Jef Campion : An Army Of One, 2012 Jef was a fire fighter by day and a street artist by night (army of one/jc2). It was impossible to walk the streets of New York City without coming across his street installation, Grenade Boy, a polarizing reinterpretation of a classic Diane Arbus image. When I arrived at his studio in Yonkers, he told me he wanted to leave me alone for an hour and if after that I still wanted to have a conversation he would be happy to oblige. As a photographer, the space was a dream. The easiest way to explain it was - there was just so much passion everywhere. I was overwhelmed and brimming with questions. When he returned, we began what would become a three hour conversation (my longest recorded session to date) about the transformative power of art. Jef explained that this work was born out of the rage unlocked by the tragic events of 9/11. We became friends after this session and when I was leaving for ArtPrize in 2013, he arrived at my apartment with six pieces for me to use in my installation. He wished me luck and called me periodically (always at the right moment) to remind me that my voice mattered. Jef passed away in January of 2014, leaving behind a choir of people who were inspired and transformed by knowing him. He was a gentle giant and a genius. I miss him. #everydaypeopleproject
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 22:33:35 +0000
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