It's Because I Love You

East End Studio Gallery debuts first group exhibition by Blue Dozen Collective Houston, TX ? July 21, 2012 ? The Blue Dozen Collective will open their first group exhibition, ?It-s Because I Love You,? a diverse examination of struggle and justification, on August 17, 6:00-11:00 p.m. at East End Studio Gallery with a reception open to the public. The exhibition will be on view through August 31. The Blue Dozen Collective is a group of eleven artists, featuring Bryan Cope, Briks, Teri Lazardi, Robert Kilsby and more. This diverse group of artists combines backgrounds in painting, graphic design, fashion and graffiti. The members of the Blue Dozen Collective share their creations both in galleries and public spaces. Their artwork exemplifies an energetic response to urban surroundings. ?It-s Because I Love You? debuts the group-s first collaboration on content rather than substrate or venue. After an abrasive verbal confrontation with a stranger, Cope found himself questioning the justifications behind social interactions and inevitable conflicts. ?I thought love would be an ideal vehicle to speak to the complexities of struggle. Love is invoked to justify many conflicts and in doing so it often exposes a perversion of ideals,? explains Cope. The Blue Dozen Collective will explore these themes through paintings, mixed media pieces, and two installations. The exhibition will be on view through August 31 at East End Studio Gallery, 708 C Telephone Road Houston, Texas 77023. All exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bryan Cope at 979.236.0648, or by email at [email protected]. About East End Studio Gallery: The Houston Institute for Culture East End Studio Gallery is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and foster artistic endeavors and to exhibit community works in all media. The gallery celebrates expressions of culture, identity and social issues and works side by side with artists through art shows, workshops, gallery talks, studio spaces, creative networks and educational outreach programs.