Lexington, KY - The word prohibition brings up mental images of lots of things, including bathtub gin, warning signs - basically a big "not allowed" comes to mind. To flip that on its end, a group of creative folks here in Lexington have put together PRHBTN, an organization and an event to celebrate art forms that have been prohibited for many years but have recently become more recognized as valid and valuable. The upcoming exhibition hopes to shed some positive light on the art forms of street art and graffiti and bring them out of the dark shadows of the underground and into the light.
Street art has been gaining recognition as a genre all its own and has given rise to many distinct styles and is now being celebrated in the mainstream art world.
"We want to celebrate these art forms that have been criminalized, marginalized and under-appreciated," said Jessica Case, owner of PRHBTN, LLC.
The exhibition is opening November 11 and will run through November 16. An opening party will be held at Buster's, 899 Manchester Street, in the heart of Lexington's Distillery District, which is envisioned as a future arts and entertainment destination.
"We want this to be a bringing together of a regional community of art lovers, people new to the genre, artists, musicians and businesses interested in urban culture," said Case.
The event kicks off with an invitation-only reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. sponsored by Green's Toyota. The evening's festivities will continue with a DJ set performed by Passion Pit and other guest performers from among the nation's top dance and electronic artists who plan to keep the party going until 3 a.m. Tickets, which are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, are limited to ages 18 and up.
Following the kickoff reception and festivities, the exhibit will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for all ages, with free admission.
Thirty percent of proceeds from sales of artwork from the PRHBTN exhibit will be donated to any of a list of local non-profits, as chosen by the artists, including the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, the Living Arts and Science Center, the Lexington Art League, the Bluegrass Trust and Progress Lexington. The work of more than 20 artists will be featured.