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For larger images,
click on small images below
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Item No. 11:
8.5"x11" b/w photocopy
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Dreva-Biron-Opel
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Hastings Billboard
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February 6-12,
1979
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This cock-modified
billboard was the last of the joint art projects of Jerry Dreva
and Biron in 1978-79. The billboard attack included spray painted
hearts that Biron created using stencils sent by Dreva from South
Milwaukee and previously used in Biron's 'Heart Attack' at the
San Francisco ART
INSTITUTE on September 7, 1978. His H.M. (Homage to R. Mutt
) stencil was again used on the billboard. Located at the
corner of Bush and Pine Streets in San Francisco, this billboard
was part of an advertising campaign by Hastings, a local men's
clothing store.
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Cock-modified Billboard photo
by Robert Opel
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Robert
Opel in association
with Katos Rota
Item No.
14: 11.25"x14" b/w - offset
printed collage
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Fey-Way Studios
AMERICA BUSTED - a satirical
revue 8:30 PM & 10:30
PM, July 4 , 1979 Players: Alexander Larsen, Howard Davis-McNeeley. Music
by SUNSHINE
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powerful and disturbing 4th of July collage poster is
signed by Opel and
St.
Bernard. The sheet music for Irving Berlin's patriotic
classic modified to read "God Bless Africa" serves
as the background. Is the face hidden behind St. Bernard's
Statue
of Liberty mask,
Harvey Milk or Robert Opel? The mouth stuffed with
a Twinkies recalls Harvey Milk's murder. Dan White's
obscene legal defense
alleging
a Twinkie sugar rush is cleverly illustrated with a
string from the Twinkie tied to the gun's trigger. Finally,
the gunshot
wound with a reference to cocaine over the left eye, was, according
to press reports, the precise point of entry of the bullet
that killed Robert three days after this performance. Over 30 years
later, I still wonder whether this was all coincidence or if the
poster
played
a role in Robert's assassination? More re California
Case vs Keenan.
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Dreva's Heart Attack (1978)
Jerry Dreva's letter
South Milwawkee, Wisconsin
August 1, 1979
Item
No. 15: 8.5"x11" - two page single spaced typed letter on
colored paper.
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Robert Opel's impact
went far beyond the borders of San Francisco. He was connected
to underground movements both in New York and Los Angeles. He exploited
his notoriety for having streaked the 1974 Academy Awards and used
every opportunity to promote Gay artists as this 1979 letter from
Jerry Dreva indicates.
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- Robert
Opel on TV streaking the Academy Awards with David Niven at the
podium in April 1974.
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- For SF Chronicle 1979
article on Opel's life and death, click on above pic!
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