When we last put the spotlight on 100 creative forces in Phoenix, it was no secret there were more than 100 individuals who were making waves in the local arts community. So as we count down to our annual Best of Phoenix issue, we're profiling 100 more. Welcome (back) to 100 Creatives.
See also: Phoenix Artists MAC, KAPER, and SUCH Featured in Upcoming "History of American Graffiti" Such and Champ Styles are father-son creative duo who work together to create large-scale graffiti-inspired artwork around the country.
Such grew up in Phoenix and says his graffiti writing career started after reading Craig Castleman's book Getting Up in the 1980s.His work has since been on public walls, train cars, and in exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum, Musical Instrument Museum, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and in books including "The History of American Graffiti."
Such and Champ say they work as a father and sun team -- perhaps the first family graffiti team to exist, and are currently working on a few (legal) pieces around town as well as a show coming up at the Musical Instrument Museum.
We came to Phoenix with ... actually we are from Phoenix so we guess you could say it has always been our Start button.
We make art because ... it is what moves us and has our being; it is our best vehicle for expression.
We're most productive when ... we have some Matisyahu chanting in the back ground and we find our presence is filled with aerosol cans with a sizable wall before us. So long as this Father/Son duo is side by side we are at our best.
Our inspiration wall is full of... images of vintage subway cars that are graffiti written by the masters of old (This was my introduction to the Graff scene and is not easily forgotten by the likes of us). And not to forget Such's bride and best friend Annette Samaniego Baez, who is the mother of his two sons. "Crayons and spray paints has always been a good plan"
We've learned the most from ... the Torah scroll and the teachings of Rabi Yeshua on how to love my neighbor as thyself, there is no greater suggestion than this ... It is a teaching that we whole heartedly believe in and strive to exercise daily, willing to fight myself to accomplish this day in and day out.
Good work should always ... result in a peaceful experience that leaves a footprint of a piece of our soul that has learned a little bit more about humbleness and humility. Hopefully this can be expressed in the outcome of the project that can be seen by the masses.
The Phoenix creative scene could use ... more creative inescapable wall creations that move the soul and create places of refuge from the every day grind ... even if it is just for a moment.
The Creatives, so far ... (And while you're here, check out 100 Tastemakers on Chow Bella.)
100:Lara Plecas 99. Isaac Caruso 98. Brandon Gore 97. Kelsey Dake 96. Hector Ruiz 95. Caroline Battle 94: Jennifer Campbell 93. Jeff Chabot 92. Tiffiney Yazzie 91. Daniel Germani 90. Irma Sanchez 89. Daniel m. Davis 88. Kirstin Van Cleef 87. Emmett Potter 86. Sarah Hurwitz 85. Christine Cassano 84. Fred Tieken 83. Lindsay Kinkade 82. Ruben Galicia 81. Robert Uribe 80. Heidi Abrahamson 79. Josephine Davis 78. Travis Ladue 77. Taz Loomans 76. Mikey Jackson 75. Alex Empty 74. Joe Ray 73. Carol Roque 72. Daniel Funkhouser 71. Carla Chavarria 70. Hugo Medina 69. Cavin Costello 68. Claire Carter 67. Lindsay Tingstrom 66. Catherine Ruane 65. Christopher Crosby 64. Aaron Johnson 63. Brenda Eden 62. Colton Brock 61. Ernesto Moncada 60. Benjamin Phillips 59. Brad Armstrong 58. Angela Hardison 57. Tyler Quinn 56. Andrew James Benson 55. Charles Anthony Darr 54: Tiffe Fermaint 53. Eric Cox 52. Victor Vasquez 51. John Randall Nelson 50. Lauren Lee 49. Kyle Jordre 48. Julie C. Kent 47. Sean Deckert 46. Niba DelCastillo 45. Joseph Benesh 44. Ashley Harder 43. Dan Vermillion 42. Daniel Shepherd 41. James B. Hunt 40. Lori Fenn 39. Seth Gideon Fainkujen 38. Wayne Rainey 37. Christian Filardo 36. Melissa Cody 35. Jason Rudolph Peña 34. Cindy Iverson 33. Ryan Gentry 32. Sebastien Millon 31. Andrea Beesley 30. Chris Pruitt 29. Robert Diehl 28. Rachel Malloy 27. Jonathan Simon 26. Ann Morton 25. Kim Moody 24. Kevin Flanagan