Sep 06, 2016 The art of Parliament-Funkadelic’s Overton Loyd at the California African American Museum
The California African American Museum has been around for 30 years but the state-of-the-art structure still feels brand new and it was only this summer that it became a Smithsonian affiliate. But while CAAM’s future seems bright, there’s no reason to wait around for future shows. I would go in the next two weeks while Overton Loyd‘s exhibit is still up
I saw Rhythm of Vision: The Artistry of Overton Loyd last weekend, and it provides an overview of the artist who is best known for his work with Parliament, Funkadelic, and George Clinton. His visual contributions to the albums were as mind blowing as the music was wild, political, and funky. A real argument for vinyl or CDs or MP3s.
Loyd’s twists on graffiti style and underground comix is timeless, and I think his animated work stands right next to Wizards and Heavy Metal as key psychedelic cartoons of the ’70s and ’80s.
Did you know that Loyd won Billboard magazine’s “Best Use Of Computer Graphics” award for his work on George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” in 1982?
I actually like his Saturday morning cartoon-influenced contributions to Bootsy Collins’s “Disciples of Funk” even more.
There is more recent, personal work, too, including oils Loyd painted after moving from Detroit to pre-gentrified Downtown Los Angeles, as well as loose pen and ink drawings, cartoon illustrations, and mixed media pieces. The four-room exhibit shows his full breadth of work as well as his growth as an artist and commitment to community.
The balance of Loyd’s more introspective personal work with his fantastic music-related pieces creates an impressive and powerful mix for fans of funk, comics, and art. The sense of purpose in both is inspiring, and it would have been awesome to have attended the opening events when the creator himself was present…
Check it out at CAAM until Sunday, September 18. After that, who knows when you’ll be able to take a picture with a life-sized version of the T.R.T. McClean cut-out from Motor Booty Affair? Admission is free but parking costs 12 bucks, so bring a van full of friends and family like I did.
California African American Museum
Exposition Park
600 State Drive
Los Angeles