MURALS

In partnership with Joe Ellis Art, the LynLake Street Art Series unveiled a public mural on the west side of Cub Foods in Uptown, Minneapolis. This work features contributions from local artists Daesk One (Peyton Scott Russell), Emer (Chaka Mkali), Ewok HM MSK (George Thompson), Yen34 HM, Kahn, and Shock UC MSK.

The mural is a chronological narrative of the evolution of graffiti art in the Twin Cities, starting from the late 1980s to the present day. Beginning with Daesk One, a pioneering figure in the local graffiti scene, the mural traces the artistic evoloution through Emer, a Los Angeles transplant who became a community leader in Minneapolis, and Ewok HM MSK, recognized as a master of Midwestern style. The progression continues with Yen34 HM, a painter of near-mythical status from St. Paul, and Kahn HM, an artist and visionary organizer. The work culminates with Shock UC MSK, whose advanced style transcends his mentors while honoring their influence.

This mural project showcases the energy and evolution of graffiti as a form of painting, revealing how each generation of artists builds upon the foundations laid by their predecessors. By placing these artists side by side, Joe Ellis Art highlights the dynamic progression of artistic expression in this powerful and transformative public artwork.

RIME, a graffiti artist from New York, has carved a distinctive path through his street-certified evolution, developing a versatile and painterly vocabulary that sets him apart. Known for his nomadic studio practice, RIME adapts to his surroundings—or perhaps, it’s the environment that adapts to him. In July 2023, his Road Map Tour made a significant stop in Minneapolis, where he created a captivating mural at 31st & Aldrich. This work features his name, "RIME," repeated twice—first in playful bubble letters entwined with a snake, and again through the forms of a wolf, duck, skull, and woman. While in town, RIME also led a workshop with SPRAYFiNGER and hosted a black book session at UC headquarters. 

RIME stands on the cusp of broader recognition within the art world, his decades-long practice reflecting the roots of the graffiti movement. His work serves as a reminder that, like many other movements in art, graffiti’s significance is being recognized in hindsight. RIME is successfully revealing that there is no gap between graffiti, or "writing," and the broader practice of painting as we understand it today, marking him as a pivotal figure in the evolution of contemporary art.

2022 marked my inaugural involvement with the LynLake Street Art Series, beginning with the production of two art exhibitions: Black Book and Where There's People There's Power at Planned Parenthood in Uptown. This experience sparked a vision to transform Cub Foods into a dynamic canvas, inviting the artists who inspire me, to showcase their work.

The mural project featured a legendary lineup of artists, arranged from South to North: MUCH HM, STALK TCI, EWOK HM MSK, RIVER TCI, ESPO, and YEN 34 HM SWS. Each artist contributed a unique style, reflecting a high level of development within this very specific language of painting.