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Off the Wall: Keith Haring and the (Indiana) Kids, Pt. 2

by Analú Maria López

Analú Maria López

CISA crew interview with Traz Juarez, Hector “ROOSTERONE” Marin and Omar “OMS” Marin, pictured with Martin Creed, Work No. 1351, 2012. MCA Chicago

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

About

If you read our previous post about Keith Haring, back in 1989 Haring visited Chicago for the first time to collaborate on a massive mural project with CPS students, a project that was funded by the MCA. While he was in Chicago, he also took some time to hang out with Indiana graffiti artists that now make up the group known as CISA.

What was only supposed to be a quick “hello” before three teens from Indiana attended the Chicago Art Expo turned into an unforgettable experience with Haring. This experience left them with priceless memories and an amazing Keith Haring private collection that no one has seen until now.

I sat down on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the MCA with members of CISA (only three of the five met Haring) to talk about and record their memories of meeting Haring as he worked on this mural project in Grant Park.

Images

Hector “ROOSTERONE” Marin, Traz Juarez, Omar “OMS” Marin. Work included: Martin Creed, Work No. 1351, 2012, Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The Pritzker Traubert Visionary Art Acquisition Fund, 2013.2.

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Close-up of sweatshirt with Keith Haring tag

Photo: Armando Rene Silva
Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Traz Juarez, Omar “OMS” Marin, Felix “FLEX” Maldonado surrounded by Keith Haring personal collection

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Close-up of Keith Haring tag on table top vinyl cover

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Hector “ROOSTERONE” Marin, Traz Juarez, Omar “OMS” Marin

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Hector “ROOSTERONE” Marin

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Omar “OMS” Marin

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Ish Muhammad

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Close-up of Keith Haring pendant on tagged sweatshirt

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Omar “OMS” Marin holding up the blackbook Keith Haring tagged “OMS” inside of along with an image of them posing with Haring when he painted the mural in 1989

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Traz Juarez holding blackbook Keith Haring tagged inside

Photo: Armando Rene Silva

Traz Juarez holding a personalized hat with Keith Haring tag

Photo: Armando Rene Silva