3 posts tagged Sand One

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.

Here are some photos of the LA Graffiti Girl artwork from Garth Trinidad’s Raw Deal 12/7.

Sand

Gome

Rawr

Wink

Photos: Stephen Hsu

“Graffiti is admiration, hate, street smarts, drive, dedication, skill mastering, and a lot of dirty outlawish shit. Deep in the back of your mind you know your mom would slap you with a chancla (sandal) if she found out!” -Sand One

“Street art is a culture in which you either become accepted or rejected. So far I’m 40 percent in.”

Q: What do you think the significance is of painting women?
A: To represent feminists, freedom and the new era of females putting it down. Anything you can do I can do. I’m no man’s bitch girl. I’m independent.

Q: Do you paint with other writers?
A: I have collaborated with some such as CAB LOD, ATOMIK 28 TSC BUK 50 (Miami), KUBO (Mexico City), PLEK CBS WAI, PRYER SKA, EZRA (Switzerland) and K4P Crew. It’s a great opportunity to work with others because I get to learn things that I have never seen before. Sometimes, I think I make up my own techniques and then I realize they have already been done! I just never got around to see them. But for the most part, I prefer to paint alone.

Q: You also paint in Miami. Can you elaborate on LA vs. MIA for us?
A: LA vs. MIA is my vision of bringing together the Latino L.A artists to collaborate with the tropical Miami writers during Art Basel, Dec. 2-5. I picked out four L.A writers that I have looked up to since I was in high school, MANDOE MAK K4P, VYAL LOD COI, CALE K2S and ACME SH, to work together as a team and represent Los Angeles in an outdoors mural project where Miami and Los Angeles writers will represent their respective cities and push their mural skills to the fullest!  You can check out our website, which will be monitoring the whole process at LAVSMIA.COM!

Q:How are the graffiti scenes in LA and MIA different?
A: Miami’s weather makes you want to come out at night because it’s very hot and moist during the day. Unlike LA, there are very few cops, all the tropical food spots are open 24 hours and there are a lot of nice abandoned playgrounds to paint. But here in LA, there are more challenges, and there are way more cops and more writers. It’s “survival of the fittest” out here.

Q: Obviously your work has been displayed in art shows and galleries. Care to elaborate on a few accomplishments?
A: I enjoy street painting. I want to drive around the hoods and catch as many surfaces as I can. I never thought it would take me through a different route at such early start. I just want invade different areas, stack some cash and take painting trips to somewhere far away. The script flipped and I found myself doing gallery shows. I’m with it. Why not? If the opportunity is there I’ma take it, and run with it until the wheels fall off! As far as accomplishments go, I got some stuff on this TV show airing at the moment called the Bad Girls Club, Miami. I’m also working on a show with the NBA along with a group of New York graffiti legends this December.

“I’m truly thankful for all the individuals that collect my Sand Chick paintings. These people put food on my table.”

Q: Where do you see yourself doing art in the future?
A: I’m ready to chase after an unknown future. I paint 24/7 and I see the struggle my fellow comrades go through. Art is not a faithful friend. I don’t know what tomorrow, next week or next month will bring. I just want to travel the world.

To learn more about Sand One, you can visit her website here.