A mural celebrating International Women's Month worth over $20,000 was defaced by someone who used spray paint to cover it with the word "slut."
Artist Ace Phoenix, who received permission to paint a mural from the building's owner, was in the middle of creating a piece to commemorate the annual observance when the work in progress was defaced. The defaced art piece is right across from a children's park.
"My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I had just finished the first portrait two days ago," Phoenix told Fox 26. "It took a lot of work, my time, and my energy. It meant a lot to me, especially the messaging behind the mural, so it was very, very disheartening."
The mural, designed to celebrate women's accomplishments and promote women's empowerment, coincided with International Women's Month. It featured a finished portrait of Hedy Lamarr, the mother of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and incomplete portraits of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, and respected activist Malala Yousafzai.
"I really was just trying to do some cool artwork for the kids to come and take pictures with,‴ Phoenix shared in an Instagram video.
"Some of my favorite things are when parents share pictures of their kids taking photos in front of my murals. It really brightens my heart."
A reality that as women we still face daily.
According to Phoenix, this isn't the first time that her art has been anonymously antagonized. She had previously received an ominous direct message about another mural project at the 3000 block of Crawford in Midtown at LXL Parks. It was a Barbie-themed piece that was specifically requested by the building owner in hopes of giving the children playing in the park across the street something kid-friendly to admire.
"Somebody actually did DM telling me it was not right that I had the painting up, that it was his wall, and that he was going to paint over it," the artist shared. So I think it might be personal."
On Instagram, Phoenix revealed that another male artist asked her to take down the Barbie mural when it was first put up last year, threatening to deface it. After explaining that the art was commissioned by the building owners, the male artist would not let up, continuing to send negative messages until another male artist came to her defense.
"It's going to keep happening unless we call it out, so if anyone has any information, the management would like to know," Phoenix pleaded. "They are not very happy with this."
Phoenix is determined to keep painting and finish the work she started despite the defacing. She aims to continue to share her work and any news about the attempts to destroy her art in hopes of raising more awareness of the issue.
"That's probably why he didn't deface [the Barbie mural] at the time, but now he has taken his opportunity," she shared. "A lot of hard work goes into these murals. It was disheartening. There is not much I can do other than share it with you guys and hope that things like this start to change."
source: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/houston-mural-defaced-slur-20219261.php
archive: https://archive.md/x9cCH
Artist Ace Phoenix, who received permission to paint a mural from the building's owner, was in the middle of creating a piece to commemorate the annual observance when the work in progress was defaced. The defaced art piece is right across from a children's park.
"My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I had just finished the first portrait two days ago," Phoenix told Fox 26. "It took a lot of work, my time, and my energy. It meant a lot to me, especially the messaging behind the mural, so it was very, very disheartening."
The mural, designed to celebrate women's accomplishments and promote women's empowerment, coincided with International Women's Month. It featured a finished portrait of Hedy Lamarr, the mother of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and incomplete portraits of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, and respected activist Malala Yousafzai.
"I really was just trying to do some cool artwork for the kids to come and take pictures with,‴ Phoenix shared in an Instagram video.
"Some of my favorite things are when parents share pictures of their kids taking photos in front of my murals. It really brightens my heart."
A reality that as women we still face daily.
According to Phoenix, this isn't the first time that her art has been anonymously antagonized. She had previously received an ominous direct message about another mural project at the 3000 block of Crawford in Midtown at LXL Parks. It was a Barbie-themed piece that was specifically requested by the building owner in hopes of giving the children playing in the park across the street something kid-friendly to admire.
"Somebody actually did DM telling me it was not right that I had the painting up, that it was his wall, and that he was going to paint over it," the artist shared. So I think it might be personal."
On Instagram, Phoenix revealed that another male artist asked her to take down the Barbie mural when it was first put up last year, threatening to deface it. After explaining that the art was commissioned by the building owners, the male artist would not let up, continuing to send negative messages until another male artist came to her defense.
"It's going to keep happening unless we call it out, so if anyone has any information, the management would like to know," Phoenix pleaded. "They are not very happy with this."
Phoenix is determined to keep painting and finish the work she started despite the defacing. She aims to continue to share her work and any news about the attempts to destroy her art in hopes of raising more awareness of the issue.
"That's probably why he didn't deface [the Barbie mural] at the time, but now he has taken his opportunity," she shared. "A lot of hard work goes into these murals. It was disheartening. There is not much I can do other than share it with you guys and hope that things like this start to change."
source: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/houston-mural-defaced-slur-20219261.php
archive: https://archive.md/x9cCH
