TSS w Jaybo feat. Bagpainter Chris Crites - a podcast by The Shit Show w Jaybo

This is Chris's Artist Statement: Years ago I saw a book of black and white crime photographs from the 1940's. It amazed me. The characters and crime scenes were forbidden glimpses into the history of human interaction. Pictures meant only as statement of fact. The most intriguing of these images for me were the mug shots. Portraits of people who had just been caught. Despair, frustration, anger – so many expressions could be read on these faces. Often the real story has been lost, but once I see the face it is almost impossible not to wonder how this person ended up in front of a police photographer's camera.

History has always fascinated me. The majority of the images I base my paintings on are from the 1890's through 1950's. I find them in books, collect them from the Washington State Archives and friends send others my way. I try to bring new life to these practically discarded portraits of personal and criminal history.

The wrinkles, folds and texture of working with paper bag really appeal to me. In 1999 I painted the first four of my mug shots in acrylic on paper bag with a limited palette of five colors each. I felt like I was on to something and have continued this ongoing color experiment ever since.

Further episodes of TSS w Jaybo

Further podcasts by The Shit Show w Jaybo

Website of The Shit Show w Jaybo