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We love it when “urban” is used to describe art. Our decoder ring says it’s a soft and very PC way of saying the works include racial themes.
Such is the case for local painter Alyisse Tramel (a.k.a. Isse Fresh), who references African-American icons like Martin Luther King Jr., Richard Pryor, and Busta Rhymes. Working with his signature stencil, graffiti-like quality, and bright, flat colors, Tramel’s solo show “Butterscotch Swag” moves beyond portraits of the famous to depict humble, anonymous figures. “Urban” or not, the pieces are bold and memorable, and sure to make this show the talk of June’s First Friday.
Fri., June 5, 7-10 p.m., 2009