Some people make art because they enjoy it, some do it to unburden their soul, some people create because its the only thing that completes them, and some people are artists for all of those reasons and are consumed by it.  Life begins and ends with art.

I first met Reina 76 a few years back when Angela Messina was running a gallery called “The Meat Locker.”  Reina was wild and outrageous and her art was the manifestation of her entire existence.  Her pieces were bold and when she talked to me, she was passionate about her art, being surrounded by other artists, and their art as well.  She is still that way.

This is Reina 76 Artist on a rainy afternoon:

Biography:

Reina Ercilia Aguilar Wooden, known as “Reina 76 Artist” was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Sherman Wooden and Reina Aguilar. Reina 76 lived a life of both rural and metropolitan existences.

As a Graduate of Howard University, Washington DC, with a B.B.A in Business Management, it was presumed the path of business would be Reina 76’s future. It was not. For 10 years, Reina 76 labored to find her identity in her artistic goals as an artist.

Reina 76 was introduced to the paintings of Jean-Michael Basquiat in 2005. It was at this time, her artwork began to take form. Reina 76 left the business world to explore the eccentricities of life. This exposed her to domestic violence, substance abuse, incarceration and individuals viewed as subterranean in a perfect world.

Reina 76 paints for minds that bend in ways society cannot see; for the perceived insane.

Her artwork contains layers of acrylic color outlined with acrylic pen lines that are scribbled and imperfect. Reina 76’s work is shown in progressive art galleries.

This morning I had the pleasure of photographing the TIGI show held up at the Holiday Inn in Grantville, PA.  I love being around the people from TIGI.  They’re all motivated, beautiful, creative, and determined people and to be part of some of the things that they do is an honor.  I cannot express enough how lucky I am to shoot with them and learn from their team.  As some of you already know, my good friend, Eric Moon, is part of that team.  A huge THANK YOU! to him for giving me these opportunities.  Much love to you!

He’s my kind of dude. Jersey is rough around the edges, determined, hard working, and doesn’t mince words. His relationship with music and the industry is volatile yet rewarding. If you’ve seen a show at the Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg, you’ve definitely seen the fruits of his labor. This also includes certain shows at the Whitaker Center and occasional other venues.

When I met him a few weeks back we began by discussing Harrisburg in general and the music scene it harbors. It became very clear to me almost immediately that we were going to get along just swimmingly. We see this city in the same light:

Harrisburg is what you make of it.

It’s here. You just have to open your eyes. And it’s people like Jersey Mike who made it available to you.