‘I thought it would be funny if Smokey Bear was actually a pothead.’ Meet Smokey Contraband
You may have seen him somewhere on the streets of the Queen City.
A Smokey Bear sticker on a sign in South End, a bear face spray painted on the sidewalks of NoDa, maybe the wheatpaste of Smokey Bear in a vintage suit leaning against the Pawn Shop sign in Plaza Midwood.
He’s watching you, Charlotte, and this Smokey Bear wants you to light some fires.
Meet Smokey Contraband, the street artist behind these images:
How did you get into street art?
“It’s been five years since I started. Growing up, I had friends who did graffiti and started tagging. I created Smokey and then saw the documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop” (about street artist Banksy). It opened my eyes and showed me I needed to do more art.”
Why Smokey Bear? What is your message?
“It was a ‘highdea.’ I was always an artist and I’ve always done graphic design and drawn a lot. After high school, I finished my first semester at The Art Institute of Charlotte but I dropped out.
“I started smoking marijuana and the name Smokey came to me. I thought it would be funny if Smokey Bear was actually a pothead. He’s saying not to burn trees, but he’s burning trees.
“Really it’s more trying to send a message to have (marijuana) legalized and decriminalized.”
How do you create Smokey?
“I create it on my computer and then I print out poster-sized prints with my graphic. I cut each out, then I roll them up for when I’m ready (to) go out and have a good time. Where I put it is never planned.”
What do you think of the street art scene in Charlotte?
“People are getting their art up more, but Charlotte is too strict. They won’t allow anything … They clean it up so quick.
“I would like more people to get out there and do their own art, but not like Bart (The Bart Bandit). It wasn’t original … I don’t like that.”
Have you ever gotten caught?
“I have not been caught, and I hope to not be caught.”
Any future plans?
“Making more graphics, making new stickers, more clothes. I’m still going to put up street art in Charlotte. I don’t care what people say, but I’m going to do it in a good way, not like the Bart Bandit.”
Photos by Brittany Smith.
This story was originally published June 3, 2015 at 1:25 AM with the headline "‘I thought it would be funny if Smokey Bear was actually a pothead.’ Meet Smokey Contraband."