JAMES DE LA VEGA:
"TALKING WALLS AND SIDEWALKS"

James De La Vega converts the walls of East Harlem into an open air canvas documenting New Yorks's Barrio culture. The walk up Lexington Ave. to 106th St. is punctuated by his various murals portraying an eclectic combination of subjects including Picasso's "Guernica", dead hip-hop stars, and religious icons, all illustrating the hybrids of Harlem's Caribbean, African, Latin and american cultures.
De La Vega claims public space with the speed and ferocity of his neighborhood's graffiti artists (at times collaborating with them), transforming the barren walls of his surroundings into into life-infused pieces with a distinct agenda. His work has trickled through out the city, appearing on sidewalks in he form of painted cigareete butts (to trick the viewer) and inspiring "street philosophy" chalk drawings, spray paint silouettes, and masking tape outlines. De La Vega's signature spray paint and masking tape technique is used to depict Christ and the Last Supper with accompanying commentary on the conditions plaguing the city's people.
You can finally see his work in one place in his new gallery at 103rd and Lexington Ave. (open Tues. - Sat. 3:00 - 8:00 pm. free)*
*text adpated from FLYER #29,Dec.'00, pg. 25

James De La Vega, Brick Madonna, NYC	James De La Vega, Mother, NYC

East Harlem, NYC community-artist James De La Vega visited Blacksburg in March 2000 to conduct a four-day Mountain Lake Workshop that directed participants in his unique activities of sidewalk chalk and tape inscription. James also lead a group of more than thirty volunteers in applying stencils and paint to create an installation in the Armory Gallery. The result was a fabulous exhibition that incorporated more than thirty of De La Vega'as original paintings as well as a group of documentary photographs by Christine Camillo of James' many artworks on the streets and buildings of New York City.

Be Free, My Son, Be Free, 2000. Masking tape drawing of De La Vega's mother.

James De La Vega, Saint Sebastien, NYC

Quotations from the Exhibition

(Following 23 quotations appear in spray paint, chalk, or partially removed tape, on the wooden panels)

Absolut Boricua

Absolut De La Vega

A Man Torn Between Two Women Will Eventually Lose Both Himself.

Become Your Dream.

Be Free, My Son, Be Free.

Music Of The Heart

A Highly Successful Person Is Very Likely To Have Developed Good A@*?Ë@E Skills.

Two Heads Are Better Than One.

In The Theater of Life, You Too Can Still Be Wrong.

Sometimes When You Are Right, You Can Still Be Wrong.

During Peaceful Moments Watch For Danger.

1:15 That Which Is Crooked Cannot Be Made Straight.

The Rich Control The Destiny Of The Poor, But An Intelligent Man Controls His Own.

The Last Supper.

If You Wish To Gain Much, Be Prepared To Sacrifice Much.

Fate Is Moving You Towards Your Destiny.

For As He Thinketh In His Heart, So Is He: 23:7

Your Body Speaks As Loudly As Your Mouth.

Many Of Us Are Helpless Sheep Amongst Ferocious Wolves.

The Game Of Capitalism Breeds Dishonest Men.

Remember, The Devil Was Once A Beautiful Angel.

Many Of Us Will Spend The Rest Of Our Lives Proving Ourselves Worthy And Acceptable To Others.

When You Understand The Nature Of The Thing, You Will Know What It Is capable Of.

(Following four quotations are on the floor in masking tape)

Much Was Decided Before You Were Born. The Future Is In Your Hands.

You Can Sell Your Soul And Not Even Know It.

Recognize Destructive Patterns That Ruin Your Relationships.

Life Destroys Weak Relationships.

(Following fifteen quotations are readable in the documentary photographs)

Better Things Will Come Your Way.

Try Going A Whole Day Without Looking In A Mirror. (mirror is written inverted).

A Man Can Be Rejected A Hundred Times And Still End Up On Top.

The Things That Happen To You Now Often Make Sense Later.

Para Las Madres Que Suffren Por Sus Hijos.

A Moment Of Pleasure Can Become A Lifetime Of Pain.

Money Makes The World Go Round Wrong.

Keep A Watchful Eye Over Yourself. The Things You Do Your Children See.

Your Thumbs Are More Important Than You Think.

Enjoy Each Day As If It Were Your Last.

His Pleasure May Be Her Pain.

Sexually Provocative Women Become Merely Flesh In The Eyes Of Men.

Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last.

I Don't Want to Die But I'm Tired Of Living.

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