Church social halls, community centers, libraries and neighborhood walls became popular art venues. At that time I was bothered by the fact that there weren't enough works of art in the inner cities. I really wanted to start putting works of art where people lived. That was it for me, the niche. Public works of art that are just as finely crafted as any gallery or museum pieces.
Art is a spiritual thing connected to all people.
There are so few positive role models. It's up to the artist to create reflections of everyone who is out there. Kids need to see themselves. Before street art appropriated neighborhood walls and gave voice to the previously disenfranchised, murals typically portrayed an elitist, Eurocentric interpretation of beauty, history and the American way of life. For example, the mural portrays the founding settlers of Los Angeles pueblo, more than half of whom were of African descent.