By Over the past few years, no other name in the art world has become quite as synonymous with excellent popular culture art as Los Angeles’ Gallery 1988 and their annual show, Crazy 4 Cult. The show encompasses virtually every cult movie you can think of, from classics like Edward Scissorhands and The Big Lebowski to relative newcomers like Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim vs The World.
In 2011, Gallery 1988 for the released a book for the first time showcasing some of the various pieces that the Crazy 4 Cult shows have featured throughout the years. Well, a new year – and many new pieces – call for a new book! This year Gallery 1988 has released Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art 2! Or as I’ve taken to calling it, Crazy 4 Cult 2; Crazy Harder; The Crazining.
Crazy 4 Cult 2 offers a lot of similar fare as Gallery 1988’s first cult movie art book; Crazy 4 Cult, with perhaps a bit more diversity of works and subject matter presented. Most of the book features full-page or double page spread prints of original works, though a few salon-style collage pages are dotted throughout.
Flipping through each page of Crazy 4 Cult 2 is a cult movie fan’s little slice of heaven. The book is packed full of gorgeous pieces of art, each making a reference, joke or statement that fans of these cult movies revel in. And that’s the thing about Crazy 4 Cult and all the pieces in it — they’re just plain fun. There’s something intrinsically lighthearted and celebratory about cult films to begin with. There’s some sense of accidental found quality that’s entirely unpredictable and surprising, but recognized by its consequential production of unremitting love. That’s why communities around cult movies spring up and have caught on like wildfire; we cult movie fans love to share and relish in our love of these movies!
Gallery 1988’s Crazy 4 Cult shows give these cult movie fans the opportunity to come together as communities and, perhaps increasingly more importantly, have proven that there is a quickly growing and under-represented market of artists and art buyers who are specifically interested in cult pop culture. Gallery 1988’s Crazy 4 Cult shows were also the first and most definitive step in a continuously growing movement of art culture that is specifically geared towards including a younger generation of movie goers, artists and art lovers.
Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art 2 is a wonderful book to meander through and enjoy. It would also make an excellent gift for any cult movie lover on your lists! (Christmas is right around the corner, hint hint!) And if you’re in or will be in LA, check out either of Gallery 1988’s locations to see these awesome works in person! I’ve included some images of the book below, but check out the book itself for many, many more great pieces of art!