New York Spraycation
Schenectady & New York City, New York | July 2024
New York had been on my bucket list for a long time, somewhere pretty close to the top. Getting to experience it for the first time because of my artwork made the trip even more meaningful.
At this point, I had already gotten a taste of traveling through art, but New York was different. I could have gone on vacation at any point, but being given a reason to go there and create made the experience feel like part of the journey I was already on.
I like to call trips like this a Spraycation.
You go somewhere new, but you go there to spray paint.
Trifecta Mural | Beverage & Smoke
Schenectady, New York | July 2024
8' × 8', 30' × 8', and 40' × 13' | Aerosol on brick
The trip started in upstate New York with my friend Jaz.
Jaz and I originally met in college while we were both rushing the same fraternity. Wild times. We stayed in touch over the years, and eventually that friendship turned into an opportunity for us to work together.
Jaz and his family own Beverage & Smoke, and after some conversations about bringing artwork to one of their locations, we set aside a few days for me to fly out and paint several areas of the shop.
The hospitality from Jaz and his family was beyond anything I could have asked for. They treated me like family from the moment I got there.
The project became a collection of different pieces around the property.
One of them featured Sarge, Jaz's massive Great Dane. Despite his size, Sarge was one of the kindest and gentlest dogs. Smart too. Getting to turn him into part of the artwork made the mural feel even more personal to the family and the business.
Another section was in an area they planned to use as a cookout and gathering space. There, I painted a set of butterfly wings that people could stand between and interact with.
At the front of the shop, I added more color and patterns to bring some energy to the building and connect the different painted areas together.
Rather than creating one mural and calling it done, the project became a series of pieces that each had their own purpose and personality.
Outside of painting, I got a chance to experience a little bit of upstate New York. We explored parts of Albany and Schenectady, and whenever Jaz could get away from work, we would hang out. One of my favorite memories was checking out a pizza spot by the water with his family.
Shout out to Jaz, his family, and his brother Kabir for the hospitality and for making my first experience in New York a memorable one.
From Upstate to New York City
Once the murals were finished, I still had a couple of days left.
So I got on a bus and headed to New York City.
My friend Jose Scott was living in Brooklyn at the time. I originally met Jose through the art community in Oklahoma City, and he later made the move to New York to continue pursuing murals and art with Colossal Media.
Jose showed me around, and eventually we ended up doing exactly what artists do when they find themselves in New York.
We went looking for somewhere to paint.
Joker | Freeman Alley
New York City | July 2024
Aerosol
We ended up painting in Freeman Alley, where I created a Joker forcing a smile across his face with his hands.
This one was spontaneous, but it was also personal.
At the time, I was still going through a transitional period in my life. There was a lot happening internally that did not necessarily show on the outside. The image of the Joker physically forcing himself to smile was something I connected with during that period.
Sometimes you make something because you have a detailed concept planned out.
Other times, you paint what makes sense to you in that exact moment.
This was one of those.
There was also something fitting about painting it in an alley in New York. Street art is temporary. You know when you put something up that another artist may eventually paint over it, and that is part of the culture and life cycle of the space.
The Joker stayed up for a little while before eventually being covered by something new.
For the time that it existed, I got to leave a little piece of what I was experiencing in New York City.
Experiencing New York
Painting was the reason I came to New York, but I still had to experience New York.
My friend Luis was living in Manhattan, so we got together and explored the city. I got to visit The MET, walk around Manhattan, see the Statue of Liberty, and check off a few of those things you almost have to do your first time in New York.
Jose showed me another side of the city through Brooklyn and the art world. Jaz and his family showed me life upstate. Eventually, Jaz was able to meet back up with me toward the end of the trip too.
Looking back, there were a lot of different worlds packed into those few days.
Old college friends. Artist friends. Family. Upstate New York. Brooklyn. Manhattan. Museums. Street art. Murals. Food. Long days of painting and a lot of walking.
Most importantly, I was there because of art.
That is what made this trip different from simply taking a vacation.
I went to New York with paint and a reason to create. I came home having painted several murals, left a temporary piece in a New York City alley, reconnected with old friends, spent time with fellow artists, experienced a city I had wanted to visit for years, and added another chapter to this journey.
Not a bad first Spraycation to New York.