Although graffiti artists often operate at night or in the background, face to face exposure and opportunities to take in the art in a prime space can bring new understanding and interest. Though she doesn’t necessarily see it as her fight, Paul says familiarizing the public with the graffiti community will raise understanding and appreciation. … As it becomes a cool thing, that negative connotation may let up.” … That is the point of the organization – taking this art form and putting it on legal canvases. “That’s why ‘graffiti’ is in the name … to be provocative. “They would go right to the negative,” she says of how others reacted when she told them of her initial concept. Moreover, she wants to provide opportunities for the style of art to be commissioned and valued. Stereotypes crept into even the naming of Graffiti HeArt, as Paul says she was intentional in using the word “graffiti” in it, even though others didn’t understand why. Though there is some truism to the negative connotation, that isn’t all there is.”Ī mural in Graffiti HeArt’s stairwell created by Canton-area artist ‘Monster Steve,’ or Steve Ehret. “Once you get more familiar with the culture, you may see names and works of artists that you know of. “Yes, unapproved public display of art can be considered illegal, but we all know we see the trains going by, and you’re mesmerized by the pieces on (the train cars),” says Paul, whose day job is vice president of human resources at Airgas in Independence. Whether or not the street art is associated with gangs or considered tagging, Paul says part of her mission is to shed light on the talented and misjudged community behind it.
#Graffiti heart professional#
“Most people don’t grow up and say they want to become a graffiti artist, but why not? Why not have a child say they want to become a professional graffiti writer, aerosol artist or street artist?” Bringing graffiti insideĪs an underground art community, many consider unsolicited graffiti on buildings, or tagging, vandalism – which legally, it is. “The hope is that through this new home for Graffiti HeArt, we can develop and provide programs where more experienced artists can work with the youth and the art form, especially regarding safety, both in personal protective equipment and technique, and learning about the different forms of aerosol and medium,” Paul says during an October interview in the new space at 4829 Superior Ave. And now, after opening its first brick-and-mortar space on Cleveland’s East Side in October, that mission is closer to being accomplished. Paul says the organization aims to function as a “virtual arm” for graffiti artists. In 2015, its first public mural “Greetings from Cleveland” by artist Victor Ving was unveiled in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland. The first board meeting was held in 2014, and the organization’s first project followed as a piece for the International Gay Games 9, a multi-sport event and cultural gathering for LGBTQ+ athletes held in Cleveland in 2014. In 2013, the name Graffiti HeArt was incorporated and a board was formed.
Paul says once the idea was fully realized, things moved quickly. Stamy Paul in the new Graffiti HeArt space on Cleveland’s East Side, in front of a mural by Los Angeles street artist RISK. But there is something to be said about having a public, non-permission gallery of this very different type of art form that never really got recognized, let alone accepted in the mainstream – including Cleveland.” “Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy experiencing many forms of more established art and spending time at art museums. “I’ve got this love and passion of the urban culture, and I love street art and art form that is raw, unassuming, unapproved,” Paul says. Its mission was realized over time, trending toward its most current iteration: supporting graffiti artists by commissioning projects where artists get paid, and raising funds for outreach and educational opportunities within the community. On a flight out of LaGuardia Airport in New York that same year, Paul had an idea, and Graffiti HeArt – at least in name and concept – was born.
But, Paul didn’t know where to start to find an artist. Not long after, inspiration struck to bring that art inside, and she decided to add a graffiti mural in her Tremont neighborhood home. She even posted a Facebook photo album, “Graffiti Around the World.” While traveling extensively in 2009, Stamy Paul found herself drawn to the street art she saw around the world. Story by Becky Raspe | Photography by Amanda Koehn
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