Rahmaan "Statik" Barnes, 30

It’s illegal to sell spray paint in Chicago. Where did you buy all those cans?
Let’s just say there are individuals who sell it here. You just have to have the right phone number.

What’s the story behind your name?
Rahmaan means “the beneficent” in Arabic. I was raised a Muslim on the South Side, which made me an outcast. Going to public school, it was weird around Christmas when teachers would have us make decorations. I played along, but I couldn’t relate.

Tell me about the piece you’re working on.
It’s titled Graffro, like graffiti Afro. It’s inspired by black hair magazines, because I love watching hair stylists do crazy shit with black women’s hair.

How long have you been doing street art?
Fifteen years. I did some of my first work over here at an old-school Chicago grease joint called Johnny’s Snack Shop owned by an old Greek guy. Barely spoke English, made a good chicken sandwich. So I’m back, doing this ten-year retrospective here at the Silver Room until January 5 of 2011. I also got a mural project going on off of 81st and Stony Island. It’s a tribute to exotic black women and technology. As a public artist, I’ve done over 200 murals for, like, Chicago Public Art Group and After School Matters.

Do other street artists think you’re a sellout because you do paid work?
To graffiti artists, I’m too much of a fine artist. To the fine art scene, I’m too much of a graffiti artist. I’m in this weird purgatory. But what’s a superhero without a nemesis? Batman isn’t Batman without the Joker.

Is Mayor Daley’s Graffiti Blasters your nemesis?
I respect that they have a job to do, but I have to say, if you’re a graffiti writer in this town, bomb stuff to make those guys’ jobs hard. Get up high so they need a cherry picker. Make them work for their money.

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