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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Stories of the Street

By Adrian Gomez
Journal Staff Writer
          Chris Stain works quickly on his graffiti art.
        It's a quality that suits him well — at least now.
        "I first got caught when I was 11," says the New York City-based graffiti artist. "Since then, I've learned that I have to be quick with what I do."
        Stain is one of a handful of artists participating in 516 ARTS' "Street Arts: A Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture and Free Expression" exhibit. The show runs until Dec. 11, mainly at 516 ARTS in Downtown Albuquerque.
        "I jumped at the chance to be in this show," Stain said. "I was asked by Francesca (Searer) and I told her, 'When do I get there?' "
        Stain said he was influenced by the bold colors and strong statements of the graffiti art he was seeing in Baltimore, where he grew up. He said he quickly developed a love for it.
        "My work falls into the genre of the American social-realist movement that was popularized in the 1930s and '40s," he said. "Although I come from a traditional graffiti background, stenciling and screen printing have been my media of choice for their graphic strengths and simplistic methods that allow me to convey exactly how I feel about particular issues."
        The "Street Arts" event is a first of its kind for Albuquerque. Suzanne Sbarge, the executive director of 516 ARTS, said that even Los Angeles is planning an exhibit to showcase street arts.
        "We have them beat," she laughed. "The idea for something like this has been around for many years. It's taken a lot of hard work, but it's finally come together."
        Sbarge said the subject of this series of events includes the elements of hip-hop culture. She said many of the events focus on educating young people about their civil liberties and highlighting issues of access and freedom of expression.
        "It's about starting a discussion," she said. "That's what we aim to start. If we don't discuss issues, then how can we solve the problem?"
        The show was curated by Francesca Searer and Andrew Connors, who said the show is to give street artists a voice.
        "Street art is a way of telling the world, 'We are here and we have a message,' " she said. "When the idea first began, it wasn't a matter of who would come, but how would we pick and choose the artists."
        Searer said many of the artists were chomping at the bit to get involved.
        "To have the talent that is showcased is amazing," she said. "And the murals around Downtown are gorgeous."
        As of Oct. 1, the exterior of nine locations Downtown were changed by mural artists. Thomas Christopher Haag, who lives in Albuquerque, painted two murals, one at the HDIC Theatre Building on Central as well as the entrance to the 516 ARTS building.
        "It's amazing to be in the company of the artists," Haag said. "I've looked up to a lot of the artists and now my pieces are being shown with them."
        Haag said he's been working as a professional artist for the past eight years. He said before that he traveled the world.
        "Art has given me balance," he said. "I put a lot of myself into it and I've been very happy with all of its results."
        Just down the street from 516 ARTS, El Rey Theater also got an exterior makeover. Artists Jaque Fragua, Stain and Fragua's helper Lichiban collaborated on it.
        "We worked until 3 in the morning on most days," Fragua said of his piece. "A lot of it was outlined and we did it with a projector."
        He explained that his piece deals with how traditional versus contemporary varies, especially in Native American culture.
        "It begins a discussion," he said. "Throughout that discussion we are able to decide on what matters and find a balance."
        Fragua said he also was very interested in being part of the exhibition.
        "The spirit of transforming a space into a vision that exists internally is a form of prayer that no religion, government or person can stop," he said. "It is a storm that strikes lightning, and if they do not hear the thunder, they will definitely feel the rain and realize the power of this art once it clears the sky and leaves behind water to drink."
        The exhibit also features a piece by Chaz Bojórquez, who was vital in Los Angeles' graffiti scene in the 1960s. Bojórquez, who developed his own typeface, said it's important for artists like him to make their voice heard.
        "This trip I was able to make time to show kids what I do," he said. "We all have a voice and shouldn't be silenced."
        Bojórquez said graffiti art has its place in the community.
        "If the city was a body, graffiti would tell us where it hurts," he said. "By cutting out the pain, you risk damage to the whole. No one part is more important than the other."
        If you go
        WHAT: "Street Arts: A Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture and Free Expression"
        WHEN: Through November
        WHERE: 516 ARTS, 516 W. Central
        MORE INFO: Visit www.516arts.org for a full schedule or call 505-242-1445
       

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