Renowned tattoo & graffiti artist Mike Giant has teamed up with Cannondale to create the Cannondale X Mike Giant Graffiti Bike, a one-off cycle to be auctioned for The Bahati Foundation. Their Giveback program works to inspire cycling in youth, which seems like a pretty solid charity — although when I was a kid, you hardly had to inspire me to ride around on my beloved Diamond Back BMX bike. That would be about as necessary as creating an Xbox Foundation these days to inspire kids to play Halo. Who knew they needed inspiration to ride bikes? Poor kids, our youth is worse off than I thought. Pick it up on eBay for a slick $30,000 and help kids learn to love biking.

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If you have been near, involved, curious or entrenched in the pop surrealism art scene that has exploded these past two decades, Juxtapoz magazine would be your bible and artists like Ron English, Todd Shorr and Robert Williams would be your spiritual guides. Matt Revelli, Editor of Juxtapoz and head man for Upper Playground has assembled a who’s who list of pop-surrealist, low brow, post modern and street artists for a worthy cause. There are up and comers, stand outs and true art superstars involved in this Saturday’s event (November 14th) at the Factory Place Arts Complex in Los Angeles and surely most will be there in attendance to support the Power House Project of Detroit. Looking at the list reads almost like a High School reunion; names that were either roommates, collaborators, licensors or just great friends and co-conspirators in an art movement that started off with little traction and ended up with Shepard Fairey’s HOPE image being a permanent piece in the Smithsonian’s collection.

This is a great chance to see some of the brush masters like Todd Schorr or Robert Williams alongside some of the new stars such as Greg “Craola” Simkins. A wide range of mediums from oils, watercolors, acrylic, pen and ink, collages, graphic art, spray cans, canvases, cardboard and wood will all be on display to blow the minds of those cohabitating at LA’s Wacko/Soap Plant for the last 15 years…or the kids with their noses buried in every street wear/street art blog available on this enormous world wide web. AND IT’S ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE! Proceeds will go to build five homes in Detroit, a community abandoned by the promises of prosperity and industry due to the declining and now plummeted economic climate plaguing it’s chief export. The Power House Project of Detroit will employ local electricians, carpenters, contractors, plumbers, etc. It’s a drop in the hat but the effort is valiant and hats-off to Matt Revelli for making a dent in a community desperate for help. Support and enjoy the artists, art and general party atmosphere provided by contributors from this dynamic scene.

All Proceeds from the Event Support Power House Project of Detroit . Hit the Jump for list of artists, gallery address, and all the details…

WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 7-11 pm

WHERE: The Factory Place Arts Complex, 1308 Factory Place, Los Angeles, CA 90013

WHY: Proceeds from “The Big Payback” auction will support the goal of purchasing five homes and employing local Detroit contractors, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters to perform the renovations. Selected artists will also be invited to participate in the remodeling. The event aims to raise the consciousness of both the problems of people disenfranchised by the nation’s economic crisis, as well as encourage a sense of community in the art world and inspire people to effect positive social change in their own communities.

WHO: Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine celebrates its 15th anniversary with “The Big Payback,” an online charity art auction and a special event in Los Angeles hosted by Upper Playground. The event benefits the non-profit Power House Project of Detroit.

WHAT: “The Big Payback” auction features original artwork from over 100 national and internationally renowned contemporary artists including: Matthew Barney, Swoon, CR Stecyk III, Robert Williams, Todd Schorr, Estevan Oriol, Mister Cartoon, Shepard Fairey, Doze Green, Todd “Reas” James, Thomas Campbell, Tim Biskup, KR, Big Daddy Roth, WK Interact, Clayton Brothers, Andrew Schoultz, James Jean, Ron English, Craola, David Choe, Mike Giant, Paul Insect, Jeremy Fish, Alex Pardee, Saber, David Ellis, Boogie, D*Face, Cody Hudson, Herbert Baglione.

All proceeds from the auction to be donated to the Power House Project to help purchase and renovate foreclosed and abandoned homes in the Detroit area.