The 'Eternality' of Graffiti

Summary

Brandon B. Mike Odom, a visual artist from New Orleans, reflects on his journey from graffiti to street art in an abandoned housing project. He shares how he transitioned from traditional graffiti styles to creating profound works, including portraits of iconic figures like Dr. King and Muhammad Ali, alongside everyday New Orleans residents. Odom emphasizes the significance of art in public spaces and the power of words. His work, inspired by the post-Katrina recovery, explores themes of legacy, identity, and the connection between ephemeral moments and eternal impact. His solo show, 'December Eternal,' embodies these lasting ideas.

Takeaways

• 😀 Odom discovered graffiti and street art about four and a half years ago while exploring an abandoned housing project in New Orleans.
• 😀 Initially, Odom struggled with traditional graffiti lettering but leveraged his experience in portrait painting to create art with a spray can.
• 😀 Odom's graffiti art began to reflect a deeper purpose, evolving into a method of communicating political and social messages.
• 😀 He aims to break traditional graffiti rules by incorporating figures like Dr. King and Muhammad Ali in his murals, using them to evoke social change.
• 😀 For Odom, graffiti is not just about self-expression but about creating meaningful public art that communicates larger truths and stories.
• 😀 He juxtaposes famous historical figures and everyday New Orleans locals to emphasize the importance of both, in art and society.
• 😀 Odom’s artwork in the abandoned housing project was a response to post-Katrina recovery, highlighting the lives of displaced families.
• 😀 The abandoned spaces and walls in New Orleans became the canvas for Odom’s art, symbolizing the stories of those no longer present.
• 😀 After being threatened with arrest, Odom was allowed to keep the artwork on the walls by removing them before the building was demolished.
• 😀 Odom’s exhibition *December Eternal* explores the theme of connecting ephemeral moments in art to eternal legacies, like Dr. King’s enduring impact.

Q & A

How did Brandon B Mike Odom get introduced to graffiti and street art?

Brandon was introduced to graffiti and street art when he found himself in an abandoned housing project that was heavily occupied by graffiti writers. Initially, he struggled with traditional graffiti lettering, but then he began to experiment with spray cans, applying his skills from painting portraits with a paintbrush.

Why did Brandon feel more connected to creating a piece of Dr. King in an abandoned housing project rather than painting his name?

Brandon felt that creating an image of Dr. King in the abandoned housing project would be more impactful than painting his own name. He saw graffiti as a form of rebellion and wanted to use his art to break rules for a meaningful reason, rather than just following traditional graffiti conventions.

What is Studio B, and what does it represent in Brandon’s artistic journey?

Studio B is a space located in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, where Brandon's first solo show is on display. It serves as a space for his creative process, where one side is open to the public, and the other side is his personal art studio. It symbolizes the evolution of his artistic expression, particularly his transition from traditional graffiti to a more reflective, rule-breaking style.

What is the significance of using wooden cutouts in Brandon's artwork?

The wooden cutouts in Brandon’s artwork represent individuals who champion the power of words and ideas. Through these cutouts, he explores what it would look like if famous figures like Nikki Giovanni, John Lennon, and Malcolm X were graffiti writers, addressing the impact of their words in public spaces.

Why does Brandon juxtapose portraits of figures like Muhammad Ali with regular people from New Orleans in his work?

Brandon juxtaposes larger-than-life figures like Muhammad Ali with everyday people to show the value in both. He believes that while lionized characters hold cultural significance, there is also immense worth in the everyday people who are often overlooked but are just as deserving of recognition.

What message did Brandon aim to convey through his art in the abandoned housing project?

In the abandoned housing project, Brandon's art aimed to highlight the theme of post-Katrina recovery, reflecting the displacement of families and the absence of those who lived there. His work sought to remind people of the lives that were affected by the disaster and the abandonment of these spaces.

What happened after Brandon was threatened with arrest by the Housing Authority of New Orleans?

After being threatened with arrest, the Housing Authority of New Orleans contacted Brandon with an unusual proposition. They informed him that they would demolish the building but would preserve his artwork by cutting out the walls he had painted, allowing his art to live on in a different form.

What significance does the first piece Brandon created in the abandoned housing project have?

Brandon's first piece in the abandoned housing project was created on May 19, 2013, which is the birthday of Malcolm X. It holds special significance as it marks the beginning of his artistic journey in this space, blending his passion for art with activism and historical context.

How did Brandon feel about the evolution of his art over the years, particularly in relation to the abandoned housing project?

Brandon finds it humbling to reflect on how far he’s come since creating art in the abandoned housing project. He never imagined that five years later, he would be standing in his own studio, with a solo show in a space that represents the lasting legacy of his early works and the stories they told.

What does the term 'ephemeral eternal' mean in the context of Brandon’s art?

'Ephemeral eternal' refers to the idea of taking temporary moments or experiences, such as his art pieces, and connecting them to something enduring. The legacy of figures like Dr. King, who passed away young but whose message remains powerful, serves as an example of how fleeting moments can have lasting impacts.