From the GroundUP

Urban art from the Islands is making waves around the globe

By Tracy Chan

Posted March 5, 2010

Metromix

Call them pirates, revolutionaries or artists of a different genre. But one thing's for certain, Honolulu's GroundUP urban art movement has grown beneath the mainstream art scene and is spreading across the globe.

They're a group of artists, musicians and designers who have come together to showcase their  art locally and internationally. This isn't your grandma's fine art. In fact, you're more likely to find these artists using spray cans for their craft than paintbrushes.

It's only in recent years that GroundUP's lowbrow, gritty type of urban pop art has become recognized as art at all, due in part to the growing popularity of artists like Shepard Fairey from the skateboarding and underground punk and hip-hop scenes.

"It all started in houses and private parties," said GroundUP founder Noa Laporga. "Some of my friends are graffiti artists and draw and paint. One of the reasons why I started my own collective is that at that time, nobody understood what lowbrow, urban art was. I got e-mails saying graffiti art isn't art, and a lot of galleries in Chinatown kept turning me down. But now, everybody's asking me to speak at colleges, museums and other places. "People are fascinated with this new, young, hip style; they've started to realize that there are no boundaries."

Laporga, 26, built the collective eight years ago, after connecting with artists with a similar vision. GroundUP involves everyone from painters to photographers to musicians to models and designers. With headquarters at Ward Farmers Market, the collective has 60 to 70 young local artists, ranging in age from 15 to their 30s. There's also a GroundUP record label and a modeling and photography agency.

GroundUP has long been known for its live art at concerts and parties, painting murals at last year's concerts for De La Soul and The Grouch & Eligh, and at parties at NextDoor and Fresh Cafe.

"People appreciate how something is created, and to be able to share the creative process gives them a whole different perspective on the artist," said All Natro vocalist/percussionist Kawika Samson (aka Ckaweeks), who has painted murals at various events. "I was always a 'do it on the spot' type of artist. It tests my creativity and skill."

Another noteworthy thing about the GroundUP collective is its widespread influence, thanks to artists around the globe who have adopted the collective's ideals.

"From what I know, we have people all over the U.S., Japan, Russia, Greece, Italy, Paris, China, Paraguay, Switzerland — they're all over the place," Laporga said.

Artist Matt Bruening, the GroundUP Agency booking agent and talent scout, said what he likes most about being part of GroundUP is the sense of family and respect.

"Everyone respects one another, with no egos getting in the way," he said. "That's pretty much the (thing) that keeps us together."


Upcoming shows:

9 p.m. March 13, Future Paradise at NextDoor
Fashion show by GroundUP booking agent Matt Bruening.

7 p.m. March 19, Nas at The Waterfront at Aloha Tower
GroundUP's Dodge Distad and Pancho Abalos to paint a live mural at the Nas concert.

8 p.m. March 19, NextDoor
Opening night for a quarterly showcase of GroundUP DJs and musical talent.