Graff Park Paint Jam brings a crowd to raise money for graffiti park
Published 11:47 am Sunday, September 15, 2019
Josh Bergeron / Salisbury Post - Dozens of people on Saturday gathered at Salisbury’s downtown graffiti park for the Graff Park Paint Jam, which raised money to make improvements to the area.
Josh Bergeron / Salisbury Post - Davis Davis, a graffiti artist, paints Saturday during the Graff Park Paint Jam in downtown Salisbury. Davis, whose instagram handle is @nonperishable, was one of several artists who participated in the event, which raised money to improve Salisbury’s graffiti park.
Josh Bergeron / Salisbury Post - Makayla Bitner on Saturday smiles as a child runs past her artwork during the Graff Park Paint Jam at Salisbury’s downtown graffiti park. Bitner was one of several artists who painted during the event.
Josh Bergeron / Salisbury Post - Artists on Saturday paint during the Graff Park Paint Jam organized by Shane Pierce, known by his artist name Abstract Dissent. Pierce said he wants to extend the size of a concrete wall at the back of the park to allow for more painting area.
Josh Bergeron / Salisbury Post - Shane Pierce, known as Abstract Dissent, looks over his art piece at Salisbury’s graffiti park on Saturday. Pierce helped organize the Graff Park Paint Jam, which raised money to make improvements to the area.
SALISBURY — With a few dozen people watching in downtown Salisbury, artists from across the region helped raise money for the city’s graffiti park while also competing for a $500 commission.
Organized by Shane Pierce — who’s better known by his artist name, Abstract Dissent — the Graff Park Paint Jam raised $565 to make improvements to the graffiti park. Local artist David “Cave” Arbaiza also won the popular vote among attendees, receiving the chance to create a $500 piece of art at the Fish Bowl in downtown Salisbury.
Pierce organized the fundraiser, in part because of his growing popularity in the Salisbury area. He’s painted graffiti murals at places across Rowan County, including the Pedal Factory, North Rowan Elementary School, Grievous Gallery, the Fish Bowl, Nazareth Child & Family Connection’s outpatient facility and more.
“The way that Salisbury has reacted to my art has just blown my mind,” Pierce said. “To me, this form of art is the fastest-growing form of art, the street art scene. My art took off up here, and I just thought that Salisbury should have a street art event.”
Josh Bergeron / Salisbury Post – A collection of paint cans is strewn behind Makayla Bitner on Saturday as she paints during the Graff Park Paint Jam at Salisbury’s downtown graffiti park. Bitner was one of several artists who painted during the event.
So, after some prodding from DJ Mon-Te, who provided music for Saturday’s fundraiser, Pierce contacted Salisbury Parks and Recreation’s Vivian Koontz, the department’s event coordinator, to work through logistics.
On Saturday, there was music, T-shirt sales, food and electricity thanks to a generator on a Salisbury Fire Department truck.
A few dozen people were at the graffiti park at any one time, with folks filing in and out. Organizers said they were pleased with the turnout. And Pierce said the turnout Saturday is proof that Salisbury is interested in and excited about graffiti art.
With help from the money raised, Pierce said he would like to see a small concrete wall that’s at the back of the park raised by about 6 feet, which would create a large, flat surface on which artists could paint. At present, artists have several large wooden boards positioned throughout the park.
“If you go to any other city where there’s a park like this, you’ll have a concrete or brick wall,” Pierce said.
