the art collectors

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Bobby Hutton Benefit Featuring McGee, Swoon + more

The Bobby Hutton Memorial Benefit art exhibit opens tomorrow, Nov. 29, at the Luggage Store in San Francisco. Hutton was amongst the earliest members of the Black Panther Party, who lost his life at the age of 16 during a 1968 confrontation with police.  Proceeds from the show (not auction) will help fund the completion of a memorial sculpture which will be placed in Oakland California’s (the birthplace of the Panthers) De Fremery Park.

The exhibit includes works for sale by Barry McGee, Swoon, Rigo 23, Andrew Schoultz, Date Farmers, Monica Canilao, and many others. The Luggage Store opening will be followed by a party at On Six Gallery, and will feature a performance by Digital Underground.

Here’s a brief biography of Hutton, courtesy of Babylon Falling:

For those of you who might be familiar with the name but not the story, Lil’ Bobby Hutton was the first member of the Black Panther Party and was also the first Party member murdered by the police. Having joined the Panthers as a 15 year old, by the time of his death in 1968 (just two weeks shy of turning 17) Lil’ Bobby was the Treasurer of a rapidly growing organization. Although the circumstances leading up to the confrontation that resulted in his death are the subject of dispute, there is no confusion over the fact that members of the Oakland and Emeryville Police Departments gunned down (12 shots, the first to the head at point blank range) an unarmed black teenager who had surrendered and was in their custody. His murder was the catalyst that increased the urgency and the intensity of the implementation of the Black Panther Party platform.

Bobby Hutton Memorial Benefit
organized by Sham Saenz
Nov. 29
Art Show and Sale
8 – 10 pm
Luggage Store
1007 Market St. (at 6th)

After Party
10pm – 2 am
On Six Gallery
60 6th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103