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by Nichelle Henry
Brooklyn Daily
He may not be on par with the world-famous Banksy yet, but one Brooklyn artist is aiming to raise the level of “street art” in the borough with a positive message and a catchy tag.
The artist — who goes by the nomme de spray-can “The Real Mr. Love” — is known across Southern Brooklyn for his signature logo, which replaces the O in “Love” with a peace sign and the V with a red heart.
Mr. Love’s work was first spotted last year in Marine Park along Avenue S, where he wrote “Believe in Love” above an existing mural. Other messages he has left across Sheepshead bay and Gravesend include “Love Knows No Limits,” “Love heals,” and “Love is Patient, Love is Kind.”
“I think people definitely take something positive from it,” Mr. Love said.
Many people may see Mr. Love’s work as petty vandalism, but others agree with the artist that it’s an uplifting addition to neighborhood decor.
“What can I say, it’s a positive thing,” said Alvo Alleva Jr., who owns a building on Avenue U tagged with the message “Love Heals.” “I’m not going to call and complain about it.”
Alleva said that graffiti is a problem in the neighborhood, but that the “Love” tag is definitely an upgrade over the usual fare.
“You usually get a bunch of squiggly lines and initials, which is just filth,” said Alleva. “Of all the graffiti I’ve had, that’s the only one that had any meaning to it.”
Mr. Love agrees with Alleva’s low opinion of most “street art,” and even said that he dislikes graffiti.
“I think it’s pointless to go around risking getting arrested writing something meaningless,” he said. “I love the medium. I love the idea of spray painting or wheatpasting something to a wall for the entire world to see, but I hate what 95 percent of ‘graffiti artists’ choose to share through that medium.”
Mr. Love, who cites Brooklyn-born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat as his biggest influence, said painting came naturally to him, but he didn’t pursue it at first.
“I’ve been painting forever, I don’t think you can get into it, I think your born into it,” he said. “It’s just a matter of how much you choose to embrace it, and as a kid I didn’t so much. I wanted to be an athlete, not a painter, but I thank God now that I’m certain about what I want.”
While most of Mr. Love’s street art has been painted over, he also paints canvases for purchase. In fact, he’ll have pieces on sale at an Apr. 6 event held in some other borough at a bar called Manhattan Proper. Proceeds will go to fund art programs for children.
The Real Mr. Love also takes commissions at therealmrlove@gmail.com.