Wright and Williams with hip-hop Muppets Statler and Waldorf (Photo/Jason Phillips)
Whether you’re a serious fine art aficionado or true hip-hop head, Fabian Williams’ brainchild, Paint, Sketch or Draw…Blood!, had something for everyone. D.J. Cha-Cha Jones was on the ones and twos while Fabian “OccasionalSuperstar” Williams and Dwayne “Dubelyoo” Wright served as commentators. Spectators crowded around every inch of the vibrantly colored Stuart McClean Gallery to get the best views of the action.
Artists competed in two brief rounds apiece – first, “Figure Drawing” where they sketched a live model and “Face Off” where they did their best – or worst looking –drawings of each other, for maximum comedic effect. The crowd picked winners of each battle with applause.
Before any exhibition took place, the talents of the respective artists already made them winners – nearly all of them had works displayed in the gallery for viewing prior to the show.
And if the scenes below sound completely outrageous, they are. You just had to be there.
The Battles:
Joshua Hooper as Juicy J vs. Jason Phillips as Motown Showdown
Juicy J entered as the hilariously eccentric Brit with a straight bobbed wig and fitted t-shirt. He made it rain all over the gallery floor with his own fun brand of counterfeit cash. Motown Showtown hailed from the Motor City with a black suit and wide collar straight out of a 70’s Blaxploitation flick. In the figure drawing round, Juicy J made an otherwise innocuous pose of a sweater wearing model ultra-sexy, while Motown Showdown aimed a little truer to live. The “Face Off” resulted in a double DQ as both artists pulled out amusing caricatures of each other before the time was up.
Crowd favorite: undetermined.
CP the Artist as Apocalypse vs. Justin Huff as J. Steez
J. Steez looked like he stepped out of an 80s time capsule. The straight-outta-Compton styled artist was described by his opponent as a cross “between Eazy-E and Tiger Woods.” Apocalypse appeared fresh from a kill in psycho serial killer getup, complete with a blood-stained shirt, and black face mask with goggles. Their figure model was a curvy blond named Heather who wore a white midriff top and skimpy black bottoms. The battle stopped for a hilarious skit when J. Steez’s “girlfriend” confronted him about cheating on her with Heather. Crowd favorite: Apocalypse.
Grace Kisa as Strangé vs. Jessica Scott-Felder as Lady Luxe
Strangé stepped out after a Badu-esque assistant in a sky blue leotard. The high-cheekboned beauty wore a broad-shouldered and cinch-waisted black suit that would make Grace Jones proud.
Lady Luxe was introduced by her white lace blouse attired “spokeswoman” who announced that their battle was a “massacre.” The Lady herself descended the stairs in all black with her face covered by a veil – her trademark white flower shone through the darkness. This one was a tough call. The end actually got the most cheers when Strange revealed her previously done portrait of Lady Luxe.
Crowd favorite: Strangé.
Michi Meko as King Cotton vs. Charley Palmer as Artus the Great
The last two artists of the evening gave a humorous and provocative finale. Artus the Great is a Southern Comfort swilling, pimped-out king. He entered the battle field decked-out in a red cape, matching hat and mesh t-shirt covered by gold chains and gold lamé pants with matching shoes.
The inspiration for Meko’s King Cotton is harder to peg. He appeared from the ground level with his dreadlocks high atop his head with his face obscured by a swatch of Confederate flag, while holding a cotton flower.
Post-battle, both men revealed mocking portraits of the other. King Cotton portrayed Artus the Great in a blown up blackface. Artus the Great’s painting grabbed the strongest crowd reaction of the evening. He revealed a painting entitled, “Occasional Superstar presents Minstrel Jubilee,” featuring King Cotton crouched in a field eating watermelon as a bearded, rifle-wielding slave owner stands in the background. Cheers erupted from all corners. Artus the Great stood as the victor, but they both succeeded in another bold challenge – exploding stereotypes from likely the most painful chapters in America’s racial history.
Crowd favorite: Artus the Great
At the intermission of the show, Greg Street of V-103 arrived with new hip-hop sensation CyHi daPrynce. The young rapper gave a quick show at the center of the gallery. CyHi first gained recognition with his mixtape appearance on Kanye West’s blog. He will be opening for B.o.B. on Thursday, March 11, at Smith’s Olde Bar at 8.p.m.
Look for the next battle, Hell Up in Hotlanta 2 at the High Museum in late spring or early summer, 2010.
