Sixspace is a new gallery located in the East Village which focuses on bringing artists from all backgrounds, places, and mediums into the Chicago area. The artists Sixspace features encourage people to challenge the standard way of viewing, thinking, and processing art and will attempt to provide viewers with a different outlook on their surroundings. The intent of this gallery is to be involved with the community; to attempt to bring art into the lives of those who exist outside the "artworld" yet can also benefit from everything art has to offer. There is no better way for Sixspace to open than to show someone who has earned a reputation for challenging the way we see our world - Glen E. Friedman. Throughout his career that began in the mid 1970's, Friedman has been able to capture early moments of radical, rebellious movements as well as people who showed us a different way of looking at things. His images have become a part of our history, classics in their own time.

"The bottom line is that he was there at the beginning of so much cool stuff in so many different areas it's not funny. Art meets action. Art becomes action. There are no admitted heroes here. Just those who have it and know what to do with it. It's all about energy. Glen works on instinct. He gets it, he's got it. The photo's contained here and the evidence." Henry Rollins, 1994.

Chances are, you've seen Friedman's work before. When looking at his work, whether through his books or at an exhibition, there is usually a point of recognition. His photographs have been featured on thousands of magazine pages and over 100 record covers since he was first published at the age of fourteen. One is certain to recognize at least a few of the artists that include Beastie Boys, Ice T, Black Flag, Pubic Enemy, Fugazi, LL Cool J, Circle Jerks, Run-DMC, and Bad Brains. The statement, "I've seen that before," is not uncommon. Very often his images tend to become those that best represent the icons he has shot and, for the years to come, those which stay in our minds eye even when we aren't physically looking at them. Quite simply, he may be considered the most important photographer of his generation!

This exhibition features work from the mid 1970's to mid 1990's photo-documents of the beginning of the skateboarding, punk, and hip-hop scenes. Friedman took pictures of these three movements because the people involved had attitude, had energy, and didn't play by the rules. He started his career, barely a teenager, by taking pictures of the West L.A. skate scene, DogTown. His images of Jay Adams, Tony Alva, and Stacy Peralta, among many others, were featured in the biggest skate periodical of the time, SkateBoarder Magazine, and captured unique moments of the skateboarding phenomenon. He then began to take some of the best upfront, in-your-face, pictures of the forming punk movement with bands such as Minor Threat, Dead Kennedy's, X, Black Flag, etc. Glen continued by photographing and promoting the then budding rap scene with Beastie Boys, all the early Def Jam recording artists, Run DMC, and LL Cool J. On occasion, Friedman still takes photographs of these scenes and much more. His latest book, "The Idealist," features these as well as his more aesthetically inclined fine art photography.

Concerning photography, Glen says: "Unfortunately, most young people today tend to follow what others say without question. But my photos are about non-conformity; They are anti-conservative. The skateboarders, punk, and hip-hop artists have a lot in common. They were, or are, very rebellious young people trying to speak their own minds, and by doing so they have affected the culture we live in, whether one realizes it or not." Japan Times, 1998.

See Glen E. Friedman's "Fuck You All" at Sixspace July 30 through August 29, 1999. Opening reception July 30 from 6-10 pm. Sixspace is located at xxxx West Chicago Avenue. Information about exhibitions, programs, and special events is available at www.sixspace.com or reach Caryn Coleman at 773-xxx-xxxx. Glen is currently doing interviews. Please contact to set one up for your publication.

For more information on Glen E. Friedman you can also check out www.BURNINGFLAGS.com