“The “DOC SPORT CLUB” is a show that houses new and imaginative art pieces all exploring the culture and symbolism within college basketball. Through the use of multiple mediums, the artwork explores the narrative of NCAA basketball and its relationship to money and student athletes. Each piece taps into sports through the lens of pop culture and raises questions about the way the public views success, why we play, and how money is used to leverage engagement of both the fans and players.”
Artist Statement
"I've made basketball my life's passion and i'm thankful to have made a career out of my love for the game. My work has focused on illustrating views from both the players and fans perspectives in an open and authentic way. I hope to provide a narrative that educates and inspires."
“BALL HARDER”
42” x 36” ///// Neon Light
Seeing your name in lights isn’t the end goal, it’s just the beginning. One's legacy is established over time. Legacy is created by what the people who learn from you, go on to teach others. Here, "Ball Harder" is used as a mantra to keep driving oneself towards a timeless legacy. It's a reminder that there is always more work to be done and that success isn't achieved via a singular act.
“STASH BOX”
“STASH BOX” ///// 4’ x 3’ x 3’ Acrylic Shoe Box
Somewhere between dreams and reality, sports in this country took on a conversation centered around money when people discovered that sports can be hugely profitable as entertainment. This 'Stash Box' is a physical representation of the texture and reality of materialism in sports entertainment. Big contracts and the human desire to live a life of luxury are examined as the gateway to that. But before you are ever able to entertain those conversations, the stash box lives as a visual representation of the ebb and flow of life- and the money invested in young athletes to play the game they love.
“ASHY TO CLASSY” ///// 30” x 50” LED Light Box
Biggie Smalls is often memorialized as one of the greatest rappers of all time. His autobiographical confessions paint pictures of a poor kid making it out the hood and build up to elaborate tales of riches and and his arrival as a star. In illustrating a stereotypical means of escape, Biggie once said "Either you're slinging crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot." Often times, these are presented as the only options for young people of color. This particular lyrical reference is explored in this piece by asking the question: Is basketball, in fact, the only way out? What happens when basketball is no longer a game, but a means to an end?
“HUSTLERS”
“HUSTLERS” ///// Installation 6’ x 6”
The NCAA’s use of amateurism has been referred to as the biggest hustle in sports. Who has control? The cycle begins with young boys and girls being recruited for high school basketball, then they're studied closely while attending "basketball camps" and eventually they're recruited by 'sharks.' While their families may have ambivalent feelings about it, both the parents and kids are pawned by the schools to further their own ambitions and fatten their pocketbooks. Is college basketball really about the game, or is it a business? Can they co-exist in a mutually beneficial way?.
“AMATEUR NIGHT”
///// Giclee print on 100% cotton archival paper
- 30” x 30” Framed
The basketball business is a large one. Here it takes on a metaphorical approach, housed in a "NCAA" neighborhood bodega.
Players are the commodity. Lottery stubs are a ticket to a better life. Soda and beer posters represent the promise of future endorsement deals for professional athletes. Get lured into the store, which is always open, and see what special offers are dangled in front of you.
“FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP”
///// Giclee print on 100% cotton archival paper
- 30” x 30” framed
The Fab 5 from Michigan challenged what was once age-old basketball gospel that a team can’t win with 5 newcomer starters. Yet, with their finesse, unique style and drive-they revolutionized college basketball and its dress code. Their cultural impact penetrated the NCAA’s bottom line. And as their appeal as "star student athletes" gained momentum, the collegiate sports industry recognized just how lucrative the Fab 5 could become. The Fab 5’s first year, 1991, marked the beginning of a seven-year, $1 billion mega-deal between CBS and the NCAA that gave the network the rights to broadcast every game in the tournament. TV networks and apparel manufacturers were setting up to earn billions, the players — including the Fab 5 — were however learning a harsh lesson about who wasn’t eligible for a cut of the windfall profits basketball was generating. As “game-changers," they sparked conversation about paying "student athletes"-- a topic that has since been debated internationally.
“MONEY BALL”
///// Multi media installation - 42” x 72”
Do you remember the first time you picked up a basketball? Was it under the glow of a lamp post? Under the stark lights of a gym? Were you alone? Amongst classmates? Many of us grew up playing basketball because it was accessible. For others, it was and still is a tool for escape—literally and figuratively. Sometimes, it's presented as the only option for young people to leave their bleak living environments. Under the lure of stardom and better living, material gain often replaces the love of the game. This piece is symbolic of being blessed with natural ability while duly cursed with its present-day burdens.
“REPARATIONS”
///// Mixed media - 6” x 6” x 12”
One's life and struggle to 'maintain' while still remaining a student athlete can often be minimized by a glossy display. But, can we pay students with more than just respect and glory? Should we?
“THE FAMILY”
///// 9’ x 9” Vinyl Wallpaper
CURATED BY @CRUZIIIE - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2019 ®