Hot Summer Streets, and the Pavements Are Burning: It's Gonna Be a "Cruel Summer" at Jonathan Levine Gallery Next Month

Jonathan Levine Gallery will open a group exhibition curated by Roger Gastman. It will feature works by Cleon Peterson, Maya Hayuk, Shepard Fairey, etc.

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Complex Original

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Those currently living in New York can probably relate to the lyrics of Bananarama's hit song. Indeed, this summer feels very much like a cruel, cruel summer, complete with hot summer streets and burning pavements. Fortunately, there is something for you to look forward to, happening next month. Jonathan LeVine Gallery will open a group exhibition entitled "Cruel Summer" (hence all the song references), curated by Roger Gastman.

For those who don't know, Gastman is a collector, graffiti historian, urban anthropologist, and arts enthusiast in general. He wrote graffiti as a teenager and later became a mediator between the underground art scene and mainstream culture. 

"The summer of 1984 was awesome. The space shuttle Discovery took off on its maiden voyage, Apple released the Macintosh personal computer, the Olympics rallied the world together and Karate Kid was the hit film featuring the song 'Cruel Summer' by Bananarama," Gastman said. "The song and its video of three gorgeous young women roaming the streets of New York City inspired this show."

It will feature the works of over 20 artists including Ben Venom, Blade, Caleb Neelon, Cleon Peterson, Cope, Dabs Myla, Finok, Eric Haze, Horfe, HuskMitNavn, Mark Bode, Maya Hayuk, Mike Ballard (Cept), Mike Giant, Niagara, Pose, Revok, Rime, Risk, Sam Friedman, Shepard Fairey, Tim Conlon, and Victor Reyes. The show will be on view from Aug. 6—23, 2014.  

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