
I recently moved to Chicago, IL after living and developing my work in Seattle, WA for the past 3 years. When I came to Chicago back in May (earlier this year), I moved into a predominately Middle-Eastern/African American neighborhood in Chicago’s NW side of Rogers Park.
I lived on the third floor of a boxy brownston. I had a small room with 5 windows pooring gaping lobbs of light as the sun illuminated my entire being each morning wanted or not, I was up every morning at 5:30am. My building was right in the middle of a triad of 3 gangs: Gangster Desciples (depicted in Red over-sized nightgown shirts from Wal-mart) Ascerian Kings (in black shrouds) and the Latin Kings.
During the 1 month I lived in that neighborhood, I became witness to toppling amounts of narcotic abuse and distrobution, shadowy figures lurking and bothering, massive amounts of yelling and arguments from the giant 10 piece deep ghetto-ness black family crammed into the 3 BR apt. on the first floor, fire arm exchanges particularly in the ally way , corruption, , and bouts of urban decay. Co-existing within this environment, I decided to depict what was going on around me and inspiring me in the twisted fucked-up way that it did.
The roaches infested the small room and kitchen I occupied while I worked. They fucked me up real bad and were discusting as hell tripped-out. The painting measures 40X30″ and was done in Acrylic and paint pens.