Joy For All
iBOMS x Fairgrounds St. Pete x TPA
Joy For All is a collaboration of Fairgrounds St. Pete and Tampa International Airport presenting the work of local art star Jabari Jahi Babatu Reed-Diop aka “iBOMS” (Illegal Beauty on My Streets) and celebrating Florida’s essence and embracing its people and native wildlife. Joy For All, is just that, a celebration of happiness and an effort to spread joy to all who encounter it. Guests are invited to pay if forward and help to spread joy by giving an iBOMS rubber duck to a friend or stranger.
If you’re lucky, then you’ll find a ducky!
Mapping the Lucky Ducks: If you received an iBOMS rubber duck, please let us know where it was received and where it ended up here.
About the Installations
iBOMS airport installation, comprised of 5 large-scale dioramas, and a companion permanent installation at Fairgrounds St. Pete, presents immersive experiences centered on iBOMS’ journey to protect innocence amid encounters with legendary creatures. Through symbolic elements such as rubber ducks and grills, iBOMS aims to provoke introspection on personal growth, joy and human interconnectedness, fostering a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexities of life. Joy For All serves as a guiding principle, encouraging viewers to find moments of joy amidst life’s challenges and to embrace the brilliance within themselves.
At Fairgrounds St. Pete, guests are encouraged to explore iBOMS’ new installation in a hidden corridor depicting a quest called Prince of the Bayou with overarching themes of personal growth. Along the corridor, iBOMS’ self-referential character Jahi’s journeys to safeguard his innocence, are symbolized by encounters with legendary animals found in St. Pete’s Lake Maggiore area. Each animal imparts on Jahi lessons on love, protection and power. Through wordplay and symbolic elements, including rubber ducks and grills, iBOMS evokes introspection on personal growth, joy and the interconnectedness of human experiences.
With an offering of artist-made merch, Fairgrounds St. Pete aims to make iBOMS’ work and goods accessible to his fans by keeping artwork prices affordable. Hand-embellished sculptures, stickers and more will be available in its souvenir shop and online at prices ranging from $4 to $75, ensuring more visitors will be able to purchase original iBOMS art. The experience will offer original iBOMS ducks for purchase and a limited-edition of printed duck in hopes that they travel the world, surprise and delight strangers and continue spreading the joy.
Young King Author is a symbolic representation featuring Jahi with a Merlin Falcon and serves as a tribute to magic, guiding the character on a path of discovery towards becoming a youthful monarch and skilled wordsmith. Through encounters with this majestic creature, Jahi learns to harness his inherent magic, unlocking his potential as a storyteller and creator.
Mana Tea is inspired by the plight of the Florida Manatees. This work aims to draw attention to the impact of invasive species on Florida and its manatee population, particularly Plecos (armored catfish). Through meticulous research and observation at local spring sites, iBOMS discovered the detrimental effects of these creatures on manatees, leading to their portrayal in this painting. By highlighting this environmental concern, Mana Tea serves as a poignant call to action for conservation efforts.
You Prey We Pray 222 features One-Eyed Charlie, the alligator. This character imparts invaluable lessons on the art of patience and strategic action, teaching Jahi the importance of remaining still and discerning the opportune moment to strike. Through the depiction of this encounter, viewers are invited to reflect on the balance between patience and assertiveness in navigating life’s challenges.
In Owl Protect You the wise owl imparts crucial lessons on nocturnal navigation. Through this encounter, Jahi learns the art of stealth and vigilance, honing his ability to move through darkness with discretion and awareness. This painting invites viewers to reflect on the importance of mindfulness and adaptability in facing the unseen challenges of life’s journey.
The Coast is Clear features an Osprey as a symbol of environmental stewardship. Through this encounter, Jahi learns the importance of cleaning up and recycling to preserve our waterways. Inspired by firsthand observations of environmental degradation, iBOMS emphasizes the urgent need for action to protect our natural surroundings. As viewers engage with this work, they are encouraged to actively contribute to the well-being of their environment.
In Inner Sense where the Florida Panther kitten serves as a mentor, imparting lessons on nurturing and protection. The connection between nurturing and innocence is explored through wordplay, highlighting the significance of understanding both the literal and symbolic meanings of the paintings. As viewers engage with this work, they are invited to reflect on the deeper layers of innocence and the importance of safeguarding one’s inner sense of self.
“We may forget our inner child but they will never forget us.” -iBOMS
Bloom Ducks is a whimsical depiction of ultimate joy within the installation. The ducks symbolize a state of pure bliss, reminiscent of childhood adventures where imagination reigns supreme. As viewers encounter this scene, they are invited to recapture the joy of uninhibited exploration and creativity, relishing in the simple pleasures of life’s journey.
Grillz Garden is an imaginative space featuring a variety of unique grill designs transformed into puzzle pieces, flames, and pencils, all adorned with dazzling ice. Strategically placed, these Grillz serve as more than decorative elements and symbolize spirits or guides, observing and smiling approvingly at Jahi’s journey unfolding before them. Whether seen as spirit guides or twinkling stars, their presence offers reassurance and affirmation, guiding Jahi along the right path.
About iBOMS
A native of St. Pete, iBOMS’ practice is a mix of street art and storytelling and seeks to give meaning to the mundane and inspire viewers to look closer at situations to observe their truths and not take them at face value. Each of his artworks has a unique story and personal references. iBOMS’ work draws viewers into his world, the world of a young African American man. He does this by depicting lively characters that appear happy, but with closer examination, darker themes reveal themselves in the details of the canvas.
iBOMS’ Artist Statement
Elementary Acronyms have always been a mind exercise I enjoy. Having the ability to find multiple meanings in an everyday word or phrase is pretty cool. When I first decided that art is what I wanted to do, my then-mentor asked if I wanted to be known by my name, Jabari Reed Diop, or if I wanted something more incognito. So I set out to see what fit best.
Since I was young enough to pick up a pencil, the graffiti and tagging culture has been my main sources of inspiration. Some of the artists that I look up to whose roots started in graffiti are Frank Morrison, Skylar Grey, Hebrew Brantley, and KAWS. I watched a documentary of KAWS in which he explained that he chose letters that looked good together when selecting his name. With that as inspiration, I began to group letters and tied in my affinity for acronyms. i.B.O.M.S. is what I came up with: a mixture of acronyms, wordplay and identity. “Illegal Beauty on My Streets” refers to the act of spreading knowledge through art, regardless of whether those powers want us to or not. A declaration to be unapologetically honest and unapologetically beautiful with our expression.
In St. Petersburg, before the city was covered with sanctioned murals, graffiti was a directional tool. Even though I knew graffiti was illegal, it never stopped me from being inspired by the talent those artists possess. And it never stopped me from seeing the truth of self-expression.
Spreading Lucky Duck Joy Around the World
Have you seen one of our ducks in the wild? Tell us where so we can see how far our project to spread joy has traveled!
