I went to a pop up gallery show at a sweet pad overlooking downtown Norfolk last weekend featuring the four artists chosen for the innagural building in the Hampton Roads: The Canvas project (which AltDaily helped start and my superstar friend Elyse Lovelace spearheads.) A portion of the proceeds of art purchased went to benefit the project and I'm told several pieces sold. While there, I sort of fell in love with the work of Asa Jackson.
Lucky for me, my favorite piece (above) is still available. Now as soon as someone wants to give me $1,000 (I'll work for it, believe me) I promise I will spend it on enjoying the lovely blues and disjointed shapes for a long, long time.
(It's not the best picture and the reds in the left corners are the wall it was hanging on and not part of the piece.)
Jackson is young (22 or 23) and lives in Newport News, VA. He's the driving force behind a movement known as True Face, which has artwork and clothing, as well as a large helping of community involvement.
Up to ten more buildings around town will be uplifted by local artists in the coming months, as this project continues. I'm so stoked Jackson was part of the first batch, as the press and precedent will fall more to this group than later ones. Hopefully this allows more people to see his work and him to keep pushing his technique and mindset further towards the ideal he seeks.
To see what I mean about Basquiat, click here and peruse the art within.
