PHOTO COURTESY OF APDESIGN
GETTING TO KNOW
S O RTA STREETART
INTERVIEW BY
LEXI PEARSON
PHOTOS BY
SORTA STREETART AND LEXI PEARSON
CHARM MAGAZINE | 32
S T R E E T TA L K / /
S
orta Streetart is one of Balitimore’s most active and highlighted street artists. Lexi Pearson from Charm Magazine sat down with him to find out more about his hidden identity, his process, why he chose to do street art in Baltimore city. Your art is seen all over Baltimore city, but nobody knows something about you, so who are you and where are you from and what does “Sorta Street Art” mean? I’m from Baltimore. Born on the westside. I’m a father of 2 boys and one stepson (even though I’m divorced, I still play that role). My children’s mother is who gave me the name “Sorta.” My mother is Puerto Rican and since I’m not full blooded, she calls me Sorta Rican. It’s quite funny actually. 62
Street art is such a growing part of the urban art movement. Why did you choose this particular way of recreating the city? What’s the difference to other street art forms? Street Art is the biggest art movement since the renaissance period. I have always been drawn to the street and everything about it. When I was younger and even into my adult life, I wrote graffiti. I kinda outgrew it once I had kids, but always picked up a can when I could. I placed first in 2 graffiti competitions in south Florida within the last couple years and it sparked the drive again. So wheatpasting is a less frowned upon form. I have been confronted by police and they usually just appreciate it, or are concerned for my safety. There are thousands of vacants in the city and they make for the best canvas. They can only be improved. But street art is really anything art related that’s done on the street, in public view. It’s for everyone
and it’s free to look at., and hat’s why I love it. Would you consider your work “graffiti”? What meaning does Urban Art have for you and what do you think the difference is between street art and graffitti? That’s why I love it. Under no circumstances would I label what I do graffiti. Graf is writing a name or drawing a character on a surface. Often, it’s some glue sniffin punk with no handstyle just trying to be cool. But it’s the pieces of talented writers that keep my attention. Like El Mac... he’s my favorite. He’s got skill. Or Retna, I love his shit too. What determines the spots in which the work is installed? I want to find the most rundown of vacant properties. If they have an overhang, or awning that is better. But the uglier/dilapidated the vacant, the better.
A lot of your work seems to reflect the environment in the areas in which they are installed. What’s your intention and what’s the message of your artworks? Part of my reasoning for doing what I do is to give the people something beautiful to look at other than the run down, shit holes that are surrounding their residences. in a sense I like to kind of cater to the people. This is why I like to use the very same people I encounter in these neighborhoods in my art. I also use my own children because I feel like there is nothing more beautiful than the
innocence in a child’s face. In addition to that, I sometimes shape my pieces to fit doors or other surfaces I find while I’m out there. Here’s the thing, imagine working your entire life to provide a safe comfortable home for your kids and your grandchildren only to eventually walk out of your front door and your neighborhood looks like Beirut. And now, you are too old to do anything about it. That’s what a lot of people in the inner city are dealing with. I know that my efforts are small... but at least I am putting forth some effort.
How much does your art affect/ influence your everyday life and are there any role models or artists who inspired you? I live and breathe to create art. I HAVE to do it. I have no choice. So it affects everything. I parent my kids with art. I encourage any kind of creativity. My biggest influences are Swoon, El Mac, Shepard Fairy (despite a lot of people thinking he’s a sell out), Gaia and on a more personal level...Nether. He taught me a lot and he is currently my running mate on a lot of my late night runs.
" I HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED BY POLICE AND
THEY USUALLY JUST APPRECIATE IT, OR ARE CONCERNED FOR MY SAFTEY. " 63
This peice was drawn out from a portrait of Sorta’s son.
How long do you need to elaborate your next action and what inspires your next piece? There isn’t much thought with my head that goes into my work. It’s more heart felt. I know that’s kind of cliché to say, and borderline lame to say...but it is the truth. I paint/draw/paste what my gut tells me to do. So once my subject matter is in my heart, my hands create it with little effort.
Have you done other types of artwork than what we see around Baltimore? Has any of your work been in galleries? I made a recent run through Philadelphia putting up wheat pastings, and I have shown my work in several galleries. Can you give a quick run down of the process of your work, starting from the time it is thought up to the time it is put on a wall?
The subject matter isn’t premeditated. I just draw whatever comes to mind. Sometimes it’s local people from the city that I photographed. Sometimes it’s my own kids. So I draw or paint them in my studio, photograph it, then print it. I take the prints, cut them out, sometimes paint on them and then I ride around and look for vacant places. Then I just paste them up. Day or night.
If your art would be a musical genre – which one would it be? Dubstep. Just kidding, I’m mostly influenced by hip hop and reggae... so let’s go with that. Have you ever been in trouble with the police? [Laughs] Sure have. However my trouble with the law and my experience with the court system has absolutely nothing to do with art. I am a recovering alcoholic and heroin addict, and I’m not ashamed to admit that. Finding a spiritual solution to my past life has offered me the opportunity to experience everything that life has to offer. It has also given me the privilege of helping many people with my experiences, whether those were good or bad experiences. So my past life choices have landed me in jail multiple times. And my current life choices allow me to help people. My art is directly impacted by my past drug addiction. And my current spiritual stance also is reflected in my art and my day to day life. (Bet you weren’t expecting that answer, huh?) What would you recommend to someone who wants to get active/make street art him or herself? I would say to find someone who knows what they’re doing and ask for help. Then it’s mostly trial and error. Don’t give up. And don’t destroy occupied homes and small businesses... that’s just wrong. Also, be original, don’t bite someone else’s style...find your own voice.
" Finding a
spiritual solution to my past life has given me the privilege of helping people with my experiences. " 64
Sorta pasting up his work located on Park Ave. in Baltimore. This peice is 14ft wide and over 10ft tall.
HIDDEN IDENTITY Street artists and graffiti artists prefer to keep their identities anonymous, preferring to stay hidden and unattached from their works, whilst marveling at their art from afar. While they do sign their names on their works (as can be seen in the photo on the left and the photo above, Sorta Streetart usually has a unique rendering of his name, ‘Sorta,’ somewhere on every peice he pastes up), they hide it in plain view, including it in their spray paint masterpieces or wheat paste pin-ups, and thus protecting their identities in this particular art form. This became very popular with street artist ‘Banksy,’ who’s work can be seen all around the world. Almost everyone in the art world is familiar with his style. 65
“Attention Baltimore, get ready to see this image of Art Modell all over the city by the next Ravens game.” - @sorta_street_art on Instagram
" I LIVE AND BREATHE TO CREATE ART. I HAVE TO DO IT. I HAVE NO CHOICE. "
What are your plans for the future? What do we have to expect from you to see? Your guess is as good as mine.
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