The White Rabbit San Antonio Texas Art Grafitti Laws Crew Terms

Of the many new pieces to surface at 5Pointz since it began its 11^th season last month, a particular stand-out is the huge landscape by Phillip Perez aka Article. Curious about the artist behind this singular graffiti aesthetic, we posed some questions to him.

When did y'all get-go getting upwardly?

I start started in Houston, Texas — back in 1992.

What inspired you at the time?

It started when my friend Big Mark aka KRAM, a B-Boy (Rock Skittles Krew) and a graffiti artist, showed me a video that featured pause dancing and graffiti. Earlier then, I hadn't seen anything like it. Two days after watching that video, I went bombing. I spray-painted in an alley backside my house.

Any memories that stand out from those early days?

A neighborhood hothead, SKEEZ 181, invited me to pigment in a railroad train yard for a graffiti battle. I don't know how he got my number, simply he did. He gave me a call one solar day and said he'd even pay for the paint and pick me up at my place. I was immature and crazy, so I agreed. It was me and Ceroe against all of Hou-Tex freaks in a train yard in Denver Harbor. And equally we were painting, a couple of train cops rolled up on Ceroe at the end of the car and start shooting at the states. We all hopped about half-dozen sets of train tracks while dodging the bullets. Everyone got out of there alive. We fifty-fifty became good friends after. Never did similar railroad train yards, but I did it that once!

Take you any preferred surfaces?

No favorites. I'thousand a city bomber; any surface volition exercise. The laws hither don't let graffiti to alive too long. A calendar month maximum and bombs are buffed. So as a writer in Houston, you have to exist very selective where you bomb. Location is key!

What's the riskiest thing y'all've done?

I painted a wall along this railroad track with a couple of friends. Soon, the law rolled past and we were forced to hide in this ditch of muddy water amidst a horrible stench and a swarm of mosquitos. We couldn't motion or sneeze. The cops knew that at that place had been painting going on, equally there was that strong smell of pigment in the air. When the police left, we jumped out of there and ran. When nosotros did, a police officer saw us, and hit full speed. To go away, we had to jump over barbed wire gates. We made it, but we separated every bit we dodged the cops. We met back upwards again about an hour later.

Have you lot always been to jail?

Yes. When I was young, I went to jail for a lot of crazy things, but not for my graffiti fine art. I'd never go to jail for that. I'd feel too awful getting caught for my art.

Tin you tell u.s.a. something about some of the other writers downward in Houston?

When I started out in the early 90'south, in that location were hardly whatsoever graffiti bombers. At that place were a few graffiti artists, though.  Nekst and Vizie started here in the mid '90's and moved on to work with MSK — from what I understand. I respect those kids. They could have done anything in life, but they chose graffiti every bit a lifestyle. Episode, Color I, SKEEZ 181, The Ane Lee, Cease, Dual — are a few cats that live the lifestyle and proceed things real in the H.

Who or what inspires y'all these days?

The lack of existent graffiti nowadays is what inspires me to proceed at it and teach it — when possible. This new generation needs to learn the foundation and history of this culture before they try to rub elbows with cocky-made artists. It's a big let down when I meet a cat who can rock a 3-D but can't paint regular letters or write with a nice hand style. Only there are notwithstanding sick artists coming out of the woodworks.

Are you down with whatsoever crews?

I'm in Hyroglifx Krew 182. Nosotros're similar a family here and aid each other out. I don't see information technology happening these days with many other crews. Internet crews take members who don't even know each other. We were all born and raised in the North Central Houston.

Have you exhibited your work?

I have in the by few years, and I'thou looking to showroom more regularly.

Do you lot have a formal arts didactics?

No. My fine art take been my truthful education. It has taught me to write proposals and contracts, inquiry history and conduct business. Fine art has taught me everything. When in schoolhouse, I felt like the institution was misguiding me.

What's the attitude of your family and friends towards what you practice?

My mom bought me my first can. She has been supportive of the graffiti art, but not of the graffiti bombing. Information technology'south a life style and civilisation. For me, graffiti is a rare fine art form. I frequently find myself explaining information technology to friends. I never get any real negative feedback from them, though.

What percentage of your time is devoted to writing?

It'due south a balance. I accept to maintain my commercial works and still fit in my street time. My heaviest bombing years were throughout the ninety's. I've had to slow down in the 2000's considering of paid gigs, which took up a lot of time and free energy.

,Take you a steady day job?

Yup! I have an in-house fine art gig for a corporation. Information technology helps me pay the bills and buy pigment supplies. When I'1000 non working there, I practice commission work for diverse people. Along the style, I've met a lot of actors, musicians and politicians who are interested in what I practice. So luckily, I get to piece of work for them and anyone else who needs art of whatever kind.

What nearly other interests?

Anything that is even vaguely art-related interests me. I'm also interested in history.

How has your work evolved throughout the years?

It's evolved a ton. I taught myself foundation, construction, color schemes and balance. And through that learning process, my work naturally evolved into what it is today.

How did you connect with 5Pointz?

My boy Episode gave me Meres's number and I texted him. A thousands miles later — with a hundred pounds of pigment — I presented my layout to Meres, who approved the sketch and got me directly to piece of work.

Can you tell u.s.a. a scrap nearly this image?

It's a memorial wall — a tribute to the building representing the kings, the OGs of New York City graffiti. I don't want to see the building torn down. With its golden groundwork, the slice represents the significance of 5Pointz. The hieroglyphics are really names of important writers such as Stay High 149, Dondi and IZ the Wiz, to proper name a few. And overall, the work represents the style of my crew. It's an offering to the 5Pointz community and its importance in the movement. Even in Houston, we know its value.

Interview by Lenny Collado; photos by Lenny Collado, Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Source: https://streetartnyc.org/blog/category/graffiti-2/page/60/

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