| We gratefully thank the Manchester Arts Commission and the Manchester Cultural District for their generous $1,500 grant supporting this event. |
| The UR Community Cares Graffiti Battle is more than an event; it’s a living, breathing celebration of creativity, culture, and community. This year’s lineup of artists brings together an extraordinary mix of backgrounds, mediums, and lived experiences, each offering a unique lens on the world around us. From spray paint to oil, murals to mixed media, every artist adds depth to an experience where art truly comes to life before your eyes. Among them are creators who see the world differently, like a camera-focused content creator capturing the energy of the moment, reminding us that art isn’t just made, it’s witnessed. Others, like Kern Bruce, bring an international perspective, using mixed media and digital art to explore identity, resilience, and the African diaspora. His work bridges fine art and cultural storytelling, grounding the event in both history and contemporary relevance. Street art energy is alive and well through artists like Aspie, known for his iconic ghost imagery, and Shmontray Jacquett Williams, whose work blends street art, design, and cultural narrative to create powerful expressions of Black identity and lived experience. Their work transforms public spaces into platforms for truth and connection. Artists like Joey Batts carry the rhythm of the community into their work, bridging music, education, and activism. His long-standing commitment to Hartford’s creative and social landscape reflects the deeper purpose behind the Graffiti Battle: art as a force for good. Similarly, Samuel Ferri brings humor and imagination through comics and large-scale creative projects, showing that art can be both playful and profound. Many artists in this year’s lineup have found healing and purpose through their craft. Carin Bernard, for example, turned to art as a way to navigate personal loss and now uses her work to inspire peace and creativity in others. Others, like Amanda “Peep”, channel nature and mindfulness into intricate mandala designs that invite reflection and calm. The event also highlights the powerful connection between art and everyday life. Tattoo artists, educators, and small business owners, including creators from studios like Dragon’s Den and Wildwood Tattoos, bring their skills from the studio to the canvas. Artists such as Caitlynn Abdow Velasquez and Shannon Starvish blend fine art with tattoo culture, creating work that is both personal and widely accessible. Emerging and multidisciplinary artists like AKS push boundaries by combining photography, psychology, and mixed media to explore texture, energy, and identity, while also uplifting other creatives through community-driven platforms. Meanwhile, muralists and educators continue to shape the next generation, using art as a tool for empowerment, self-expression, and connection. |
| What makes this event truly special is not just the talent, but the diversity of voices. From a blind, retired art teacher exploring pottery and tactile art forms, to illustrators like Leonardo “LaGonza” Gonzalez creating imaginative creature designs, each artist represents a different way of experiencing and interpreting the world. Together, these artists embody the spirit of the Graffiti Battle: creative freedom, community connection, and storytelling without limits. As they paint live, share their process, and engage with the audience, they remind us that art is not just something to observe, it’s something to feel, question, and be inspired by. Come, witness the moment when blank canvases transform into powerful expressions, and see how every artist, in their own way, brings the community closer together. |
| Hope to see you there, Michelle Puzzo, Executive Director 860-430-4557 info@urcommunitycares.org |
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