Reflections Collaborative Project
2006 | San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland, CA
PROJECT PARTNERS:
Installed at multiple Bay Area locations, this dynamic, multidisciplinary project focused on a selection of historic Bay Area graffiti writers. Attendees of the opening reception had an opportunity to contribute to the new work, which reflected public art in technique and concept.
Public Installations
Within the local geography of Oakland and San Francisco where the larger issues of commercial art and gentrification were the front-page stories of the time, a new approach was materializing.
Within the local geography of Oakland and San Francisco where the larger issues of commercial art and gentrification were the front-page stories of the time, a new approach was materializing.
Within the local geography of Oakland and San Francisco where the larger issues of commercial art and gentrification were the front-page stories of the time, a new approach was materializing.
With the help of acrylic gel medium, silk screen squeegees, non-woven media, and the audacity that graffiti writers are known for, abandoned spaces on well-traveled strips became documents of the people who live there, advocating for change.
With the help of acrylic gel medium, silk screen squeegees, non-woven media, and the audacity that graffiti writers are known for, abandoned spaces on well-traveled strips became documents of the people who live there, advocating for change.
With the help of acrylic gel medium, silk screen squeegees, non-woven media, and the audacity that graffiti writers are known for, abandoned spaces on well-traveled strips became documents of the people who live there, advocating for change.
The locations of the installations were as deep in “The ‘hood” as they come and in each location the works spoke in process and product to the issues of those places.
The locations of the installations were as deep in “The ‘hood” as they come and in each location the works spoke in process and product to the issues of those places.
The locations of the installations were as deep in “The ‘hood” as they come and in each location the works spoke in process and product to the issues of those places.
The objects celebrated the models in the locals that they exist in daily. The works beautified the spaces where the models were most famously known.
The objects celebrated the models in the locals that they exist in daily. The works beautified the spaces where the models were most famously known.
The objects celebrated the models in the locals that they exist in daily. The works beautified the spaces where the models were most famously known.
In each case, the installations supported the model in the way that they wanted, in the places they wanted. The process built friendships while building community.
In each case, the installations supported the model in the way that they wanted, in the places they wanted. The process built friendships while building community.
In each case, the installations supported the model in the way that they wanted, in the places they wanted. The process built friendships while building community.
Exhibition at White Walls Gallery
For some of the legends I photographed like SPIE, who continues to be active above and below ground, inclusion in the White Walls gallery was a way to support San Francisco’s newest and most accessible urban art space. The works immortalized extraordinary creative folks for what they have done and what they continue to do. What developed was an exhibition that transcended an individual process of reflection and invited the models to reflect also. The project showcased the models’ greatness and preciousness in ways galleries and museums have historically done, while still keeping the work and ideas part of, “The Street.”
For some of the legends I photographed like SPIE, who continues to be active above and below ground, inclusion in the White Walls gallery was a way to support San Francisco’s newest and most accessible urban art space. The works immortalized extraordinary creative folks for what they have done and what they continue to do. What developed was an exhibition that transcended an individual process of reflection and invited the models to reflect also. The project showcased the models’ greatness and preciousness in ways galleries and museums have historically done, while still keeping the work and ideas part of, “The Street.”
For some of the legends I photographed like SPIE, who continues to be active above and below ground, inclusion in the White Walls gallery was a way to support San Francisco’s newest and most accessible urban art space. The works immortalized extraordinary creative folks for what they have done and what they continue to do. What developed was an exhibition that transcended an individual process of reflection and invited the models to reflect also. The project showcased the models’ greatness and preciousness in ways galleries and museums have historically done, while still keeping the work and ideas part of, “The Street.”
For the most legendary graffiti writer of the Bay Area’s past, Mike “Dream” was drawn from an image with his son Akil and dog Flash before his passing. The image was combined with a famous outline of one of his pieces from the Oakland Tracks.
For the most legendary graffiti writer of the Bay Area’s past, Mike “Dream” was drawn from an image with his son Akil and dog Flash before his passing. The image was combined with a famous outline of one of his pieces from the Oakland Tracks.
For the most legendary graffiti writer of the Bay Area’s past, Mike “Dream” was drawn from an image with his son Akil and dog Flash before his passing. The image was combined with a famous outline of one of his pieces from the Oakland Tracks.
The sixth and final work became a focus in the gallery for further collaboration. Once again, the process of the project was a construction of community as the process of installing the exhibition became another exercise in reflection. With participants from the greater White Walls community, Dream was made into reality. The project connected Estria, who contributed to the piece, to the young White Walls community while he drew and reflected on his comrade from his youth.
The sixth and final work became a focus in the gallery for further collaboration. Once again, the process of the project was a construction of community as the process of installing the exhibition became another exercise in reflection. With participants from the greater White Walls community, Dream was made into reality. The project connected Estria, who contributed to the piece, to the young White Walls community while he drew and reflected on his comrade from his youth.
The sixth and final work became a focus in the gallery for further collaboration. Once again, the process of the project was a construction of community as the process of installing the exhibition became another exercise in reflection. With participants from the greater White Walls community, Dream was made into reality. The project connected Estria, who contributed to the piece, to the young White Walls community while he drew and reflected on his comrade from his youth.
White Walls gallery director CURVE added some expertise to Dream, laying some foundation in the medium that this project was born from surrounded by various pieces that highlight urban art.
White Walls gallery director CURVE added some expertise to Dream, laying some foundation in the medium that this project was born from surrounded by various pieces that highlight urban art.
White Walls gallery director CURVE added some expertise to Dream, laying some foundation in the medium that this project was born from surrounded by various pieces that highlight urban art.
The opening, another creation of community where people of all ages manifested their own dream. Gallery visitors contributed to Dream using oil pastels, activating an icon from the Bay Area’s 20th Century into an image for the 21st Century.
The opening, another creation of community where people of all ages manifested their own dream. Gallery visitors contributed to Dream using oil pastels, activating an icon from the Bay Area’s 20th Century into an image for the 21st Century.
The opening, another creation of community where people of all ages manifested their own dream. Gallery visitors contributed to Dream using oil pastels, activating an icon from the Bay Area’s 20th Century into an image for the 21st Century.
Artwork from each of the painted models accompanied the original polyester drawings. With the Reflections Public Project Installation telling the story of the process for gallery viewers to see.
Artwork from each of the painted models accompanied the original polyester drawings. With the Reflections Public Project Installation telling the story of the process for gallery viewers to see.
Artwork from each of the painted models accompanied the original polyester drawings. With the Reflections Public Project Installation telling the story of the process for gallery viewers to see.
Reflections Exhibition, White Walls Gallery, September 9, 2006.
Reflections Exhibition, White Walls Gallery, September 9, 2006.
Reflections Exhibition, White Walls Gallery, September 9, 2006.
Project Beginnings
With the San Francisco Bay as inspiration, the front yard of a Berkeley home was transformed into an outdoor studio with the assistance of the great helper and artist Evan Bissell.
With the San Francisco Bay as inspiration, the front yard of a Berkeley home was transformed into an outdoor studio with the assistance of the great helper and artist Evan Bissell.
With the San Francisco Bay as inspiration, the front yard of a Berkeley home was transformed into an outdoor studio with the assistance of the great helper and artist Evan Bissell. Historic graffiti artists were transformed from photographs to ink drawings on prepared polyester, and then projected and traced at large scale.
Each meeting helped highlight the bay area’s ongoing creative stream and honored their legacy through art making. The work included models themselves in a dynamic creative process.
Each meeting helped highlight the bay area’s ongoing creative stream and honored their legacy through art making. The work included models themselves in a dynamic creative process.
Each meeting helped highlight the bay area’s ongoing creative stream and honored their legacy through art making. The work included models themselves in a dynamic creative process.
Using the medium that initially brought the models together portraits were made of each of these creative giants.
Using the medium that initially brought the models together portraits were made of each of these creative giants.
Using the medium that initially brought the models together portraits were made of each of these creative giants.
In each case the creative reunion was a chance to see how each had stayed connected to spray painting and also a chance to make drawings that represented artists in body and spirit.
In each case the creative reunion was a chance to see how each had stayed connected to spray painting and also a chance to make drawings that represented artists in body and spirit.
In each case the creative reunion was a chance to see how each had stayed connected to spray painting and also a chance to make drawings that represented artists in body and spirit.
And while thinking about the individual past, present, and future of being a community artist these works were made with the help of other people, most notably the models themselves. The works became a commentary on public art in the Bay Area.
And while thinking about the individual past, present, and future of being a community artist these works were made with the help of other people, most notably the models themselves. The works became a commentary on public art in the Bay Area.
And while thinking about the individual past, present, and future of being a community artist these works were made with the help of other people, most notably the models themselves. The works became a commentary on public art in the Bay Area.
With a focus on Oakland and San Francisco the crafted images became documents of the Bay Area’s history. With the involvement of each of the models the works became representations of a new community in the present.
With a focus on Oakland and San Francisco the crafted images became documents of the Bay Area’s history. With the involvement of each of the models the works became representations of a new community in the present.
With a focus on Oakland and San Francisco the crafted images became documents of the Bay Area’s history. With the involvement of each of the models the works became representations of a new community in the present.