Gallery show Nov 18th 2010
Recent commission work.
Red Bull commission
Lalo starting it off
Monday, November 15, 2010
Simply the West/ Red Bull n more
Up next, "Simply The West" at 5 & 6 Gallery, Thursday November 18th 2010 in Scottsdale, Az. I believe this show will be up for a month. Also, a few pics of a recent Red Bull project that Lalo and myself painted on Halloween for a Day of the Dead party that Red Bull sponsored. Coming soon...Indian Ink II March 2010.
Gallery show Nov 18th 2010
Gallery show Nov 18th 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Under the influence
Conversations come up with other artists and art lovers about who inspires or influences the work I do today. Many times during discussions about famous or influential artists, many people will automatically say Da Vinci or Michaelangelo for the classic renaissance reference, or Dali (surrealism), M.C. Escher, and or Keith Haring, Basquiat, etc for the "graffiti" artist era from the 80's. These are some of the more famous artists in recent years with the exception of Da Vinci and Michaelangelo.
I don't knock people for whom they choose to like, and I can appreciate all of the names I just mentioned above.......But it doesn't mean I like their work. As a matter of fact, I dislike the term "master painter" thats associated with Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo. I dislike the term because its giving the title of "master painter" to a a selected group or style of painting that automatically cuts out all other styles of art around the world, most of which have been around far longer than that traditional renaissance style. Why are they the master artists? What about the Egyptians or Mayans? Or any Indigenous culture that has been creating something out of nothing for centuries. On to the next artist. I find most of M.C. Escher's work boring. Haring and Basquiat's work were far from the true expression rebellion known as "graffiti" that was truly living and thriving on the subway trains and in and around NYC in the 70s and 80s. For the record I cant stand Basquiat's artwork.
For me, my personal influences have come mainly from people that I have actually known in my life, other painters and graffiti writers. Like I said, I can appreciate well known artists, and there are a few that I could say who's work I genuinely do like and may have had an influence on me.
But to actually interact with artists who are my peers and who Ive known, painted, laughed, cried, argued, ate dinner, shared a drink and just plain out discussed life with...is the most important interaction and influence I could ever experience and attain.
Ive had influences in my life who were my friends....some who stopped and gave up their talent, others who chose a different medium, some who've actually "made" it, and even a couple who've passed on or ended up behind bars.
In the last year I lost a very close friend Mike Carter aka "Base", who was a huge influence on me when I was first starting out doing graf in the early to mid 90's. When he died, apart of me died inside. But Ive kept his memory and legacy going on by continuing to make art, and to make it to the best of my ability, which is one thing I learned from him.
Another close friend, who was also good friends with Base, and who I actually met at the same time is Ishmael. Ishmael and I have remained close after 16 years, and Im thankful he is still here, and that he is still making art. Both him and Mike influenced me so heavily that it was the fire I needed to want to become a better artist.
Today I have many close peers and friends who have been there along the way to influence my work in some way shape or form. Lalo Cota who Ive known for over 10yrs... and who ive been working a lot with in the last couple years. Douglas Miles Ive known for quite sometime as well, has been a heavy influence in a lot of ways other than actual style or medium.
Other people who have come along in my path are very talented individuals such as Mando Rascon, Miles "Mac" MacGregor, Noe "Such" Baez, Oscar Page, Adrian Dominic, Mike 360, Matt Dickson, Pablo Luna, Tato Caraveo, Adam Dumperfoo, Josh Rhodes, Adam Closer Wenger, Banding Hendrix, Tariq Sabur, and a whole lot more.
With such good people and talent around, the inspiration is always there. Seeing artists at different levels and hearing thought process and personal philosophies about numerous subjects is great knowledge shared.
I'm thankful for the path that Ive chosen, and Im also thankful for the experience that Graffiti has gave me, not all good either, but even the bad times I would never take back. Its molded me and helped provide a hard exterior. Any graffiti artist/ writer will tell that graf...is the real art school....school of hard knocks.
To add to this blog Ive posted photos of recent motivation from a studio visit with Miles Macgregor better known as El Mac. About 2 weeks ago, Lalo and myself stopped by to get a sneak preview of the work at Mac's studio before he sent his new work out to NY for an art opening.
I don't knock people for whom they choose to like, and I can appreciate all of the names I just mentioned above.......But it doesn't mean I like their work. As a matter of fact, I dislike the term "master painter" thats associated with Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo. I dislike the term because its giving the title of "master painter" to a a selected group or style of painting that automatically cuts out all other styles of art around the world, most of which have been around far longer than that traditional renaissance style. Why are they the master artists? What about the Egyptians or Mayans? Or any Indigenous culture that has been creating something out of nothing for centuries. On to the next artist. I find most of M.C. Escher's work boring. Haring and Basquiat's work were far from the true expression rebellion known as "graffiti" that was truly living and thriving on the subway trains and in and around NYC in the 70s and 80s. For the record I cant stand Basquiat's artwork.
For me, my personal influences have come mainly from people that I have actually known in my life, other painters and graffiti writers. Like I said, I can appreciate well known artists, and there are a few that I could say who's work I genuinely do like and may have had an influence on me.
But to actually interact with artists who are my peers and who Ive known, painted, laughed, cried, argued, ate dinner, shared a drink and just plain out discussed life with...is the most important interaction and influence I could ever experience and attain.
Ive had influences in my life who were my friends....some who stopped and gave up their talent, others who chose a different medium, some who've actually "made" it, and even a couple who've passed on or ended up behind bars.
In the last year I lost a very close friend Mike Carter aka "Base", who was a huge influence on me when I was first starting out doing graf in the early to mid 90's. When he died, apart of me died inside. But Ive kept his memory and legacy going on by continuing to make art, and to make it to the best of my ability, which is one thing I learned from him.
Another close friend, who was also good friends with Base, and who I actually met at the same time is Ishmael. Ishmael and I have remained close after 16 years, and Im thankful he is still here, and that he is still making art. Both him and Mike influenced me so heavily that it was the fire I needed to want to become a better artist.
Today I have many close peers and friends who have been there along the way to influence my work in some way shape or form. Lalo Cota who Ive known for over 10yrs... and who ive been working a lot with in the last couple years. Douglas Miles Ive known for quite sometime as well, has been a heavy influence in a lot of ways other than actual style or medium.
Other people who have come along in my path are very talented individuals such as Mando Rascon, Miles "Mac" MacGregor, Noe "Such" Baez, Oscar Page, Adrian Dominic, Mike 360, Matt Dickson, Pablo Luna, Tato Caraveo, Adam Dumperfoo, Josh Rhodes, Adam Closer Wenger, Banding Hendrix, Tariq Sabur, and a whole lot more.
With such good people and talent around, the inspiration is always there. Seeing artists at different levels and hearing thought process and personal philosophies about numerous subjects is great knowledge shared.
I'm thankful for the path that Ive chosen, and Im also thankful for the experience that Graffiti has gave me, not all good either, but even the bad times I would never take back. Its molded me and helped provide a hard exterior. Any graffiti artist/ writer will tell that graf...is the real art school....school of hard knocks.
To add to this blog Ive posted photos of recent motivation from a studio visit with Miles Macgregor better known as El Mac. About 2 weeks ago, Lalo and myself stopped by to get a sneak preview of the work at Mac's studio before he sent his new work out to NY for an art opening.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Gtown New Mexico/ Window Rock Part 1
Back in Gtown aka Gallup New Mexico. This time a nice quick roadtrip with Lalo Cota, Closer, and Jenn Burden. We got in Thursday night and Lalo, Myself and Closer painted live at City Light for Dj Abel and Cloudface's night called the Beatbox. The next day we headed to the Juggernaut wall in Gallup. These are some of the process shot along with a couple random and finished shots.
Gtown New Mexico/ Window Rock Part 2
We headed to Window Rock for the Navajo Nation Fair and an event called Ceremonial Elements hosted by Foundations of Freedom crew along with Cloudface, Randy B, and other guest judges for all the events. Boogie T (Style Elements Crew), We:whum, Ras K Dee of Audiopharmacy from the Bay Area, Marvel, Saba, and myself as a guest judge for a graf/ art contest. There were some technical difficulties in the organizing, and it took a bit for the event to kick off...but when it did there were some good bboy battles, as well as some awesome art created by the participants in the Art contest.
Respect to the winners of all the contests, Triple Threat bboy crew, Def I of Def Rare for the MC battle and extra props for serving 40cal from St Louis who tried to call him out for an extra battle. Also congrats to Lalo for winning the graf/art contest. I didnt see the Dj battle so I forget who they said won?
Def-I and Lalo and myself leaving Gallup with Closer and Burden ahead of us somewhere...
Lalo, Burden and Closer....after eating roasted corn on the way to the event...
Shots from the graf/ art contest....
"Pez" Winner of the graf/art contest.
Bboy battle....
Brotha Def-I serving 40 cal from St Louis. You can look this up in 2 parts on youtube as well...
Fresh Window Rock Sunset...
Homie We:whum aka TomahawkBang catching a House set on the tables out front of the event.
A stop in Flag with the crew on the way back to Phx.
.....and then...we head home to be greeted by an Arizona desert sunset.
Respect to the winners of all the contests, Triple Threat bboy crew, Def I of Def Rare for the MC battle and extra props for serving 40cal from St Louis who tried to call him out for an extra battle. Also congrats to Lalo for winning the graf/art contest. I didnt see the Dj battle so I forget who they said won?
Def-I and Lalo and myself leaving Gallup with Closer and Burden ahead of us somewhere...
Lalo, Burden and Closer....after eating roasted corn on the way to the event...
Shots from the graf/ art contest....
"Pez" Winner of the graf/art contest.
Bboy battle....
Brotha Def-I serving 40 cal from St Louis. You can look this up in 2 parts on youtube as well...
Fresh Window Rock Sunset...
Homie We:whum aka TomahawkBang catching a House set on the tables out front of the event.
A stop in Flag with the crew on the way back to Phx.
.....and then...we head home to be greeted by an Arizona desert sunset.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Santa Fe New Mexico August 2010
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Ive just returned from a much needed trip with some really good people and fam. Headed to Santa Fe New Mexico with Douglas Miles/ Apache Skateboards and the "A" team, for the Santa Fe Indian Art Market and Skateplotation 2. Douglas Miles had also pulled together the group show "Indian Ink" featuring talented works by selected artists, all of equal caliber and quality.
Got a chance to finally meet my energy driven, talented and down to earth brothas, Yatika Fields(Stillwater OK/ Bklyn NY) and Micah "Werewulf" Wesley(Norman, OK). Yatika has the vision. An all around genuine soul brother, My man holds it down in Brooklyn NY, as well as representing the US in an upcoming live art battle in Spain in Octorber. Micah reminds me of my extended fam and cousins, I love this guy, he makes me miss my family in Oklahoma.
Also I was able to discuss aerosol techniques and just life in general with the talented Rebekah Miles. This young woman is and will be doing great things, so keep an eye out for her and her work. It was also good to see the sister Rose B Simpson, she is such a talent. Thanks for the mask Rose, I'll have it done proper the next time we see each other.
We were fortunate enough to have Georgia, Matt and Isabel Young open up their home and lives to us. I am thankful for the new friends and connections. As a matter of fact I cant wait to visit them again so I can sleep on the porch and enjoy the view.
This was my first experience at Santa Fe Indian Market. In all honesty I saw some great works, and at the same time I saw a lot of work that made no sense and was very boring which made me feel like I could piss and throw up on a wall and make better work. Then again, I know not everyone likes the work that I do either, and Im sure I received some negative reviews, but Im ok with that. I think one of the best quotes I heard over the weekend was from an elder artist from Oregon who said "My work is not for everyone, but I make no apologies...Its what I was given".
It was great to see a full blown skateboard comp in the middle of it all. It brought in a different element and energy that I could tell was needed all around. Things change and evolve. Society and the "spotlight circles" do not stay hot on their own forever. Society cannot deny the youth and those who are up and coming artists and move makers who speak loudly in their individual voice. I make this same connection with Graffiti and Street art. Its undeniable like a force of nature. These forms of expression, they are pouring out from a deep and honest place from within ones heart. Once a person realizes that they are being honest with themselves and being true to their being, then thats when nobody can take that away from them. It becomes apart of us. It becomes something all our own.
In the end, the extended weekend was filled with laughter, hard work, rain storms, cool weather, inspiration, creative minds, movie quotes, inside jokes, haters, huge breakfast sandwiches, red n green chile, great music, beautiful people, genuine people opening up their homes, and even a split lip. Every minute was a blessing.
Thanks to all who made this trip a great one. Douglas Miles, Doug Miles Jr., Bekah Miles, Grace Miles, Razelle Benally, Vanessa, Lynette Haozous, Yatika Fields, Werewulf Micah, Jasmin Rosales, Rose Simpson, Matt and Georgia Young, Metta Ravenheart, Safire Miller, Mike360, Carol Gentry, Waldermar Seranno, Kris Chee, Keith Secola, Doneva Tree, Cloudface, Joshua Rose and anyone else I may have forgotten.
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