Pulse October 2017 | Page 28

cONvERSAtIONS WItH rICArdo rICHEy ( APExEr )
By ASHLEy ALt
We all have our own creative outlets . Whether that be through painting , writing or other freeing forms of self-expression , we sometimes surprise ourselves with the emotions that come from seeing the finished product . ricardo richey , better known as Apexer , has that conjuring effect on people . “ go out and explore the world . Experience it with no expectations ,” he advises in a voice and outlook that is both captivating and inspiring . Apexer is a street artist from San Francisco who creates colorful , abstract patterns throughout urban cities with the aim to evoke positivity and a sense of connectedness . Often working nine to 10 hours a day creating strikingly distinguished artwork , Apexer leaves it up to viewers to interpret the message .
Apexer , who was a featured artist at the St . ARt festival in St . Louis , will be donating a piece of his artwork to the ISPA Foundation Auction at the 2017 ISPA conference & Expo , and will be giving an inspirational speech during tuesday ’ s general Session .
We asked Apexer why he enjoys his profession and what street art accomplishes in society today , and his answers may surprise you .
PULSE : What first sparked your love of street art ? Apexer : Growing up in San Francisco in the early 80s , society ’ s differences and separations weren ’ t comprehensible as a kid . I really started getting into art around third grade . I loved seeing the different colors everywhere around me and wanted to create my own . For me , coloring in my coloring book was no different than seeing scribbles and colors around the city . It actually got me into trouble at home — I would get black ink on the walls .
P : Why is street art so important to the fabric of our cities ? A : You have to go back to the beginning roots of New York and Harlem , where there is a good representation of modern cities . A huge part of San Francisco was abandoned growing up — people without jobs , empty lots with buildings crumbling , and that became part of the youth culture . There are famous photos of kids jumping around on mattresses in a parking lot . That youthful , childhood imagination is where street art came from — it tells a story .
For me , it ’ s really important to have public art that is diverse and can appeal to sensitivities of a wide group of people . In suburbia of America , homes all look the same . The cars out front are the only forms of color . In cities , you need diversity ; you need colors — things that will stimulate the brain and spirit to live healthier .
P : You were born and raised in San Francisco . How does the city inspire your art ? A : I lived on one corner of the city , my grandma lived on the other corner , and my cousins in between . We drove around all the time visiting family , so I was exposed to all the different SF neighborhoods . You have skyscrapers , a lot of greenery with parks , and famous painted ladies in front of Victorian houses . Seeing all of this informed me of what I wanted to do . Because SF has hills and streets and valleys , you never know what ’ s around the corner . I like to create work that is unexpected so that when you ’ re riding your bike down an alley and you turn the corner , you see a random , colorful splash on a building .
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26 PULSE ■ October 2017