um I remember my first lesson in seeing differently I was in st. Vincent in the
differently I was in st. Vincent in the
differently I was in st. Vincent in the Grenadines I was eight years old maybe
Grenadines I was eight years old maybe
Grenadines I was eight years old maybe nine my mom brought me a sketchbook I’m
nine my mom brought me a sketchbook I’m
nine my mom brought me a sketchbook I’m like oh sketchbook I can’t believe it I
like oh sketchbook I can’t believe it I
like oh sketchbook I can’t believe it I can’t wait till dad gets home so I could
can’t wait till dad gets home so I could
can’t wait till dad gets home so I could join the sketchbook be so good and my
join the sketchbook be so good and my
join the sketchbook be so good and my mom watch me she say well it’s in kaki
mom watch me she say well it’s in kaki
mom watch me she say well it’s in kaki Andhra and then she proceeds to draw
Andhra and then she proceeds to draw
Andhra and then she proceeds to draw this right I’m like what are you drawing
this right I’m like what are you drawing
this right I’m like what are you drawing mom we did rectangles in high school
mom we did rectangles in high school
mom we did rectangles in high school what’s going on and she steps back and
what’s going on and she steps back and
what’s going on and she steps back and she goes why is that I’m like I don’t
she goes why is that I’m like I don’t
she goes why is that I’m like I don’t know what it is do you lose all your
know what it is do you lose all your
know what it is do you lose all your pepperoni on your pizza
pepperoni on your pizza
pepperoni on your pizza oh no she goes you can’t see what it is
oh no she goes you can’t see what it is
oh no she goes you can’t see what it is is a giraffe with his head out the
is a giraffe with his head out the
is a giraffe with his head out the window I was like what and then and then
window I was like what and then and then
window I was like what and then and then she slams a sketchbook and she goes art
she slams a sketchbook and she goes art
she slams a sketchbook and she goes art is all in how you look at it so I was
is all in how you look at it so I was
is all in how you look at it so I was like wow
like wow
like wow a giraffe mom amazing I I thought I knew
a giraffe mom amazing I I thought I knew
a giraffe mom amazing I I thought I knew what it was but I had to open my mind to
what it was but I had to open my mind to
what it was but I had to open my mind to see what it could become so blew my mind
see what it could become so blew my mind
see what it could become so blew my mind I was like so I still use this thirty
I was like so I still use this thirty
I was like so I still use this thirty years later I’m an artist in Toronto I
years later I’m an artist in Toronto I
years later I’m an artist in Toronto I paint graffiti some of my contemporaries
paint graffiti some of my contemporaries
paint graffiti some of my contemporaries are on the walls here at this
are on the walls here at this
are on the walls here at this establishment
establishment
establishment oh I paint graph I paint murals I paint
oh I paint graph I paint murals I paint
oh I paint graph I paint murals I paint I paint all over the world actually I
I paint all over the world actually I
I paint all over the world actually I paint in South Africa Cape Town I paint
paint in South Africa Cape Town I paint
paint in South Africa Cape Town I paint in Scarborough Toronto I’ve paid
in Scarborough Toronto I’ve paid
in Scarborough Toronto I’ve paid downtown Toronto all these pieces I also
downtown Toronto all these pieces I also
downtown Toronto all these pieces I also painted a tree down the street from my
painted a tree down the street from my
painted a tree down the street from my house
house
house they call it the hug tree because I
they call it the hug tree because I
they call it the hug tree because I painted hu G on the back of it which
painted hu G on the back of it which
painted hu G on the back of it which really means huge ugly guys stands from
really means huge ugly guys stands from
really means huge ugly guys stands from my graffiti crew history unleashes
my graffiti crew history unleashes
my graffiti crew history unleashes genius but for some reason people
genius but for some reason people
genius but for some reason people started hugging it and they hugged there
started hugging it and they hugged there
started hugging it and they hugged there for the next six years and they loved it
for the next six years and they loved it
for the next six years and they loved it for the next six years until it got hit
for the next six years until it got hit
for the next six years until it got hit by a car yeah completely gone no more
by a car yeah completely gone no more
by a car yeah completely gone no more tree but really is it I was in a group
tree but really is it I was in a group
tree but really is it I was in a group show at the Royal Ontario Museum and
show at the Royal Ontario Museum and
show at the Royal Ontario Museum and they asked me to do something so I was
they asked me to do something so I was
they asked me to do something so I was like you know what I should take the
like you know what I should take the
like you know what I should take the tree and put it in the in the museum so
tree and put it in the in the museum so
tree and put it in the in the museum so that’s what we did we put it on big big
that’s what we did we put it on big big
that’s what we did we put it on big big truck and got it to the museum it was
truck and got it to the museum it was
truck and got it to the museum it was amazing got it in there made an
amazing got it in there made an
amazing got it in there made an installation the piece and everything
installation the piece and everything
installation the piece and everything was awesome we received really well and
was awesome we received really well and
was awesome we received really well and then we decided to take it out of the
then we decided to take it out of the
then we decided to take it out of the ROM and put it back on the street
ROM and put it back on the street
ROM and put it back on the street exactly where it was so people can
exactly where it was so people can
exactly where it was so people can continue to hug it and love it and it’s
continue to hug it and love it and it’s
continue to hug it and love it and it’s rated a best place to kiss in Toronto
rated a best place to kiss in Toronto
rated a best place to kiss in Toronto 2008 2009 pretty pretty good there
2008 2009 pretty pretty good there
2008 2009 pretty pretty good there oh but anyway I made big pieces
oh but anyway I made big pieces
oh but anyway I made big pieces international stuff I paint trees but
international stuff I paint trees but
international stuff I paint trees but what I really like to do is paint on
what I really like to do is paint on
what I really like to do is paint on like that like cruddy metal where it’s
like that like cruddy metal where it’s
like that like cruddy metal where it’s like its oxidizing so hard that the rust
like its oxidizing so hard that the rust
like its oxidizing so hard that the rust is like dripping down like it’s actually
is like dripping down like it’s actually
is like dripping down like it’s actually liquid or like a crack wall where it’s
liquid or like a crack wall where it’s
liquid or like a crack wall where it’s like breaking through and a little bits
like breaking through and a little bits
like breaking through and a little bits of leaves of coming through it or just
of leaves of coming through it or just
of leaves of coming through it or just wood that the Sun is beat down so hard
wood that the Sun is beat down so hard
wood that the Sun is beat down so hard that the paint stripping off of it all
that the paint stripping off of it all
that the paint stripping off of it all these things are ordinary but they’re
these things are ordinary but they’re
these things are ordinary but they’re just so beautiful like it’s beautiful
just so beautiful like it’s beautiful
just so beautiful like it’s beautiful you just don’t even want to touch it
you just don’t even want to touch it
you just don’t even want to touch it you know so but I’m an artist so that’s
you know so but I’m an artist so that’s
you know so but I’m an artist so that’s my canvas so I have to paint something
my canvas so I have to paint something
my canvas so I have to paint something on it
on it
on it this is one where actually a piece from
this is one where actually a piece from
this is one where actually a piece from my hometown st. Vincent this is the
my hometown st. Vincent this is the
my hometown st. Vincent this is the stoop I used to hang out when I go home
stoop I used to hang out when I go home
stoop I used to hang out when I go home and just chill buddy stoop this is the
and just chill buddy stoop this is the
and just chill buddy stoop this is the stoop so I had to paint it but it was so
stoop so I had to paint it but it was so
stoop so I had to paint it but it was so beautiful I didn’t want to other spots
beautiful I didn’t want to other spots
beautiful I didn’t want to other spots this is right next to it
this is right next to it
this is right next to it um so I’m basically you
um so I’m basically you
um so I’m basically you using all the things around me to come
using all the things around me to come
using all the things around me to come up with the piece it’s a lovely little
up with the piece it’s a lovely little
up with the piece it’s a lovely little spots that you’re like whoa I would just
spots that you’re like whoa I would just
spots that you’re like whoa I would just walk by that because it’s just kind of
walk by that because it’s just kind of
walk by that because it’s just kind of like whatever rotting rotting stuff on
like whatever rotting rotting stuff on
like whatever rotting rotting stuff on the side but beautiful at the same time
the side but beautiful at the same time
the side but beautiful at the same time so all these pieces turn them into
so all these pieces turn them into
so all these pieces turn them into something else this is a tribute to my
something else this is a tribute to my
something else this is a tribute to my dad turn into something else I like this
dad turn into something else I like this
dad turn into something else I like this piece somebody light a lit a fire in it
piece somebody light a lit a fire in it
piece somebody light a lit a fire in it right next to the wall so like the wall
right next to the wall so like the wall
right next to the wall so like the wall sort of burnt all the pieces away from
sort of burnt all the pieces away from
sort of burnt all the pieces away from before so it kind of looks like a rowdy
before so it kind of looks like a rowdy
before so it kind of looks like a rowdy mess you know you think you know what it
mess you know you think you know what it
mess you know you think you know what it is
is
is but you have to open your mind to see
but you have to open your mind to see
but you have to open your mind to see what it becomes
what it becomes
what it becomes so portrait of me and my girlfriend it’s
so portrait of me and my girlfriend it’s
so portrait of me and my girlfriend it’s great oh so yeah all this kind of stuff
great oh so yeah all this kind of stuff
great oh so yeah all this kind of stuff actually I want to do an experiment with
actually I want to do an experiment with
actually I want to do an experiment with everyone I took a couple pieces inside
everyone I took a couple pieces inside
everyone I took a couple pieces inside the Ajo art gallery Ontario just
the Ajo art gallery Ontario just
the Ajo art gallery Ontario just croppings little bits of paintings and
croppings little bits of paintings and
croppings little bits of paintings and then I came outside and I took pieces
then I came outside and I took pieces
then I came outside and I took pieces took shots of stuff outside the AG oh
took shots of stuff outside the AG oh
took shots of stuff outside the AG oh that I deemed art um can you guys tell
that I deemed art um can you guys tell
that I deemed art um can you guys tell me which one is from the AG oh yes you
me which one is from the AG oh yes you
me which one is from the AG oh yes you sir maybe you yes no it’s not number two
sir maybe you yes no it’s not number two
sir maybe you yes no it’s not number two actually it’s number three it’s the
actually it’s number three it’s the
actually it’s number three it’s the Franz Franz Kline piece really love it
Franz Franz Kline piece really love it
Franz Franz Kline piece really love it it’s amazing but it’s just to show you
it’s amazing but it’s just to show you
it’s amazing but it’s just to show you that you know to pay 25 bucks to go into
that you know to pay 25 bucks to go into
that you know to pay 25 bucks to go into the art gallery ratio and uh see you
the art gallery ratio and uh see you
the art gallery ratio and uh see you have all these other pieces
have all these other pieces
have all these other pieces $3.99 perfect it’s like finding art in
$3.99 perfect it’s like finding art in
$3.99 perfect it’s like finding art in ordinary places so this leads us to our
ordinary places so this leads us to our
ordinary places so this leads us to our other thing I have a built a hashtag
other thing I have a built a hashtag
other thing I have a built a hashtag with Joanna Morgan Ezra Waddell they’re
with Joanna Morgan Ezra Waddell they’re
with Joanna Morgan Ezra Waddell they’re my homies and we built this hashtag
my homies and we built this hashtag
my homies and we built this hashtag called don’t know it’s art if you guys
called don’t know it’s art if you guys
called don’t know it’s art if you guys have your phones out right now I could
have your phones out right now I could
have your phones out right now I could check don’t know what’s art that’s our
check don’t know what’s art that’s our
check don’t know what’s art that’s our hashtag it’s just a collection of weird
hashtag it’s just a collection of weird
hashtag it’s just a collection of weird little bits that we find on the street
little bits that we find on the street
little bits that we find on the street weird little things that we deem is art
weird little things that we deem is art
weird little things that we deem is art that we see is beautiful they’re just
that we see is beautiful they’re just
that we see is beautiful they’re just ordinary stuff that you walk by every
ordinary stuff that you walk by every
ordinary stuff that you walk by every day you wouldn’t think this actually
day you wouldn’t think this actually
day you wouldn’t think this actually could be art that’s that’s what we do we
could be art that’s that’s what we do we
could be art that’s that’s what we do we collect a whole bunch of pieces like
collect a whole bunch of pieces like
collect a whole bunch of pieces like this for example you guys know your
this for example you guys know your
this for example you guys know your hotspots rules of thirds this is it
hotspots rules of thirds this is it
hotspots rules of thirds this is it actually happening in real life no
actually happening in real life no
actually happening in real life no artists it just happens
artists it just happens
artists it just happens it’s kind of cool that how the piece is
it’s kind of cool that how the piece is
it’s kind of cool that how the piece is now that photographer took a photo of it
now that photographer took a photo of it
now that photographer took a photo of it this is Ezra’s piece he took a photo of
this is Ezra’s piece he took a photo of
this is Ezra’s piece he took a photo of it so he’s the last artist to touch this
it so he’s the last artist to touch this
it so he’s the last artist to touch this work basically another thing you look at
work basically another thing you look at
work basically another thing you look at this and you’re like oh mark Mark Rothko
this and you’re like oh mark Mark Rothko
this and you’re like oh mark Mark Rothko is in town no it’s actually a graffiti
is in town no it’s actually a graffiti
is in town no it’s actually a graffiti artist painting something and then a
artist painting something and then a
artist painting something and then a homeowner coming out and painting over
homeowner coming out and painting over
homeowner coming out and painting over it and there’s sort of semi battling but
it and there’s sort of semi battling but
it and there’s sort of semi battling but they don’t know they’re actually
they don’t know they’re actually
they don’t know they’re actually creating a work of art it’s just
creating a work of art it’s just
creating a work of art it’s just beautiful so that’s kind of stuff love
beautiful so that’s kind of stuff love
beautiful so that’s kind of stuff love to do it oh this this is our manifesto
to do it oh this this is our manifesto
to do it oh this this is our manifesto don’t know what art you guys know
don’t know what art you guys know
don’t know what art you guys know Salvador Dali telephone Salvador Dali
Salvador Dali telephone Salvador Dali
Salvador Dali telephone Salvador Dali used to have press conferences and he
used to have press conferences and he
used to have press conferences and he would have a lobster
would have a lobster
would have a lobster receiver on a cell phone um so I guess
receiver on a cell phone um so I guess
receiver on a cell phone um so I guess we Jelani walked by this inside took a
we Jelani walked by this inside took a
we Jelani walked by this inside took a picture of it because somebody set this
picture of it because somebody set this
picture of it because somebody set this up and just kind of walked away like I
up and just kind of walked away like I
up and just kind of walked away like I think it’s alive actually it’s crazy
think it’s alive actually it’s crazy
think it’s alive actually it’s crazy anyway so yeah that’s our manifesto of
anyway so yeah that’s our manifesto of
anyway so yeah that’s our manifesto of like art no one knows that it’s art and
like art no one knows that it’s art and
like art no one knows that it’s art and they just walked by it it’s kind of
they just walked by it it’s kind of
they just walked by it it’s kind of crazy oh this is my favorite this is my
crazy oh this is my favorite this is my
crazy oh this is my favorite this is my little cheesecake this piece is that
little cheesecake this piece is that
little cheesecake this piece is that balmy boys if you guys know Toronto
balmy boys if you guys know Toronto
balmy boys if you guys know Toronto there’s a really good restaurant called
there’s a really good restaurant called
there’s a really good restaurant called balmy boys this is right behind the
balmy boys this is right behind the
balmy boys this is right behind the where you pay it’s a little crack in the
where you pay it’s a little crack in the
where you pay it’s a little crack in the wall it’s no more bigger than a quarter
wall it’s no more bigger than a quarter
wall it’s no more bigger than a quarter but it’s like three people working
but it’s like three people working
but it’s like three people working together a person that like did this
together a person that like did this
together a person that like did this work underneath it’s obviously spray
work underneath it’s obviously spray
work underneath it’s obviously spray paint and then the spray paint wall the
paint and then the spray paint wall the
paint and then the spray paint wall the little bit of white and then the person
little bit of white and then the person
little bit of white and then the person priming over the whole thing and then
priming over the whole thing and then
priming over the whole thing and then the person cracking the wall right in
the person cracking the wall right in
the person cracking the wall right in that little spot and then the last
that little spot and then the last
that little spot and then the last artist myself taking a picture of it so
artist myself taking a picture of it so
artist myself taking a picture of it so this how all these things work together
this how all these things work together
this how all these things work together if you guys can add to my hashtag I’d
if you guys can add to my hashtag I’d
if you guys can add to my hashtag I’d really love that I want to see what you
really love that I want to see what you
really love that I want to see what you guys see when you go to work if you see
guys see when you go to work if you see
guys see when you go to work if you see a nice little piece that you didn’t
a nice little piece that you didn’t
a nice little piece that you didn’t think it was a piece but now it just
think it was a piece but now it just
think it was a piece but now it just gave you this
gave you this
gave you this and it could be a piece take a picture
and it could be a piece take a picture
and it could be a piece take a picture of it and uh don’t know it’s art to the
of it and uh don’t know it’s art to the
of it and uh don’t know it’s art to the hashtag and I could see it
hashtag and I could see it
hashtag and I could see it the amazing um but uh why am I asking
the amazing um but uh why am I asking
the amazing um but uh why am I asking you guys to add to my hat well I don’t
you guys to add to my hat well I don’t
you guys to add to my hat well I don’t want you to go to its art cuz cuz I want
want you to go to its art cuz cuz I want
want you to go to its art cuz cuz I want you guys leaving here and seeing
you guys leaving here and seeing
you guys leaving here and seeing differently I want you to see the beauty
differently I want you to see the beauty
differently I want you to see the beauty in imperfections I want you to see the
in imperfections I want you to see the
in imperfections I want you to see the beauty in normality or ordinary things
beauty in normality or ordinary things
beauty in normality or ordinary things if we could do this it levels the
if we could do this it levels the
if we could do this it levels the platform the levels of playing ground
platform the levels of playing ground
platform the levels of playing ground alright ok for example if you could see
alright ok for example if you could see
alright ok for example if you could see the ordinary in a little boy walking
the ordinary in a little boy walking
the ordinary in a little boy walking down the street in a dress an eyeshadow
down the street in a dress an eyeshadow
down the street in a dress an eyeshadow if you could see the ordinary and a
if you could see the ordinary and a
if you could see the ordinary and a woman at the beach in a job if we could
woman at the beach in a job if we could
woman at the beach in a job if we could see the ordinary in in this then we’ll
see the ordinary in in this then we’ll
see the ordinary in in this then we’ll begin to see the extraordinary and we’ll
begin to see the extraordinary and we’ll
begin to see the extraordinary and we’ll have that conversation art is all in how
have that conversation art is all in how
have that conversation art is all in how you look at it you may think you know
you look at it you may think you know
you look at it you may think you know what you’re looking at but you have to
what you’re looking at but you have to
what you’re looking at but you have to open up your mind to see what we can
open up your mind to see what we can
open up your mind to see what we can become
become
become alright thank you
alright thank you
alright thank you [Applause]
”
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