Durell Baxter

Well, this is my story and I'm not going to bore you with a complicated and unnecessary list of facts of how I came from there, and now I'm here. Just like any other young teen just starting out working at a job, I was impressionable, uninterested, and didn’t know if this was going to be a sure thing. Still, I was eager to start my very first job, and meet new friends at the same time. I found out about Groundswell from my mother telling me, "Since you're an artist, this organization could be what you’re looking for."

My first mural site was on Junction Boulevard, and the theme was preventing driving while intoxicated. The whole two months I spent painting - well it was more like goofing around and getting yelled at by the lead artists - I didn't take this job seriously because I thought it wasn’t what I was looking for. Until I started my third mural with Misha Tyutyunik. I helped paint a concept design of a painting with Carmen Sandiego's outline filled with historical elements that described SoHo from the 1600's to the present. During this process, I was on television for the first time, and believe me, I wish I was media trained back then because I thought I sounded like a dork when I later watched that clip on Fox 5 over and over again. I also met a famous artist, Jeff Koons and the hosts of Good Day New York, Greg Kelly and Rosanna Scotto, as well.

 

After that day, I thought to myself, this organization could be a gateway to enriching and rewarding opportunities that could present themselves to me at any time. Being televised was a message to show the world who I am, and what I plan to accomplish as an artist. Nothing can seem like a sure thing at first, but when you stay motivated, committed, and dedicated to a worthy cause because of the message you’re trying to get across, then you get to see that thing through. After a couple more murals, I started to contemplate if I should become an apprentice or an independent muralist. I got the idea from being inspired by artworks and walls done by Misha Tyutyunik and Jeff Henriquez. When the time comes to look to an important decision in my life, I can say, "Groundswell was my starting point."