NEW YORK – Joe Iurato captures children in a way that balances wonder and mischief. In his hands, kids are not entirely “The Bad Seed,” or complete sweetness and light. I saw his work for the first time at the Centre-Fuge Public Art project, which involved a meeting between a toddler-size boy and a bird, increasing my appreciation for both. They’re looking at each other a bit suspiciously, but more out of curiosity than malice.

Iurato’s pieces are small, spray-painted wood cutouts that often reference skateboarding, or art, or other interests he’s had throughout his life. Over the July 4th weekend I spotted one at the Bushwick Collective, on Troutman Street. A boy, his face in a downward gaze and hidden by a baseball cap, crouches down on the street.

He’s outlined so clearly and vividly in blacks, with such accurate shadowing, he looks like a still from an animated movie, like he would soon get up and flicker across the wall, a movie for passersby. And then there’s the action coming from a tiny spray can in his hand, out of which flow the words, “Never let go,” in blue spray paint.

He’s a little bit mischievous, as one might imagine his parents would not approve of his graffiti, but I bet they’d also impressed at his initiative. I wondered if the boy was a graffiti artist in training, if maybe one day he’ll not only be hanging out by the wall, but also creating pieces of his own.

#   #   #

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE