Rif Raf Giraffe
Kansas City, MO
Email: rifrafgiraffe@gmail.com
Website: https://www.rifrafgiraffe.com/
Biographical Statement: Jason Harrington, known as Rif Raf Giraffe, is an American artist born and raised in Kansas City to parents of Lebanese and Irish descent. He attended Johnson County Community College before transferring to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he studied Painting and Film. Harrington lived in Chicago for a decade and produced much work there, including many short films and hosting many successful solo exhibitions before returning to his hometown in 2013. Since returning to Kansas City, he has painted murals extensively across not just this city, but around the country and across the globe in cities such as London, Barcelona, Akumal (Mexico), and Honolulu. Harrington went on to found the annual SpraySeeMO Mural Festival in 2017, and after years of production, the festival has helped turn the Crossroads Arts District into one of the largest and fastest-growing outdoor mural parks in the country while showcasing world-class muralists. Currently, Harrington is represented by Upper Level Gallery which specializes in street art and is managed by his wife and partner Ami Ayars. His personal work is strongly focused on telling narratives that promote identifiability through relatable characters and objects and by developing powerful compositions through vibrant expansion.
Artist's Statement: Painting, whether on a large wall or a small canvas, is my preferred form of visual communication and acts as a vehicle for sharing what I have learned. Murals, for their part as public artworks and therefore devoid of institutional ‘norms’, are the best way to share information and stories with the masses. The messages have always varied; anywhere from comedic to serious, to aesthetic pattern, to political commentary. Currently, my work revolves around the ideas of space and time as human constructs put in place to better understand the universe. Each piece is an exploration in planes of existence and a deeper dive into the worlds beyond our five senses. Imagining how these worlds intersect, and how they impact our lives in ways we may not understand. We are all just atoms held together and guided by gravity. We are impacted by the electromagnetic radiation produced by light, and subjected to the energetic pulls of the sun, moon, and stars. As we carry on in our daily lives we may only have a flash of deja-vu, or the feeling of chills down our spine to remind us of these things, but I believe these sensations are the guiding forces that dictate our experience. These ideas and the enduring questions they raise continue to be a driving force behind my work.
Experience Level: 10 years +
Project Preference: New Developments, Existing Developments, Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
What is your experience in the Public Arts: I have been a self-employed artist since 2016 and have 8 years of experience in planning, executing, and completing large-scale mural projects in a variety of settings. I have also worked with many types of people, such as property owners, tenants, construction crews, and city officials to bring projects to fruition as expected. During these 8 years, I have also honed my project management and community organizing skills which can be seen in the multiple group exhibitions, mini mural events, and full-blown mural festivals I have successfully put together and hosted.
Social Practice Artist: I can brighten up any indoor or outdoor space through murals painted on walls and other surfaces. I am also a GIPHY Arts creator and can design and implement that digital aspect into any project which boosts public engagement and can help in marketing and promotion.
Category: Mural, Digital
Location and Duration: Interior,Exterior,Permanent