Name: Justice Whitaker

Age: 29

Hometown: Arroyo Grande, CA

Current Location: Brooklyn NY

What does Five.12 Collective stand for?

Five.12 is a small collective of international artists that believe art can be used as a tool for expanding people’s understandings of the world. Art is a tool that has infinite impact, through  image, film, song, and many other things – global change may occur, community change may occur or personal change may occur. Five + one + Two = Eight. When written in numerical form ‘8’ is the same image used in mathematics to indicate infinity. Thus Five.12 represents the infinite potential of art in the world, and the artists in the community.

When I first met you, you described your pieces as found art. Why is that?

John Coltrane described his later music, after he kicked the drugs, as the word of God speaking through his brass. That’s what A Love Supreme is all about. I see myself in the same way – as a vessel through which the stories and experiences of the earth and all her inhabitants can be heard.  My art is interpretations of stories and experiences I have encountered. None of my photographs are staged or directed, it’s documentary photography in a way. The images are beautiful things that I have found.  Every frame, every piece of wood, every dresser drawer and cabinet door is harvested from the streets of New York – and other places depending on where I am working.

What inspires you to create?

So many things. The beauty of the natural earth always inspires me to document. Trees, sunsets, sunrises, textures in dirt or a blade of grass is inspirational. The struggle and impact of the human race can never go undocumented. This is where there are whole series of life begins. From the sex workers in developing nations, images of food distributions for malnourished children in Africa, to graffiti and murals from Brazil, South Africa, and right here in NYC. I am always inspired. My eye is a camera lens, and I can’t stop shooting images.

How did you start your career?

 I remember taking pictures in the Sequoia National Park at age 5. I was also in a Breakdancing Group with my dad and older brother around the same time, so its fair to say the arts of various nature has been in my blood since day one, but my career as it stands today came mostly from my decision to study film at NYU for my undergrad. I ended up taking two or three photography courses.  I teach both film and photography to HS students in Brooklyn, and I am always working on film projects as part of my work with Five.12 Collective. I started developing the found art pieces as a means of satisfying my hunger for self expression.

Where have you traveled and what exciting images have you captured?

I try to document images and not capture them, just as a small token to the folklore of capturing souls through photography. I try not to steal souls. I have been to almost 40 countries. My parents traveled, and as a child I would read their travel journals on the family bookshelf. I spent three out of seven semesters at NYU living in Africa, first Johannesburg then later Ghana. In both places I traveled extensively to neighboring nations and have seen many incredible images.

Where do you hope to find some of your pieces hanging one day?

Everywhere.  I know the royalty and chief’s and presidents of Fiji all need to have wall sized pieces in their homes and offices. Because I plan to buy an island from them and put a free art institute there, I’ll need their support in every way possible. (smiles) But in order to get to that stage I really want to get gallery representation. It would help if there was a piece hanging in the office of my art agent. Eventually, I believe that my work is on the level, and deserves a place in major museums, Brooklyn Museum, International Center of Photography, Studio Museum Harlem, Guggenhiem, MoMa – all that…

Who is your biggest fan and who is your biggest inspiration?

I get my inspiration from my brother. In a competitive sense. He is also a visual artist on the other coast, and I feel in some ways we are on a race to the top. We don’t collaborate often because of the geographical distance and I think he sees his young brother as trying to ride his style.  He has a competitive mindset in some ways. Plus he’s just a dope artist. Then of course I get my inspiration from history. I want to be remembered after I die. I’m not sure if all people feel that way and that’s a common human emotion or if that’s all ego talking – but I want to remembered for my art after I die. Anytime I see a story of anyone who has past, from Jack Johnson to Basquiat, I am inspired to create a legacy. My fanbase is pretty small and scattered, and hard to track these days.

Can custom designs be created?

Yes. I work with other people’s images. Other people’s photographs, I have examples of different styles of work. Mosaics, collages, and straight forward images on found objects, with or without fixtures. I can use digital images or originals, Some people just push a shoe box across the table and say work your magic. Others don’t want their originals damaged, so I can scan them.  I like custom orders – I like the challenge.

What’s your favorite medium?

35mm Photography, Ilford high contrast B&W film, Cabinet Door with Vintage Fixture, Gloss Gel Medium, SuperGlaze 2 part Epoxy…

 Describe your usual work day.

I get up at 8am almost everyday. I like to get my digital work, emails and business in early while my mind is fresh. I like to do any film editing work in the mornings as well.  One day a week I do Yoga – when its in the budget. I also handle any errands, and photo printing in the mornings until around noon or 1pm. Because I ride my bike everywhere, this is also when I am harvesting new found objects. At any stage in my day I may pull over to a stack of furniture and wood, and break off a dresser drawer front or cabinet door and ride with it tucked under my arm for the rest of the morning. 3 days a week I teach from 2-4pm and when I get back I usually enter studio time.

Favorite color?

Black with Red and Green to wear.  I like vibrant southwest style bright blues, greens and purples when I am putting colors into my work.

Favorite work food?

Gin with Ginger Beer and Orange Juice.

What’s the next step for Justice and what’s the next step for Five.12?

The answer is the same for both: We need to crack the manhole cover and climb out from the underground, We have several short films that are in the final stages of completion.  For my artwork I am just trying to get it up and off the street. So continuing to get small gallery shows, and hanging my work in restaurants until I can start getting the work into the hands of some serious art dealers. I also have a book I am hoping to complete by Summer 2011.

Kia Chenelle