Blog Post # 3 by Mary Annan

Throughout this process, it became clear to me that I can look at one piece of art and see an array of different interpretations. What do you see? What do you feel? 

Two weeks ago, when asking Jax what he hopes to provoke with his art, he told me:

“I hope to change people’s thoughts or perceptions in some way, even if I don’t know exactly what it is.” 

Photo journaling his process, my perception has changed throughout the journey. Watching him fill in the vivid patterns, it provoked feelings of imagination. It was almost as if the colors were stemming out of the soon to be contoured face. It started with triangular stripes. The gentle yet vivid color scheme reminded me of the colors I would pick out of the crayon box, to create something bright and lively. This feeling of nostalgia eventually changed, as more was added onto the mural.

Photo by Mary Annan

Image Description: Jax’s arm is extended, holding a can of yellow spray paint. He is filling in the first stripe from the top, yellow. Below are blue and pink.

On the other side of the face were earthy shades of blue and green. This thematic concept of nature still slightly manipulates itself each time I look at this artwork. Is it a matter of day versus night? Separation of humans from nature versus interconnectedness? Or could it be the distinction of thriving vs. surviving? 

Exploring the latter, I find the piece resonating with me on a personal level. The colors droop into one another with surrealistic eyes that follow the viewer. Provoking feelings of chaos, I find the contrast between the two sides fascinating. As the face evaporates into the bare yet blossoming branches, I get reminded of my own capability to grow and thrive. It is when I see all of the elements of this piece as a whole, that I ask myself a couple of questions. 

Do the eyes and chaos around me inhibit myself from thriving? How do I continue to blossom throughout the chaos?

Photo by Mary Annan

Image Description: Close up image of the left side of the mural. Pink, blue, yellow, and purple stripes with black line work. Single vertical eyes are scattered around this side of the mural.

Photo by Mary Annan

Image description: Taken outdoors. Jax is sitting on the ground. His back is facing the camera. Wearing a white shirt and a black baseball cap with a red heart and slant, he is spraying the paint while holding up a piece of cardboard, to ensure straight lines.

With the current climate of society, I often find it a challenge to blossom amongst the chaos. As a person of color, with the intent of accelerating various movements, I feel that I am repeatedly placed within the crossroad of uncertainty and the aspiration to flourish. This uncertainty of society’s ability to fully correct itself amplifies with instances ranging from micro-aggressions, to reports of unabashed accounts of racialized violence. When acknowledging the progress that I see within this society, I have realized that alongside the undeniably upsetting case studies, has been an inflation of awareness. 

Photo by Mary Annan

Image Description: Jax Naugler, 17, stands towards the left side of the image, with his back facing the camera. A brown branch is painted, as he fills in the background with green spray paint.

Regardless of the intended message of this mural, I appreciate the skill and consideration taken into account when choosing to illustrate a person from an underrepresented group. When done positively, I find it quite refreshing to be able to engage with art that displays these individuals, whether or not their identity contributes to the theme. With that being said, their identity may determine the theme for one viewer, while having no effect for the other. This variation of interpretation goes to show the different impressions an artist can create with a single piece of artwork. Does the pigment of the illustrated face affect your interpretation of this mural?

Watching the mural come to life with virtually every detail completed, except for the face, I had an anticipation that it would be the most time consuming aspect to complete. I’d see Jax pick up the brown paint and outline the soon to be concluded face. Thinking he was about to commit to the section, my next glance would be of him holding a black or blue can, touching up the background with precision. 

Before I could even realize it, the blueprint of the face had become essentially three dimensional. The shading of the cheekbones, the highlights on the lips and nose, and the individual curls of hair were all merged together to create something lifelike, while dissipating into the embracing branches of nature.

Photo by Mary Annan

Image Description: Jax Naugler, 17, stands in front of the right side of his mural, with his hands on his hips. He is wearing a black face mask, green and mustard yellow striped shirt and black cargo pants. Behind him, the face on the mural blends into branches on a green background, with pink flowers. To the right, the green fades into blue as barren branches with icicles extend towards the other. In between the two is the moon, painted in white.

When asking Jax how he manages his vocalization of a diverse range of movements, he said: 

“I want to spread awareness for causes that are important to me, but also incorporate other causes that are important to me, while not directly making a difference in my life. They’re all important in a society where we’re all respected and valued.”

One of the many things that I appreciate about this piece, is the ability to produce something that encourages contemplation. Not only will this piece encourage reflection within one’s own personal experiences, but it also encourages reflection from the stance of multiple perspectives. Documenting this process made me aware of the fact that not only is the viewer in a state of reflection, but the artist must also reflect in order to follow a vision. Through my documentation, I am grateful to have the platform to analyze a thought provoking work of art, while finding ways to put those thoughts into words and images.

Photo by Mary Annan

Image Description: Taken through a red tinted pair of sunglasses, Jax stands to the right, in front of his mural. Wearing a striped t-shirt and black pants, he gives a thumbs up to to the right. The lens frame creates a dark vignette around the edges. 

With the murals being fully completed, I encourage the public to check them out; whether that be at the next event, or simply walking over to the ContainR site while waiting for the CTrain. Watching the process of Jax’s mural, has reminded me of the power and potential that artists hold. Especially young artists, due to their ability to encourage introspection among one another, influencing the future. I admire the choices and routes that he explored within this piece, as well as the two other fascinating mural editions to the site, by Daniel Volante and Kate Maclean.

Hundreds of eyes will gaze upon these works of art each day. Which pair of eyes will you be? 

Photo by Mary Annan

Image Description: Taken past sunset. A shot of the vast majority of the mural.