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rain
hometown: trenton, nj
website: www.leonrainbow.com
Albus Cavus: When did you start painting?
Rain: I started painting in the womb. On the inside of my momma's
belly... Just kiddin'. I started drawing when I was 4 years old and
tagging in 1988 in San Jose, CA and doing pieces and productions in
1999.
AC: You were pretty young when you moved from the west to Jersey... How
it influence your art?
R: It gave me an understanding and appreciation of West Coast or Bay Area style. I was largely influenced by Mexican culture and art, lowriding, Aztec and Mayan carvings and of course gangs. Then when I came out to the East Coast I had to learn a different appreciation for art and style out here. It is largely influenced by NYC and Philly. I think by living in different areas has given me an interesting view of society. I have lived in East San Jose, CA and Wanaque, NJ and I have been able to adapt and learn to love and respect other peoples’ cultures. This gives me a certain versatility and understanding that can be found in my personality and artwork.
AC: Has art had any special role in your life?
R: Art has been my life. I am finally able to support myself through designing websites, teaching kids to create art, and by creating murals. So my life is very active and creative. I love my life. When I was a kid this was what I was dreaming of. I always wanted to paint with other graffiti artists, do productions, have art shows and paint on models. I'm living the dream.
AC: Tell us what mostly you portray in your pieces?
R: What I do now is largely letter and character based traditional graffiti. However, I have been enjoying experimenting with abstract art. I like to use word play in my work. A piece I did a few months ago was called an "idle mind" and it was a dude looking all bored at school with the devil reaching into his head with crack, liquor, half-naked women etc... One of the women on the block hated it because it had the devil in it. But I told her the saying "An idle mind is the devils playground" comes from the Bible. I believe sometimes you have to show the negative to make people aware of the positive message. I want my work to be a slap in the head rather than a kiss on the cheek.
AC: I know you live pretty positive life. Not many people know how to
party without all the nonsense...
R: I guess I try to live each day do the best I can and be the best person I can. I think that I have found that I can enjoy my drug and alcohol free lifestyle and allow others to do what they do. I try to have as much fun as possible and just enjoy life. I talk shit and joke around a lot. I try and love life and do what makes me happy.
AC: Now you teach arts in Trenton. How satisfying is it to work with
your students?
R: Teaching kids is very rewarding. My main objective is to show up
everyday on time, prepared and in a good mood. This lets them get to
know you and lets them know that you are committed. I teach after
school twice a week. I don't think I have the patience to teach full
time. Sometimes I feel that they are not feeling it and that I am
wasting my time. But the other teachers and administrators always tell
me how much the students look forward to my classes. I just have to
plant the seed you never know where the kid will blossom.
AC: That's true. Even something insignificant can change one's life
considerably. It's like opening their eyes and helping them to find
their thing to do. Do you think kids are less active and less creative.
than previous generations?
R: I think kids are taters. It is interesting because I love computers gadgets and phones. I always have a blackberry type phone so I can check my email. The way I look at it if I have my email with me then I can go to a park or go paint a wall and I don't have to worry about missing important emails. I try and use technology so I can stay connected but do what needs to get done. I feel that kids don't even try to go out and do anything. It's like everyone is so afraid of what could happen to the kid that they are not really allowed to go out like I was. So they just sit at home watch TV and play video games. I don't think there are many kids that know how to do things that were basic play time activities to me. I'm talking about paper airplanes, stick ball, street hockey, riding bikes, flying a kite, or playing freeze tag. I wonder why they are so boring.
AC: How did you get involved with Albus Cavus?
R: I showed up at an art show once in a little basement in New
Brunswick about six or seven years ago and I have been involved ever
since.
AC: Why?
R: I stay involved because Albus Cavus is an active arts organization. There are a lot of arts organizations that just do a few shows a year and that's it. I like the fact that I am able to be involved with different projects. They keep me busy because they always seem to have something going on whether they’re shows, the street art film festival, the river walk or painting with kids at festivals.
AC: Freights or walls?
R: I love to create beautiful murals and take my time and put my all
into each letter, and do a lot of background. But on the other hand
there is something freeing about dropping a simple on freight. It is
like a whole other world.
AC: Is it that easy? Does it involve a lot of running?
R: It is more planning with freights. Although I had to run a few times I run as little as possible. I'm no Carl Lewis so I have to do things low risk.
AC: Why public spaces? What kind of responses do you get from public?
R: Public Art allows you to influence and inspire more people. I like to paint in little gritty neighborhoods because I feel that people really respect and admire what you do. It's crazy because the cops like it, the crooks, crackheads, and kids like it. But there are lots
of little old ladies that hate it. I think that in general, conservative people hate it and a lot of people like it. A few people understand it. Those are the ones I paint for.
AC: Your inspirations?
R: My inspirations are my crew and other writers and artists. Music and poetry also play a big role in inspiring my creativity. I will hear a metaphor or cliche and I'll be like " that would be a dope piece"...
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