AnARTchy: The Art of Punk

AnARTchy gallery gives a new meaning to punk in this downtown Huntington Beach display.

Life size paintings of No Doubt’s Gwen Stephanie, black and white photos of The Ramones, and painted records flow on the walls of the Rain Water gallery at this free event in downtown Huntington Beach where artist are here to show their love for the punk rock style here in Southern California. Artist influenced by artist and paying their respects by displaying their numerous works of paintings, mixed media collages, and lots and lots of historic photographs for others to enjoy.

They call it AnARTchy, the perfect name for the event where you’d expect to hear the banging of drums and feel the sweat drip from your head contrasting to the elegant white walls of one of Huntington Beach’s newest art galleries, but it’s anything but chaos here, where everyone has come out for the same purpose to show what influence the punk rock era had for them as individuals and how it changed the landscape of Southern California. But it’s created more than just that as the artist are using this space to “reflect on its aggressive response toward social and political unrest through a unique collection of artistic documents and ephemera.”

Along with the artist who have added their paintings, photographs, and history to the walls have been many special guest appearances with book signings and live reading of “Principles of Recovery” along with a Q & A from Jack Grisham of TSOL, DH Peligro of Dead Kennedy’s, a screening of Backstage passport 2, NOFX documentary following them on tour, and a live acoustic performance from Johnny and Annie from Old Man Markley. It has all given attendees a truly intimate look at the many artist that this gallery is about and still keeping it free to attend.

The AnARTchy gallery is displaying the works of such artist like John Gilhooley whose been featured on the cover of OC Weekly as well as artist such as Maggie St.Thomas whose numerous photographs cling to the walls, Winston Smith, Bad Otis Link, Sean Rowley and Alex Zeblotsky original album artwork and playbill can be seen decorating this space, Tinsley Hammond, and Black Hearts Rule all there to show their support the punk rock scene and era.

“It is especially important because it focuses on the art of punk which is more than Mohawks, colored hair, ripped jeans, and safety pins through body parts.” says one artist, Maggie St Thomas, whose love of punk rock she inherited from her father has helped to skyrocket her career into a photographer of bands such as the Ramones and a big contributor to AnARTchy. Many of her black and white photos of the Ramones playing their music color the walls of the Rain Water Gallery.

And it’s done more than just show what the punk rock music movement was and is, but St. Thomas says “I feel like Angels have been breathing life into me again as an artist and I’m just thankful to be a part of this event.” It has given a chance for many artist and attendees to bring back to life their head banging, chaotic, rule bending, and innovating dreams of the punk rock era and bring in to our present lives.