William (WillFlo) G. Flores-Diaz
Director of Community Engagement and Founder of South Central Arts
Los Angeles, CA
WillFlo is a writer from South Central LA with deep seeded roots from El Salvador. WillFlo is passionate about writing and believes in the power of words. He understands the importance of storytelling. Thanks to this path of life, his poetry is an expression of his own life and due to his beliefs in social justice and inclusivity, he makes an intentional effort to make sure that it relates to most by using general ideas and tries to use gender-neutral pronouns as much as possible.
Eric "King CRE-8" Walker
Lead Artist Mentor
Los Angeles, CA
Eric " KING CREATE" Walker has been doing art 40 strong years and has continued to do art on the scene making a difference, helping others through art as therapy. In the early 80's In L.A. Cre8 made a name for myself in the art form called "Style Writing" but commonly known as "Street Art" or "Graffiti Art", He has exhibited his masterpieces in the Pasadena USC Pacific Asia Museum, California African American Museum, ESMOA, LACMA, MOCA & the GETTY Museum Research Institute permanent collection to name a few. As a commercial Artist, He worked for clients including McDonalds, Nike, General Motors, Mars candy, Dodge & many more. His canvases have appeared in music videos for Mya and Ginuwine and films such as Friday after next and Anchorman. His creative diversity embraces many styles for almost anyone and is truly a force to be reckoned with.
Eric "KING CREATE" Walker ha estado haciendo arte durante 40 años y ha continuado haciendo arte en la escena haciendo una diferencia, ayudando a otros a través del arte como terapia. A principios de los 80, In LA Cre8 me hice un nombre en la forma de arte llamada "Style Writing", pero comúnmente conocida como "Street Art" o "Graffiti Art". Ha exhibido sus obras maestras en el Museo de Pasadena USC Pacific Asia, California African American Museum, ESMOA, LACMA, MOCA y la colección permanente del GETTY Museum Research Institute, por nombrar algunos. Como artista comercial, trabajó para clientes como McDonalds, Nike, General Motors, Mars Candy, Dodge y muchos más. Sus lienzos han aparecido en videos musicales para Mya y Ginuwine y películas como Friday after next y Anchorman. Su diversidad creativa abarca muchos estilos para casi cualquier persona y es realmente una fuerza a tener en cuenta.
"Meuz" Erica Montelongo
Artist Mentor
South Central, Los Angeles, CA
Erica Montelongo is an artist based in South Central, Los Angeles. She is an artist in residency at IPR Artz, an art based collective, and the Creative Arts Coordinator at Youth Justice Coalition. The mediums she works with are acrylics, aerosol paint and silk screening. She first started her journey in art through stencil workshops for youth with IPR Artz. Her journey has led her to painting and arts for the past 3 years in her community, and local projects assisting lead artist’s as well as working on her own projects. She is self taught but has also taken silk screening, painting and drawing classes at Los Angeles Trade Tech. She is currently continuing her artistic education to become an art educator. Her art focuses on her community, indigenous black and brown people and their struggles. While highlighting culture, knowledge and liberation.
Erica Montelongo es una artista que vive en South Central, Los Ángeles. Es artista en residencia en IPR Artz, un colectivo basado en el arte, y coordinadora de artes creativas en Youth Justice Coalition. Los medios con los que trabaja son acrílicos, pintura en aerosol y serigrafía. Comenzó su viaje en el arte a través de talleres de estarcido para jóvenes con IPR Artz. Su viaje la ha llevado a la pintura y las artes durante los últimos 3 años en su comunidad, y a proyectos locales que ayudan a los artistas principales y también a trabajar en sus propios proyectos. Es autodidacta, pero también ha tomado clases de serigrafía, pintura y dibujo en Los Angeles Trade Tech. Actualmente continúa su educación artística para convertirse en educadora de arte. Su arte se enfoca en su comunidad, los indígenas negros y morenos y sus luchas. Al tiempo que destaca la cultura, el conocimiento y la liberación.
Notik
Artist Mentor
South Central, Los Angeles, CA
Notik has been painting for over 14 years and was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Notik paints to project a positive message and help beautify neighborhoods through his art. Notik has worked with LAUSD campuses and Private clients such as San Pedro Elementary School, Dirtdogin Los Angeles, CA (restaurant), The Wall in Orange, CA (bar/restaurant) among other projects. Notik believes working with youth is a great way to promote creativity and direct them towards more positive thoughts and also self-esteem. Through art we can reflect what is being taught to us as kids, encouraging curiosity and creativity is part of learning and growing and it is so important to keep that fire burning in young South Central Artists.
Notik ha estado pintando durante más de 14 años y nació y se crió en el centro sur de Los Ángeles. Notik pinta para proyectar un mensaje positivo y ayudar a embellecer los vecindarios a través de su arte. Notik ha trabajado con campus de LAUSD y clientes privados como San Pedro Elementary School, Dirtdog en Los Ángeles, CA (restaurante), The Wall en Orange, CA (bar / restaurante) entre otros proyectos. Notik cree que trabajar con los jóvenes es una excelente manera de promover la creatividad y dirigirlos hacia pensamientos más positivos y también hacia la autoestima. A través del arte podemos reflejar lo que se nos enseña de niños, fomentar la curiosidad y la creatividad es parte del aprendizaje y el crecimiento y es muy importante mantener ese fuego encendido en los jóvenes artistas de South Central.