An art once frowned upon for its association with gang culture is now used as a way to beautify Baton Rouge.
Graffiti, the act of spraying or drawing on public spaces, has become a popular form of expression in recent years.
While being a street artist is not the most common profession for a fine arts major, University alumnus Marc Verett, 32, who is locally known as Marc Fresh, is often seen with a spray-can instead of a paint brush.
He’s been doing graffiti for over a decade.
“I thought it was cool like anybody else,” Fresh said. “I could already draw so I just learned from other kids.”
For Fresh, any surface is a canvas. His current projects include painting a blank skateboard, but he has also completed larger ones such as an Alice in Wonderland garage wall for his daughter’s first birthday.
Fresh said Baton Rouge provides a number of additional canvases. He has done pieces around the city, from a fence for Gallery Bohemia to the dressing rooms of Rukus Skate Shop, to the walls of Quarters.
His favorite spot, however, is the abandoned ship yard on the levee. Many other artists go there to perfect their craft.
Fresh said he avoids authorities by working late at night and painting run-down buildings.
“Don’t go painting banks,” said Fresh. “They’ll come looking for you.”
Fresh, who usually works alone, represents a larger movement in Baton Rouge – the use of urban art to revitalize many of the city’s neighborhoods. From the columns of the Mississippi Bridge to buildings downtown, the presence of urban art can be seen around city.
The Museum of Public Art located in Old South Baton Rouge is a prime example of this movement. The once dilapidated building now houses murals depicting Louisiana Culture.
Museum director Kevin Harris, 58, said the murals serve as a face lift for Old South Baton Rouge.
“We tried to paint people in the community as a way to give them a sense of identity.” Harris said.
Harris acknowledged, however, that urban art does not appeal to all areas of the city.
