Nationally Renowned Graffiti Artists to Speak at Panel, Host Workshop
Chicago, Ill.—(ENEWSPF)–September 8, 2014 – The National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) is pleased to announce the kick-off of their Drop-In Arts Program with the workshop, Peace, Love & Spay Paint. On September 12, 2014 from 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., the NVAM will host a symposium exploring the power and purpose of the graffiti arts with nationally renowned artists George Colon of New York, Jonathan Hancock from Baltimore, as well as Che Cardona, Keath Sodapop, and Hugo Reyes of Chicago.
Peace, Love & Spray Paint will begin with a panel discussion examining the history of graffiti art in the U.S. and the positive effects it can instill in America’s youth. Graffiti art dates back to ancient times and is today often associated with social and political messages and hip hop culture. Graffiti has also become acknowledged as a powerful tool of self-expression and representation. A panel discussion moderated by Cristy C. Corso, an award-winning multidisciplinary artist and creative producer based out of Chicago, will explore the power of graffiti created in an affirmative atmosphere. Immediately following the discussion, the artists will facilitate the creation of a five-panel mural. Youth and veterans in attendance will be invited to participate in the creation of this unique celebration of graffiti art.
Executive Director Levi Moore celebrated the symposium, stating, “From its inception, the National Veterans Art Museum has been dedicated to innovation in art form and subject. We are pleased to continue to expand the conversation by bringing veteran artists Jonathan Hancock and Hugo ‘Juce’ Reyes in dialogue with some of the most prominent graffiti artists in the nation. We are thrilled that these artists are joining us to help kick off this year’s drop-in arts education program, and look forward to another great year of serving youth and families in Chicago’s northwest side.”
Drop-In Art Workshops take place at the National Veterans Art Museum from September through May. Youth and families are invited to stop in on Fridays between 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. for free hands-on workshops to make art in response to current exhibitions. Youth that participate in these workshops are eligible to receive learning badges through the Chicago City of Learning initiative.
About the artists
George Colon is an old school graffiti artist from New York City. In 1970’s, the streets of NYC were not playgrounds: drugs, gangs and violence prevailed. However, for a ten-year-old boy, desperate for creative expression and with boundless energy, the streets and trains of New York became his playground.
Colon became and remains a respected leader within the graffiti world. From the beginning of his career in graffiti art, he was fearless, prolific and passionate about his work. His tags dominated the trains and station walls. These qualities were quickly recognized and resulted in Colon forming one of the largest crews, “SSB,” in NYC. Colon, a.k.a. “AIM-SSB,” “OH-222 SSB” and “AVE-SSB,” remains active in the thriving SSB crew today.
Jonathan Hancock was born into a military family in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1983. A naturally talented artist, with minimal schooling in art and medium mastery, he fell in love with the urban art scene and began spray painting in his early teenage years. In high school he was commissioned to paint a massive mural at Arundel Sr. High School in Gambrills, MD only to watch it be painted over the year after he graduated and joined the Marine Corps. After being told that the mural incited gang violence and suggested gang affiliation, he was determined to give this medium its proper due.
Hancock has been spray painting for the better part of two decades. He has provided artwork to the National Veterans Art Museum and the DC Chivers organization for the Almas transportation charity. His most recent project, “Thank You For Your Service,” involved six large, site-inspired murals at iconic locations in Washington D.C. to promote veteran wellness through art therapy.
Che Cardona was born and raised in the Chicago South Side neighborhood of Bridgeport. Drawing at the age of ten, he learned the art of graffiti by twelve. In 1986, Cardona drew inspiration from the book Subway Art. He subsequently developed his own style and by 1990 was in a crew named CMK with his cousin and best friend. Today Cardona continues to paint and travel around the United States, spreading his style and positive vibes. He is a regular participant in the annual event Meeting of Styles Chicago.
Keath Sodapop is a Chicago native who has been involved in creating ever since he can remember. An only child born in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood of Bridgeport, he learned to make friends quickly and developed artistic ways of having fun. From drawing in school as a child to creating art in high school to making art a regular part of his adult life, Sodapop has employed art for personal development and professional goals. Sodapop is also known as Phor CMK.
Hugo “Juce” Reyes is first-generation American. He was born in the Chicago South Side and raised in the Gage Park neighborhood. He started with graffiti art in the eighth grade and has been painting and drawing since then. Reyes enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in high school and shipped off to boot camp in San Diego a month after graduation. His military occupational specialty in the USMC was 0311 Infantry. He first deployed in the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2005, conducting combat operations in Iraq. His second deployment in 2007 was in Japan were he conducted multiple exercises with many nations. Reyes has been studying for his BFA in graphic design since the completion of his active service in 2008.
Cristy C. Corso is an accomplished multidisciplinary artist, curator, and creative producer. Corso is currently launching her American Maze Project, a visual narrative novel involving artists nationwide. Corso is owner of Corso Studio Arts & Premieres, as well as Corso Studio Gallery, which is relaunching soon.
About the National Veterans Art Museum
The National Veterans Art Museum, located at 4041 N Milwaukee Avenue, inspires greater understanding of the real impact of war with a focus on Vietnam. The National Veterans Art Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of art inspired by combat and created by veterans. It is home to more than 2,500 works of art by more than 270 artists. Personal narratives and artistic representations of war (including paintings, photographs, sculptures, poetry and music) provide transformative learning opportunities in art, history and civics.
The National Veterans Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free. For group admission reservations, visit www.nvam.org.
Patrons of the museum can access art from the permanent collection and biographical information on the artists through the NVAM Collection Online, a recently launched online and high-resolution archive of every piece of art in the museum’s permanent collection. The NVAM Collection Online can be found at www.nvam.org/collection-online.
Source: www.nwam.org
