For the Love of Third Ward

Marc Furi’s artistic career started long before he could drive in his beloved city of Houston. While his art has shape-shifted and evolved over the years, he has always used his art to speak for his heart. In this interview we explored how Marc took his love for Third Ward from a personal obsession to public conversation. We spoke to him via email to learn more about his process, his love of Houston and how he hopes to make art not just an object, but a dialogue.

Marc on his background and the intention behind the art he creates for the public. 

Off and on, I’ve been an artist since 4th grade.  But I didn’t claim it as a profession until 2017. I would draw with the other kids in grade school who were artistic, although there were no art classes where I was. Interestingly in the 6th grade I would also make advanced sculptures with play doh clay of dolphins and toys I wish I had. Maybe I’ll bring that skill back.

In college, I got into graphic design and made t-shirts for sale to other students. We’d make toad trips to hustle t-shirts at other colleges. Post-college, graphic design led me to doing club flyers, CD covers and promo materials for indie record labels. Over time, I landed a stable gig at Texas Southern University where I did graphic design for the whole school. I delved into indie filmmaking and made some comedy shorts and documentaries. 

I then got into photography to understand camera settings to be better at filmmaking. So I got really good at that too. I started a film festival and did it for five years, highlighting indie black films I would only see at other film festivals. It was a bit before the whole wave of black imagery that is more prevalent right now.

2017 brought me the opportunity to launch the I Love 3rd Ward house at Project Row Houses. That’s what folks mostly know me for today. It was a big success. I put all the talents and skills I developed along the road of life into that situation: photography, filmmaking, graphic design, my smart ass sense of humor (now referred to as satire), etc.  So I continue to evolve it to this very day. It was my satirical look at gentrification; my humorous way of expressing the emotional toll of it. Monopoly with real people.

As far as my intention of it all: I simply enjoy making people think more about their surroundings. Third Ward is a special place to me so I wanted folks to consider it as such as well. Also maybe there is a weird side of me that enjoys messing with people.

Marc on what inspired the public art for I Love Third Ward

I lived most of my life in Third Ward so over time I grew an affinity for it beyond taking it for granted that it existed. Traveling made me appreciate it more. A New York friend of mine in my youth would call Third Ward the Brooklyn and the Harlem of Texas. That sort of stuck in my mind all these years. As an adult, I bought a house here and fixed it up over time. When I first moved here, it was mostly old black people on the block. Over time, it’s now half white. Prices for the homes are really high comparatively. All my friends who lived here early on had to move because of living costs. Some evolved financially and moved back with home purchases.

Many historic businesses went away with time. These were structures I grew up seeing since my youth. All disappearing recently at a rapid pace. So I decided to document the changes in aesthetic ways. When the original Frenchy’s Fried Chicken location was around, I would take nice shots of it if the sky was cool looking or at night if the concrete was wet after a rain. I’d print these shots on metal. It finally got demolished in 2019. It was founded in 1969. Out of all this time, no one ever thought to take nice photos of it or do a documentary on it. Except me. 

So much of what I do stems from documenting the changes in clever ways so folks would remember this place is special. This place is more than just a land grab situation. This place has great culture and history. So the fundamental essence of my art is to encourage people to acknowledge that.

Marc on what makes Third Ward and Houston so special

A lot of people don’t realize how much great culture and history come from Third Ward. Many great artists and musicians came from here. A lot of great historic events happened here. There are thriving black businesses here.  Every hand lettered signage seen on old businesses and corner stores is art. The ambient sound of Texas Southern University‘s Ocean of Soul marching band is art. Art is everywhere if you recognize it as such.

Marc on using his art to spark conversation and action about the issues of gentrification

Seeing your neighborhood change and get more expensive has an emotional pull. I’ve had my home here for about 15 years. And every time I see a change on a piece of land I wonder what will be there to replace it? Will it benefit the area? Will it be ugly to see? Will it be more of those grotesque townhomes? 

[It’s about] the emotional toll. I want to encourage people to stay curious about the history and cultures of their area. Talk to the elders. Record them. They have compelling stories of their time. Record their stories like you would record your dining experience or your vacation trips. Otherwise when the elders leave, their stories fade in time with them.

His thoughts on the biggest outcome from I Love 3rd Ward

Whether folks would openly admit it or not, my public art made Third Ward ‘a thing’. There was no branded Third Ward t-shirt line before I did it. Folks were coming through the area but there was no consideration of it being a destination like Harlem or a Brooklyn. I branded it as the cultural epicenter it is.

Marc is continuing his journey of pubic expression through blending his love of technology and art; specifically using augmented reality. He is currently working on releasing augmented reality experiences for the gigantic ‘Third Ward Gentrified Edition’ game board currently on display at the exterior of the Station Museum of Contemporary Art. Feel free to drop by and have a seat on the dice. That’s what they are there for!