August 2009: Armsrock and Chris Stain in BK

Chris Stain will always hold a special place in my heart. When I first started this blog, he was one of the first artists to answer my interview questions. Since then, I’ve been hooked on his compelling portraits. Yesterday, I checked out some of his latest work on top of a Williamsburg roof. This Friday, he and Armsrock (one of my other faves) present their show, “I Know There Is Love,” at Brooklyn’s Ad Hoc Gallery. Here’s all the info you need (courtesy of Ad Hoc’s site):

“This will be an awesome opening; everyone should definitely come out for a good time with good people and amazing art. You will not be let down! Last time we had a show with Stain he built an entire shantytown, be prepared to be impressed! For more information on the artists or the event, read below. Also, some of their new imagery is freshly available to be viewed under their name is the “Available Work” category. Hope to see you this Friday!”

“Chris Stain first became infected by graffiti’s bold colors, striking form, and independent nature as a child in the summer of 1984. As time went by, he investigated other avenues of art such as print making, graphic design, and screen printing.”

“Stain’s work is a direct reflection of the people, neighborhoods, and struggles that are swept along with the every day lives of the common American. It is his hope that through the work he will be able to convey the importance of the role of the less recognized individual of society.”

“Armsrock is an artist and activist whose work focuses on the human condition in the urban environment. By creating hundreds of unique drawings of his fellow citizens, and placing these original pieces on the walls of the city, Armsrock makes an attempt to generate a critical understanding of the stories and fates that house us.”

Ad Hoc Gallery is located at 49 Bogart St., Brooklyn. For more information, see the gallery’s website. Thanks, guys! Best of luck with the show and all your future projects.

Friday ProFiles: Chris Stain

I am so pleased this worked out. Hopefully, Friday's column will become a more regular occurrence. Today, I am proud to present the first Friday ProFile interview.

Chris Stain’s work doesn’t just catch your eye; it returns your stare. On the side of a building, a homeless man shuffles along in baggy pants and a tired overcoat. A troop of disheveled firemen carry a wilted old man from an undisclosed scene. With his shabby clothes and distended belly, a little boy peers at passersby with a frown and a furrowed brow. A vagrant Santa stares bleakly from a brick wall. Stain’s stencils force pedestrians to look at people they’d otherwise ignore.

Growing up in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore , Stain’s first creative endeavors were inspired less by the streets than by KISS. He recalls, “My mother kept these drawings that I did of Gene Simmons…I think was five at the time.” Exposure to films like Beat Street and Style Wars and snagging a copy of Subway Art piqued his interest in the growing graffiti scene. “Tags and pieces started poppin’ up in my neighborhood in Baltimore ,” he remembers. “We were just tryin’ to emulate NYC.”

Dodging law enforcement and the occasional “local vigilante asshole,” Stain has been writing since 1984. In need of a name, Stain turned to hip hop for inspiration. He explains, “A New York City graffiti and rap artist named Ramellzee wrote a song called ‘Beat Bop.’ There’s a line in the song that talks about ‘stain on the train.’ None of the cats that I knew in Baltimore were writing STAIN, so I took it for my own.” Some of Stain’s friends have faced arrest and assault as a result of their writing. “Cops beat the shit out of a friend of mine,” he says. “Nearly broke his arms, ribs, and busted his head. We were just kids then.” Yet threats of jail time and violence did little to deter Stain’s zeal. Walls, freights, bridges, and buses proudly displayed his pieces.

Over time, Stain’s style has evolved to incorporate other mediums. He explains, “I got into stenciling because I wanted to do more with the human figure. I wanted to tell my story in that way. In more recent work, I try to combine words and images together.” Through his work, Stain ultimately hopes to expose his audience to the struggle of those less fortunate.

When asked about the future of his work, Stain declares, “I plan to keep telling the story of common people and expressing their struggles to inspire some compassion in folks. It would be great to make a living off of my art, but that’s not always the case. I’m working on tightening up the work and adding more of the psychological events that take place in life. I have a show in LA in February and I’m trying to get this kitchen renovated so my kids don’t have to eat cereal with sheetrock dust in it.”

Today, Stain continues to draw inspiration from the events and people around him. In addition to close friends like Billy Mode, Josh Macphee, and Swoon, he also cites visual artists like Jose Parla, Ed Templeton, and hip hop artist Mos Def as influences. Defining street art as “self expression placed on the streets,” Stain believes that the future of the genre depends on who’s painting. “It could be more of a mixture of all the mediums and styles that you see now,” he replies. “It could also get back to basics; a can of paint and somethin’ to say.” Regardless of where street art goes, the best part of writing for Stain has been the ride. The greatest adventure, he says, is “just meeting some of the most sincere people in different parts of the world who are dedicated to the craft and are trying to make their voices heard. It’s made life interesting.”

Stain's solo exhibit, Up On The Roof, opens on February 6 at the Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art (1257 N. La Brea Lane, West Hollywood, CA). Call 323.969.0600 for more information.

All photos courtesy of www.chrisstain.com. Thank you!