Canvas - Hahau Yisrael

Story and photos by Rachel Bardin

The street artist’s heart pumps paint fumes and adrenaline. Despite having long quit the practice of graffiti, Hahau Yisrael remembers well the constant fear of getting caught compounding the pressure to complete a noteworthy piece.

“I stepped away from doing illegal pieces because I have a lot at stake,” says Yisrael, 21.

Looking at his body of work, one can see how urban culture still influences the New York City-born, Jacksonville-raised artist.
Unconventional and bold illustrative styles are clear themes in Yisrael’s work, which has been shown at Cafe Eleven and the now closed Needful Thingz. He often mixes media – combining spray paint, inks, charcoal and acrylics. “Pretty much anything I can get my hands on,” he says.

A Graphic Design major at Flagler College, he finds himself exploring a variety of art forms, including music. His creations can be found on an assortment of surfaces, including skateboards, surfboards, tile, wood, and t-shirts.

Although he hesitates to get sucked into a world of materialism, fashion is an interest for Yisrael. At the Harvest of Hope Festival and the recent Big Trunk Show, Yisrael was in the Rosa Loves booth, live screen printing on t-shirts. He was also a partner in Notti Clothing until he took a break to focus on his final year at school.

In the spring of 2010, Yisrael will graduate and go into a notoriously competitive field. Having his own design firm is one of Yisrael’s long-term goals. “I couldn’t see myself being anything other than a graphic designer,” he says.

The other major part of Yisrael’s vision for the future is giving back to the community. Seeing school art programs being cut fuels his hopes to one day participate in a center that exposes young people to art. He learned how positive an impact art has on people’s lives during his time volunteering at the Sulzbacher Center in Jacksonville. He views public spaces as vital to fostering creativity and believes they are something missing from the St. Augustine art scene. To him, it is a scene that is surprisingly lacking in public art.

“I would imagine that there would be a lot more street art here in St. Augustine, just because the amount of artists that are here and I’d think they would be a lot more expressive,” says Yisrael. “But I’d be highly against if someone were to vandalize a historical building.”

Yisrael is truly immersed in the heart of the oldest city. He lives in Lincolnville and tows tourists behind a bicycle downtown for his job as a pedicab. Even with a few deficiencies, St. Augustine is a town that Yisrael has grown to love.

“We have so many creative people and so much talent,” he says. “The biggest thing about St. Augustine that keeps people here is the people.”

But will that be enough to keep such a multi-talented creator here once he finishes school? Perhaps one of the tragedies of St. Augustine is that so many of its talents come and go, finding no way to support themselves.

“I’d like to stay but I’ve got loans I’ve got to pay back and St. Augustine doesn’t look too promising as far as jobs,” he says. “So, I’m going to go where ever I can find a job.”