Q. What can your Cleveland art teach non-Clevelanders about the city?
A. It shows about community. I grew up as a black man in the '60s during the riots, social change. I want to show what life was then and now — the color, rhythm and rock 'n' roll. We're the rock 'n' roll capital. Everything we do, be it social or music, we do with flair. That's what I want to show.
Q. After your piece My Home Town was viewed as racially stereotypical in 2007, did you change how you work?
A.That piece is now my most famous. It's what gave me recognition, and it was because of that [racial] issue. It turned out to be a blessing. I still work that way because that's the world I knew. I didn't mean it to be racial. I painted what I felt growing up.
Q. What can we expect to see during your exhibit at the Artist Archives?
A.Four of my different series are going to be shown: my Rodney King collection, my erotic art collection, my urban street themes that I'm most known for and some 3D mixed media sculptures. I don't usually do sculptures, but I have friends who do, so I was able to get help and try them out myself.
