Beautiful Losers

Finally got my own copy of Beautiful Losers; a truly inspiring documentary about a group of skaters/diy-artists/punks/outsiders and their unique creations and philosophies on life. It features a number of artists who are often classed as key to the primarily 90s 'Mission School' scene which centered in an area of San Francisco including the legendary and deceased Margaret Kilgallen, her widow Barry McGee and Chris Johanson. The film really captures the collaborative nature of the work which was produced and shown in makeshift galleries in squats and warehouses. Whilst being a really positive and uplifting film it also has a bittersweet edge particularly due to the death of Kilgallen who was so obviously central to the movement.

Margaret Kilgallen

Barry McGee

Chris Johanson

Aaron Rose is also featured as the founder of the notorious New York based 'Alleged' gallery that hosted some very wild and extraordinary events. What I hadn't realised was that Rose is also an artist himself and has more recently produced some intricately hand painted suitcases (below) that really capture the folk art roots that have so clearly influenced the Beautiful Losers.