The Beat of Urban Art / Justin Bua

Justin Bua creates cool art. His wiggly–armed D.J. intently scratches vinyl on a turntable, head and shoulder wedging in place a set of headphones that he is too cool to wear, while surrounded by the tools of his trade. In another painting, two bald, shirtless basketball players on a city playground rise into the air as the backboard and pole snake ever upward towards surrounding tenement buildings. In the background, a third player stands by in awe, mouth agape, Afro Pick at attention in his hair, while their earthbound buddies are a study in attitude. In "1981," a breakdancer spins on his shoulders, Adidas–clad feet in the air–a collection of characters from the uptown 'hood circling him to marvel at his amazing moves.