A GROUP OF ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS have come together to form THE UNDERGROUND ARTS COLLECTIVE. The Collective is holding an art exhibition and auction to benefit Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council on Saturday, September 11, 2010.

ARTISTS FROM THE COLLECTIVE ARE FROM ALL PARTS OF NYC, the US and other international cities. Through a “strictly grassroots” effort, we have already signed on close to 70 artists and photographers and the list is still growing!

THE UNDERGROUND ARTS COLLECTIVE STARTED AS THE BRAINCHILD of two staff members of Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council, Kelley Williams, its Executive Director and Ramon “Been” Vasquez, lead staff at Strycker’s Bay’s youth program, LACASA. Both were born and raised on the Upper West Side in the 60’s and 70’s and are alumni of neighborhood public schools.

BOTH “BEEN” AND KELLEY HAVE A PASSION FOR ART, PHOTOGRAPHY AND HIP HOP. Like their counterparts who helped define hip-hop culture (which encompasses art, music, and dance derived from the streets of NYC) they are part of a growing group of maturing contributors and enthusiasts of the culture with a deep appreciation for its raw creativity.

THE HIP HOP CULTURE HAS LEFT ITS MARK and it all began as an underground—maybe even as a “grassroots” movement. “Been” and Kelley’s generation of underground artists founded this powerfully creative art form and continue to define its legacy while keeping its history alive. Think about it, kids from the streets with no outlet for their artistic expression created, cultivated and made popular, hip hop music and the underground art scene of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

THE MEN, WOMEN AND “CREWS” that make up THE UNDERGROUND ARTS COLLECTIVE are artists that use art to express their creativity, to get across a message, to earn a living and yes, to contribute to worthy causes such as Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council. We hope you will join us on September 11, 2010.