Graffiti rebels with a cause

'The Project' and Aster Hall raise money for Charleston Center for Photography

This Friday the 13th, take part in "The Project." This ambiguously named event, taking place at Aster Hall, features artists that are just as mysterious: graffiti artists Ishmael and Desism.

And what are these so-called "bad boys" up to? Raising money to help the Charleston Center for Photography, which is in danger of closing because of the current state of the economy.

Because the origins of graffiti and the possible legal implications that come with such an art form, the artists work under aliases.

Ishmael

Charleston-based artist Ishmael chose his alias after reading the philosophical novel "Ishmael" written by Daniel Quinn and feeling a particularly strong connection with the book's concept that human supremacy is a cultural myth.

Born in Madrid to Cuban parents, Ishmael spent much of his younger life in Florida and traveled throughout the South. He has been painting since the age of 13.

Aster Hall Art Director Sean Ferneau is particularly excited about some of the work he will be showing Friday as Ishmael is certainly going through a transition and beginning to merge graffiti with other art forms, incorporating screenprinting aesthetics and more painterly techniques into his style.

Ferneau refers to Ishmael as "one of the most relevant young graffiti artists within the Southeast." In Ferneau's opinion, he is refining his style into more easily recognizable images, such as Charlie Chaplin and his new "Veiled Lady," that have a more approachable feel.

Although many here in Charleston know Ishmael, his work extends much further than this city. He showed at the prestigious Art Basel in Miami last year, is represented by the Satellite Gallery in Asheville, N.C., and is permanently collected by the Pell family.

Locally, he was one of the featured artists at the City Gallery in the show "Contemporary Charleston" this year during the Piccolo and Spoleto festivals. His work can be found at Aster Hall and at Eye Level Art.

Desism

New York based artist Desism has been doing graffiti since 1982 when he was in the sixth grade.

Living in the Bronx, he was exposed to the "rolling galleries" of the No. 2, No. 5, and No. 6 trains.

Each neighborhood had its tight-knit gang of graffiti artists. Young and rebellious, they also were competitive. You would often see an image painted on a train in the morning and by the next day, someone from a different neighborhood had painted over it.

Ferneau makes a strong point in saying that it's important to also take into account "the dangers that came along with painting a 10-foot underground space in the middle of the night: thieves, drunks, members from other graffiti gangs ... and rats. ... I don't think bored American viewers appreciate this when they see glossy photograph books on graffiti."

It is interesting to know that Desism learned this trade in the same way classically trained artists did: with a master-and-apprentice type of relationship.

Young artists typically latched on to a mentor who taught them different styles, techniques and how to not get busted before releasing them to their own subterranean canvases.

Desism apprenticed under a guy named "Sick." As a young artist, he helped Sick spread his style to other neighborhoods. However, the two had a falling out as Sick began to market and merchandise his work, and the young Desism strongly disagreed with this.

"Desism's ideology at this time was centered around purposeful damage, pure rebellion against the State, and youthful masculine angst. Desism understands graffiti's evolvement, but reiterates that its truest form was rooted in simple rebellion," says Ferneau.

Desism entered the Navy in 1988 and much changed in the world of subterranean graffiti during that time. As the government cracked down on the graffiti done on trains and stations, the movement moved to the streets. And now, it has moved into the world of valued art.

Ferneau says, "By attempting to squash graffiti, American government has made it bigger than it ever was."

Desism now lives in Charlotte with his family. He works in tandem with the Charlotte Art League, bringing recognition, and acceptance, to graffiti art in the Southeast and works with teenage graffiti artists, mentoring them in a formal studio atmosphere.

Desism organized the first formal showing of graffiti art in an established gallery in Charlotte.

Help for the Center

Which brings us back to "The Project." The Charleston Center for Photography is having difficulties, and these two artists are on board to help. They've both created large-scale graffiti murals painted on site, specifically for this fundraiser.

There also will be smaller works by Ishmael and Desism, and many works by other Aster Hall artists including Benjamin Hollingsworth, Timothy Pakron, and Alex Leopold.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the center, whose mission is to provide training for photographers in the Southeast and an exhibition platform for established artists. The center donates educational resources to local students, art therapy to disabled veterans and reduced rates for struggling artists.

Many people are pitching in what they can to help: There will be live music by emerging band The Healing and Charleston-based Malignant Productions, drinks provided by Social Wine Bar, and hors d'oeuvres provided by Virginia's Restaurant and J. Paul'z.

If you go

'The Project' will take place from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Aster Hall, 481 King St. Tickets are $8 at the door. For more information, call the gallery at 789-3580 or e-mail Sean Ferneau at seanferneau@gmail.com.