Black Flag “Nervous Breakdown” (1978) Art by Raymond Pettibon
Tucson, as any local barfly will testify, has a thriving musical tradition. From Texano to blues, there’s a band at most watering holes in town most evenings. And in conjunction with this fall’s Tucson Rocks! city wide celebration of the art of rock and roll, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson (MOCA) at 265 S. Church Ave. presents “Raymond Pettibon: The Punk Years, 1978-86.”
As the artist behind the eye-catching Black Flag “Nervous Breakdown” (1978) and Sonic Youth “Goo” (1990) album covers, Tucson-born Pettibon’s work was known to countless music fans during the late 20th century. Now, following contemporary art exhibitions from New York to Los Angeles and Switzerland to Spain, 150 pieces from his early years as a graphic artist will be shown at MOCA beginning Oct. 22.
In the 1980s L.A. punk rock scene, where Pettibon cut his teeth, artistic imagery was as often subtly subversive as it was overtly political. “Art comes after the fact, as a witness to certain things that have happened,” Pettibon has been quoted as saying. “I don’t have any grandiose illusions about changing anything.” Expect the exhibit at MOCA - whose self-described mission is “to inspire new ways of thinking” - to contain unsettling and/or controversial imagery.
“Raymond Pettibon: The Punk Years, 1978-86” runs through Dec. 18. Admission is $8 and MOCA’s free day is the first Sunday of every month; learn more at Moca-Tucson.org. Familiarize yourself with Raymond Pettibon’s art at RayPettibon.com.
