As you walk across 126th street and Amsterdam, you come across the Triple Candie gallery. The gallery is in the center of the block and can only be found if you know the location. On September 10th, it was a hidden passageway to democracy and peace. The Triple Candie flourished with people that came from all over to hear about Brett Cook Dizney’s life and message. Brett is a man that illustrates astonishing work with only a meager spray paint can. He takes many different fine strokes and orchestrates them into a masterpiece, combining various colors and shading to inflict depth into his work. The work shines luminously to the eye and touches your heart with a message. The artwork is so real that it jumps out at you. His artwork speaks for itself and tells a message that touches on pressing social issues and common personal problems.

All the people that came to the seminar were treated with drinks and organic foods, such as plantains and rice. People were conversing over their waiting for the seminar to start. Then, Brett came out and began to speak about his empowering art.

Brett talked about his art and how it is political and social, also about his theories revolving around art, such as, if we grieve at society’s problems, we can find a way to solve problems. Democracy and peace was his theme, and he based his seminar on how they co-exist with his work and the world. Then, he began a slideshow showing past works of his and giving the background of his life. Then how his work is done was covered, without permission and therefore illegal.

Brett told what he goes through and how his work is accomplished. The audience took all his work seriously and he said that all his pieces are research projects. He told stories about different pieces that he had done in the past. One story he told was about an illegal piece done in San Francisco. Not only did he have to watch out for the cops, but also he was in a neighborhood that had a lot of gang-related problems. Brett rolled a white background over the gang tags that were on the wall and displayed his piece over the background, which was a picture of the two clashing gangs -- the Bloods and the Crips. In regards to this piece, he said, "when you consider the community exceptionally, they’ll respect your piece.” He was right because the piece was left untouched. After he was done with his slide show, he invited everyone back to his studio for more food and to interact with his art.

Two interviews were conducted one with Brett's manager and then Brett.

Name: Debbie Sealy
Age: 34
Residence: London
Occupation: Management
1) Do you think there is a difference with the art of Brett Cook Dizney?
There is really a difference. Everyone has different eyes. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

2) Through his artwork, how has Brett changed your perception of art?
When I saw Brett’s work for the very first time, I was struck by the color and realness. It was almost as if his paintings could jump off the canvas and walk around.

3) What is your interpretation of the quote "Be the change you want to see"?
I guess that would start within us, where we will be able to see a greater change.

Name: Brett Cook Dizney
Age?
Residence: Newark?
Occupation: Artist

1) What motivates you to do what you do?
Part of it is trying to make myself a better person and, by doing so, making the world a better place.

2) Has there been any particular place in which you found yourself to be "restrained" because of your ideas?
I’ve had trouble once here in New York, but there’s not just one place. Trouble is different everywhere I go.

3) What advice would you give to those would-be artists that would like to emulate your style?

I think they should concentrate on things that they care about and love. It’s hard in this world to do what we love. I do what I care about. It’s not out of selfishness that people should do what they care about. It should just be done with passion

From all his illegal work you might imagine that Brett is an ignorant vandal who is just spreading his name around the city. Well, you could, but you would be quite wrong. Brett is quite the intellectual man. He graduated from Berkley and has taught about any subject you can name. We think he really is a man who should be looked upon as a great source of inspiration. Brett doesn’t even sign his work for fame. He could have become wealthy with his credentials, but he chose not to. He chose to give himself a voice and do what he is passionate about, which is painting. Brett went out and followed Gandhi’s words to "be the change that you want to see." We think he is truly miraculous and more people should work to be like him.