“I started painting in 1996 because one of my homeboys said I couldn’t do it. So to prove him wrong… I got up more than he did!”
“Why ‘fetish?’ I have a foot fetish. Sad but true!”
“I feel comfortable being in a ‘male sport.’ Although most of my friends may be males. I have a feminine side that I’m proud of and I express that in my art.”
“I’m currently involved with UAII (United American Indian, Inc.) a private, non-profit Native American organization which offers a variety of health and human services to American Indians and Alaskan Natives living in the Los Angeles area. I, myself, am an alumnus of their Wellbriety movement, which focuses on individual healing through ceremony and family.”
Click here to learn more about UAII.
This is probably old news to you graffheads or DTLA regulars, but Sand’s mural installation (on 3rd & Main) was buffed shortly after it was completed in late February. Although Sand had permission from the property owner to paint the mural, according to Sand, the Sheriff’s Department said it was “offensive to the community.”
But we don’t understand how the artwork was “offensive to the community” because it was, in actuality, a community-based project.
“I let some of the locals watching me paint help me fill-in the artwork,” said Sand. “It felt good to teach them something new and get the community involved.”
The mural was sponsored by local/small businesses in the community: Conart, MonicaMichelle, 1000bikes.org, Legends Barbershop and Lick it B4 U Stick It (blunt wraps)
Okay, so enough with the bad news. What’s the good news?
Sand’s first and upcoming week-long solo exhibition: “Bow Ties”
“Bow Ties” will feature Sand’s signature ultra-feminine and hood “Sand Chikz” in a different light. Each Sand Chik will be dressed in a tuxedo, symbolizing class, authority and power; three characteristics people often associate with masculinity and wealth. In “Bow Ties” Sand One’s underlying theme seeks to liberate gender-biased characteristics often imposed on women while also questioning the relationship between street art, fine art and the arts institution: Embracing feminine graffiti art as fine art.
The artwork for the show, currently being created, will be auctioned and partial proceeds will benefit the Venice Public Art Walls, managed by In Creative Unity, a graffiti arts advocacy group and leaders of the movement to preserve the walls as a living memorial to high quality graffiti-style art.
Don’t forget to check out LAGG artwork this weekend!
Opening Reception is Friday, March 18, 8 – 11pm.
Cella Satellite Galleries is pleased to present Scaling the Wall. Curated by Trina Calderón and Miah Jeffra, the exhibition features graffiti and graffiti-influenced works by a diverse group of writers and artists in California.
Scaling the Wall comprises large-scale bombs by four of Southern California’s best female writers, and a white-wall display featuring six artists straddling the worlds of street and gallery institution, through various media.
Inspired by the groundbreaking MOCA street art retrospective, Art in the Streets, opening later this year, Scaling the Wall attempts to act as complement to Art in the Streets’ largely male roster of artists, while also discussing the complex and evolving relationship between street art and the arts institution.
Artists featured are [LA Graffiti Girls interviewees PERL FDS, JERK, OPIA, KUTA ONE HEM BWS] as well as ROOTSYSTM, ogdarthvader, LOVER ONE, C.1, Proto and Alberto Aviles Molina.
The bombs, thrown up on bifurcated wood panels, will be auctioned on opening night, then divided at the close of the exhibition. Proceeds will benefit ArtStorm, an aerosol art non-profit organization that provides self-sustaining world-class Urban Art and LifeSkill programs for at-risk youth in Los Angeles. Aerosol paint for the bombs is provided by Montana Store Los Angeles, in Echo Park.
The evening will feature live painting by Collective Aesthetics. Sound equipment to be provided by Looport and DJ Mixter Ed will spin records for the opening event.
EXHIBITION AND GALLERY EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Here’s a sneak peek of the artwork to be featured in the exhibit:
Perl
Jerk
(Photos courtesy of Trina Calderón)
Cella Satellite Galleries is located at 10816 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood. Gallery viewings are by appointment after Friday.
For more information, please contact Shannon Currie Holmes at 213.291.7908 or info@cellagallery.com.
A special thanks to everyone who came out to support all the ladies painting live at the Black Roses show!
Photography by Amazyun and HuskeyRadio.
I started painting back in ’95. Back then I was running around with a lot of gangsters and was tagging “Weasel”. I was raised in a predominantly Hispanic community with a lot of Surenos and so I was very infatuated with gangster tags, having fun, smoking weed and drinking MD 20/20. After a few years, I ran into a couple of girls who were into graffiti and hip-hop scene. I started painting with them, and became known as Kuta One. We formed a crew called KUAD which later became known as DCF. I still hit DCF up from time to time, but currently, I rep HEM and BWS.
I came from a highly artistic family and everyone has some type of talent or at least interest. Everybody has been encouraging and supportive of my lifestyle. My father and grandfather were sign makers and pinstripers so I’ve always had an appreciation for lettering and clean lines. A lot of my influence came from my peers rather than older cats, per se. I learned a lot from my homie Beks DMS SRT IBD. He took me out to paint my first freights. Phevr IBD and Dams ABH also had a lot of influence and have helped shape who I’ve become.
There was a point back in probably 2001-02 where I was painting horribly and still getting props just for being up and being a female, but I was happy with that… then these two guys who wrote Jest and Aker told me straight up that I sucked. That was a break screeching halt for me. I wanted to prove so badly that I could be good to them. I started painting five freights a week minimum, I was piecing and trying new things, pushing my limits and finally started putting out quality work. I am thankful for those two guys, their criticism helped me tremendously.
One person that I must mention as my favorite artist is Mutes KOG. I think he’s amazing and his letters drive me nuts and as much as I hate to admit it. And Yikes KOG taught me how to paint fast, big and clean. I’m making a conscious effort right now to paint with people who paint because they really love it. People like Romanse179 HYSU EW ROF. He paints for himself and his drive inspires and reminds me of when painting was just pure fun.
I don’t really know if I have a set style, I like to experiment and really just paint whatever makes me feel happy. Versatility is important, I can fit my entire fist in my mouth and I own a chinchilla. I paint a lot for shows and do commissioned work from time to time. When I start painting a canvas I think about what I would like to hang in my own house or bedroom. Then, if it doesn’t sell I’m never stuck with anything that I hate to look at every day. I think I get offered a lot of shows and galleries just for the simple fact that I’m a girl, but then again that could be my classic low self-esteem talking.
For a while I was trying to paint like a guy so that people couldn’t tell I was a chick, then I got over that and went balls to the wall with the fruity colors. Red is my favorite flavor of candy, but any shade of pink is great for paint. I wish i still had a full stock of Berry Pink, that is one of my all time favorites.
I don’t think I’ve had any bad experiences painting. If I’ve been chased it always ended in laughter and there’s nothing better than a good laugh. I like to bring snacks along when I paint, don’t be surprised if I pull out half a burrito from my pocket, a girl’s got to eat.
I paint to clear my mind of all the clutter that is my life. Painting illegally is the only time that my mind is numb to the rest of the world. My addictive personality does not allow me to quit. If I go too long without painting I feel like a failure and the urge to paint eats at my insides. The older I get the more I find myself doing things that are community based. Right now I’m working on mural boards for the 2011 Children’s Summit. It’s a different type of fulfillment and pushes me to get over my ninja anxieties. I struggle a lot with becoming a yuppie art fag. On one hand, I crave the recognition and like the money, on the other hand I don’t want anyone telling me when and how to paint. That defeats the purpose of doing something you love.
-Kuta One
Gangsta Extraordinaire
You can check out more of Kuta’s artwork at Scaling the Wall, an art show discussing the complex and evolving relationship between street art and the arts institution. Opening reception is Friday, March 18, 8–11pm. Click here for more info.
[video]
Jroz SKA NCT
(Source: justakidgrowingup, via d0pe-fiiend)
In honor of International Women’s Day, Revolution Books has planned, for this Sunday, March 6th from 2-6pm, “A day of Defiance & Celebration: For the Liberation of Women and the Emancipation of All Humanity.”
The event will start out with an international potluck and will be followed by a program of speakers and presenting political reflections and multilingual cultural performances, full of meaning and humor, seriousness and imagination of a new and better world.
$10 donation at the door; special price for families
This Tuesday, March 8th, will mark the centenary of International Women’s Day, a revolutionary holiday, by not just celebrating the role that women have played in society, but also raising awareness of the struggles of women on a worldwide level.
Revolution Books (Libros Revolucion) is a non-profit bookstore, run by an all-volunteer staff, which specializes in books carrying books that seek to change the world.
For more information, contact Revolution Books:
5726 Hollywood Blvd, west of Wilton, Los Angeles, CA. 90028
(323) 463 3500
revolutionbooksla@gmail.com
LandMark Inc, Opia & LA Graffiti Girls present “Black Roses in the City of LA” an all-girl graff show, Sat., March 12th from 12-6pm.
A random compilation of graffiti artwork painted by women all over the world.
