Artist Profile: Jon Booker

Born in sunny Southern California in 1977, Jon first began drawing when he was four. His father a very talented musician, opened his ears to music, which became his first passion. His uncle, Paul Booker, inspired Jon with his art. Paul experimented with a variety of artistic techniques, everything from photography, water colors, oils, to experimental abstract painting. Towards his later years Paul began an experiment with enamels which ultimately influenced Jon's life. Jon used this motivation from his uncle and created a new style based off what he observed. His uncle's artistic exploration ended with arranged statements and expressions of color, Jon's exploration is just beginning.

His foregrounds contain a variety of mediums that both titillate and tantalize the eye with the stark differences of his sustained intensity and brilliant color schemes. This has been known as his "Release Technique." Jon developed another passion, travel. His mother re-married and then relocated his sister and himself to a small, but affluent town in Israel, outside of Tel Aviv. He attended an exclusive school that began to invest time and interest in his drawings, while his family began to respect his unique skill. Jon also began traveling to the Middle East and Europe, seeing some of the world's most historic and beautiful artwork and museums. Each of these places held another fascinating type of art which furthered his artistic exploration, Graffiti.

After returning to the US , Jon spent the next ten years moving from San Francisco to Seattle and then New York. During this time he was exposed to a variety of spray can art. This form of cultural expression and art deeply affected the way Jon used to see his uncle's canvases. Jon felt it was necessary to mix his passion for abstract art with his new passion for graffiti, and then let both collide together in an abstract thought process on either wood or canvas. The early nineties found Jon a new identity, Slie. Now with a knowledge of letters and color from studying graffiti and a developed abstract thought process from his abstract paintings, Jon is very happy to share his art. Jon currently resides in Austin TX.

Accomplishments:

Gold Key Winner in Highest Art Competition in Lubbock

Have hosted artwork in Buddy Holly Art Center & the Lubbock Art Trail

Fortunate to be apart of Emerge Urban Art show and Aerossault

Website: www.jonbookerart.com

Artist Profile: Cody Seigmund

Born in Taylor, Texas, this artist quickly called Austin home. For the past 17 years Cody's main focus has been large scale murals in many styles from traditional hip hop inspired street Graffiti to
skateboarding industry fueled logos, caricatures and letterforms. His art reflects the freedom and peace found in skateboarding, cycling, music, love, life and laughter.

Artist Profile - MESANGER

Over the next few weeks we are going to be profiling the artists who will be taking part in the Balcones Burner Bash competition.

Artist Profile - MESANGER
MESANGER started "serious" graffiti painting in 1997 in west Texas. After a four year run in the desert, he moved to Austin. In an effort to broaden his artistic horizons, he became a member of Austin's local hip hop group, MSG crew. Over the next five years he made many connections in the art and music scene through his work with the MSG crew. These connections allowed MESANGER to expand his art to include more formal settings, like gallery shows and organized music events. MESANGER has been fully immersed in the urban art world. His work has appeared in venues coast to coast, and he is committed to promoting Austin's hip hop scene. He has had the opportunity to paint along side some of the most accomplished artists in the Texas graffiti art world, and he has shared the stage with some of underground hip hop's biggest names. Through all of his experiences in the underground music and art scenes, he gives back to the community through sound and sight as the MESANGER.