Miami Artist LEBO Adds Expression to Halfway to Moogfest

LEBO Live Painting To Benefit the Bob Moog Foundation

 

Miami artist David “LEBO” Le Batard will paint live with Madlib on Saturday night, April 30, of the three-day festival, Halfway to Moogfest. LEBO, known for his exuberant use of color and cartoon expressionism, will create a four-foot-square canvas inspired by Madlib’s performance. The canvas will be auctioned after the concert with proceeds benefitting the Bob Moog Foundation.

Check out some of LEBO’s beautiful live painting work here.

In addition to painting live on Saturday night, LEBO will host an exhibition of his work throughout the weekend, including one-of-a-kind, hand-painted theremins and a Moog Slim Phatty. The instruments will  be part of an auction to benefit the Bob Moog Foundation.

In the majority of the artist’s work, LEBO’s interest in music is a consistent current that creates a platform for his paintings in terms of subject matter and composition. LEBO harmonically and rhythmically re-creates sequences of sound in time by laying down stylized lines combined with vivid palettes to complement his cartoon metaphors and cast of characters.

LEBO’s has produced commissioned work for the Latin Grammy Awards, the American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL and the Hotel de Arts in Sanfranciso, CA. Has served as the artistic director for Langerado Music Festival and his art is part of permanent collections of corporations such as Bacardi USA, Latin Grammys, Universal Music Group, William Morris Agency and Gibson Guitar Corp. His corporate client list includes Adidas, ESPN, Google, Macy’s, Inc., Microsoft and Simon and Schuster.

See many examples of LEBO’s commission work here.

LEBO explains, “Working with the Bob Moog Foundation seems like a great fit, as I feel we share the same approach of blending fine craftsmanship, creative exploration, and a keen interest in unique technological applications.”

Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, notes, “LEBO’s integration of music and visual art speaks to the transcendental nature of creative expression, the very expression that guided Bob Moog’s career. LEBO, like many visual artists, has told me that Bob Moog’s legacy inspires his work. Through LEBO’s painting, we celebrate the inspirational value of creativity across genres.”

Check out this blog to see a couple of theremins that LEBO painted for us when we were on Jam Cruise together in January. LEBO auctioned three  painted  theremins on the cruise, which raised over $3,000.

Halfway to Moogfest 2011 is a celebration of the midway point to this year’s festival. The excitement is absolutely brimming and cannot possibly be contained until October. The Halfway to Moogfest 2011 weekend will present The Family Tour featuring Atmosphere, Blueprint, Grieves with Budo, Sab the Artist, and DJ Abilities on Friday, April 29; a co-headline featuring a DJ Set from Madlib and Washed Out on Saturday, April 30; and Rusko, who will close out the weekend on Sunday, May 1, with Doorly. Tickets for Halfway to Moogfest are available through the Orange Peel (www.theorangepeel.net).

The weekend will give fans a taste of what’s possible at Moogfest 2011. Instruments will be on display, new creations will be demonstrated, and engineers from Moog Music, Inc. will be available to discuss all the intricate and exciting happenings at the Moog factory. A portion of the proceeds from the weekend will also benefit the Bob Moog Foundation, which will be on-site to give fans a chance to dig deeper into the legacy of Bob Moog.

Please come join us at Halfway to Moogfest on April 29, 30 and May 1 at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC. LEBO will be there all weekend sharing his talents!

David “LEBO” Le Batard

www.lebostudios.com

David “LEBO” Le Batard is a Cuban-American artist who is recognized for his murals, paintings, sculptures, and wide spectrum of creative media. LEBO represents the self-proclaimed movement of “Postmodern Cartoon Expressionism,” the application of cartoon imagery combined with richly saturated balances of color and unique linear composition. Ranging from abstract to highly narrative, his aim is to evoke emotion and create layers of meaning.

Born in New York City (November 19, 1972) to Cuban émigré parents and raised in South Florida, LEBO’s formal training in the arts began at Florida International University in Miami, Florida (BA degree, 1995) and culminated in his residency at the International Museum of Cartoon Art in Boca Raton, Florida, where he lectured on the practical and technical approaches of illustration.

The Bob Moog Foundation

www.moogfoundation.org

The Bob Moog Foundation honors the legacy of synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog through its mission of igniting creativity at the intersection of music, history, science, and innovation. Its projects include MoogLab Student Outreach Program, which brings electronic musical instruments into the schools to teach children science through music; the Archive Preservation Initiative, an effort to preserve and protect the inventor’s extensive and historical archive; and the future Moogseum, an innovative educational, historical, and cultural facility that will bring Bob Moog’s spirit alive. It will be located in Asheville, NC, in the years ahead, pending necessary funding.

The Bob Moog Foundation is an independent, donor-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is not formally affiliated with Moog Music, Inc.

Moogfest

www.moogfest.com

Moogfest 2011 is a three-day festival celebrating the innovative vision of sonic pioneer, Robert Moog, held in Asheville, NC, during Halloween weekend, October 28-30. Moogfest is an essential pilgrimage for music fans and sonic adventurers from all over the world. Numerous concerts featuring dozens of internationally acclaimed artists—along with workshops, talks, installations, exhibitions, and interactive experiences—are held in multiple venues throughout downtown Asheville, including the Asheville Civic Center Arena, the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, and Asheville’s renowned world-class nightclub, the Orange Peel.