Storage Container Mural by Chip Thomas

  Photos from Racheal Rios Interview with Chip, 2021 What got you started on your creative process/brought you to where you are now? I moved to Northern AZ in 1987 and set up a black and white darkroom shortly thereafter. For the next 22 years I spent time in the community photographing and having occasional […]

Chip Thomas, Colin Holmes, Racheal Rios & Monique Laraway, 2021

Photos from Racheal Rios

Interview with Chip, 2021

1. What got you started on your creative process/brought you to where you are now?

I moved to Northern AZ in 1987 and set up a black and white darkroom shortly thereafter. For the next 22 years I spent time in the community photographing and having occasional shows of that work. However, it didn’t feel complete in that the people in the photos weren’t seeing the work. A 3 month trip to Brazil in 2009 led to me spending time with street artists who introduced me to the large, wheat pasted photographs of JR which influenced the work I’m doing now. 

Chip Thomas Mural from jetsonorama.net

2. What brought you to BICAS, and/or inspired you to contribute the incredible wheat paste mural that went up recently?

I was invited by Kylie Walzak to do an installation at your original site in 2010. I returned in 2011 to install work as well. Then Colin Holmes invited me to do an installation there this year. 

Racheal Rios and Chip Thomas at BICAS, 2021. Photo from Racheal Rios

3. What are you working on right now?

Well, I’m working on a couple things. I just completed an installation at Fort Garland in the San Luis Valley on Native enslavement from 1492 to the late 1800s. As an extension of that I’m looking at doing an exhibition on the complex history of the Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed at Fort Garland for 3 years in the mid 1860s. They’re recognized and celebrated as Black American heroes but in truth they were freed enslaved people who were seeking acceptance into American society by participating in the settler-colonial narrative of fighting and killing Native people. In order for healing to begin we need to start there. 

Chip Thomas mural from jetsonorama.net

4. What is the best way to follow your work?

Hit me up at @jetsonorama on the (Insta)gram or follow my blog – jetsonorama.net. Peace.

Chip Thomas mural from jetsonorama.net

Chip and Racheal at BICAS, 2021, photo from Racheal Rios

Follow, support, and shop Chip’s work by visiting the above links. Thank you Chip for your work!

—

For questions, mural requests, media, metalworks commissions, information on our Annual Art Auction, workshop information, or parts requests, contact the BICAS Art Coordinator at art@bicas.org or 520.628.7950, or stop by the shop at 2001 N. 7th Ave during our open hours.

Find out more by following BICAS Art on Facebook, Instagram and on our Etsy shop!