Graffiti artists showcase work.
The Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center Gallery opened its first exhibit of the school year with the display “City Walls to Gallery Walls” from Fantastic Aerosol Brothers. FAB is a two-man group of professional graffiti artists who create murals and paintings by using cans of spray paint.
At its beginning, FAB Crew made graphic art on walls and other public places. FAB Crew evolved to reflect new interests and creative disciplines. After 15 years of mastering lettering and graffiti style, FAB began working on a much larger scale and began broadening its audience.
Today, the artists work in an intentional and controlled environment and they have moved from city walls to gallery walls.
The Fantastic Aerosol Brothers are Dan Thompson and Ben Long of Indianapolis. They have been working together as a duo team since the 90s. After mastering their graffiti art on the streets, they were able to create more mainstream work.
Today their work has evolved into an ongoing series of paintings that is able to reach an audience that graffiti might not otherwise engage.
FAB Crew’s work consists of a series of “Bridgescape” paintings inspired by the sacred places that most inspires the artists.
The graffiti work in this particular gallery separates itself from other artwork, because it has a personal connection with UIndy.
During Welcome Week, The FAB artists had a “spray out” on Smith Mall, where they created a mural in one day. The artists used spray cans and custom spray tips, the way a painter would use different brushes.
The piece, entitled “Graffiti Wildstyle,” was created on Smith Mall and later moved into the gallery after it was completed. Students were able to go near the artists and watch the entire process of how a mural is made with only spray paint. This gave students an opportunity to be involved with the fine arts program at UIndy.
Mark Ruschman, gallery coordinator at UIndy, said he wanted to create a new perspective on graffiti art.
“I wanted to not only put on a great exhibition, but I also wanted to reach out and engage the students in a typical way,” Ruschman said.
The FAB gallery was able to give a fresh perspective on graphic design and graphic art.
Ruschman said that the gallery not only entertains on an aesthetic plane but it also educates in a subliminal way.
For students, graffiti work has come from an age that mirrors the modern age. Junior music major Addelyn Ratcliff was impressed by the way the gallery had a unique artistic endeavor.
“I loved the use of color and the texture of the spray paint on the canvas,” Ratcliff said.
According to Ruschman, he ultimately hopes that students will be provided with a new perspective of graffiti art. Many students have developed negative connotations of graffiti, as if it were something done only in the dark.
Graffiti art is often only visible in public areas or on the backs of train cars, and now that students are able to see it in a positive light and professional setting it holds a new perspective.
“It’s about seeing things in a new light, giving a fresh perspective,” Rushman said. “And [about] having a new appreciation for something that may not otherwise be on a person’s radar screen.”
