yeah but I have to talk about art because it’s what I do
because it’s what I do
because it’s what I do as an art director and consultant I work
as an art director and consultant I work
as an art director and consultant I work with galleries dealers private
with galleries dealers private
with galleries dealers private collectors and I work with artists I’ve
collectors and I work with artists I’ve
collectors and I work with artists I’ve curated I’ve written articles about art
curated I’ve written articles about art
curated I’ve written articles about art for art magazines and I’ve even produced
for art magazines and I’ve even produced
for art magazines and I’ve even produced a documentary film about art so I spend
a documentary film about art so I spend
a documentary film about art so I spend a lot of time navigating the art world
a lot of time navigating the art world
a lot of time navigating the art world and to be completely honest with you at
and to be completely honest with you at
and to be completely honest with you at times I feel incredibly terrified and
times I feel incredibly terrified and
times I feel incredibly terrified and frustrated as hell because it’s an
frustrated as hell because it’s an
frustrated as hell because it’s an industry that is built on exclusivity
industry that is built on exclusivity
industry that is built on exclusivity and it caters primarily to those with
and it caters primarily to those with
and it caters primarily to those with vested interests and so I I understand
vested interests and so I I understand
vested interests and so I I understand the hesitancy around discussing art
the hesitancy around discussing art
the hesitancy around discussing art especially for those who aren’t
especially for those who aren’t
especially for those who aren’t affiliated with the art world
affiliated with the art world
affiliated with the art world I know experiencing museums and
I know experiencing museums and
I know experiencing museums and galleries can be intimidating combined
galleries can be intimidating combined
galleries can be intimidating combined with the fact that what dictates good
with the fact that what dictates good
with the fact that what dictates good and bad art can sometimes just feel
and bad art can sometimes just feel
and bad art can sometimes just feel arbitrary but art shouldn’t be this
arbitrary but art shouldn’t be this
arbitrary but art shouldn’t be this exclusive experience because art can be
exclusive experience because art can be
exclusive experience because art can be incredibly powerful and it can inspire
incredibly powerful and it can inspire
incredibly powerful and it can inspire and it can even save lives and I know
and it can even save lives and I know
and it can even save lives and I know this because it saved my life when I was
this because it saved my life when I was
this because it saved my life when I was an 11 year old kid and I had just
an 11 year old kid and I had just
an 11 year old kid and I had just emigrated to the United States you see I
emigrated to the United States you see I
emigrated to the United States you see I was I grew up in a very very small town
was I grew up in a very very small town
was I grew up in a very very small town to our south of Budapest and back then
to our south of Budapest and back then
to our south of Budapest and back then Hungary was going through a breakup with
Hungary was going through a breakup with
Hungary was going through a breakup with communism so I grew up in a communist
communism so I grew up in a communist
communism so I grew up in a communist culture and I didn’t experience
culture and I didn’t experience
culture and I didn’t experience commercialization or a capitalist
commercialization or a capitalist
commercialization or a capitalist consumers culture until I had come to
consumers culture until I had come to
consumers culture until I had come to the States and I was 11 years old and
the States and I was 11 years old and
the States and I was 11 years old and you know the two cultures are so
you know the two cultures are so
you know the two cultures are so completely opposite of one another I
completely opposite of one another I
completely opposite of one another I began to disassociate and what saved me
began to disassociate and what saved me
began to disassociate and what saved me was seeing graffiti graffiti was the
was seeing graffiti graffiti was the
was seeing graffiti graffiti was the only similarity I saw between Eastern
only similarity I saw between Eastern
only similarity I saw between Eastern Europe
Europe
Europe the United States so it became the glue
the United States so it became the glue
the United States so it became the glue of visual familiarity and it’s how I
of visual familiarity and it’s how I
of visual familiarity and it’s how I came to assimilate and it’s how I
came to assimilate and it’s how I
came to assimilate and it’s how I eventually fell in love with the United
eventually fell in love with the United
eventually fell in love with the United States which by the way is the greatest
States which by the way is the greatest
States which by the way is the greatest country in the world so yeah yeah and so
country in the world so yeah yeah and so
country in the world so yeah yeah and so you know aside from graffiti and street
you know aside from graffiti and street
you know aside from graffiti and street art helping me get through culture shock
art helping me get through culture shock
art helping me get through culture shock it plays a much larger role graffiti
it plays a much larger role graffiti
it plays a much larger role graffiti came onto the scene in the 60s and like
came onto the scene in the 60s and like
came onto the scene in the 60s and like true art it pushed the establishment it
true art it pushed the establishment it
true art it pushed the establishment it criticized and it was an articulation of
criticized and it was an articulation of
criticized and it was an articulation of cultural presence and today we now have
cultural presence and today we now have
cultural presence and today we now have this great generation of artists still
this great generation of artists still
this great generation of artists still carrying the movement and it’s the
carrying the movement and it’s the
carrying the movement and it’s the graffiti and street art generation and
graffiti and street art generation and
graffiti and street art generation and these are incredibly talented artists
these are incredibly talented artists
these are incredibly talented artists who have cultivated themselves
who have cultivated themselves
who have cultivated themselves stylistically from the streets and taken
stylistically from the streets and taken
stylistically from the streets and taken their art into the studio but even
their art into the studio but even
their art into the studio but even though that even though they have they
though that even though they have they
though that even though they have they are internationally recognized with
are internationally recognized with
are internationally recognized with Museum and gallery exhibits they still
Museum and gallery exhibits they still
Museum and gallery exhibits they still paint in the streets among and for the
paint in the streets among and for the
paint in the streets among and for the public and they understand the value of
public and they understand the value of
public and they understand the value of public art and the power it presents and
public art and the power it presents and
public art and the power it presents and how it can inspire and this is why my
how it can inspire and this is why my
how it can inspire and this is why my colleague Brian greif and I co-found
colleague Brian greif and I co-found
colleague Brian greif and I co-found were founded the Nashville Arts Project
were founded the Nashville Arts Project
were founded the Nashville Arts Project Nashville walls project I’m sorry
Nashville walls project I’m sorry
Nashville walls project I’m sorry and over the past year I have had the
and over the past year I have had the
and over the past year I have had the honour of coordinating ten public murals
honour of coordinating ten public murals
honour of coordinating ten public murals in Nashville and these artists are you
in Nashville and these artists are you
in Nashville and these artists are you know they traveled the world and they
know they traveled the world and they
know they traveled the world and they immerse themselves in the culture like
immerse themselves in the culture like
immerse themselves in the culture like above from Berlin who paints you know
above from Berlin who paints you know
above from Berlin who paints you know with his moniker and mind
with his moniker and mind
with his moniker and mind and you know these artists paint murals
and you know these artists paint murals
and you know these artists paint murals for the pure aesthetic beauty and
for the pure aesthetic beauty and
for the pure aesthetic beauty and because they love to travel and immerse
because they love to travel and immerse
because they love to travel and immerse themselves into the local culture they
themselves into the local culture they
themselves into the local culture they will paint murals that pay tribute to
will paint murals that pay tribute to
will paint murals that pay tribute to the city for example Mike shine who
the city for example Mike shine who
the city for example Mike shine who painted Hank Williams and Chuck Berry on
painted Hank Williams and Chuck Berry on
painted Hank Williams and Chuck Berry on the side of a recording studio on music
the side of a recording studio on music
the side of a recording studio on music row and Rowan from Australia who paints
row and Rowan from Australia who paints
row and Rowan from Australia who paints these incredible portraits and curia
these incredible portraits and curia
these incredible portraits and curia from Mexico who’s an abstract painter an
from Mexico who’s an abstract painter an
from Mexico who’s an abstract painter an Adele Renault from Amsterdam and Neil
Adele Renault from Amsterdam and Neil
Adele Renault from Amsterdam and Neil Shuman who is the inceptive force behind
Shuman who is the inceptive force behind
Shuman who is the inceptive force behind calligraffiti painted Johnny Cash lyrics
calligraffiti painted Johnny Cash lyrics
calligraffiti painted Johnny Cash lyrics on the corner of this parking garage and
on the corner of this parking garage and
on the corner of this parking garage and this wonderful collaboration between
this wonderful collaboration between
this wonderful collaboration between Mars one and Curia who by the way were
Mars one and Curia who by the way were
Mars one and Curia who by the way were huge fans of each other’s works and they
huge fans of each other’s works and they
huge fans of each other’s works and they just happened to be in Nashville at the
just happened to be in Nashville at the
just happened to be in Nashville at the same time and they got to collaborate on
same time and they got to collaborate on
same time and they got to collaborate on this wall together and the great thing
this wall together and the great thing
this wall together and the great thing about these artists is that they set out
about these artists is that they set out
about these artists is that they set out to paint murals that raise awareness for
to paint murals that raise awareness for
to paint murals that raise awareness for example Louie Messiah from Britain he
example Louie Messiah from Britain he
example Louie Messiah from Britain he painted the North American flying
painted the North American flying
painted the North American flying squirrel that is native to Nashville or
squirrel that is native to Nashville or
squirrel that is native to Nashville or Tennessee and unfortunately they’re
Tennessee and unfortunately they’re
Tennessee and unfortunately they’re going extinct and the haricot mural
going extinct and the haricot mural
going extinct and the haricot mural which has become an incredible platform
which has become an incredible platform
which has become an incredible platform for animal rights the local animal
for animal rights the local animal
for animal rights the local animal shelter now takes these pups to the
shelter now takes these pups to the
shelter now takes these pups to the murals and takes their portraits and
murals and takes their portraits and
murals and takes their portraits and Kosh Elliott
Kosh Elliott
Kosh Elliott yeah these these pups were all long-term
yeah these these pups were all long-term
yeah these these pups were all long-term residents and they have since found
residents and they have since found
residents and they have since found their forever homes that’s my personal
their forever homes that’s my personal
their forever homes that’s my personal favorite in working with these
favorite in working with these
favorite in working with these international artists we’ve also been
international artists we’ve also been
international artists we’ve also been able to highlight the local talent in
able to highlight the local talent in
able to highlight the local talent in Nashville Nashville has some incredibly
Nashville Nashville has some incredibly
Nashville Nashville has some incredibly talented street artists like herb
talented street artists like herb
talented street artists like herb Williams
Williams
Williams and Chris Dudek and Emily Miller and
and Chris Dudek and Emily Miller and
and Chris Dudek and Emily Miller and Brandon Donahue and Sam Johnson and they
Brandon Donahue and Sam Johnson and they
Brandon Donahue and Sam Johnson and they all collaborated with the international
all collaborated with the international
all collaborated with the international artists and then they were also able to
artists and then they were also able to
artists and then they were also able to paint a local mural so the completion of
paint a local mural so the completion of
paint a local mural so the completion of these murals is a success story on
these murals is a success story on
these murals is a success story on behalf of the Nashville community
behalf of the Nashville community
behalf of the Nashville community because it takes a community of people
because it takes a community of people
because it takes a community of people to bring these murals to life you know
to bring these murals to life you know
to bring these murals to life you know people from all professional backgrounds
people from all professional backgrounds
people from all professional backgrounds came by on their lunch breaks to see if
came by on their lunch breaks to see if
came by on their lunch breaks to see if they can volunteer and help some people
they can volunteer and help some people
they can volunteer and help some people brought lawn chairs other people just
brought lawn chairs other people just
brought lawn chairs other people just laid on the ground all day yeah but
laid on the ground all day yeah but
laid on the ground all day yeah but everyone was there and everyone was
everyone was there and everyone was
everyone was there and everyone was interacting with the artists you know
interacting with the artists you know
interacting with the artists you know they would take breaks from painting the
they would take breaks from painting the
they would take breaks from painting the murals and they would come and hang out
murals and they would come and hang out
murals and they would come and hang out with all the locals and every single day
with all the locals and every single day
with all the locals and every single day at these murals it felt like a block
at these murals it felt like a block
at these murals it felt like a block party
party
party you know everyone worked incredibly hard
you know everyone worked incredibly hard
you know everyone worked incredibly hard but at the end of the day everyone had a
but at the end of the day everyone had a
but at the end of the day everyone had a blast and that’s actually my dad yeah he
blast and that’s actually my dad yeah he
blast and that’s actually my dad yeah he came to Nashville and and I think it you
came to Nashville and and I think it you
came to Nashville and and I think it you know his reaction just summed up the way
know his reaction just summed up the way
know his reaction just summed up the way it changes pedestrian life you know
it changes pedestrian life you know
it changes pedestrian life you know these murals are huge so they are
these murals are huge so they are
these murals are huge so they are peripherally dominant so they engage you
peripherally dominant so they engage you
peripherally dominant so they engage you know pedestrians you know they distract
know pedestrians you know they distract
know pedestrians you know they distract people from their phones it completely
people from their phones it completely
people from their phones it completely you know slows the pace down and you
you know slows the pace down and you
you know slows the pace down and you know there are these groups of strangers
know there are these groups of strangers
know there are these groups of strangers having a collective moment reacting to
having a collective moment reacting to
having a collective moment reacting to these murals and these murals are great
these murals and these murals are great
these murals and these murals are great or you know meeting up people can use
or you know meeting up people can use
or you know meeting up people can use them to you know specify locations they
them to you know specify locations they
them to you know specify locations they plan group activities like bike tours
plan group activities like bike tours
plan group activities like bike tours and school field trips around these
and school field trips around these
and school field trips around these murals and you know this brings me to my
murals and you know this brings me to my
murals and you know this brings me to my most important point these murals the
most important point these murals the
most important point these murals the this public art redefines public space
this public art redefines public space
this public art redefines public space you know it creates an environment for
you know it creates an environment for
you know it creates an environment for all ages to experience the real world
all ages to experience the real world
all ages to experience the real world that isn’t explicitly defined by
that isn’t explicitly defined by
that isn’t explicitly defined by subliminal app targeting and billboards
subliminal app targeting and billboards
subliminal app targeting and billboards and it engages the public you know when
and it engages the public you know when
and it engages the public you know when you go into a gallery and see art that
you go into a gallery and see art that
you go into a gallery and see art that art is entitled to be there so a lot of
art is entitled to be there so a lot of
art is entitled to be there so a lot of people feel like their opinion about the
people feel like their opinion about the
people feel like their opinion about the art is limited but in public where you
art is limited but in public where you
art is limited but in public where you walk your dog the square you walk to to
walk your dog the square you walk to to
walk your dog the square you walk to to take your lunch that’s fair game
take your lunch that’s fair game
take your lunch that’s fair game you can love it you can hate it the
you can love it you can hate it the
you can love it you can hate it the point is that you are engaged with the
point is that you are engaged with the
point is that you are engaged with the art and this is how I know I’ve done my
art and this is how I know I’ve done my
art and this is how I know I’ve done my job properly after the completion of the
job properly after the completion of the
job properly after the completion of the hair coop mural I went up to the 26th
hair coop mural I went up to the 26th
hair coop mural I went up to the 26th floor of the high-rise right across from
floor of the high-rise right across from
floor of the high-rise right across from it to take photos and it was after hours
it to take photos and it was after hours
it to take photos and it was after hours everyone had gone home except for one
everyone had gone home except for one
everyone had gone home except for one lady and she had this great view you
lady and she had this great view you
lady and she had this great view you know right next to the window and she
know right next to the window and she
know right next to the window and she saw the entire mural being painted so I
saw the entire mural being painted so I
saw the entire mural being painted so I asked her I asked her what she thought
asked her I asked her what she thought
asked her I asked her what she thought about the mural and she was a little bit
about the mural and she was a little bit
about the mural and she was a little bit hesitant about answering so I pushed
hesitant about answering so I pushed
hesitant about answering so I pushed because I wanted to hear her opinion I
because I wanted to hear her opinion I
because I wanted to hear her opinion I wanted to know what she felt about this
wanted to know what she felt about this
wanted to know what she felt about this specific mural and after you know a few
specific mural and after you know a few
specific mural and after you know a few moments she finally turned to me and
moments she finally turned to me and
moments she finally turned to me and said you know I love the dog the dog is
said you know I love the dog the dog is
said you know I love the dog the dog is great nothing wrong with the dog but the
great nothing wrong with the dog but the
great nothing wrong with the dog but the little girl she kind of creeps me out
little girl she kind of creeps me out
little girl she kind of creeps me out yeah now this moment was great for two
yeah now this moment was great for two
yeah now this moment was great for two reason the first one being that that
reason the first one being that that
reason the first one being that that little girl’s face was in fact modeled
little girl’s face was in fact modeled
little girl’s face was in fact modeled after mine yeah I’m not even joking this
after mine yeah I’m not even joking this
after mine yeah I’m not even joking this is great
is great
is great and the second reason was that she was
and the second reason was that she was
and the second reason was that she was engaging actively and confidently in art
engaging actively and confidently in art
engaging actively and confidently in art and that’s why I do what I do I want to
and that’s why I do what I do I want to
and that’s why I do what I do I want to make art accessible I want it to impact
make art accessible I want it to impact
make art accessible I want it to impact your day to day lives and I want
your day to day lives and I want
your day to day lives and I want everyone to have access to the
everyone to have access to the
everyone to have access to the inspiration that it can instill when you
inspiration that it can instill when you
inspiration that it can instill when you navigate in the city in the public space
navigate in the city in the public space
navigate in the city in the public space you can experience it with the beauty of
you can experience it with the beauty of
you can experience it with the beauty of street art and that is an idea where
street art and that is an idea where
street art and that is an idea where spray-painting
spray-painting
spray-painting [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment