Drivers cruising down East Hickory Street Tuesday evening slowed to take in the vibrant splashes of color rising across a massive wall at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, where graffiti artists — seasoned and novice — worked in full view of the public. Paint cans hissed as hands moved quickly, creating bold designs that transformed the blank surface into a mural.
As part of Denton’s “31 Days of Halloween,” the Greater Denton Arts Council’s “Island of Misfit Toys” event, a live graffiti experience, invited the community to view and participate in street art on Oct. 8.
The showcase featured 39-year-old graffiti artist Edward Martinez, also known as Eder Tron, who aimed to celebrate the often misunderstood art form while providing a legal and creative space for the community to contribute to a graffiti wall.
Visitors had the opportunity to create their masterpieces, working alongside Martinez on large canvases set up outside the venue.
“We’re excited,” Krissi Oden, GDAC executive director and Denton resident, said. “Graffiti is such a beautiful art form, and we want to find ways to celebrate it as much as possible.”
Oden expressed enthusiasm about the event’s inclusive environment, adding that the show reflected the mission of the council.
“I love the idea of the island of misfit toys because I think it does what the Greater Denton Arts Council does,” Oden said. “I think it creates an inclusive environment where everyone is accepted and celebrated equally.”
Oden, who collaborated with Martinez before, emphasized the importance of providing safe and legal spaces for graffiti artists.
“It’s something that’s difficult because it most often has to be done outside because of fumes and things like that and there’s not many spaces for people to go to do it, you know, safely and legally,” Oden said. “So the more we can create those spaces, the more we get to celebrate how amazingly creative and unique the Denton community is.”
Martinez, who was one of the founders of The Fabrication Yard, a free and legal art park located in Dallas, worked on a focal piece as participants painted their own “misfits.”
After Martinez was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood cancer, in 2008, his diagnosis shifted his approach to life and art.
“I got sick in 2008, and then I started really doing this illegally because I thought I was going to die,” Martinez said. “They gave me 10 years to live at 22, so now [that] I’m 39 — you know, still here — it’s nuts. I don’t know how I’m still here.”
What began as a graffiti tag, a form of graffiti art where the artist signs their name or handle, grew into a passion for graffiti, and later, a career. Martinez said he now uses his talent to break down stereotypes about graffiti.
“I want to say it’s pushed into [an] ideology that it’s only in ghetto areas or gang-affiliated,” Martinez said. “What I’m trying to make is the connection that there is a positive side. It opens up a lot of avenues for so many different people from all kinds of places.”
For some at the event, the evening was a chance to break away from the usual traditional forms of art.
“It’s not inside the four walls of a gallery,” said Floyd Cornwell, university bike technician and alumnus. “You get to decide what you put on the wall and the public gets to decide whether to look at it or not. And there’s less editing and censorship than online or at a gallery.”
Denton resident and GDAC facilities technician Nick Glad highlighted the importance of involving younger generations in artistic expression.
“See all the kids here,” Glad said. “That’s the most important thing — getting kids continuously into art.
Martinez also views his role as mentorship, hoping to inspire the next generation of artists to see graffiti as more than a rebellious act.
“I’m going to be here for a long time without even being here,” Martinez said. “I want to put my little footstep in the door and hopefully hold the door open for other people and they can walk through.”
As Martinez reflected on his career and his personal battles, he said that, for him, graffiti is more than just work.
“Doing this illegally pushed me into doing this legally, making this a job, running a career,” Martinez said. “But realistically, the best part about it is I’m just having fun. It’s not a job for me — we have fun [with] this. It’s so dope.”
Community members are invited to attend “Go Paint Day” on Nov. 8-10 at The Fabrication Yard. The event is free of charge and will include a break-dancing battle, graffiti art and vendors.
“We get to celebrate how amazingly creative and unique the Denton community is,” Oden said. “That’s kind of our identity and the city is really honing in on that and starting to prioritize the arts, celebrate the arts and find ways to make it more accessible.”
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