WHAM! BANG! POP!
Local nonprofit Art in Uncommon Places does it once again by bringing unique art to downtown San Angelo. This time, founders of the organization Joy Thomas and Julie Raymond were inspired by the Pop Art movement of the 1950’s and 60’s. The art movement captivated the American and European art scene, with an ironic spin on the time’s zeitgeist. The Pop Art movement and the artists which defined it sought to take average aspects of an everyday consumer’s life and turn it into a commentary of our society. This is exemplified by the pieces of art which used common household objects like Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans, or modern figures of the time like his Marilyn Monroe piece. With this project, over 30 local artists were invited to create pieces reminiscent of the movement’s artists like Roy Lichtenstein and the Concho Valley’s own James Gill. Each piece brings a part of San Angelo’s rich history from the wool industry to the infamous Rodeo and Stock Show. Unlike their previous project, the revitalization of Paintbrush Alley, San Angelo’s Pop Art Museum is located in what was formerly Star Lanes, a local bowling alley. Before being utilized as a 24-hour, open air gallery, the structure served as a vacant space. Today, 125 W. Twohig catches all who might cross its path.
