Honolulu Weekly

groundUP Pirates / Creating art should be a limitless process. At least, that’s Noa Laporga’s philosophy. He’s pioneer–or maybe more appropriately “captain”–of the groundUP Pirates, a Honolulu-founded group of independent artists of all categories and spheres.

“You should do it the way you want,” he says. “No restrictions, no boundaries, no rules.”

It all began eight years ago when Laporga built an empire, literally, from the ground up: painting on trash, playing music at house parties and collaborating with friends who all shared the same passion and drive for creativity. Over time, his commitment to creating art in diverse ways grew locally, and virtually, to the point that there were hundreds of self-identified “pirates” in multiple cities and regions.

Locally, the group specializes in live art, transforming how art is presented because the audience gets to see the process of how something is created. After several years of discouragement from some contemporary galleries, many mainstream curators now request groundUP Pirates for appearances. Fusing together different genres of art including music, graffiti, tattoo, large-scale paintings, fashion and photography, the groundUP Pirates are tearing down the lines of separation, re-defining local art as well as influencing art scenes across the globe.

“Art is unpredictable,” Laporga says. “All I can hope for is to continue showcasing talented, unique artists without compromising groundUP’s integrity.”

A commitment to integrity has led Laporga to turn down some tempting opportunities, like an offer to be on a television program on the A&E channel–which he says he worried might misrepresent the movement. His commitment to grassroots art is so deep that it’s tattooed to his body: a large tattoo around his neck reads, “Skulls in Crowns.”

“The skulls represent being dead to mainstream,” he says. “And when an artist can do what they want to do–without conforming–and get recognition for it, they are kings in my eyes, hence the crowns.”

The pirates are gearing up to showcase their talent, mostly with live painting, at the Chinatown club/gallery Nextdoor tonight. It represents a rare appearance for the crew, who Laporga says avoids venues where club-goers may not be focused primarily on art.

“People go there not for the art itself, but to get drunk and meet chicks,” he says. “It takes away from the beauty of the art.”

The exception, he says, is that club-owner Chris Kahunahana is a friend, and called in a favor (not to mention the chance to create art alongside hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc: See page 11 for more). Artists who will be making appearances include Pancho Abalos, who specializes in urban, lowbrow art, tattoo artist Dodge Distad and Laporga himself.

“My main goal is to just have fun,” he says. “I’m not trying to make it big or anything. It’s all about the process of creation and seeing artists do what they love to do.”