Tes One built it, and sure enough, they did come. As the founding member of the SHINE Mural Festival (which celebrated its second birthday in 2016), he initiated this city-wide event to create opportunities for artists not just within our own community, but using this as an opportunity to bring talents from all over the world right to our back doors.
Not only does he promote the works of others, he’s an artist in his own right most known for his murals that are scattered throughout St. Pete and Tampa, like on State Theatre, Drastic Park, and even the Tampa Museum of Art. He doesn’t always take on canvases a few stories high though; he’s also busy creating smaller works on panels, whether for himself or as commissioned work.
And did I mention he’s also a curator? And he runs his own design company, Ill Communication, where he recently has done special edition prints like “Reservations” with proceeds going to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe/Dakota Access Pipeline Fund, “Waterworks” with profits donated to the Flint Child Health and Development Fund, and “Stand Our Ground,” where the funds given to the Justice for Trayvon Charity. (They are all sold out if you were wondering, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say they sold like a cold beer on a scalding day).
Giving back to the local arts community is what being an ambassador is all about, and Tes One does his part to liven up St. Pete with color.
This article appears in Jan 5-12, 2017.