaataa, and pioneers such as Grandmaster Caz, JDL, Crazy Legs, Popmaster Fabel, Charlie Ahearn, Buddy Esquire, and Mare139.

Part of  Unbound from the Underground - an Ithaca Community Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture, this exhibit has been made possible by the generous support of Art & Anthropology, Cornell University Library Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cap Matches Color, Sellco, Highway Hi Fi, and with grant support from Tompkins County Tourism Program, New York Council for the Humanities, and the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County. 

For more information about TCPL's events at this weekend's celebrations go to tcpl.org/events-exhibits/hip-hop/

Graffiti Art Lab - March 23, 2013, 1:00 - 3:30 PM

Tompkins County Public Library 

presents 

Graffiti Art Lab – A Graffiti Workshop for Kids ages 8 to 14 

Saturday March 23, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, 

in the BorgWarner Community Room

Local graffiti artists will introduce young artists to the world of graffiti, explaining different techniques from choosing a “name” to creating a style of writing, to producing a finished piece of artwork.   Finished pieces of graffiti will be included in the forthcoming exhibit “Top 2 Bottom – a Journey Through the Elements of Hip-Hop Culture” which will be on display at the Library March 29 through June 14.  

This exhibit is part of “Hip-Hop: Unbound from the Underground – An Ithaca Community Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture."   The Graffiti Art Lab is intended to introduce younger members of the community to this art style which grew out of the culture of Hip-Hop, and to give a greater appreciation for the wonderful work that will be created at “Get-Up State” – three days of live mural painting taking place April 5 through 7 on the Cornell University Press Building at 770 Cascadilla Street.

Registration is required for the workshop as numbers are restricted.  Please call 607 272-4557 ext 232 or email sgrubb@tcpl.org with kids' names, ages and contact information.  If a large number register a second workshop will be scheduled from 3:00 to 4:30 PM on Saturday, March 23.

Get-Up State - 3 days of Live Mural Painting featuring some of the world's best Graffiti Artists April 5 - 7, 2013

Tompkins County Public Library, with the generous support of Ironlak AVT Paints, is proud to present Get-Up State - Three days of live, mural painting, featuring some of the world's finest graffiti artists April 5 - 7.

World-class guest artists include:

Bates AIO;  Nicer TATS;  Bio TATS;  BG 183 TATS;  Doc TC5;  Sye TC5;  Dero TC5 FC TFP FX;  Mare 139 CIA ROC STARS;  Wane COD;  Luze FC;  Python XMEN BAD;  Art Child BTX;  Vins EOS FC;  Zone WST;  Stae 2 WST;  Seter GFR;  Mast TGE;  Skam KAOS INC;  Slon AK YNN;  Range FUA;  Zoner FUA;  Snoe FUA;  Cruk FUA;  Bones FUA;  Tomb DBM;  Rapes DF ATT;  Enue COD;  Crazy Apes;  Pure TFP;  and more!

The mural painting will be taking place on the stark Cornell University Press Building at 770 Cascadilla Street, Friday through Sunday. Limited on-site parking is available. The nearest TCAT bus on Friday and Saturday is #13 which leaves Seneca Street/the Commons on the hour and stops at Cascadilla and Third Street.

Spectators are strongly encouraged to watch what promises to be an amazing display of talent from some of the best artists on today's graffiti scene. All wall space is reserved and visitors are requested to respect guest artists and their working space. 

Witness firsthand this incredible showcase and see just how far graffiti has come since the early days of Hip-Hop and how incredible an art form it is.

Visit the Get-Up State Facebook page for regularly-updated information.

Part of "Hip Hop: Unbound from the Underground," this event is coordinated by Cap Matches Color and made possible with the generous support of Ironlak AVT Paint, the guest artists, Writers Bench, Cornell University Press and grant support from the Tompkins County Tourism Program. 

For more information about other TCPL events that are part of Unbound from the Underground visit tcpl.org/events-exhibits/hip-hop.

Hip Hop: Unbound from the Underground - An Ithaca Community Celebration of Hip Hop Culture April 4 - 7, 2013

Tompkins County Public Library is excited to announce its partnership with Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections and other community groups to offer Hip-Hop: Unbound from the Underground - An Ithaca Community Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture, April 4 through 7.

This four-day celebration, featuring events on campus and throughout the community, will include exhibit openings, gallery exhibitions, panel discussions, film screenings, concerts and three days of live, mural painting by some of the world's finest graffiti artists. 

TCPL will launch its participation with the April 5, 5:00 - 8:00,  opening of  Top 2 Bottom - A Journey Through The Elements of Hip-Hop Culture. Curated by Jason Otero of Art & Anthropology, this multi-media exhibit features the work of acclaimed Hip-Hop photographers Joe Conzo and Ernie Paniccioli, a new body of work by Ithacan Jay Stooks, a showcase of early Hip-Hop memorabilia including house party flyers, boom-boxes, mix-tapes, fashion and graffiti, materials from the collection of Cap Matches Color; and work created by Ithaca's youth at special graffiti workshops.

The opening, being held during Downtown Ithaca Gallery Night, will include a rare opportunity, thanks to Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, to hear from Conzo and Paniccioli, as they join moderator Dr. Sean Eversley Bradwell, assistant professor, Center for the Study of Culture, Race and Ethnicity at Ithaca College, for a lively panel discussion, at 6:30 in the BorgWarner Community Room.  Special guests at this panel discussion will include Hip-Hop founder Afrika Bambaataa and pioneers such as Grandmaster Caz, JDL, Crazy Legs, Popmaster Fabel, Charlie Ahearn, Buddy Esquire and Mare139.

TCPL, thanks to the generous support of Ironak AVT Paints, will also celebrate Hip-Hop with Get-Up State - Three days of live, mural painting featuring some of the world's finest grafitti artists.  During three days, April 5 through 7, these artists will transform the Cornell University Press building from dull grey to brilliant color and life.

Visit this blog often for updated information, or check out tcpl.org/events-exhibits/hip-hop/, TCPL's Facebook page, or the Library Calendar. 
  
Major sponsors of TCPL's events include the Tompkins County Tourism Program, New York Council for the Humanities, Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, Ironlak ATV Paints, Cap Matches Color, Art & Anthropology and Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections.

For information about all of the events taking place during the weekend celebrations, visit  Unbound from the Underground.