U-Gene-ous
By DreMiraIt all started with a “Little Engine That Could” mural for a friend who was expecting a child. From there, as I sat with our featured artist of the month, U-Gene, I realized that he may not be sure who he is quite yet but a journey started two years ago after moving from Raleigh here to Wilmington as a painter of canvas, faux finishing and mural art is not only defining him, but impacting the lives of those he paints for.
Originally from Brooklyn, NY he draws inspiration from simple things like sitting on the stoop of his Brownstone that has been in his family since the 1930’s and the sights and sounds of his neighborhood. Living in downtown Wilmington he says for the “spirit of things” and the parts of it that remind him of “the city”; New York of course, he holds dear to him a deep sense of appreciation for family, importance of your roots, and the quintessential search for what makes us all who we are.
His mediums are many ranging from oils and canvas as far as the eye can see in his apartment, to writing and music and quotes such as the one he hit me with while we were talking, telling me that he thought it up just a day or so ago “A mirror reflects what one expects to see – how can one expect to see what isn’t?” I don’t know about you, but that caught my attention. A couple other things that caught my attention about U-Gene were that he is a simple guy that gets along with everyone and is easy going. He knows that fame and fortune can be gone in an instant and tells me that as long as he has essentials – food, shelter, and yes, a car to get around in, that’s all he really needs. “So be it if I don’t make any money…I have conquered my dream. Not a lot of people can even say that. It is very difficult to find someone that truly loves and is passionate about what they do these days.” I can see it in his eyes that he truly believes these words and his passion is simply that – art, in any form of expression and he is very good at it.
What was your first artist notion?
“When I was 9 years old, I used to study stamps and that started a general love for art but being able to originate it and reproduce it.”
What is your greatest achievement as an artist?
“My relation to others as it relates to what is in my head. Being able to express myself” He did just that with a mural for a hotel that was 8’ by 50’ of an Italian Veranda. Being the type of artist he is, the best way to describe it is that when someone asks him what he hears when the rain falls, he simply says, “here, let me paint it for you.”
What was the moment that shaped your career as an artist?
“It all started with the Count Floyd character from the old TV show called SCTV that a friend reproduced on canvas and my first thought was I always wanted a painting of that and I decided you just need to get up and do what you want.”
Do you identify with any particular artists?
“No. As an artist, you are on your own creatively. When you look at an artist from the 1800’s can you truly identify with that era? You need to tap into the era you live within.”
Who are your 5 Favorite artists?
”Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimpt, Andy Warhol, Hokusai and the Marx Brothers.”
With his simplistic nature, I had to ask do you own an iPod?
“I recently graduated on the influence of my older brother to a CD Walkman…all things in due time.”
As we wrapped up our time together, some of his closing thoughts parallel mine. “The ladder you climb to success – everyone you see coming down, remembers you so don’t make them mad on the way up.” In this writer’s opinion, there is no chance of this guy making anyone mad, but instead perhaps a masterpiece.
