According to Redlands artist Duan Kellum, the social, political and environmental themes addressed in his work are a direct result of his interest in domestic and international politics and current events.
“I try to highlight themes that call to me,” he said. “Many pieces are a reaction. Others are commentary. My art reflects my view of the world.”
Kellum described himself as always having been creative. When he was young, he would build and modify his own bicycles.
“I was always creating stuff,” he said. “I always loved to draw, paint, carve and construct.”
Cartoons were a big influence for Kellum, who liked how they operate on different levels. “Calvin and Hobbes” remains his favorite. Kellum said that he still has a series of comics he created when he was about 10 years old called “Space Guy.”
While taking art classes in junior high, high school and college, Kellum marveled at the work of friends and classmates. He didn’t believe his own work was as refined, so he dismissed his talents.
“I never thought about being an artist,” he said. “It just wasn’t in my plans. But I have always had ideas but didn’t know how to get them out. So at one point I decided that my ideas deserved to have a visual outlet. I decided to be serious and put the time in to start to hone my art skills.”
Kellum received an associate degree in liberal arts from San Bernardino Valley College before transferring to Cal State Northridge, where he completed a bachelor’s in political science. He also earned a teaching credential at Chapman University and a master’s in interdisciplinary studies at Cal State San Bernardino.
“I also studied Spanish in Guadalajara, Mexico and Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” he said.
Kellum is primarily a screen printer. Although he prints a number of his designs on T-shirts, he does most of his work on paper, wood and fabric. He also likes to do editorial cartoons.
“I try to create pieces that touch on both the emotional and intellectual,” he said. “My goal is to get the viewer to have a reaction when they see a piece. As an artist I am always trying to grow. There is so much for me to still learn.”
When Kellum was a student at Valley College in 1989, he came up with an idea for creating shirts with sayings and messages but didn’t understand how to make it a reality. Skool Boiz, a community-centric business that does screen printing with groups and organizations to help them realize their vision, is the organization that would result from that concept in 2003.
Over time Skool Boiz has morphed from being simply a brand of shirts with images and messages into a call to action that Kellum said is “Wear Your Voice. Create Change.”
“Art can be a tool for healing,” Kellum said. “Sometimes we don’t have the words to express an emotion or idea, but with art one can communicate whatever they think or feel without saying a word. Art is voice. Art is a vehicle for transmitting what’s in our hearts and minds.”
Kellum is proud of the work he has done as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. He painted his first mural on Hollywood Boulevard for the All Black Lives Matter/PRIDE event. He also worked with local artist Yulisa Mendoza and The Artlands in Redlands in creating a storefront with posters of work they both created.
“The posters were sold and all the proceeds went to various nonprofits addressing issues of racial justice and COVID-19,” he said.
Kellum has been a teacher at Redlands East Valley High School since 2003. He teaches ethnic studies and English language development. He previously taught elementary school for 11 years. Along with Jay McCrary, Kellum is co-owner of a studio space in downtown San Bernardino called Creative Grounds.
Information: skoolboiz.com or @SkoolBoiz on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Also @duan_and_only on Instagram for Kellum’s work not tied to Skool Boiz.
Patrick Brien is executive director of the Riverside Arts Council
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Social issues inspire Redlands artist, teacher - Press-Enterprise
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