Jim

Jim

The Mosaic Man, War Veteran, Ex-Homeless

“One of my mosaics say, and this sums up a lot for me; ‘All the colors make it more beautiful. Not just some of the colors.”

The Greeks put mosaics in public housing. Why would they do that? Because it made “ people nice to each other. In a crazy way I believe I have found a common language beyond borders. Like when the sun is coming up. People can feel the joy of my mosaic.”

“The last few years I have been working from home. Everything in exactly nine square feet. That’s a challenge. I’m looking right out to New York through my window though, so I still feel blessed in many ways.”

“East Village is the most artistic, harmless neighborhood in the city. We have people living here from all around the world. What’s everyone’s problem out there? Here, we have every ethnic group living together and we all get along! ”

“I ran a front line support and communication center during the war in Vietnam, with one blind eye. They forgot to check my eyes. I should never have been in a war zone. I used to get dirt in the other eye and was left totally blind. We did what we had to do over there. I came out of the war. I had a big blow up. Post traumatic stress. Very bad at a family dinner. Stories about the madness going on over there, burning people’s houses down and worse. I had not interacted with my family for a very long time and it was all a result of the outrageous and horrific things I had witnessed.”

“I was homeless for 25 years. I lived in squatted buildings in this neighborhood. It was comfortable living in the abandoned buildings even though it was no home. Burned out floors. You had to walk the beams to get in there. Nobody could get to you. You usually had just a handful of people living together in these buildings. You took the building, broke into it, blocked the door and put a chain on it. Sometimes you could see all the way up to the roof. I remember this big rat dropping down on my shoulder. We even built a tank and called it «Little Rudy» after Rudy Giuliani. That’s what we had to do to survive. I didn’t realize I was way down and out. I didn’t even ask for help.”

“I spoke to the mayor not long ago. I didn’t like the mayor at all, but after two hours listening to the guy, I changed my mind about him. But if they think I am going to my grave without getting even, they are wrong. I want a piece of everyone’s taxes. Just a piece.”

“The first piece I did publicly was in 1985. I did all the trees at Saint Marks Place. It took all summer. How did I get the idea to do this? I started doing mosaic because it was an uplifting. My whole thing was to make mosaic so widespread that when you stepped out you had a glimmer. If you throw a bunch of silver things in the air on a sunny day, it’s going to shine. I wanted to create that with mosaic. I still dream of seeing Park Avenue done in mosaic. The Mosaic City. The city and the world would change.”

“I’ve been doing this in East Village for more than 30 years. Start at Astor Place and walk to Saint Marks Place. Then walk the blocks from 7th to 10th street. On every one of these blocks you have numerous places with my mosaic.”

Q&A

What neighborhood do you live in? East Village, Manhattan.

Best thing about living there? This is one of the true neighborhoods of New York. It’s a community of artists. It always has been. People have drifted to this side of town since day one.

Favorite neighborhood in New York? East Village.

Favorite street to stroll? East Village 9th street. There are beautiful shops there that represent the next generation of creativity.

Favorite restaurant? Crif Dogs on Saint Marks Place. When the 1993 blackout happened, the owner set up a hot dog stand on the streets for people to eat.

Favorite bar? This is embarrassing. I don’t drink. If you want to feel the vibe of the neighborhood though, I would recommend Doc Holliday’s.

Hidden gem? The speakeasy Please Don’t Tell- PDT. It’s inside Crif Dogs. You have to go through a phone booth to get in there.

How to be(come) a New Yorker? I shouldn’t say this. Make a donation to have your image put on a tile and post it on a light pole.

Favorite song? Meeting of the Spirits by John McLaughlin

5 THINGS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT JIM

HELMET “I wore that helmet down to a meeting with David Dinkins, the first African American mayor of New York. He came to me and we spoke about my mosaic art. The next day in The Daily News there was a photograph with me and the mayor. Some days later, out of nowhere, there was a letter for me from the mayor saying ‘Thank you for your contribution to the city.”

BELT BUCKLE “I once saw a giant guy wearing a skull belt buckle and thought to myself that I should go into making jewelry. My buckle is suppose to be on the end of your belt. Heavy. And if you get cornered by someone, you just slip your belt buckle off and you got a weapon in the hand.”

MOSAIC PLATTER “If you put a flower in the middle of the concrete, it’s a garden. I love placing these out there for people to enjoy.”

CUTTERS “I do so much with these. I use it as a hammer, cut the tiles, cut the glass. That is part of me.”

PSYCHEDELICS “A- it’s a very good creative thing. Why? It kills the pain and gives me movement. The amount I do is ridiculous. It is microdosing. I just need it to be in my system in order to function.”