Hasta La Ideas

An NYC exhibit displays 3,000 works from English punk band Crass’ seven-year reign

Though London’s famed punk venue The Roxy is now a decidedly sober Speedo Swimwear outlet, in the late ’70s and early ’80s, the U.K. was in the midst of a royal cultural battle between the Thatcherite establishment and a new breed of shock-and-awe artists and musicians. At the forefront of the movement, the English band Crass’ two-chord rant Banned from The Roxy was somewhat of an anthem for the times.

Preserved for posterity are 3,000 fanzines, flyers, posters, manuscripts and original works of art sent to the band between 1977 and 1984. These punk artifacts have been collected and cataloged by visual artist Gee Vaucher, who collaborated with the band and still resides at Dial House, a collective in the Essex countryside.

These works have crossed the Atlantic for a special viewing from 30 September-20 October 2011 at Boo-Hooray in NYC. The gallery has also published a limited edition (250 copies) catalog along with 500 pressings of a 7-inch vinyl recording featuring Crass’ Penny Rimbaud, with cover art by Vaucher.

An opening reception will be held from 6-9pm Friday, 30 September 2011. RSVP online at Boo-Horray. See images in the gallery.