INTERVIEW: Spray paint artist Chor Boogie plays some ‘Visual Jazz’

Chor Boogie is a world-recognized spray paint artist who has had his canvases appear in museums, galleries and exhibitions around the globe. His latest project is Visual Jazz, an exhibition at Monarch | Arredon Contemporary in La Jolla, California.

Visual Jazz features more than 20 original canvases by the artist and celebrates classic jazz maestros with stirring designs and depictions. A proceed of sales from the showing will go to Writerz Blok, a youth arts and social enterprise program of the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation.

Boogie is one of the most successful artists on the spray paint scene. His work has appeared at the Museum of Art Puerto Rico, LA Art Fair, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, San Diego Museum of Art and Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, among other places. He’s seen as one of the top street artists working in the industry.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Boogie about his new exhibition, which runs through June 3. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.

What can fans of your art and newcomers expect from the exhibition Visual Jazz?

They can expect a new visual experience from jazz. What I mean by that is the experience will pull you in to the point where you actually feel like your apart of the band.

What does that name, Visual Jazz, mean to you? What’s the significance?

The significance with in the name is the experience. VISUAL JAZZ is not your ordinary jazz art show. It shows you three new different dynamic styles that give you a different perspective of what jazz is all about, simply because jazz has many variations of styles, so I felt I needed to create that visually.

When did you realize spray paint was a wonderful medium to express yourself?

At the age of 13. I was young and basically when I was exposed to this medium, it took over. It had all the angles I was looking for plus it is the newest art form in all genres of visually creating. Plus it was the most fun, and I fell in love with it instantly.

Do you feel there is more freedom with spray paint? Do you feel any limitations?

There is freedom and limitations simply because, when it comes to the freedom aspect, yes, you can experiment and create anything you like or love, but when it comes to the limitations, the negative connotations that come with it give it a rep. And it’s accepted to a certain point in the art world, but like anything and everything else that has freedom and limits, money and status … dictate the flow of your career. And I’m not saying it’s good [or] bad, but honestly you need to dictate the flow of your career.

When first getting into street art in San Diego and Oceanside, did you find the community of artists welcoming? Competitive? Supportive?

Different times back then and a total different community. This community is from the streets, so it depends. It can make you or break you, and it was based off skills. And if you got skills, you where respected by the ones who respected skills. Then you have the disrespectful ones that hated what you did, simply because they couldn’t do it, and I tended to find that these people just didn’t come from my community (the spray paint culture) but from all art communities. For the most part, it has been balanced with love and hate.

Street art and spray paint have been accepted by many galleries, museums and especially the public. Do you think there are still those who don’t appreciate the style?

Of course, either because they have been victimized, or they just don’t accept it. But like I said, things have changed tremendously since I’ve started this, and, yes, it is more acceptable. And I have to give respect to artists and mentors like Phase2, Vulcan, Riff170 that [helped] start this movement and helped push this movement to a more professional level by getting involved with museums and galleries, etc., since the late ’70s on up. Honestly, the game has changed from which it should. As far as if it changed for the better or worst is always up for interpretation.”

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Chor Boogie’s newest exhibition is Visual Jazz, currently showing at Monarch | Arredon Contemporary in La Jolla, California. Click here for more information.