Arturo Vega Art Exhibit – NYC – The Artist who Designed the Ramones Logo

Arturo Vega – American Treasure – March 29-April 25, 2015 – 6 East 1st Street, 10003 NYC. http://www.howlarts.org/ 

Arturo Vega was a Mexican-born artist who designed the logo for the famous punk rock band, the Ramones.  While he was widely known for graphic imagery that defined punk music and fashion, he was also a gifted artist. Sadly, cancer took his life in 2013.

Won’t Run is a musician who grew up in Forest Hills, NY alongside many noted punk rock musicians, including those who comprised the Ramones. Won’t Run was fond of Arturo, whom he described as a talented and gentle soul.

This week there is a show of the late Arturo Vega’s artwork in the East Village at the brand new Howl Gallery located at 6 East 1st Street, NYC 10003.  The exhibit, called Arturo Vega: American Treasure, runs from March 29th to April 25.

The American Treasure collection are all paintings of variations of an open palm holding a 1972 silver dollar. Many of the paintings depict Latin American flags.  Saturday evening, there was a pre-opening event at Howl Gallery and we had the honor of attending.  The art was striking, bold and colorful. I felt the international flair that Arturo infused into his artwork and quickly understood Won’t Run’s compassion for the man.  Here are a few photos I took of the exhibit, but I recommend that you go see it in person:

Won’t Run promised to guest write this post, but if I waited for that the exhibit would be long over.  He did love Arturo though:

More about Howl Arts: HOWL! Arts, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicating to preserving the past and celebrating the contemporary culture of the East Village and Lower East Side. Inspired by the late poet-philosopher Allen Ginsberg—a lifelong spokesperson for peace, justice, and freedom of expression—HOWL! Arts Inc. embraces his insightful, iconoclastic, and irreverent legacy to inspire and galvanize new artists and audiences. HOWL Arts gives the public the tools to join in the creative process and to experience first hand the value of a creative life; the heritage of social justice; and the flourishing of diverse cultures which are the signatures of this vital community.