Halloween is just around the corner, which means spooky season is alive and well at NOT REAL ART. To get listeners into the spirit, we’ve got another episode of Art World Horror Stories on deck this week. If you missed last week’s episode with muralist Amandalynn, head there now to hear about her terrifying fall from high-rise scaffolding and the slow but steady recovery process that followed. 

On today’s episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with longtime friend and close collaborator Man One to discuss the graffiti artist’s disastrous mural project for the Center for Disease Control (CDC). “This is one of those stories where it just keeps getting worse and worse and worse,” says Man One, an LA-based illustrator, curator, and entrepreneur who’s been an active member of the art world for 20 years. “I'm going to forewarn you, this horror story gets worse!”

From racial slurs and defamation to vandalism and cease and desist letters, the project was plagued by obstacles from the start. “Every single day, some old person would stop by, yell at us, flip us off,” Man One says. “This [was] the least threatening mural that I have ever done in my life, and [I was] getting the most flak that I've ever received!” The project’s concept? A fun, colorful mural promoting the benefits of exercise and play for children in the neighborhood. “The first thing [this experience] did was open my eyes, not to be so naive about coming into a community [with a mural] and thinking that people are going to be on board just because it's a positive message.”

Today’s episode is peppered with unexpected surprises and a few life lessons from Man One himself. “Expect the unexpected,” he says. “As an artist, I always have to be aware that there's something that I'm not aware of. There's the unknown. There's something that I'm not seeing, but I’ve got to keep my ears and eyes open so that, when it shows up, I can address it, whatever it may be.” 

With more twists and turns than an M. Night Shyamalan film, Man One’s horror story is one for the books. Tune into today’s episode for a dose of art-world dread. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The brief: a fun, high-visibility mural project promoting physical activity for kids.
• Cue the red flags, starting with getting permission from members of a gated community.
• The trouble that arose, even after the project had gotten the go-ahead.
• Racial slurs, cease and desist letters, defamatory newsletters, and more!
• Vandalism that took place just when Man One thought it couldn’t get any worse.
• The insane lengths that those opposed to the mural went to (even suing the CDC!)
• Why Man One goes straight to the hood now when asked to find a wall for a project.
• Reflecting on the power of art to bring people together but also to divide.
• Lessons that Man One took away from this experience and how it impacted his practice.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/art-world-horror-stories-man-one