#jordanhamilton

Mural making. Not exactly what one thinks about when deciding between after school programs. But after speaking with Jordan Hamilton -- a Minneapolis muralist, painter and sculptor -- I know I would jump at the chance to learn both artistic and life skills beside other young artists.

Jordan, thoughtful and candid, says his path to self-defined artist was a “natural progression.” The son of visual artists, he grew up making many different types of art. “There was no one point where I just started doing art,” says Jordan.

Jordan Hamilton, man of many talents.

While a lot of kids may have grown up doing art but stopping once art classes were no longer required or cut entirely, Jordan never stopped.

Jordan had his first exposure to the medium in high school through a program in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis with Hope Community, a local community development organization.

Jordan, now a lead artist and project facilitator with Hope’s Power of Vision program, knows how influential the program can be for participants.

“Hope Community influenced me in a big way,” says Jordan. “I learned the process of how to build something from the beginning with a whole group working collaboratively and having input from everyone involved.”

At a time when budgets for school-based arts programs are microscopic to nonexistent, programs like Power of Vision and artist educators like Jordan are incredibly important to developing the artists and leaders of tomorrow. POV introduces kids and teens to the power of art and self-expression by letting them immerse themselves in the mural-making process. Not only are the youth exposed to a new form of art, they also get to interact closely with community leaders like Jordan, seeing first-hand that someone can take their passion and make it their living.

Jordan, Power of Vision participants, and community members celebrate the unveiling of the Power of Vision mural. **Photo Copyright Bruce Silcox Photographer**

So, murals. We see them and marvel at them – but do we really appreciate the work, thought, discussion and collaboration that goes into them? Talking to Jordan about the mural making revealed that the process was not as simple as “one, two, paint.” With so many people involved, there is a lot of discussion that goes into each mural. And not just about what is going up on the walls.

“We talk about our own lives, our interests, our personal goals. On a larger scale, we talk about our community and issues within it. We talk about ideas and solutions. We just begin to have a dialogue about current things going on that dictate the direction of the themes for our mural project.”

And that’s just the beginning. Before the paint hits the wall, there are more meetings, discussions, and even drawing exercises and ice breakers. All of this thought and planning seeks to answer the question “how do we develop this theme and communicate it visually?” This last question is one that might not cross our minds when gazing at a mural, simply because we can feel its meaning perhaps before we can put it into words. It’s interesting -- putting it into words is just what Jordan hopes to do. In a sense, his art is a form of conversation. It takes ideas and issues and translates them to a canvas for others to see and interpret and then turn around and talk about. The whole process turns issues into ideas, into words, into art, into words, into ideas, into solutions.

Return to the River, acrylic on canvas.

So what is the role of artists in social change? Jordan’s opinion on the matter reveals someone who truly believes in the power of his work: “[The role of artists is to] make an effort and an intention to work with our communities, to involve the community in some sense in the work, to share with those around me, to better my environment and my surroundings. I think about trying to tie in themes and ideas and visuals that people around me can connect with and think about. [Art] should be something thought provoking, relevant to what’s going on in our communities, so as to spark a dialogue.”

“If it’s doing that, it’s doing something right.”

Amen to that.

Hamilton’s sculpture, Being; replanted, from the We Exist Exhibition at Intermedia Arts **Photo credit: Intermedia Arts**

Jordan Hamilton is a true renaissance man. At once a muralist, teacher, sculptor, painter and organizer, he continually seeks to engage with other mediums to explore new forms of expression.

Check out Jordan’s work with Hope Community as well as his other work in sculpting, live painting, and design on his website, Tumblr, and blog.

Also check out: Jordan Hamilton and Andres Guzman Live Painting Timelapse

You've always been there for me.

Even when I've screwed up. 

And I know you will always be there for me. 

Even though I still screw up lots.

And I just wanna say,

That I'm way lucky to have a father like you.