I was busily tending to the last of my beer when I overheard one gallery-hopper say to her friend, “the coolest stuff is always in the basement”. I couldn’t agree more. My second first Friday at Pitch was coming to a close; it had been a good show (they always are). Ever since I had found out about the Pitch Media Gallery, I knew that I wanted my work to be hanging there right next to such diverse artists as Marwen El Hicheri, Shelly DeBlase, and Marty Matthews. With an ‘anything-goes-as-long-as-it’s-good’ attitude, Pitch boasts an impressive array of style and technique with one aesthetically unifying quality: being different from what you’re probably used to. Equal parts art gallery and raw space, the site has been host to poetry readings, performance art, and other forms of cultural spectacle, distinguishing it even further from places like your uppity wine-and-cheese joint and your local craft store’s “customer’s creations corners”. You certainly won’t find lighthouses, country barns, or happy little trees in here.

Finding Pitch is deceptively difficult. It isn’t like 14 B Glenwood Ave. is clearly visible from the street. Located in one of the many basement areas of the Carter Gallery Complex, you can find the outside entrance by walking down a loading ramp on the left side of the Carter Building parking lot. And once you’re there take note—you’ll be back next month. In order to find Raleigh’s creative underground, one truly must search underground.

As I was getting ready for an urban photo shoot with a wonderful Raleigh based model - Melinda Ann - in downtown Raleigh, I noticed some graffiti under the bridge right by the train tracks. I quickly made the decision to go check it out. I was happily surprised to discover some beautiful artwork on the columns and walls of an overpass. I grabbed my camera and went all the way down the twisted path to the tracks and started shooting.

Looking at this artwork, I couldn’t help but think back to the cave dwellers, the history of graffiti, and how the Hip Hop movement brought this art form back to life in the 20th century. I felt the need to write a little piece about these artist outlaws and the risk they take to express themselves; the risk of being punished by law enforcement because their talent is considered illegal, and the serious health risks and dangers of long term exposure to spray paint. Many artists have lost their lives to cancers and other lethal diseases due to the paint fumes that they inhaled over the years.

To those artists, I say “keep creating; keep doing what you do best and stay safe.” To the reader, enjoy the few shots that I took and keep supporting the artists.

Peace.

Not too long ago, I was hanging out at a little wine bar, Niche, in Holly Springs with another artist friend of mine, Shelley DeBlase. She introduced me to an aquaintance of hers, by the name of Darryl. Darryl and I started conversing about art when he tells me that his son, Brandon, is also an artist and had an upcoming show at the Beehive Gallery at Father and Son. Being curious and wanting to see his work for myself, I stopped by to check out his show. I had no idea what to expect, but what I saw exceeded my expectations.

Hoop and Stick, the brain-child of Brandon Spence, is a collage artist. Originally from New Hampshire, he’s somewhat of a nomad. He’s currently studying, if that’s what you’d like to call it, at NC State. His work is absolutely amazing and has a clever, nostalgic feel to it as if created in the 30s and 40s. His technique is flawless. You can compare this cat to an Exacto-knife wielding ninja. His attention to detail and the separation between images is transcending. His collages flow like a painting, which is no easy feat. The part I find most impressive is that not only do each of his pieces serve as part of quite a collection, but each work has the ability to stand alone as well. Hoop is getting his collage army suited up to advance deeper into downtown Raleigh.

You can check out more of Brandon’s work at Pitch Media Gallery, or at Taste on Dixie Trail in Raleigh. He also has a website, Hoop and Stick, where you can buy hoodies and shit.

Being naturally creative, Melinda’s interest in the arts began at a very young age. She became involved in the local modeling industry, modeled for several well-known photographers, and was published in several magazines. She takes her work very seriously. Melinda caught the photography bug first from her mother—who was an excellent photographer—and also from being around fellow artists. Going behind the camera was the obvious next step after spending so much time in front of it.

Melinda has a talent for capturing moments that are timeless. She notices important details that others might find irrelevant, and those details are what differentiates art from a point and shoot photo. She gets very enthusiastic about the spur-of-the-moment road trip, and those on the spot photo shoots work to her advantage. Recently, she started showing her black and white photography at Pitch Gallery on Glenwood Ave.

When you combine persistence, talent, and that certain je ne sais quoi about her, you quickly create some of the most beautiful and intriguing photographs I have ever come across. I am delighted to get this chance to write my little piece about her, and I would also like to thank her for sharing her craft and talent with us. I look forward to seeing more of her work.