Punk Portraits
Artworks by Mark Vallen
Los Angeles 1977 punk scene veteran

All artworks are accompanied by remarks from the artist:

"Way back in the late 1970's before personal computers, cell phones, MTV, the alternative music press, iPods, and the Internet - there was punk rock. As an artist I've always been interested in oppositional culture and the shock of the new, so when the punk rock movement hit Los Angeles in the 70's, I immediately recognized it as fertile ground for expressions of dissent and cultural insurrection and wasted no time in joining the ranks of the "Blank Generation."

I frequented the legendary Masque, L.A.'s infamous first punk club, and saw many of the performances given by early bands like the Germs, Deadbeats, Weirdos, Dickies, Black Randy and the Metro Squad, Skulls, Flesh Eaters, X, and the Screamers.

I worked a short stint at Slash magazine (L.A.'s premiere punk propaganda journal), and played a small role in working on The Decline of Western Civilization (the 1980 documentary film on L.A.'s punk movement directed by Penelope Spheeris).

My committed participation in all of this lead to a series of paintings and drawings that not only documented the ferment, but actively promoted and encouraged it. The artworks presented on this page represent just some of the works accomplished during those tumultuous years. I've included drawings that were published in Slash and the LA WEEKLY as well as works that never made it outside of my studio. A few of the works presented here are unfinished quick sketches I did at some early punk shows.

Like a crazed punk rock court reporter sketch artist, I'd sometimes take a drawing pad into the clubs. Under such chaotic circumstances it was difficult to actually come up with any good drawings, but on occasion I'd have some successes. Some of these sketches are offered on these pages and I consider them to be the best works I did as a punk war reporter. People found politics and each other through the music - an international community was born that stood outside of and against the status quo.

While much has changed in the world since punk first reared its ugly head, the original reasons for its rise still remain. Today as we struggle to find new cultural forms with which to express our outrage and discontent, we're experiencing a resurgence of punk. New generations are running with the tattered banner of '77. Hopefully, by examining the artifacts of a rebellious past offered on these pages, new strategies for the battle against complacency can be envisioned."