Cujo “had a vision.” That’s how it starts. We receive our gifts and inspiration from the Divine.

Larry Bird said God “disguised” Himself as Michael Jordan the night Mike scored 63 points in Boston Garden. I believe God also disguises Himself as ideas. What we choose to do with those ideas upon their arrival to our consciousness is up to us. How those ideas are used ultimately determines impact. Purpose.

Since the inception of the tennis shoe, many are noted as historical artifacts that played a significant role in shifting design, culture, and life as we experience. Though Jordans are more than shoes. They transcend sports, fashion, language even. The global basketball community, hip-hop, entertainers, artists, nonconformist, and trendsetters, alike, galvanize around these shoes. These communities saw that the shoes represented something different and as badly as the old world fought to silence them, the new world fought harder to give them a mic and platform. The new world saw originality, authenticity, individuality amongst community, and change. Change of the game.

For Cujo, this project has been a “manifestation of God.” It has been a long time coming, especially for the kid who has dreamed of being a shoe designer since his days of painting Air Force 1s in middle school. “Back when folks had their shoes airbrushed.”

The linoleum print making process of this project has literally been a part of Cujo since he created a lino cut of a picture of his mom in high school. Upon graduation, he immortalized the image and anytime Cujo explains his tattoos, he shares the lino cut process.

That’s one reason why, in this case, Cujo felt “the rarity of enjoying the work” he chooses to make. From idea to execution, it’s a form of praise, combining all aspects of inspiration. “Me, and you, your momma, and your cousin too (s/o to OutKast) are all references to the inspiration of sneaker culture,” he states. “Regardless of the collection owned or overall affection, regardless of the style or brand, there’s a connection to each pair of shoes one has.”

Detail of the “Mom” lino cut portrait. Circa 2008.

In reference to Jordan, a friend of Cujo’s made the comment, “It’s crazy how in the marks of the soles his spirit of competitiveness is seen. His quickness, his tenacity.” Similar to Jordan, Cujo’s personality is part of his work, as well. His art is attached to his giving love languages which are spending quality time with the people he loves and giving gifts.

The birth of this project is an an example. Cujo and a couple friends, Tanner and Jewlz, gifted a pair of the AJ1 ‘Origin Story’ to mutual friend, Rob, for his birthday. Rob also shares the day of celebration with his son. “We say the shoes were for Rob’s toddler son, but we all know the truth.” At this moment in time the shoes don’t mean much to the little man, but the sneakers have now become a family heirloom and story for father and son. Cujo also gifted his son the first ever print, “Spider-Mac.”

Creating stories and moments like these are rooted in the why for him as an artist. It’s what molded his mission to make “original art that has an exclusive draw to it, it’s what we all want, it’s what we all are.” With art, particularly art involving sneakers, Cujo sees the rendering of silhouettes with lines and shapes translates to the destinations of personal stories that are tied to them. Ultimately this effort, inspired by the Divine, is meant to authentically bridge the Fine Art and sneaker communities (two communities of Cujo’s identity) along with others weaved into the cultures of both.

Every sole in this project is original. The paint from each linoleum print doesn’t mark the canvas like the last or the next. Each print is its own. Singular, just like the first steps or the last steps and the ones taken all in between when you lace up your pair. Or the pair desired, releasing soon, unlikely to be purchased, or bonded to dreams and nightmares. No one can replicate the story of the miles traveled in yours and the significance to your moments of glory, in victory or defeat.

Fred Rhodes, editor of Marked Sole Memoirs