Category: Activism

Jackie Sayers (2018)

(2018) designed and hand painted poster

 

This portrait of Jackie Sayers was painted for family and loved ones. Jackie was a member of the Puyallup Tribe. No Touching Ground painted the portrait and I the text, working through De Escalate Washington, were honored to be asked to create this memorial for the Puyallup Tribe. Jackie and her unborn child were shot and killed by Tacoma police officers during a response to a domestic abuse call. To this day no justice has been served to the family of Jackie Sayers, the officers involved are still on duty, and no one has been charged with murder.

 

Redlined Poster (2018)

(2018) group show, SPACE gallery, Seattle

 

Curated by Lhorna Murray, this group show featured works that explored race, class, gender and activism. I hand painted an asymmetrical fourteen by seven poster that reads We Deserve Rent Control. After the run of the show this poster found a home out in the streets.

 

Time laps

 

 

Rent Control (2017) film

(2017) video, with New Mystics collective

 

Collaboration between Wizdumb (beats/rhymes), DK Pan (video/editing), No Touching Ground (helping hands) and myself. The location and color choice of this poster aimed to confuse viewers into thinking this was an officially sanctioned message provided by 7/11 management.

 

Photo DK Pan

WE ARE (2017)

(2017) poster collaboration

 

Collaboration between myself and No Touching Ground. This poster reads WE ARE ONLY AS HEALTHY AS THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. With this imagery we are saying, we as a society must recognise the form that addiction takes around us, we can not dismiss the epidemic of over prescribed opioids in America. At the same time, we must lift up those most vulnerable, support these humans, give them the dignity of not only a safe place to come to terms with this addiction, but the resources and support to find a new path. Safe Injection sites are the first step towards a better path.

YENOM WEN (2017)

(2017) Installation by The New Mystics collective, CoCA, Seattle WA.

 

For this commissioned work, the New Mystics sourced discarded clothing from the streets of Seattle, and mirrors from craigslist. We fabricated black mirror letters that mounted to the wall and created all needed hardware. We glass etched the mirrors, and created a reflected point of observance revealing our collective question to the city. YENOM WEN NEW MONEY, what will Seattle do with the influx of cash, will a more equitable culture be ushered in or will tech destroy the last grasps of anything cool or derelict, full of character and creativity. This show navigated the space between being complicit in the current homeless struggle and reflecting on one’s disconnection between detritus and desire. We ask the question, what role will philanthropy play in this new frontier? 

 

Public Action (2017)

(2017) Commissioned public art sculpture, Velocity 2. Seattle WA

 

Speaking to the needs of our city and region. Expressing thoughts that have to be seen, heard and acted upon. A sense of permission emerges as one contributes clear messages into the public realm. We must do better to support the most vulnerable among us, we must recognize factually the displacement taking place in this area. We can not stand idly by as this effects all of us. Cardboard letters created with the help of artists Angel179 and NKO, approximate size 20′ by 20′. 

 

Owl House (2017

(2017) poster collaboration

 

Three-way collaboration between Baso, No Touching Ground and myself. Placed in the doorway of The Northwest Film Forum, right above a regular sleeping location for people experiencing homelessness. We as a society have the means to provide a roof over the head of each and every human in the US, the only thing that stops us from achieving this most basic of human needs is, the rot and greed of capitalism.

 

Free Rent (2017)

(2017) poster collaboration

 

Collaboration between myself and No Touching Ground. Seattle has an ongoing affordable rent crisis. New development continues to displace the most vulnerable among us. Without being too politically pointed, we felt this image of a birdhouse with the words FREE RENT painted on the side, communicated that humans, being truly nothing more than animals, deserve shelter.

 

Nikitta poster (2017)

(2017) designed and hand painted poster

 

No Touching Ground and I teamed up to create this large poster for Seattle mayoral candidate Nikitta Oliver. We worked together to create the overall design, chose the intended location, and hand painted both the portrait and font. Zorn B Taylor generously allowed the use of his photograph as reference for the portrait. It felt really good to look back at my path as a street/graffiti artist and see all the steps that lead to creating a work like this. In a lot of ways this is what I would love to do more of in the future. I feel graffiti artists have a unique perspective when it comes to, among other things, location and placement, very relevant attributes when dealing with messages that need a high level of visibility. I’m proud to support progressive candidates for office locally and nationally.

 

HUMANITY (2016)

(2016) Spontaneous public installation, Seattle.

 

Three dimensional cardboard letters, painted with acrylic paint. Humanity is shown left out in the rain to be reclaimed by nature or possibly a timely passerby.