THE STORY OF CHICO
By Dana Cannon
As a child, Antonio Garcia, also known as Chico, was just a regular boy growing up on the Lower East Side in a New York public housing complex. In Building 920, on the 14th floor, apartment E, at the age of 7, Antonio began to draw on his mother’s white walls.
The graffiti artist known as Chico. (photo by Dana Cannon)
Chico’s mother was not a big fan of such scribble scrabble and so she encouraged Chico to draw on paper instead. “In the beginning she didn’t really support me in drawing; she rather me read a book, but as time passed she didn’t have a choice, she ended up supporting my work,” said Chico.
More than 30 years later Chico is still pursuing his life long passion. Since the late 70’s and early 80’s Chico was known as a writer. Throughout his teen years he would tag up New York City trains and buses.
Chico saw his earlier work, such as tagging or writing on trains and buses, as a rebellion. He yearned to be recognized for his talent. However as time passed on Chico matured and branched out to become the amazing graffiti muralist he is today.
VIDEO: MEET THE ARTIST
If Chico was not painting the streets of New York, he was absorbing as much knowledge as possible at museums. “Michaelangelo and Pablo Picasso were some of my influences. I wanted to learn the history of art and learn where my gift came from.”
When tagging and writing was no longer on Chico’s agenda, he began to use his talent in a more productive way. He’d paint murals for families who have lost someone dear to them in death. Soon after restaurants and local stores, throughout Alphabet City, would insist on Chico doing a painting of their services, either on the side of the store or in front.
In 2003 Chico painted a huge mural of the late Celia Cruz, a famous Cuban singer. Vibrant colors such as orange, purple, red, and royal blue accentuated the painting. He drew her holding a microphone and her singing her heart out.
He painted a mural of solo Mexican artist, Selena. He captured her beauty. He drew her long black hair, with a white blouse and her famous red lipstick.
Most of the painted advertisements’ for small and big businesses were done by Chico. He painted murals of pets for animal hospitals around Alphabet City. One of his recent art work, he was hired to paint children of all ethnic groups on the side of a daycare center on fourth street and Avenue D. And for a bar on Houston Street and Avenue A, he painted a colorful mural of the famous band, KISS.
Assistant Professor of Sociology Gregory J. Snyder of Baruch College and author of Graffiti Lives explains, “Chico is a small part of this huge culture of graffiti art; however no one can deny his talent and skills.”
Along with famous graffiti writers and artist such as, The Tats Crew, Twist, and Steve Powers, Chico has continued to give graffiti a good name. “Those individuals and many more have turned their once illegal street skills into a professional career,” Snyder said.
In 2008 “graffiti is still a significant part of New York culture,” Snyder said. “There are some companies that use graffiti artist in their commercials and advertisements; 25 years ago people saw this form of expression as vandalism but now it’s accepted,” he said.
For this reason Chico is still accepted and recognized as a great asset to the community. Chico differentiates himself from graffiti vandalism, “I am a good graffiti muralist. When people vandalize and mess up other peoples art work, I believe the police should get them off the street. I am all it.”
Next year Chico will move to Florida. He cannot take his pieces of art with him but the love still remains. “It hurts. I feel bad because this is has been my legacy for so many years.”
“The neighborhood is drastically changing and they are erasing my paintings, it’s sad but it’s a fact. Instead they are putting up advertisements, things that are not uplifting or sending a positive message to our future generation,” Chico said.
He involves some of the youth in the neighborhood to help him on certain painting jobs. On certain murals it may have Chico’s famous signature, but under it may have two other people’s name, showing they helped with the finished product.
Recently on his lunch break, Chico took a group of 25 elementary school girls around Avenue D and C to show them the difference between graffiti art and vandalism. He explained to them the messages he tries to express whenever he draws.
Sometimes, depending on the job and his limit to be expressive, he will write: “STAY IN SCHOOL, SAY NO TO DRUGS, and THE FUTURE IS YOURS,” things that unite and send positive messages to the youth.