Artist Alley (Interview)

Interview by Mark Neuenschwander

This was probably one of the coolest moments I’ve had in Joplin. We pulled Joplin Ave table #37 into the alley, sat 5 guys around it, and had an amazing conversation about the art that surrounded us in that very spot.

Termed “artist alley” (yes, super original we know) by someone at some point, this alley is host to bursts of color, thousands of bottle caps configured into murals, wall-art RIP memorials to a beloved bar bar employee, and graffiti from the most talented spray-can handlers in town. In the middle of dumpsters and broken glass is a whole lot of unexpected beauty.

We conducted our interview in the middle of a paint day for some of the guys, who were finishing up a wall they’d started before winter set in. Dozens of spray paint cans surrounded us, 90s hip hop set the tone, and some Carmine’s pizza relaxed our stomachs as we sat just a few yards from the restaurants’ back door.

We talked about the origins and effects of art in this alley, and about graffiti, community, tips for young artists, thoughts on photos of their work, and much more.

Here’s the transcript from our time.