Artist Review: Leon Rainbow

blurring the lines between fine art and graffiti – to mainstream or not?

the bright and emboldened colors of street art speak the truth or protest that many inner city dwellers aren’t capable of articulating (not necessarily a result of lack of education or smarts). when the sun goes down and the street lights come up, the spotlight is on urban art forms and what messages their makers will bring.

as the exaggerated images and emphasized hues peak out amongst brick and mortar, the battle between the law and the artists rages on. in the center of the cat-and-mouse game of taggers dodging arrest and the boys in blue trying to nab misfits for defacing property, is the ongoing debate that transitioning ones art into the legal realm is nothing short of selling out, “nothing done legally is graffiti,” Leon Rainbow of Trenton, New Jersey by way of San Jose California. he is a graffiti artist turned professional muralist that’s been using his talents since the mid 90’s. “I mean, people look down on you when you’re a graffiti artist that becomes successful,” he says of artists who are hired professionally to design for various companies, “you’re going to be called a sellout.”

words spoken with deliberate irony, as Rainbow has been hired for his design work for Velocity 17, a virtual arcade and roller skating rink out of Maywood, NJ, “I think more graffiti work will be done legally,” Rainbow says of the mainstreaming of graffiti, “fines are getting higher and penalties are getting harsher.” he goes by the pen name Rain and is is responsible for vivid art that both celebrates the art itself and its potential. his signature style can even be seen on the skin of voluptuous models that sport his signature bold style in avant garde photo shoots.

the 34-year-old’s sir name conjures up an old Shakespearian line “what’s in a name,” Rainbow isn’t just his last name; utilizing colors is Leon’s way of life. Leon is still sticking close to his roots by doing some not-so-legal stuff here and there,  but what’s really gotten him clout are the projects he’s involved himself in some of the most obvious graffiti capitols in the US, Philly, New York, DC, Florida and Virginia, as well as Europe. his latest projects included DC’s MuralsDC program which was featured in the Washington Post, where Leon was responsible for creating two out of 20 murals displayed around the city along with local kids from the District. some of his art was also included in an event this past summer called Mural Jam, sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

it’s been deemed as “ghetto art” by privileged and often White, suburban outsiders looking in. if we redefine for a moment just what exactly “ghetto” means, maybe this can be an acceptable term. like anything worth analyzing, let’s break it down, then reconstruct. let’s loosely and unofficially define “ghetto” as “underprivileged,” “frustrated youth” and “it’s a recession, so who in the world in the inner city can really afford art classes?” then yes … graffiti is in fact ghetto. but Leon doesn’t agree that street art is only reserved for America’s youth minority and it most certainly can be found in places other than the hood, “i think it’s really a misconception,” Leon explains, “it’s not just inner city kids that are tagging; it’s also White kids from the suburbs,” he adds, “we should get more ethnic kids back into it.”

Leon also doesn’t see graffiti becoming mainstream as a bad thing, “it’s a double-edged sword,” he says “i mean, it takes some of the negative aspects away,” he continues, “it’s kinda like Hip Hop,” Leon says, using a simple and ingenious analogy, “you have your underground and you have your mainstream and as long as you have a balance in between, graffiti will always be around.”

Leon’s crew, Vicious Styles and their art, can be seen on subway tunnels, walls and back alleys, but what they represent stretches far across US boundaries and decades, “graffiti has lasted for the last 50 years and has grown throughout the world,” he says, “it’s diverse on a world wide level; it’s a world wide movement.” Speaking of its global influence, he says, “it’s probably one of the strongest art movements there ever will be,” he continues, “you got China, Australia” he pauses, “yeah, it’s not going anywhere.”

so there you have it, in the words of one of graffiti’s own. try as they might to muster out the flame, graffiti, tagging, urban art, writing, whatever name it’s given, will always be the platform by which fearless artists will proclaim their love for the city or disdain for authority and everything in between.

… by andrea stephanie mcpherson (Fire_Isis)

Tagged as: Leon Rainbow