That is the primary put up in our fourth season of Philly Road Artwork Interviews! This season is sponsored by Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL) and its @PHLAirportArt program, which curates museum-quality artwork exhibitions that introduce tens of millions of holiday makers from world wide to the colourful inventive tradition of the area. PHL proudly helps Philly arts and tradition/365! Interview and pictures by Streets Dept Lead Contributor Eric Dale.
In the event you’ve been in Philly any time within the final three years, you’ve nearly positively seen the phrase “Reward Dobler” written someplace—maybe on a sticker, scribbled on a pole, or spray-painted on a building wall. This message is the work of a Philly avenue artist known as Reward Dobler… however do you know that this Dobler they reward is an actual individual?
“I don’t know if I ever actually broke guidelines. I believe that I used to be a grasp at enjoying within the grey space of each rule ever made.” —Conrad Dobler
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You wouldn’t be blamed for pondering Dobler is fictional—as a result of Reward Dobler’s artwork doesn’t make sense at first look. Who or what’s Dobler? Why must you reward them? Who’s scripting this phrase? What does it imply? How do you even pronounce it?
In the event you’ve ever seen a mustache on a sticker character, or a soccer with the quantity 69 on it, you’ve been within the presence of the Lord. However is Reward Dobler linked to an actual faith? Sure and no. Is it even avenue artwork? Sure, however not like what you’ve seen earlier than. Reward Dobler is a grey space inside a grey space. However I believe I actually get it now—as a result of earlier this yr, I had an epiphany that put all of it into context. And once I ran it previous Dobler’s #1 disciple, once I sat down with him for a dialog about his paintings and message, he wholeheartedly agreed with my realization.
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Streets Dept’s Eric Dale: First issues first, please settle this as soon as and for all, is it “Doe-bler” or “Dah-bler”?
Reward Dobler: “Doe-bler,” like dough, such as you make bread out of.
SD: So… Dobler was an actual individual. Are you able to inform me about him?
PD: Yeah, he was some form of skilled soccer participant. I believe he was a defensive guard? Offensive guard? I’m undecided. I don’t know the way sports activities work. However he was knowledgeable soccer participant again within the 70s and the 80s. He performed for the Saints; he performed for the Buffalo Payments; and one different staff. I’m undecided. I do know him for his divinity, not his sportball prowess. However he was a grimy participant. He lives in infamy for his antics on the gridiron.
SD: Is that one of many issues that attracted you to him?
PD: No, I actually selected Him arbitrarily. He appeared to me on a field of cookies within the county jail outdoors of Atlanta, Georgia. He was a “Snack Legend”—[Keefe] Snack Legend-brand oatmeal cream pie cookies. I noticed His face taking a look at me from the field and I used to be like alright, He’s my larger energy. And I bought Him tattooed on my arm. The remaining is historical past.
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SD: What about Him stood out to you? How did you make that call? What was that second like for you?
PD: I don’t know, my cellmate and I had been joking about [how] there’s so many various conceptions of God and religions on the market. Once you’re in jail, they should get you any non secular textual content you need, without spending a dime. So we ordered a number of—I’m not gonna throw any religions beneath the bus, however we bought a pair that had been fairly on the market—and so I used to be similar to you recognize what? Screw it, I’m gonna make up my very own conception of a better energy.
I simply noticed Him on the field, and I used to be like yeah. I ordered extra containers of cookies whereas I used to be in, made little shrines for my associates, and so they’d put them on their wall, and the gospel of Dobler unfold all through the power. After which once I bought out, I came upon he was Sports activities Illustrated’s “dirtiest participant” in NFL historical past. His quantity was 69! I used to be like oh God, that is my larger energy!
After which years later, he was inducted within the Polish-American Sports activities Corridor of Fame outdoors of Detroit, in 2018, and I met him! He was a pleasant man, and he made a joke—I instructed him, like, sir, I’m not truly loopy. I don’t truly assume that you’re God, however I made this faux faith. Right here’s some footage that I doctored with angel wings you possibly can have. Once you get sober, they let you know it’s essential to discover a larger energy, and I didn’t need to take anyone else’s conception. They are saying in restoration you possibly can select your individual larger energy. So I arbitrarily selected you. And he chuckled and sipped his whiskey and mentioned “that’s humorous” or no matter. He was a very good sport.
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SD: Cool! So on a scale of 1 to 10, like, how religious are you? How actual of a factor is that this for you?
PD: I imply, I’ve my non secular practices. I’m in restoration, so I’ve my prayer meditation, however I don’t truly sit there and pray to [Dobler]. Like, that’s simply tongue-in-cheek.
SD: What has Dobler supplied for you? I do know it’s tongue-in-cheek, however, you recognize, he’s positively impacted your life ultimately. So inform me about a few of the results that praising Dobler has had on you.
PD: Nicely, I imply, a few years in the past, a buddy of mine was making an attempt to promote his home—and this can be a true story—he wasn’t getting any affords, after which he, out of frustration, simply mentioned, like, Dobler, assist me promote this home. After which the subsequent day he bought a proposal. And he excitedly texted me and instructed me that, and I used to be like it’s a miracle!
There’s something on the market. There’s a better energy, you recognize? I’ve had little moments, you recognize, non secular moments, and I believe it’s immaterial what you name it or the way you costume it up. It’s simply, you recognize, you’re making an attempt to make a connection to the universe. So I determine there’s a God who’s bought a humorousness… so Dobler it’s.
SD: Dobler works in mysterious methods.
PD: It’s true.
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SD: How did you are feeling when the actual Conrad Dobler handed away in February 2023?
PD: I used to be shocked. I knew it was coming. Some associates had mentioned I ought to set a Google alert, and so they’re like oh, are you going to fly out to the [funeral]?
His grandkids observe my Instagram. The person inadvertently performed a giant half in my life and have become my inventive muse, so, you recognize, I had some unhappy emotions about it. However I knew it was gonna occur. It’s not like he was an in depth buddy or member of the family or one thing like that. So, yeah, I gave it a few weeks after he handed, after which I despatched a pleasant message to his grandkids and mentioned, you recognize, sorry in your loss, and I met him one time and he was an excellent cool dude. Life goes on.
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SD: So, let’s speak extra about avenue artwork. When did you begin praising Dobler within the streets?
PD: I made some stickers arbitrarily again in, I believe, 2018. And I simply began placing them up. And a buddy that paperwork graffiti—I didn’t know him [at the time], however he began seeing my stickers round. I used to have a Fb web page, the Transcendent True Religion Church of Dobler. And he messaged me by that and mentioned do you need to meet for espresso? And he’s like so how lengthy have you ever been a avenue artist? When he used the phrase “avenue artist,” I used to be like me? What? Oh, no, I’m not.
After which I used to be like oh… okay. Like, I simply made stickers for no matter. I in all probability bought like 50 or 100 made. However then I began paying extra consideration to different stickers that I favored, and I began recognizing artists that I favored, and I began experimenting—like making your individual stickers as an alternative of simply printing stickers, and completely different mediums, and blah blah blah, and it simply progressed from there.
SD: What’s your purpose together with your avenue artwork?
PD: Actually to only unfold the gospel and save souls.
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SD: Okay, so I need to get your tackle one thing. Some time again, I had a realization that I believe actually contextualizes the whole lot you do. I believe that “Reward Dobler” is a meme in avenue artwork type. Do you agree with that description?
PD: Yeah, I imply, I do use a number of memes. I believe the meme is the apex of human communication. It’s, like, distilled, you recognize? It’s like, poetry is distilled literature. And the meme is simply the very best type of direct communication as a result of it’s bought a picture that anyone can relate to and it’s bought minimal phrases, and it’s very efficient at speaking humor.
Memes are nice. It’s cool that I could make this stuff and specific myself, my bizarre little area of interest humorousness, and simply put it on the market, after which produce other individuals go oh, okay, that is humorous, I see it in all places, it’s like a Philly factor. Simply having that unfold has been enjoyable.
However I ran right into a buddy, and he was like oh yeah, I noticed a few of your issues round… And the [guy with him] didn’t know me. [When my friend] introduced up Dobler, he was like oh, I believed that was similar to a Philly meme or one thing. And I used to be like it’s!
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SD: It nearly looks as if all avenue artwork is meme. And possibly all faith is meme.
PD: You’re not improper. All avenue artwork is, like, that individual’s model. You understand? It’s form of combating in opposition to advertisements, and simply taking again public house, and there’s positively a stage of ego and persona to it. It’s like that is my mark. Like I’ve been right here. Like canine peeing on bushes or no matter. I believe it’s ingrained in human nature to attract on caves and carve into bushes and whatnot.
SD: Yeah. For me, saying oh, it’s a meme simply made me get it. Like I’m in on the joke now. I may make these memes myself. That’s highly effective.
PD: I do have associates that proselytize in different cities. Like, they order large sticker packs from me. I’ve by no means been to Jacksonville, Florida; or Portland, Oregon; or Seattle, Washington; or Japan; or Germany…
SD: You will have proselytizers in Japan and Germany?
PD: Sure. Completely. And I’m not making an attempt to impress—I’m not from the graffiti neighborhood. I’m simply doing my factor. I attempt to be respectful and observe, you recognize, “the foundations,” however I’m not making an attempt to be, like, “all metropolis king.” I’m actually out right here to unfold the message and have enjoyable. Some individuals are very gatekeepy, and there’s a machismo. No matter, you do your factor. I’m being respectful, I’m not making an attempt to step on anyone’s toes, nevertheless it’s been enjoyable to only unfold my meme. And there’s room for all of it. Particularly in Philly—the buff is so aggressive, there’s at all times recent partitions to get out and rise up.
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SD: Completely. Okay, so what’s the primary factor to do if you need Lord Dobler to smile upon you?
PD: Invite Him into your coronary heart. In the event you’re in a position to develop a mustache, develop it unto prodigious proportions. That’s an outward signal to different converts of your fealty unto the Lord.
SD: And what’s the one factor it’s best to do to keep away from Dobler’s smite?
PD: Simply blaspheme not upon His title. In the event you see a Reward Dobler scribbled someplace, don’t paint over it. In the event you see a sticker, don’t scratch it out. Simply let it trip.
SD: However spray portray over in silver is okay?
PD: That isn’t okay. Not one of the blaspheming is okay. That can result in instantaneous smiting.
SD: Are you able to inform me something concerning the Instagram account @forsakedobler?
PD: Once you exit and preach the glad tidings, it’s gonna rub some of us the improper method. Possibly it agitates their demons. I can’t converse to what would lead an individual to blaspheme so egregiously upon the Lord, however there’s a spot for this “forsake Dobler” in Dobler-hell.
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SD: Anything you need to add or share? Earlier than we sat down, you mentioned you wished to go off on buffing…
PD: Oh, yeah, I imply, contemplating Philadelphia is the birthplace of contemporary graffiti, the buff is very aggressive on this metropolis. I believe that’s ridiculous. After which there’s citizen buffers, which blows my thoughts. Like, those who actually transfer to an city heart and are like I don’t like these scribbles I see in all places. And so they exit and take it upon themselves. And you’ll see the psychology of it—like, a few of the gouges on the scrapings are very deep. I’m like yo, you want remedy. You want Dobler is what you want.
However, you recognize, it’s a part of the sport. There’s at all times gonna be some buff. You place one thing in public, it’s out of your palms. I simply assume it’s somewhat additional in Philly. I’d prefer to challenge a name to arms for anyone that has any inventive inclinations: get out and rise up. Be respectful, don’t go over anyone, don’t be a douche… however I believe the extra those who get out and put up stickers or no matter medium, finally I really feel prefer it’ll attain essential mass. And possibly the Metropolis will revisit their buff funding funds, and simply throw up their arms and quit.