On Episode 7 of the Cypress College Campus Podcast, Cypress College President Scott Thayer, Ed.D., interviews Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist Isaac “Dazer” Dazerok, founder of Pseudonym Collective. Isaac discusses his journey as an artist, the history and culture of graffiti, the evolution of West Coast letterform design, and the skills and identity developed through writing. Also, he shares his creative process and reflects on his recent collaboration with Cypress College administrators to create artwork celebrating the college’s 60th anniversary. 🔷-----------------------------------------Descriptive Transcript: Cypress College Campus Podcast: Episode 7[00:00] IntroductionVisual: The video opens with upbeat music and footage of the Cypress College Campus Podcast logo. Cypress College President Scott Thayer, Ed.D., introduces Episode 7 of the Cypress College Campus Podcast.Dr. Thayer: Welcomes listeners and introduces Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist Isaac Dazerok, founder of Pseudonym Collective.[01:30] Meet Isaac “Dazer” DazerokVisual: Isaac Dazerok joins Dr. Thayer for the conversation.Isaac Dazerok: Discusses growing up in Los Angeles, attending Los Angeles Unified School District schools, graduating from Crenshaw High School’s Gifted Magnet Program, and earning a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the Art Institute in Orange County in 2007.[03:17] Understanding GraffitiIsaac Dazerok: Explains different categories of graffiti, including civilian, political, wheat-paster, hobo, and hip-hop or urban-style writing. He discusses his focus on West Coast 1990s letterform design, which he describes as “letterphilia.”[05:13] From Street to StudioIsaac Dazerok: Discusses the community roots of graffiti in Los Angeles, adolescent identity formation, and how writing can develop character and critical problem-solving skills through real-world challenges.[07:53] Graffiti and Its Cultural ImpactIsaac Dazerok: Explores the stigma surrounding graffiti and how it has been portrayed in media, including exposés from the 1990s. He compares the evolution of graffiti styles, from tags and bubble or straight letters to wild style, with the process of academic scaffolding and refinement in a studio setting.[14:00] Commercial vs. Fine ArtDr. Thayer and Isaac Dazerok: Discuss the relationship between commercial and fine art, the thousands of hours required to master a craft, and the barriers street artists can face when entering mainstream art institutions.[18:53] The Creative ProcessIsaac Dazerok: Describes his process for developing artwork for a wall or canvas, including creating bold and memorable icons, applying basic marketing principles, using color theory, and incorporating painterly techniques.[24:32] Leaving Your MarkIsaac Dazerok: Reflects on humanity’s innate desire to communicate, “I am present, I exist, and I matter,” while discussing personal boundaries and ethics within writing culture.[28:53] Collaboration with Cypress CollegeVisual: The conversation shifts to Isaac’s recent collaboration with Cypress College.Isaac Dazerok: Discusses serving as the guest artist for the Cypress College summer management team retreat, where administrators worked together to create a canvas artifact celebrating the college’s 60th anniversary. He praises the faculty and managers who participated in the retreat for their open-mindedness, willingness to try something new, and enthusiasm for learning spray-paint techniques as a team-building activity.[34:02] The Meaning of “We Take This Journey Together”Dr. Thayer and Isaac Dazerok: Discuss Cypress College’s motto, “We Take This Journey Together.” Isaac reflects on institutional culture, community, student support, and the accessibility of faculty.[38:14] ClosingVisual: Dr. Thayer concludes the episode.Isaac Dazerok: Highlights current brand projects.Dr. Thayer: Closes the episode.
