Opening of Speerstra Gallery in Monaco, April 5, 1984.
"Artists from New York in Monte-Carlo".
Live performance by Rammellzee.
With works by Futura 2000, Rammellzee, Noc 167, Quik, Zephyr, Dondi White, Crash, Daze, Blade, Bill Blast, Seen, Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper.
On April 5, 1984, overlooking the heights of Monaco at 55 avenue du Jardin exotique, Speerstra Sr. chose to unveil the work of American artists such as Futura 2000, Dondi White, Zephyr, Blade, Seen and Daze, as well as the historic photographic output of Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper. The collective exhibition, soberly named "Artists from NewYork in Monte Carlo", fascinated the young Willem, who met Rammellzee, who had come all the way from his neighborhood in Queens for the occasion: "He even came to give a mini rap concert, in front of a very surprised audience of Monegasques. Rap was still very much unknown to the general public. But I remember it as a magical, unforgettable moment, because it was the first time I'd met the artist, and I was very impressed by his voice and charisma. A little later, I dwelt a little more on his pictorial production and was seduced by the quality of his works and the stories they told."
© Speerstra Gallery / © Sabella Augusto
