I GOT A LETTER FROM THE GOVERNMENT...

I opened and read it.. and it said I'm going to Panama!


The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Panama have awarded me with a "U.S. Speaker and Specialist Grant" and invited me to be a keynote international speaker in Panama. For the better part of this week I will be creating youth workshops and murals at some events with their partners Asociación Panameña de Artistas Plásticos and local graff artists Full Style Crew as well.


I'll be on Telemetro TV tomorrow morning then directly to my first lecture at the Universidad Tecnologica de Panama followed by my first painting event in Panama City tomorrow evening. 


Here is the invite on Facebook, just in case you got some fam out here!


I'll be posting pics of the happs for the rest of the week!
Stay tuned!




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SUNSHINE CANVASES

A few years ago I was commissioned to create the logo for Plata Wine a new concept for an "urban winery" the first of its kind.

Aside from the logo and wine label I created (which along with Chaz Bojorquez' are now in the Smithsonian Collection!) I also was commissioned by the owner, Plata himself, to create four mural sized paintings.  The paintings were filmed and timelapsed, one is being used on the Plata Wine website as an intro.  I just recently discovered they are all online! So here they are..enjoy.

Sunshsine #1


Sunshine #2


Sunshine #3


Sunshine #4



www.ManOne.com

DERRY: BRANDYWELL PRODUCTION

We painted this spot at night to avoid the tons of pre-teens who were following us around to every wall and trying to jack our paint. You can beat up an older cat, but what do you do with a nagging 11 year old? Well you wait till they go to sleep!  Instead we had to deal with their drunk parents shouting and wanting us to get them "up" on the wall.  It was pretty comical.


Connector shot in Derry, N. Ireland with local artists CHIN, RAZOR, EASI as well as with S.JOAG (NY), YIN ONE (Scotland)




Slideshow below or more pics on my Flickr:

SMALL HOME MURAL UP IN THE HILLS

HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME MURAL, a set on Flickr.
Just before I left town for a few weeks back in August, I painted this small interior mural for a patron up in the Hollywood Hills. I knocked out the mural in a day and it came out alright. Enjoy!

DERRY: NATURAL BEAUTY MURAL

I was hired by ICAN at the Playhouse to create workshops and murals using my talents as an artist to help engage youth and affect social change.  The mural we created as part of this process was at the city's center at the Guildhall Square.  We painted a temporary wall with the theme of "Natural Beauty".

I designed it with the help of a local artist, Easi, and about 10 young people from Derry/Londonderry during my stay there in Northern Ireland.





I decided to go with a theme that's totally opposite of all the heavily politically charged murals that exist in this area.  This part of the country is so picturesque and the green of the grass and the terracotta of the houses is what inspired the color choices.







Also, the orange and yellow flowers that grow directly in front of this wall were a point of inspiration.



It took us roughly a little over a week to complete thanks to the Irish mist which seemed to soak us almost every day.

At the end of the project I think the goal was achieved.  The youth involved were able to work together despite their differences and create a beautiful piece of art. They learned new techniques and methods of using their art for positive change.  I made great friends and look forward to whats next for them as Derry is being honored as the first City of Culture of the UK in 2013.

For more pics check out the slideshow below or on my Flickr page:

LIVE PAINTING: GIL SCOT-HERON (RIP)

This past May I was asked to perform a live painting at UCLA'S annual Jazz Reggae Fest.  Although I was not allowed to use aerosol, I decided to honor the life of poet/musician Gil Scot-Heron who had just recently passed away with an all acrylic brush painted portrait.



Here's a little timelapse video of the painting:


View more pics on the slideshow below or on my Flickr page: