Snaps: Storm Trooper Art

I bought a new painting for my apartment the other day. I found it in SoHo. It’s one of a kind and it’s pretty epic.

Besides being a “Star Wars” fan in general, I love the way the artist (Ron Wiggins) composed this painting. While describing it to a friend, I explained that it has a lot of personable, intimate qualities. You may not be able to tell from this photo, but the Storm Trooper isn’t just a faceless soldier — he (or she) is a person with feelings and desires. The eyes have a lot of emotion. The painting hints (in a stylized way) that the Storm Trooper is reaching out, presumably holding a weapon. But it also (from certain angles) looks like he’s reaching out for someone to take his hand.

I keep this work of art in my home office because it helps me to manage my frustration when I’m dealing with people who seem like they are blindly taking orders and passing on misinformation to me. I sometimes forget the struggles that others go through, and how sometimes it is easier just to do what you’re told, even when you know it’s wrong. I look at the painting and remember that sometimes the one doling out pain and anguish is going through plenty of it too.

In this painting, what I see is a Storm Trooper who is perhaps rethinking his or her identity and life path. He or she appears mid-transition. Perhaps this Storm Trooper is tired of blindly following commands. He’s alone, reaching out, considering what it might be like to live life in service of him (or her)self, not some oppressive force.

He’s thinking about freeing himself.

Press: AM & DCAP on Fatcap.com

Graffiti/street art/lifestyle/community portal Fatcap.com recently did an interview with AM on our residency in Paris. They included photos from my Paris series and some of my videos. I love the way my photo looks on their homepage so wanted to capture it for my memories:

Excerpt from AM’s interiew:

Are there any current projects you are working on, and what should we look for next from you?

Well Paris is the first stop for this film, we are planning on going to Argentinaand South Africa. I am also working on a new series of cityscapes inspired by my travels when I return to NY. I have a solo show coming up in Philly this winter and I will be painting at Art Basel in Miami. YOUNITY also has another exhibition coming up next fall.

I like that my photo on their homepage is an example of the diverse talents that people with a graffiti/street art background often have. When I wasn’t documenting AM wheatpasting, catching tags, or doing pieces, there were plenty of moments like these where she was in her studio immersed in printmaking or other mediums.

No “street artist” is the same. Some show their work in galleries, others keep it on trains and tunnels. Many graffiti writers these days have art degrees, while others barely finished High School. Some stencil and tag but still decline the “writer” or “street artist” label. Despite each unique circumstance, the love for art and a desire to express themselves is what ultimately ties street artists together.

I can’t wait to document more female graffiti artists like AM in my remaining days in NYC and when I am in CA for three months. You can find more updates on my progress on http://grrrlweinparis.tumblr.com.