The summer of 1984 was awesome. The space shuttle Discovery took off on its maiden voyage, Apple released the Macintosh personal computer, the Olympics rallied the world together and Karate Kid was the hit film featuring the song Cruel Summer by Bananarama. The song and its video of three gorgeous young women roaming the streets of New York City inspired this show.

 CRUEL SUMMER is curated by collector, graffiti historian, and urban anthropologist Roger Gastman at Jonathan LeVine Gallery. While the hot summer streets crowded with friends, the contemporary fine art exhibit will feature the works of some of Gastman’s favorite artists working today, such as: Mike GIANT, Cleon Peterson, DABS MYLA, POSE, HAZE, REVOK, Niagara, HORFE, RIME, RISK, HUSK MIT NAVN, Shepard Fairey, Mark Bode, BLADE, Tim Conlon, Maya Hayuk, Caleb Neelon, Ben Venom, FINOK, Sam Friedman, COPE, REYES, CEPT and a few surprises.

Hot summer streets

And the pavements are burning

I sit around

Trying to smile

But the air is so heavy and dry

Strange voices are saying

What did they say

Things I can't understand

It's too close for comfort

This heat has got right out of hand

It's a cruel, cruel summer

Leaving me here on my own

It's a cruel, cruel summer

Now you're gone…