The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) announces the opening of “Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose” (“Turn the Page”), on view May 22 through Dec. 31, 2016. The exhibition is a collaborative initiative by two like-minded organizations, MOCA and Hi-Fructose, The New Contemporary Art Magazine, based in San Francisco, California. The exhibition, curated by MOCA, is a retrospective of the magazine, featuring 51 of some of the foremost contemporary artists of this decade. “Turn the Page” represents the museum’s first large-scale contemporary retrospective and the first time these artists will be shown together in one location. 

“’Turn the Page’ is the largest exhibition MOCA has undertaken. Not only will it advance the museum’s mission in educating the public on the significant art of today, it will undoubtedly spark dialogue through the diverse works of these boundary-breaking artists,” said MOCA’s Executive Director Debi Gray. 

Ten years ago, two San-Francisco-based artists, Annie Owens-Seifert and Daniel “Attaboy” Seifert started an art magazine to share the type of art they loved. Over the years, Hi-Fructose has become an influential publication with a devoted international readership, celebrating diverse art that transcends genres from artists who break away from conventional trends.  

“This exhibition is the chance for admirers and devotees to take their interest and curiosity one step further. To commune with a work of art in person is an opportunity for deep exploration, to discover nuance and detail with your own eyes,” said MOCA’s Curator Heather Hakimzadeh, who curated the exhibition, along with MOCA’s Exhibitions and Education Director Alison Byrne. 

Artists included in this exhibition are: AJ Fosik, Audrey Kawasaki, Barnaby Barford, Beth Cavener, Brian Dettmer, Brian McCarty, Camille Rose Garcia, Chris Berens, Erwin Wurm, Femke Hiemstra, Fulvio Di Piazza, Gary Taxali, Gehard Demetz, Greg Craola Simkins, James Jean, Jean-Pierre Roy, Jeff Soto, Jennybird Alcantara, Jeremy Geddes, Josh Keyes, Kate MacDowell, Kazuki Takamatsu, Kehinde Wiley, Kevin Cyr, Kris Kuksi, Lisa Nilsson, Marco Mazzoni, Marion Peck, Mark Dean Veca, Mark Ryden, MARS-1, Martin Wittfooth, Nicola Verlato, Olek, Parra, Ray Caesar, Ron English, Sam Gibbons, Scott Hove, Scott Musgrove, Shepard Fairey, Tara McPherson, Tiffany Bozic, Tim Biskup, Todd Schorr, Tracey Snelling, Travis Louie, Victor Castillo, Wayne White, Wim Delvoye, and Yoshitomo Nara. 

Viewers of this exhibition will find more than 50 original works of art, ranging from hyper-realistic paintings of unexpected animal and nature-inspired juxtapositions to intricately built sculptures that eclipse traditional themes and mediums, a hallucinatory installation and even a crocheted community public art project that will be unveiled during MOCA’s annual Boardwalk Art Show on June 16. Additionally, a wide selection of educational programming, master classes, artist talks, collaborative community outreach, film screenings, panel discussions, and events will provide the public an opportunity to interact with the art and artists. 

LA Gallerist Merry Karnowsky, (Merry Karnowsky Gallery // KP PROJECTS) has featured a number of exhibiting “Turn the Page” artists said, “There has not been a significant exhibition on the East Coast that has mapped the progression of the past 90s new/next generation of hybrid artist that have come from Lowbrow, Pop Surreal, Street, Urban and Mural Art traditions in over 20 years, which is why the ‘Turn the Page’ exhibition is as relevant as it is exciting.”  

The exhibition will debut at MOCA on May 22 and run through Dec. 31, 2016, before traveling to the Akron Art Museum (Akron, Ohio), Feb. 10 through May 7, 2017, and then to the Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento, California), June 11 through Sept. 17, 2017. 

Public Programs: MOCA will offer more than 50 programs related to the exhibition ranging from art talks and hands-on artist workshops to community events. “Turn the Page” programming highlights include:  

May 21 A Full Moon Menagerie: Opening Night Celebration 

May 22 PANEL: Q&A with Hi-Fructose Co-Founders, Annie Owens, and Attaboy 

Jun 16 PUBLIC ART UNVEILING featuring Olek 

July 7/8 Artist Talk: Beth Cavener / IN-DEPTH PROCESS TALK: Beth Cavener  

Sept. 11 MASTER CLASS & SPECIAL LIVE PAINTING EVENT: Greg “Craola” Simpkins 

Oct. 6 ARTIST TALK: War Toys with Brian McCarty  

Oct. 28 ARTIST TALK: Wayne White  

Nov. 10 ARTIST TALK: Martin Wittfooth  

Dec. 8/10 ARTIST TALK: Tara McPherson / MASTER CLASS: Tara McPherson  

Dec. 30 Closing Celebration 

May 21, 2016 - A Full Moon Menagerie: Opening Night Celebration 
Celebrate the opening of “Turn the Page” with a night of surreal and circus delights, featuring a dinner that transforms into an enchanting forest filled with unexpected art, cuisine, and libations inspired by the artists. Live entertainment by Gull (Richmond, Va.) and DJP and Mr T (Norfolk, Va.) will accompany a digital light spectacle, all under the auspices of a full moon.  

Publication: A catalog published by Baby Tattoo of more than 100 pages will accompany the exhibition as it travels to other museums across the country, providing a pictorial archive of the MOCA exhibition and a scholarly review while paying tribute to the forward-thinking of Hi-Fructose. 
 

Sponsorship: “Turn the Page” is organized by MOCA and made possible by the City of Virginia Beach. This exhibition is supported by generous grants from the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Acoustical Sheetmetal, Capital Group Companies, PRA Group, and the Fine Family Fund along with contributions from AGL Resources (VNG), Bank of America, BB&T, Clark Nexsen, Fulton Bank, Signature Family Wealth Management, VIA Design Architects and other MOCA supporters, as well as grants made possible by the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the Business Consortium for Arts Support. 

For more information about MOCA and “Turn the Page,” visit www.VirginiaMOCA.org. Join in on the conversation with #vaMOCAturnthepage and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

About MOCA 
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), located in Virginia Beach, is a non-profit that exists to foster awareness, exploration, and understanding of the significant art of our time. MOCA is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). As Virginia's only museum dedicated solely to the exhibition of contemporary art, MOCA encourages visitors to discover and explore art and to engage in hands-on art experiences. www.VirginiaMOCA.org.  

MOCA is located at 2200 Parks Ave., at the entrance of I-264 in Virginia Beach. The Museum is open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is $7.70 for adults and $5.50 for seniors/65+, students (includes children 5 and up) and active military. MOCA members and children four and under are admitted free of charge.