Covenant News

CHIC: Graffiti Art Interprets Message of Healing

KNOXVILLE, TN (July 19) - As speakers captured the attention of students inside the Thompson-Boling Arena at CHIC 2006 Tuesday evening, artist Chris Allen was quietly at work developing a message of his own.

When he was done Tuesday evening, he had completed a graffiti piece of artwork using the word "healer," which coincided with and complemented Tuesday evening's focus on Jesus: No Ordinary Healer. (See separate story on the evening speakers and the healing focus elsewhere in this online news report).

Allen said he had a general idea of what he wanted to with the artwork, but allowed the finished design to evolve over the two nights. Each of those evenings, teenagers and counselors would walk up to him and discuss his work. Others would stop to take pictures. And during Tuesday evening's worship service, periodically the large screens in the arena would show Allen at work on his scaffolding.

Allen, 28, began doing "urban abstract art" when he was 15 years old. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he travels the country performing his work, sometimes giving visual representation to a speaker's message and words.

He has done pieces for Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis. One of the week's speakers, Efrem Smith, is that congregation's pastor.

Allen, who operates Inkproof Design Company, works on canvases, murals, business logo designs, tattoo designs, and CD cover work. He has worked with rap artists for the Mars candy company.

To see more of Allen's work, visit his website at Graffiti Art.

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