JULY 12, 2024 STREET ART CINDY GERE Groundcover vendor No. 279 I've always felt artists, in the past, were seen as a low class group of people working for kings, emperors and patrons. Sad but true, we still don't get the recognition or the status we merit. We are willing to do great works of art but still people look down on art; this is not new at all. It was well-known that if you wanted to become an artist, family would discourage it for lack of wage or stability. We still don't get the recognition of, say, a lawyer or doctor. Even if we create great works of art like we see from the Renaissance, family and bosses say that it's just artwork, as if it has no greater worth than a nice image. This stigma has been the artist's burden for centuries; yet in countries like Ireland and Cuba and France, art is valued so much that artists are given stipends for projects. This gives artist recognition across the nation. New projects are starting to pop up slowly, giving majority artists recognition in those countries. My personal goal is to bring more recognition to low income artists and new businesses that feature their art. Street music artists and street visual artists: it's about recognition, dignity and pride. I try to do my own small part to bring to the public an artist who otherwise would be overlooked, unnoticed and unseen. Each one carries with them the amazing talent and artistic work that help influence America today. Street artist James Manning James says: “My natural art talent was discovered in the fourth grade when a teacher asked the class to draw three dimensional images. The simple lines all connected on the chalkboard creating depth and perspective. That was when my art talent showed itself. “When I was a child many things influenced me such as anime, and the 1988 movie “Akira” which is very dystopic. As I got into my teenage years, new influences came into my world such as the rave dance craze and gatherings of like-minded people. With this kind of dance came music such as techno, steampunk, cyber punk and punk rock. “My cousin was a working tattoo artist. As a young person, I was very aware of the subculture of tattoos but had no idea it was going to influence me so much. It led to me discovering GROUNDCOVER NEWS Undercover art intel: street artist James Manning Manning selling art at the corner of 4th and Liberty Street. 7 tribal art. “Tribal art in the tattoo art world came from three large native groups — Pacific Rim islanders, the New Zealand Maori, Australian Aboriginals — as well the Canadian Inuit and Northwest coastal people, who all adorn both body and face with tattoos. For many tribal people, this form of tattoo is a right of passage into warrior society and man and womanhood rights. Shamans also tattoo the face to show one’s spirit animal and status. “Tribal tattoo art has become a new form of cultural expression, and it takes on a sense of sacredness. It truly is a bold statement when shown on the body. “What I did not know is how fast I would come to love this form of imaging. Tribal became my new obsession. What I love about it is the bold sweeping curves, and the many different kinds of images. No two are exactly the same. “I do commission work as well as see JAMES page 11
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