Say it to Spray it

By NICK NGO AND NICOLE DONNER

 

A portrait of an owl getting his head chopped off hangs on the southeast wall of the Mt. Hood Community College Visual Art Gallery.

In front of it a large portrait depicts a black man who looks like he’s jumping out of the picture screaming, “Almost Famous” with a tag saying “West Coast Chillin!” spray-painted at the bottom.

In another corner of the gallery, a portrait sits on a stand showing demonic heads with mosquitoes ripping out of them only to come back and suck their blood. All these portraits have one thing in common: expression.

The Visual Art Gallery opened a new exhibit Jan. 13 to show paintings portraying graffiti, also known as street art.

The exhibit features artists such as “Salem,” “Evak,” “Eos,” “Frustrate,” “Angel,” “Double,” Chris Biazzi and Jason Frits. The opening reception included live music performed by DJ Ballz. Coordinator Pat Barrett and MHCC student co-curate the exhibit.

“The reception was great. It was one of the best receptions we’ve ever had,” Barrett said.

The purpose of the exhibit was to show that traditional paintings are not the only form of art. There are different styles that are considered art, street art being one of them.
“I think that any style of writing is considered art, from calligraphy to the way you spray paint your name on the wall. It’s still a style of writing,” Villa said. “It might not be right, but it’s still an art form.”

“It’s a major form of art expression,” Barrett said. “Art painting is being influenced and informed by street art.”

Barrett explained that graffiti is an art form that developed on the streets and how it’s special for artists to incorporate it well away from the streets into paintings. Artists Kenny Scharf and the late Jean-Michel Basquiat were inspired by graffiti. They would then incorporate it into their work, whether it’s noticeable or not.

He said a good deal of training happens when an artist is a street artist, not just because of the risk of trying to vandalize a wall as fast as they can and get away before anybody sees them. As an artist, they develop their skills from taking chances and risks to make new and different forms of art. Then they take it away from a street scenario and put it on canvas.

“The artists in the show decided to use the influence of graffiti art for their art [pieces] in the show,” Barrett said.

Even though the art gallery is doing an exhibit on graffiti as art, they said they’re not advocating tagging.

“I support artists,” Barrett said, “[But] I can’t endorse it. Nobody can endorse vandalism.”

Villa, however, believes that expressing oneself through art is a form of release.

“I believe graffiti is an expression. Any way you use it is good for that individual,” Villa said. “Either scribbling on a wall or painting on a canvas.”

He explained that it could be bad to an extent, depending on how it is used. For example, scribbling on someone’s car is bad. But doing murals could be considered a good thing.
Other artists consider street art as a form of hip-hop music.

“There is a connection between hip-hop and graffiti. It’s part of the four elements of the culture,” Angel said.

According to www.djemir.com, graffiti art is considered as one of the four elements that make up the hip-hop genre.

Then there are those artists who see street art as more of a modern art form.
“It’s more a sign of the times, Its modern; the taggers expressing themselves trying to have an outlet for themselves. I love it, is good stuff,” said Ron Connon, a ceramics student.

“It’s the best thing to happen to art. There’s no other art like it. It’s raw,” Angel said.
The street art exhibit will stay on display until Jan. 27. The art gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, except it closes for an hour on Tuesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Fridays it’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.