DAVID SEPULVEDA PHOTO
Satchel Ramos watched aerosol-paint artist Josh Griffin create a mural-sized portrait of jazz great Wynton Marsalis. One day, Satchel said, I hope you paint my portrait, too.
Five years later, Griffin did. Sadly, Satchel was not around to see it. Lots of other people were.
Griffin, a 22-year-old High School in the Community graduate, painted the portrait as part of a stage-wide mural at this past Saturday’s first annual “Art from the Heart Festival” held outside Bregamos Community Theater at Erector Square. Satchel’s father, theater founder Rafael Ramos, who is also the city’s deputy director of housing code enforcement and a tireless community volunteer, organized the festival in memory of his son, a former Sound School student who was murdered last year as he tried to intervene in a violent domestic quarrel in Providence, the last deed of a good Samaritan.
The eight-foot black-and-white portrait of Satchel Ramos that Griffin (pictured) painted, the first portion of a stage-wide mural, had all the subtle gradations of a well-rendered charcoal drawing, the overall appearance marked by soft transitions and highlights usually present in fine airbrush paintings.
“At first,” said dad Rafael, “I had a hard time looking at it.”
Captured in the contemplative visage are penetrating eyes and a wistful glimmer of a young man who is otherwise remembered as being gregarious and fun-loving.
Griffin said he knew Satchel, who could often be found working around the theater. (Satchel was the company’s sound and light technician.) Encouraged by Rafael, Griffin began design projects at the theater in 2009. Griffin recalled that after his creation of his large indoor mural of musician Marsalis, Satchel was effusive in his praise of the piece. “He said then, that he hoped I would paint his portrait one day,” noted Griffin, fully aware of the irony.
As festival preparations continued into nightfall, Griffin painted under outdoor stage lights. Portions of his mural glowing with saturated color, were framed by elegant black lines that tapered and flowed, giving definition to the pop culture elements of the work.
Opposite Satchel’s portrait at the other end of the mural is a helmeted image of Rafael, cast as a super-hero type. Together with a dotted background motif, it suggests the work of Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, but with facial modeling. Griffin said that that he grew up watching the Speed Racer cartoon series and was reminded of the protagonist’s ability to get things done “just like Rafael.”
Asked about the inclusion of the Pringles potato chip character pictured in the mural, Griffin said that Rafael “takes in all kinds of people.”
Griffin was more circumspect in describing the meaning of highly detailed image of a bottle of cherry cola. “Sometimes I paint by instinct, and the meaning of things I paint are revealed afterward,” he said.
For all of Griffin’s demonstrated skill (he uses no projection, stencils or grids), the artist credits not himself, but his ongoing challenge in facing down a pressing sense of doubt: “When people ask me how I do this, I always tell them that,‘Doubt did it’ — doubt in myself, and sometimes that others doubt me.”
While gracing the most prominent space at the festival, Griffin’s mural had some company. Inside the theater, several dozen works of art had been donated for a silent auction….
… while outside theater environs, large panels of previously painted works provided swaths of color in the industrial landscape, an enclave of brick, concrete and asphalt.
Festival goers were also able to watch works in progress as young artists painted several murals and participate in a number of craft activities….
82 year old John Bontatibu of New Haven, carves forms from bass wood.
.… while arts & crafts vendors demonstrated their special skills.
The festival continued late into the night with live music and dancing inside the theater after a few downpours. Community service awards were given out to Norma Rodriguez/Reyes, publisher of La Voz Hispana; Kica Matos, and Frances “Bitsie” Clark.
ESUMS High schooler Taya Thompson left, joined 10 year old Cooper Barnes, right, in creating a rainbow heart mural.
Despite gray skies and periodic rain, there was little doubt among Bregamos Community Theater staff and supporters that the Art from the Heart festival will return next year. With a little luck, Josh Griffin’s aerosol magic might grace the festival again.
For a calendar of Bregamos Community Theater events or to help support the work of the Theater, visit the website.
Amazing that when an individual like Griffin is able to explore the forbidden medium of aerosol paint, what comes about is nothing short of beautiful and inspiring. Why not foster aerosol paint as an artistic medium for youth instead of discouraging and prohibiting it? The only danger I could imagine would be potential respiratory harm, which could easily be mitigated with basic equipment. People like Griffin could potentially change the course for a young person. They should add it to the NHPS arts curriculum.