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…

Liquid Harmony

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!

Since moving to California, in 2006, my life and my art has constantly been changing and growing. Most of my growth as a painter has been seen on walls throughout the streets of America and across the world, within books movies and magazines.
Lately a lot of my appreciators have been asking me about my canvas work. The questions about the mediums I use and what my paintings look like are at the top of their list. So without a long drawn out explanation here goes… The Butterfly Effect… the complete series coming soon!!!
Mr. Maxx Moses

RESPONSE – ABILITY

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

The 3rd Rail Jam is back bigger and stronger than ever for 2010 last year Will Kasso blew up the spot at Mountain Creek with his portrait of Big Poppa that he painted in conjunction with Demer and Leon Rainbow whom also designed the official snow board for the 3rd rail jam in 2009. This New Year 2010 Pose 2 aka Mr. Maxx Moses has been invited to join the tour and awarded the honor of designing the snow board for the 3rd Rail Jam complements of Launch snowboard company.
“These 3rd Rail Jams are Dope its like a winter time version of the BBOY BBQ”. Check out the calendar of events for 3rd rail for 2010 and join the fun…watch me this year I’ll be snowboarding instead of just busting my butt!!!

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

In october 2009, a group of international Graffiti Artist embarked upon a project in Tijuana Mexico titled Public Private. Artists, Chor Boogie, Shente, Benuzz Heal, Libre, Yescka, Vyal , Jofras and Pose 2. The project’s main purpose is to claim graffiti as a contemporary art practice, in a context of tolerance, and to revalue its origins, evolution and contributions.
The project consists of graffiti interventions on billboards by invited artists, which will be located in strategic sites within the city of Tijuana, such as: Zona Rio, San Ysidro-Tijuana Border and Colonia, Hipodromo.
The work dynamics will be as follows: each billboard will have a printed canvas photographic image by Jorge Sanchez “JOFRAS”, as support. The images will be selected by each artist from an image bank in flickr, then will be printed and placed on the billboards beforehand. Each artist has two billboards to work with and the graffiti interventions will remain on display for 45 days.
Below are images from the two billboards done by Pose 2 . The project second phase is the filming of a documental video on DVD, that will give a testimony of the creative activities of the event. It will contain interviews with artists, viewers and general public.

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