Jose – Consumer Graffiti Artist
Ever since he was a young boy, Jose Cruz dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player like his idol Roberto Clemente. Born in Puerto Rico, Jose and his family moved to the US when he was a young boy, where he grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He was the youngest of three children being raised by a single mother. Life was hard, and resisting the pressures of gangs and drugs became increasingly difficult as he got older. Jose knew that baseball was his only way out, and through practice and dedication, he landed an offer from the Mets for after High School. Unfortunately, Jose never graduated. Falling into the wrong crowd, and making a series of bad decisions, Jose found himself in prison. After two further stints in prison, he was released, only to discover that he was HIV positive and was infected with Hepatitis C.
Since then, Jose has been in and out of hospitals and is no longer able to work. He knew he needed help, and that is what he found at SUS, where he enrolled in SUS’ Transitional Housing Program for People Living With AIDS (PLWA). Jose still struggles with acceptance, but is regularly attending group therapy sessions, is diligent about his health and making doctors appoints and has found extra support in his peer counselor, Janet. He realizes that there is still life. “I may be sick, but I have to look forward, I’m not dead yet. SUS has taught me to learn to live with the disease and to continue to do things that make me positive and strong, like my artwork,” he says.
One thing that Jose loved to do was graffiti art. In the 70’s, he got into street graffiti writing, and kept a “Black Book” of all his artwork, competing with other artists in his neighborhood to see whose writings were the best (burners). In prison his graffiti writing kept him hopeful and positive. He developed a method of airbrushing using a hallowed out bic pen and sharpie markers. Using his own breath to spray the ink makes for more precise, straighter lines than the traditional airbrushing machines. This method takes a little bit longer, but Jose finds that doing it by hand is more rewarding, and produces better results. Jose now creates custom pieces for rappers, DJ’s and their crews, friends and family, using t-shirts, pants, hats and canvas as his mediums.
Jose will be moving into his own studio apartment this week with the help of SUS. His biggest dream is to help get the message across to at risk children to “stay away from drugs, stay in school and work hard to achieve your dreams.” He hopes that his art sales will continue to grow. Eventually, he would like to write and publish his story. Thanks to the support he has found at SUS, Jose now looks forward to the opportunities ahead.
