JUiCE: LA Graffiti Art Battle

The following post is from YouthNoise Play City—a community dedicated to changing the world through sports and play. PLAY ON!

I last checked out JUiCE's dance scene, which includes a variety of breaking all-stars. But another kick-ass component to this wonderful elixir is JUiCE's graffiti art and the host of street artists at this place. What better time to check out their art than during their 4th Annual Graffiti Art Battle?

A piece found at J.U.i.C.E.

4th ANNUAL GRAFFITI ART BATTLE IN LOS ANGELES
Every year for the past 4 years, JUiCE and Visual Elements, an Oakland-based group from the Eastside Arts Alliance, battle it out to see who can throw up the most creative and original graffiti art piece. The first battle took place at the Venice graffiti walls in 2006 and then moved on to Oakland in 07 and 08, each taking place during the Malcom X Jazz festival. This year's battle took place at JUiCE's headquarters in Los Angeles.

The battles are usually themed, and cover such themes as Immigration and Jazz. This year's theme was Culture. But the challenge for the street art teams doesn't stop there. Each team is then given a word that they must use to anchor the whole piece. Previous words include War and Bebop. This year the JUiCE team was given the word Native. Visual Elements received the word Survival.

JUiCE's Canvas

Visual Elements Canvas

JUiCE's GRAFFITI ART BATTLE: A TEAM EFFORT
Each team consists of about 10-15 street artists whose skill levels are matched and set to complement one another. The idea is to create a piece as a team and the winning piece is judged largely on how well the team works together.

As an artist, it's difficult enough to throw up a piece by yourself. But to get 10-15 heads on the same page, to consider dimensions and how things will connect, to blow it up while another talented team does the same just a few feet away, and there's only about three hours or so to complete the piece. Well that's a practice of showmanship. Paint on you crazy artists!

The teamwork of Visual Elements

JUiCE Graffiti Artists working their magic

JUSTICE by UNITING In CREATIVE ENERGY
Events like these are true acts of justice because a lot kids from urban areas like LA don't have equal access to arts programs, which are typically the first things cut from the state budget. If you live in a poor area, your arts program and other after school programs are likely the first to go.

Part of the Justice that JUiCE brings to the communinty is that it provides an opportunity to develop one's creative potential thru dance, music, and art. Not to mention it creates a space where people interested in hip-hop can come together and celebrate it. Few outlets for urban youth exist that provide such a service and JUiCE has stepped up to support LA's youth and develop their creative potential.

WHO WON THE BATTLE?
Well, Visual Elements took the prize this year. The series between JUiCE and the Visual Elements team is now tied 2-2. The next battle may occur as soon as May 30th in Oakland. Contact JUiCE for more details.

VISUAL ELEMENTS - "SURVIVAL"

J.U.i.C.E. - "NATIVE"

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Murals in Los Angeles: A New Way to think about Graffiti in LA?

I'd like to be clear that I'm a big proponent of art and only in some cases graffiti--I hear it's used as a deterrent to other forms of gang-affiliated graffiti. And since it exists as an outlet for many of LA's youths, and there's not much I can do about it in the interim, I figure I'll document it. Maybe one day, the government will increase funding for arts programs in impoverished cities and maybe--just maybe--the simple act of documenting a lot of the work found around Los Angeles will increase support for those that think, express, and act through art.

I found the following piece in the West Adams area of Los Angeles:




These pieces are located off the 10 freeway near the Los Angeles St. exit:





This piece is located on Normandie near Hollywood Blvd.

"Knowledge is Power" -- Art in LA

My recent serendipitous encounter with some graffiti in LA (at least to me) got me thinking about all the walls in LA that have some artwork on them. Imagine how many pieces I've yet to find! So, I figured I'll start sharing these views with you.

"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER"



It seems the Pico Union Housing Corporation (PUHC) had something to do with the creation of this piece (notice the board in the student's left hand). PUHC serves the area by creating and offering affordable housing, providing various skill building opportunities, and offering diverse youth programs.




It's an interesting experience to walk through Pico Union. This type of artwork is only a small part of the large cultural community of the area, not to mention its history.





I really like the can in this piece because it speaks about how we create LA through knowledge and by extension art. This spray can with LA's backdrop as its label may not be a colorful statement with extensive detail but it still caught my eye.

Graffiti in LA: Some views in K-town

Was meeting with a potential employer for lunch the other day and came across these sights near the corner of Olympic and Serrano in Koreatown. Don't know who the artists are, but if someone does--give 'em props for me.