Local artists represented Lorain at 2024 NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis

LORAIN — Twenty years ago, Hector Garcia was sneaking out at night, New York City a canvas for his stolen spray paint cans. It was taboo then, he said, not seen as artistic when the young Brooklyn teen put paint to bridges and walls at 3 a.m. "Graffiti was something (for) me to escape the everyday struggles that we would face living in a neighborhood like I did where there was gangs, drugs, the crime rate was high," he said. "You'll see a lot of things in the neighborhood that are kind of depressing — you'll see junkies on the side of the street, prostitution, so graffiti was definitely something that took me out of that element." Garcia continued his work as a graffiti artist even after an arrest and community service sentence at 15 years old. After joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001, he kept a sketchbook during two tours in Iraq and several humanitarian deployments in his 11 years in the Corps. But now, that same style Garcia began perfecting at 10, 11, 12 years old is what earned a place at the NBA All-Star Game weekend of events in Indianapolis earlier this month. Garcia; alongside Darius Winborn, co-founder of the Grind League; Reinaldo Contreras, owner of Relic Clothing 3; and several others from Lorain made the trip to Indianapolis through an invitation Winborn received from the Hoopbus. The Hoopbus, based in Venice, California, is a nonprofit aimed at bringing basketball and other activities to communities. It visited Lorain during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game activities. Winborn was the official Hoopbus DJ for the weekend's events, while Garcia's artwork was shown at Woodruff Place Baptist Church, where a refurbished basketball court was unveiled to the public. "It's just a testament to what happens when community comes together," Winborn said. 'You meet people who served nationally, now they're serving locally and they're continuing to service. That's what the Grind League is all about." Garcia's artwork will be shipped back to Woodruff Place Baptist Church to hang on display, he said. He is also working on pieces for several athletes thanks to the connections made at All-Star weekend. Garcia and Winborn first worked together on the Oakwood Park basketball court mural, which saw artist Zer Million — who works with the Hoopbus and specializes in basketball court murals — come to the International City to help design and paint the court. After the 18-month project, including painting at night and in the rain, volunteers unveiled the court in September. And it graced Garcia's sweatshirt during the All-Star events this year, with the back of his hoodie listing the main artists involved in the work. While not a Lorain native, Garcia considers the International City home and was quick to represent it in Indianapolis Feb. 16-18. "Everything we do, it's representing the community, it's representing Lorain County. When people would ask us where we're from, we're like 'Lorain, look, look,'" Garcia said, pointing to the image of the Oakwood Park court on his chest. He wants to continue to bring that hip-hop and graffiti culture to Lorain, he said, highlighting The Grind League is not just about sports, but also for kids in the city who want to be artistic. "We've got a lot of thriving talent in the city of Lorain and I'm hoping that this art form and what the Grind League is doing and what we were able to do during All-Star week can help give life to the city of Lorain and Lorain County," he said. Winborn agreed. "This is art, this is community and it's flavor," Winborn said. "The Grind League is like the most positive realm of hip-hop you're going to get. This is graffiti in its most positive free form." The Grind League is a nonprofit hosting an annual cultural community fest, Community Togetherness Fest, and a FIBA-endorsed 3x3 basketball tournament. For more information on the group, including sponsorship opportunities, visit thegrindleague.org or grindleague3x3 on Instagram. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.