Education Observation

For a brief period of time throughout my artistic career my financial success had been based largely upon doing commercial work, mural sign painting for companies like Reebok Heineken Adidas and more. Throughout 2004 and 2005 these projects consumed the majority of my time and creativity. Once moving the California in 2006 the creative shift began to take form and my inner voice demanded to be heard.

In may, 2010 SEDC and the City of San Diego Commissioned Pose 2 aka Mr. Maxx Moses to create a mural at the intersection of 35th and National Ave. The project titled Education Observation is a 500 square foot mural. When visiting the store owners Judy and John of Lew’s Chinese food they mentioned that there was a school at the end of the street and that there business had been there for 50 years so they wanted to have some art that had some essence of education attached to it.

“Personally I feel my artistic vision encompasses so much that to the onlooker there is always an open door of visual opportunity ”. In efforts to relate to the storeowner’s ideals I came up with the title Education Observation. Artistically I wanted to stick to MY TRUTH. I claim to be a Concrete Alchemist meaning my art transforms communities and my visual imagery and encoded subconscious messages evoke the “great spirit”.
However was required to submit a sketch to the Storeowners for approval and this is where I became afraid and doubtful. Would they like my idea? Is it too wild? I’m I too wild? Where does my art fit in? Reluctant but determined I submitted the sketch but got no response. I then decided to call Judy and ask her what she thought about the sketch? She said “well its very colorful and different very different truthfully I don’t no what to think, let me sleep on it and I will get back to you”. Immediately my doubts were confirmed fear kicked in and I felt I had to make some changes and I mentioned to her that I would. That night I tried to make some changes but it just didn’t feel right. So I left it alone got quiet, still and stopped and said to myself, trust yourself trust your style trust your vision… allow
The next day I spoke to Judy and she said she sent the sketch over to her sister who is an artist… and she loved it! Wow that’s amazing, Now Judy was on board. She then asked me did you do any revisions? I mentioned that I tried but nothing came out. I began to tell her about my process and how I work and what my work means to me. I explained to her that sketches for me were just ideas and concepts that I used as a map to get me to the wall. Now that I was at the wall it was uncharted land just waiting for me to cover with color. From the moment I began to the moment it was complete it was pure act of creative joy… Even scraping the wall, which took 2 days of hard labor and I used as a meditation.
In essence this mural titled Education Observation is my gift to the community and also a gift to myself … for I had the opportunity to observe myself grow.
Thanks Judy and John, Chris Jones, Anna brown and Bob Green, thanks Nikyta, Carlos and Miguel Godoy This project was filled with fun and great company…

This March 2010, SEDC commissioned collaborating Artists Todd Stands, Miguel Godoy and myself Maxx Moses aka Pose 2, to embark upon a 400 long 1600 square foot mural titled liquid Harmony located at the 62nd Street/Encanto trolley station. As we developed our concepts for the wall it became evident that our goals were geared toward illustrating the power and vitality of Cholla’s Creek and it’s endangered habitat and wildlife.
The Cholla’s creek is a powerful water source that runs throughout the southeastern region of San Diego and on a local scale symbolizes the importance of water. By raising awareness of the creek and its benefits to the community through our art we hope to foster the care of this rich natural urban resource by the residents.

The collaborative process of artists is a powerful tool used to forge individualistic ideas into a unified vision. Each artist involved in this venture offered a unique skill that lent itself to the specific task of making this project a huge success. Throughout the last 2 years Miguel Godoy, has made a strong impact upon Imperial Avenue with his unique style and imagery illustrated upon numerous painted utility boxes. His participation in this project extended the visual conversation already taking place within this community. Todd Stands, is a working artist in the Cholla’s Creek neighborhood. His 25 years of mural painting and public art experiences are often based on youth workshops and collaborations. As a professor at Southwestern College, he has the opportunity to work with a myriad of emerging artists thus enhancing his ability to unify ideas and visions of groups of people cohesively. These skills will galvanize our collection of youngsters and artists for this endeavor. His passion for the natural world and years of environmental work is a perfect marriage for the overall theme of this project. Pose 2 aka Maxx Moses, is an internationally renowned Graffiti Artist and Concrete Alchemist. His years of experience as a painter, Art Educator, and community activist are the components that Attracted SEDC to seek out his services and head up this project.
The overall project was a pleasure to create but ended in a total wreck! On the final days of painting Maxx Moses car was painted directly across from the mural. “This morning I woke up meditated and went the wall in a state of utter calm he states, headphones on dancing and painting when suddenly I hear a loud screeching noise that ended with a big bang, I know that sound it’s the echo of a car crash. Slowly ever so slowly I turn around to witness a car smashed into the side of my Chrysler”. I walk up to the scene and suddenly the woman jumps out of the car yelling that she is sorry, so sorry. “ Is that your car I’m so sorry I was distracted so distracted by your mural that I took my eyes off the road and ran into your car”. She was visible shaken and truly sorry I just couldn’t me mad in fact it was the weirdest and most sincere compliment to date. So there you have it, the ending of a project and the ending of my car… yes it was a totaled!

Art For The HOMELESS

“Do not judge your neighbor until you walk two moons in his moccasins”. This Cheyenne proverb exemplifies my journey for the year 2009. June 7th was the date that I packed up my apartment put everything in storage and began traveling as a nomad from east to west coast while creating beautiful works of art. Throughout this journey I relied solely on friends and family for a place to sleep with the occasional hotel stay. Throughout my travels I experienced many feelings of displacement, uncertainty and loneliness. One day as I was driving and dealing with these emotions I stopped at a traffic light and gazed into the eyes of a homeless man, and my feelings related to what I seen. He was impoverished physically, mentally and spiritually every aspect of him was wretched. I felt his pain and despair, I was actually attracted to his pain but wanted to ignore him. I was drawn to his loneliness but wanted him to disappear. I just wanted this moment to end I wanted his presence to stop reminding me that I was alone just like him! He needed help and I wanted to RESPOND but not with money, this time if felt something deeper, a connection, yes his sign, all I could focus on was his sign and suddenly the Artist in me awakened and I said to myself, him and his sign are one. Just like any other business the sign is the representation of the business, RIGHT? I thought, what would happen if artists created signs for the homeless? Big, bright colorful, energetic signs with empowering words?
My mind started racing with quotes like, “ Look into my eyes then give” “ You and I are One… give to yourself” “ Help me to Help myself” “I am more than what you see” “Please don’t stop loving me”.

As these quotes for signs crossed my mind I began to think about how we as artists could have a huge impact upon the lives of the homeless and society. A thought of the homeless embodying these insightful words and bright colorful signs was inspiring. Visualizing these signs as having an aesthetic energy that empowered the homeless with a new sense of self-pride and enthusiasm was igniting. The idea of a new dialog springing forth, a new type of engagement between the general public and the homeless is the motivation for this new adventure in art exhibitions titled, RESPONSE-ABILITY ART for the HOMELESS.

My overall Goal for this project is to organize an army of Artist, world- wide to create and sell 144,000 signs for the homeless. The number 144000 is based on the 14th. Baktun, a period of time the Mayan’s see as a significant change upon the earth and the birth of a new cycle. In sync with this cycle of change is Response-Ability Art for the Homeless. The distribution and sales of these elaborately painted signs will take place on the walls of international Art Gallery’s. Each show will be a one night only engagement and each painted sign will sell for the maximum price of $50.00. Here’s where it gets interesting. Each person who purchases a piece of art is encouraged to give this gift of art to a homeless person!

This act of engagement is the fuel and intention behind this entire project. It begins with the homeless and their despair. the artists recognizes their condition and responds with these powerful signs. The Art Gallery’s provide the space to sell these signs. Then its up to us, we the people to purchase these works of art and ultimately offer them as gifts, to the homeless.

The vision is global but we must first start local. The first launching of this exhibition will take place on Saturday, Jan 16th, at Voz Alta Art Gallery, 1754 National Ave, San Diego, CA 92113, www. www.vozaltaproject.org

The overall organization of this show will take place in these stages:

1 The Call to Artists, the organizing and gathering of Artist to participate in this mass art movement.
A. Each contributing artist will be asked to do up to 3 signs for the exhibit. Each sign should be elaborate in color and content. The content should be short, to the point and inspirational.

2 Local and international media support of RESPONSE –ABILITY to propel the momentum and domino effect needed to move this exhibition from city to city throughout the world.

Contact info: Daniel.pose2fx@gmail.com / 619 278 1735

http://eastcoastsnowboarding.com/v3/?p=1146

article: http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/events/private-public-art-urban-setting/

I grew up in Yonkers NY, in this city I learned about Graffiti, from People like Sylvester YSS, Drifter, Trac II Earl, and many other writers who traveled into Yonkers and left remnants of style for me to grow upon.
Throughout the years I have been fortunate to return home to Yonkers visit family and create some beautiful works of art. Back in 1992 with the support of the Department of Parks and Recreation I was commissioned to design and paint 3 murals within the city which in fact help launch my painting career.
Back again 17 years later I returned home for a visit that turned into a mural project!
But this time I wasn’t alone… with the help of Delve, Luv, Asia, Leon Rainbow, Rolo and first time painter Danielle, (my newly adopted daughter) and myself Mr. Maxx Moses we completed a 200 ft mural titled “ a Brief Description of what love Creates”
What a wonderful creative experience this was and special thanks to Ken Davis for Buying food for all the artist, Wanda London for putting this project together and the department of parks and recreation for there continued support over the years.You are all appreciated

But you no the phrase all work and no play carries a lot of weight so it was time spend some time with my kids. My first stop was to visit my daughter and attend her high school graduation… congratulations my princess, your future awaits you… This young lady finished high school while raising her one year old and being pregnant with her second child… amazing much success to you and your family…
Then off to visit My son at his school it was a pleasure to spend the day with him and his friend Stephen boy did we laugh… it was a great day

Back to the grizzle, it was time to begin the project of the year, 6 artist and 45 students were off to create the biggest mural in Washington DC. This project lasted about 8 weeks total and 6 weeks were dedicated to the preparation and education of mural making with our students. The last two weeks were just pure devotion, non- stop painting around the clock with Chor Boogie, Joshua Mays, Quest Skinner, Decoy and myself Mr. Maxx Moses. Although this mural was a lot of work it was also an extreme pleasure to collaborate and create with this unique group of artist and students. The ending dedication was attended with a huge turn out of artists, activist and politicians all celebrating and enjoying the completion of the mural. A big shout out to Mayor, Fenty and the entire DC Commission of Arts who supported this successful endeavor.

During the month of January thru march I began my own healing process through writing. Graffiti Life the color of my sole was the end result. This script which was written for dance theater was performed in conjunction with Culture Shock Dance Company in May of 2009 and will be performed again in April and May of 2010, so stay alert to the specific dates and locations. Special thanks to Chris keeney, and Carlos for taking such great photos

Right after the completion of “Graffiti Life, the color of my sole” I was gifted the opportunity to teach and learn from a group of great students at Kerney High School in San Diego… This group of mature young people co-created a masterpiece mural on their school. It was such a pleasure to work with a bunch of students who are hungry to learn listen and create together… I look forward to working with this group again this winter… Yo, that time is coming soon I hope you guys are ready… ah yes and a special thanks to Gewels for hanging out and getting these great photos!