A Parisian graffiti artist, Djalouz speaks about his influences and style. Thanks! CB: I am here with Djalouz. It is the 18th of July at MOS France. So, when did you start to do graffiti, and why? D: I started 12 years ago…first with bombing, and I liked that a lot, that one could do…
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Let Her Be Elevated: Andy B’s Exploration of Movement, Fearlessness, and Vulnerability
I’ve known Andy for her mosaic work, in particular, a project she developed with the Chicago Public Art Group at Foster and Lake Shore Drive, Belmont and Lake Shore Drive, and Osterman Beach, and for her smaller scale projects as part of RedBull curates. Her work is frank, fresh, dynamic, and energetic. More recently I…
River of Words Oral History Project: Bill Steen, “Vortex,” “Alhombra” and the Politics of Class in Historic Districting
On February 15th I met with Bill Streen. His words are “vortex” and “alhombra.” In our discussion he brought up the fraught politics of historic districting, notably, the class exclusions that can occur. He reflected: “My wife and I signed a petition to not have the expansion of the district. I think all districts are…
River of Words Oral History Project: Bette McDevitt, “Friendship” and Slippery Stones in the River
I met with Bette McDevitt on February 22, 2015. She had some interesting thoughts about future challenges to HRC, notably, the possibility that more and more neighborhoods will want to have solar panels, a clash that might make the HRC “a dinosaur.” She also identified the different ways in which the non-english words in the…
River of Words Oral History Project: Kathy Deis, “Retirement” and “Renacimiento”
I had the pleasure of meeting Kathy Deis on February 22nd. She is actually the mother of Terri Wiezoreck, and so she is responsible for that additional interview as well. Her words are “retirement” and “renacimiento” both pointing to a sense of renewal and new stories that occur as one follows life’s stages. The words,…
River of Words Oral History Project: Robin Alexander, “Solidaridad,” and the Words’ Multiple Uses
On February 22nd I had the opportunity to speak with Robin Alexander, a former worker in the United Electrical workers union, who herself has helped organize an international mural project. her word is “Solidaridad,” “Solidarity.” River of Words was a complicated project, one that, for Robin, has been framed in the media as a critique…
River of Words Oral History Project: Jennifer Tharp, “Zombies,” and art as community connector
I met with Jennifer on February 22, 2015. She is a visual artist who lives in the Mexican War Streets and her word is “Zombies.” In addition to the interactive element of the installation (she and her husband will playfully scare passersby who are checking out the word, growling and snarling like zombies) it also…
River of Words Oral History Project: Jeff White and Rebecca Frazier, “Fly,” and “Ditirambos”
On February 22nd I interviewed Jeff Frazier and Rebecca White, a couple who lives in Deutschtown. Their words are “ditirambos” (“dithyrambics”) and “fly.” Rebecca observed of the project: “Its so cool. And you meet people and then you kind of– like I met this woman Sharon at the opening event and I couldn’t remember her…
River of Words Oral History Project: Gwendolyn Moorer, “Baseball,” “Amore,” and Public Art’s Relationship to Quality of Life
I had the opportunity to speak with Gwen Moorer on February 22nd. Gwen, who is on the City of Asylum board, as well as the Y board on the North Side, had some powerful insights about the relationship between public art and cultivating quality of life, that sense that a neighborhood is fulfilling. Of her…
River of Words Oral History Project: Timothy Johnson, “Book” and Art as Mind Expanding
On February 22nd I interviewed Timothy Johnson, who has recently moved to the North Side, though he is a native Pittsburgher. His word is “Book,” a term that speaks to his wife’s book-writing project, and his own Christian faith. Having the word, he recounted, has given him a chance to talk to people about his…