Lenoir, NC – The Caldwell Arts Council announces a new exhibition titled “All Riot on the Western Front,” featuring hand cut collage artwork by Tyler Stephens of Lenoir, North Carolina. The exhibition will open April 1, 2022 and continue through May 27, 2022.
Tyler “Sour Steve” Stephens is the living embodiment of the new generation of DIY punk artists: a master of all trades from hand-crafted, surreal, tongue-in-cheek collage bits to writing, recording, and producing three full length punk rock albums from his studio apartment. Sour Steve has been creating thought-provoking collage works since 2019. By combining vintage pre-war and post-war adverts of the 1930’s-1950’s with more modern imagery of our current political and social landscape, Sour Steve’s art challenges the viewer to confront incongruities and the political paradoxes of our modern society.
In 2020, Sour Steve became a member of Oakland, CA-based art collective, Destroy Art Inc. headed by legendary punk artist Winston Smith. Together, the team use their art as activism to fight off bigotry, hatred, and injustice as seen fit, and use their talents to promote love, empowerment and community. Since then, Sour Steve’s collage work has been featured in galleries and competitions across North Carolina as well as being featured in the first two issues of Destroy Everything Fanzine. Sour Steve has also created commission work for numerous venues and hardcore bands across the nation. Originally from West Virginia, Sour Steve has been wreaking havoc in the greater Lenoir area for the last two years. It really doesn’t get any more DIY than Sour Steve.
The Caldwell Arts Council is located at 601 College Ave SW in Lenoir, NC, and is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. For more information, visit www.caldwellarts.com.
