CHARLOTTE — For the second year, college basketball’s Jumpman Invitational will extend its reach into the art community, through the featured exhibit “Art with Air.”
The work created this year was inspired by the theme, “The Evolution of Basketball.”
Asheville artists Mitch Capps and “XCVI” were among those commissioned to create an original piece. Both are Helene survivors.
XCVI lost years of work following the flood that devastated the area’s art district.
“There wasn’t sadness on that day,” he said.
“It was shock, but there was so much love and community immediately and throughout this entire process.”
For months, “X” couldn’t bring himself to paint, until recently when invited to create an original piece for the Charlotte-area exhibit.
“I wanted it to be hard and I wanted a challenge,” he said. His creation featured a series of basketballs illustrating the sport’s history.
“I needed an escape from all that’s going on here,” X added. “All the things that are changing, going great. I wanted something to absorb myself into.”
Fellow artist Mitch Capps began creating weeks after Hurricane Helene. One piece featured a battered window repurposed from storm debris.
“It’s just really, really cool seeing what’s growing from what was the rubble,” he said.
As part of his “Art with Air” submission, Capps played into the fashion of sport, etching his signature doodling style on five different sneakers.
“For me, it’s incredibly validating because there was a ton of imposter syndrome surrounding me exploring and promoting my art career, moving back to Asheville after the flood,” he said. “It’s confirmed OK I’m here. I belong here and it just feels good.”
VIDEO: Jumpman Invitational 2023: Day 1
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