Jak Burke: an artist who cares

Hell’s Kitchen/ Clinton, at one time was well known for the bohemian artists that made up the culture and fought for a better way of life. Today there is a scattering of artists mostly because of the high rents and lack of workspaces. The Hell’s Kitchen artist tours, Art for Healing and a splattering of galleries still exist but it is residents like Jak Burke who are the heart and soul of city.

Born in London, Jak is a pure New Yorker with a soft spot for Coney Island. Recently, she displayed her work at an anti-violence art show entitled, “Circus of the Soul,” sponsored by the Coney Island Coalition Against Violence and hosted by the New York Aquarium. Her show drew attention to the increasing deadly amount of gang activities in Coney Island. Mathylde Frontus (Founder of Urban Neighborhood Services and Co-chair of Coney Island Coalition Against Violence) recently stated, “As a long-time Coney Island resident who has personally witnessed the damaging effects of violence on the youth and families of our historically significant community, I applaud Circus of the Soul’s attempt to highlight the plight of every day urban youth who struggle to make the right decisions. Since our community coalition meeting on July 30th, a 13- year old boy in a wheelchair was shot. On Saturday July 31st, a 24 year old man was shot point blank at 3:15 in the afternoon, with residents ducking for cover. On the same day as our community peace walk, there was as shooting in front of Urban Neighborhood Services offices at 2am. Coney Island has officially become a war zone.”

Circus of the Soul, originally debuted in September at The Soho Gallery of Digital Art, 138 Sullivan Street. JAK commented, “I find my solo show series, Circus of the Soul, speaks not only to the gang crisis in Coney Island but also to the young children in South Los Angeles who have been experiencing greater levels of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than children living in Baghdad, Iraq. What is happening inside of our country? Urban violence does not go away. Without resolution, gang activities will spread until every NYC neighborhood is affected. Art and awareness can bring about change.”

The actual show is about, Buck Wabbit, a gangster who gets seduced into a life of crime. Jak has made it possible to interact with Buck on Twitter, Blogger and Facebook.

Jak has always been a community artist. As an activist, Jak is passionate about all forms of public art especially community art work. “I am inspired by everything I see. I have been politically aware since I was a teenager in Thatcher’s 1980’s Britain. I experienced urban decay and social unrest. London suburbs were wastelands during the 80’s.”

Jak’s art involves collecting stickers, graffiti, street art, and billboards on cheap digital cameras and then creating collages onto photographic landscapes with an overlay of cartoons. "I use poetry, headlines, menus, sound bites – anything – as my narrative", says Jak. "My protagonists are heroic and often tragic".

Jak's work has also been showcased at Headquarters’ Gallery, in Tribeca.

Jak is an example of why Hell’s Kitchen/ Clinton is alive and vibrant and why artists have always been the voice in the wilderness. Thankfully our wilderness has Jak.