The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper: Line Out: Graffiti

This Weekend in Loving Yourself Just the Way You Are

Anna Minard — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:43:20 -0700

Anna Minard

Smiley face!

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GIRL ARMY!!! Cranks It Up 10 Notches

Anna Minard — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:27:30 -0700

This is what's across the street today:

KELLY O
WHAT IS RAPE CULTURE? Rape Jokes. Fear culture. Dinner ≠ Booty. Disney??? Why is the victim on trial? One "No" is rape. Because it happens & did to me.

I thought I had a lot to say about it. I thought I had something insightful to offer, to add to the conversation. Something about solidarity. Something about how it's hard and painful to read a giant wall full of words about rape. Something about how it makes me feel or what it makes me think. Something about how art that makes you uncomfortable, art that makes you confront things, is a good thing. But I guess I don't have much to say; I just want people to see this. This is why I live here. This makes me proud. This conversation is bigger than the poster wall, it's bigger than a blog. Let's keep having it. Thanks, Girl Army. I love coming to work every day and seeing what new madness you're exploding on that wall and around the hood. I like that it makes people uncomfortable. Rape should make you uncomfortable. Thanks to the people who are sharing personal stories on the wall, too. That's intense. Thank you.

KELLY O
What is rape culture? Rape culture is where rape & sexual violence is an accepted & expected norm. It supports violence against us & makes rape seem okay. It tells us it's our fault & tells the perpetrators it's their nature. Complicity in silence = rape culture. Rape jokes are not funny. How we dress does not mean yes.

KELLY O
"No" does not mean "convince me."

More pictures after the jump.

KELLY O
FIGHT BACK

KELLY O
Assuming you have the right to comment on everyone who walks by.

KELLY O
I had panic attacks instead of coming for FOUR YEARS. Many male partners didn't find this alarming.

KELLY O
Don't choke me if I don't ask for it!

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GIRL ARMY Fights Back!!!

Timothy Rysdyke — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:26:28 -0700

After PosterGIANT covered and destroyed Girl Army's manifesto the girls took to the streets once more.

And this is Doug Cox, the company president and founder of PosterGIANT. What's that you're holding in your hand Mr. Cox?

More pics after the jump..

Girl Army asked passersby to contribute by writing their own messages to add to the walls:

Tender Validations also posted this video earlier today:

Poster Giant vs. Seattle Girl Army from Tender Validations on Vimeo.

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Re: GIRL ARMY!!!!!

Anna Minard — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:31:21 -0700

As commenter Seattle Peach points out, "Poster Giant can't exist without their clients." So if those posters really are for/connected to PAX Prime, as other commenters and bloggers have noted, I wonder what PAX thinks of the Poster Giant controversy? PAX has a reputation for being a relatively safe/lady-friendly nerd con, due to its anti-booth-babes stance and for having a decent anti-sexual-harassment policy (and apparently decent enforcement of both). Although, they did get taken to school last year over a but-I-though-our-rape-joke-was-hilarious situation (just google "dickwolves" for more info). So... I wonder if they'd mind that they're now maybe part of the current poster wall brouhaha? I have some e-mails out to see if I can get an answer.

UPDATE: The posters are for Hawken, a game by Adhesive Games, who have a booth at PAX Prime, which they direct you to on their poster. But the posters don't seem sponsored in any way by PAX itself. Poster Wall War 2012 continues. PAX's involvement = pretty dang nonexistent.

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GIRL ARMY!!!!!

Timothy Rysdyke — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 07:52:26 -0700

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What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothin'!

Megan Seling — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:23:49 -0700

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Meet My Two Favorite People in Seattle Right Now: Bear and Rabbit

Megan Seling — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:13:52 -0800

I do not know the person/people behind these adorable, day-brightening stickers, but I love whoever they are. One is bear, one is rabbit. Rabbit's stickers usually have blue and green on them. Bear usually draws a frame around their words. I had assumed it was one person entertaining themselves by playing both sides of the conversation, but today I learned that it really is likely two people and they apparently don't know each other in real life. They decorate the streets of Seattle by talking through these stickers. Which makes me love them even more.

Here are just a few examples of their cute correspondence:

Renee Krulich

They make my heart MELT.

Renee Krulich

Renee Krulich

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Belltown Watch: This Time It's Chic

Kathy Fennessy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:47:34 -0800

K.C. Fennessy

If you're gonna bring some shit into your life, you might as well make it chic shit. Alternatively, there's chicken shit, sheep shit, sleek shit, slick shit—even chick lit.

K.C. Fennessy

I can't tell whether the graffiti below has anything to do with CHiC SHit or not. It says: "HERE COMES THE 100% Straight American WHITE MAN'S P1anet!!!" [sic]*

* The show they were advertising took place at the Funhouse on Thursday, February 16.

K.C. Fennessy

So, it's a tongue-twister of a name, but it caught my attention, and that can be half the battle for a new band. Somehow though, I doubt they sound like this:

But they may want to consider a cover (sorry, you have to watch it at YouTube). For more about CHiC SHit—Seattle trio Branden Daniel & the Chics—who favor Mick Collins over Nile Rodgers, check out their Tumblr, which offers advice such as: "Chic Yourself (Check Yourself) - don't freak a Chic. Stay calm."

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Belltown Gettin' Irie

Kathy Fennessy — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:28:08 -0800

K.C. Fennessy
Nightime shot

Marley's Ghost strikes again! I walk through Belltown once or twice a week on the way to and from work, and this graffiti has been in effect for at least two weeks.

It'll be interesting to see how long it stays up. The "One Way" sign across the street remains intact, so I'll assume commuters who pass through 5th and Battery understand what's going on—assuming they read street signs in the first place—a rather broad assumption when it comes to Seattle drivers (I witness at least one traffic violation every month on the walk between downtown and Queen Anne).

K.C. Fennessy
Overcast afternoon shot

This crafty tagger wasn't messing around: note how they covered both sides.

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This Seems Like a Waste of Money and Paint

Grant Brissey — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:55:46 -0800

It's just going to come back. Make a free wall, on which graffiti writers can only work during certain hours of the night.

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I'm Not Qualified to Rate Tags, Ever...

Mike Nipper — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:17:35 -0700

The "Shit Barf" tagger is only tagger I've ever honestly felt any love for.

Shit Barf lets get married I'm so not kidding.!!

Such cheek to take the piss out of serious taggin'. I LOVE YOU SHIT BARF!!

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Currently Hanging at 11th and Pine: "FUCKFACE"

Megan Seling — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:52:48 -0700

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Of All the Names Write on the Back of a Bus Seat...

Megan Seling — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:14:26 -0700

Why this one?

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Billy (Fucking) Joel

Megan Seling — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:06:48 -0700

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What Does It Mean?

Megan Seling — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:30:48 -0700

What's the best thing you could come up with? "This," being The Stranger? Did someone at The Stranger leave that note for Poop? Who's Poop? And what exactly was Poop expecting? Do you think that "this" is enough for Poop? After all, the note leaver did do their best.

POOP.

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Is It Pro-Sex? Or Anti-People?

Megan Seling — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:46:59 -0800

Someone has attacked Capitol Hill with a can of orange spray paint. First Christopher saw this (which makes me worry as well). A block or so away, another message was sprayed onto the side of a mailbox:

I can't figure out what the mailbox is trying to tell me. Is it telling me to fuck everyone, like, have as much sex as possible with as many people as possible? Or is it telling me to fuck everyone, like, everyone in the world can just go to hell and I am not to care about them at all?

I am confused.

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Something About This Graffiti Makes Me Worry

Christopher Frizzelle — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:38:27 -0800

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I Am a Fan of This One

Grant Brissey — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:48:38 -0800

Reminds me of the cover of the last good album that Bad Religion made:

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The Audit: An Ode To John T. Williams

Gabe Meier — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:46:15 -0800

When SPD officer Ian D. Birk shot woodcarver John T. Williams in the back, killing him, an incredible amount of outrage and disgust from the majority of the city erupted. Williams, who was carrying a legal knife, was a cherished member of the Ditidaht and Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations tribes in British Columbia and was deaf in one year. Like the rest of the city, No Touching Ground, who's work I featured a few weeks ago, responded to shooting by displaying Williams's face prominently on the streets of Capitol Hill. The image is striking and is a much-needed statement against the disgusting actions of the Seattle Police Department.

Update: Toby Crittendon at the Washington Bus snapped a few pictures of the above piece that No Touching Ground has since updated. Check them out after the jump!

Gabe Meier
November 7, 2010

Toby Crittendon
December 1, 2010

Toby Crittendon
December 1, 2010

Toby Crittendon
December 1, 2010

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The Audit: Kerse on Freight

Gabe Meier — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:09:34 -0800

Because Seattle has never had a subway system, widespread graffiti on trains has never become a large part of the culture. Similarly, writers haven't embraced working on freight trains nearly as much as in other regions. With freight train graffiti, artists from all over the country can collaborate on a specific car or train and create an elaborate mixture of styles and influences. The different surfaces/colors of freight train cars also create a unique canvass for writers to work on. I found the below piece by Kerse, who passed away a few years ago, among a number of other pieces by writers from around the country.

Edit: Looks like I wrote this post up too quickly. The Kerse pictured above is Kerse AMFM instead of Seattle's Kerse BTM.

Gabe Meier
August 8, 2010

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Interview With No Touching Ground/Show Opening at Pun(c)tuation

Gabe Meier — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:47:53 -0800

Recently, I featured a No Touching Ground wheat-paste in The Audit. NTG was nice enough to answer a few of my questions about his art, the Free Sheep Foundation and his love for Seattle. NTG has a show opening up at Pun(c)tuation tonight. The show starts at 8:30 and runs till midnight.

Gabe Meier
September 4, 2010

You work in a large number of mediums. How did you become so proficient using so many different tools?

Over the years I’ve taken the time to learn how to use the materials I’ve needed to realize whatever ideas I had. I try not to get frustrated by the process because everything is research. Watching other artists work has been invaluable to me. I like to surround myself with individuals who work in a variety of mediums. I can watch Katsu pressurize an extinguisher filled with paint, which I may never use myself, but the process is ingrained in my mind. I learn the details, the preferred time of day, the preferred gas station, the preferred clothing in case it explodes all over you. If you want to become a master at something, you start as an apprentice first, no matter how old or established you are. Hopefully you can give as much as you receive. We’re fortunate to live in a time where so much is available for artists to manipulate. Everything is possible, it’ simply about putting aside the time.

You’ve been a staple in the Seattle street art scene for the last few years. What are your thoughts on the scene and where it’s heading?

I don’t really focus on Street art as a scene. In fact when I’m working on a piece that might be destined for the streets I view it more as producing magic, than creating Street art. I’ve never felt like it was important to be exclusive to one genre, or to tie myself down to one school of thought. If I did that I would never work in so many different mediums, or showcase my work in abandoned warehouses as well as in galleries.

I view Street Art as an idea of something much more broad. The desire to create something by whatever means necessary, in any space available. Making marks, images, or unfolding stories that don’t require traditional formalities. I think anyone who has ideas that they choose to present in the public space is part of the movement people label as Street Art.

When Robin Held curated Implied Violence at the Frye Museum, she showcased one of Seattle’s most prestigious, yet marginalized, artistic entities. That only a few years prior were performing on the rooftop of a soon to be demolished motel. I.V.’s show at the Frye signifies a shift, and opens the door for other outsider artistic entities to be recognized as well. From the street level, things look real good for artists right now in Seattle.

You’ve worked very closely with the Free Sheep Foundation over the past few years. What’s happening with them right now? Projects? A new building?

This would be a better question for Free Sheep, however the light rail station on Capitol Hill is presently being curated by the infamous DK Pan, with curatorial jurisdiction from myself and NKO for the back wall. Baso Fibonnacci’s mural on 10th and John was the first of the pieces curated by the New Mystics. I talked to DK and NKO about a proper burial for the Lusty Lady, before the demo/renovation started, that would’ve been a dream come true. However, there are empty buildings all over Seattle, choose one and it’s yours until its demolition. Free Sheep has put forth so much time and effort to create opportunities for artists. The same amount of energy would be greatly appreciated from other community minded individuals as well. It’s a lot of work to be expected from a couple of underpaid artists. Personally I’m waiting for Randy Engstrom to be elected Mayor, so we can start seeing the arts being prioritized at an administrative level.

What’s the story behind your man/bird murals/stickers/wheat-pastes?

The man in flight graphic marked a change in my artwork. Before that I had been painting abstracts and experimenting with alchemy and script The Man In Flight was made as a narrative, a self contained image that embodies the duality inside of me. Artwork for me has always been an escape, however the creation of this image was physical proof of the need, a reminder to myself of who I am. I created this image when I was living in Pioneer Square in a loft where eviction was inevitable. It was the first time I felt like I was living in the city, and I could feel the speed of humanity all around me. It was the first time that I felt like the animal within me was slipping.

Many street artists are very transient and don’t stay in one city for long, but you’ve stayed in Seattle for years. What has made you stay?

Seattle has always inspired my work. If I didn’t feel this way I would’ve left a long time ago. My life has always been on a cycle. My family has headed north to Alaska to fish salmon every year. I get reinvigorated living on the water during those months.and when I return I feel healthy and complete with new ideas, but I only have so much time to accomplish those ideas before I travel up north again. I’m fortunate to have this opportunity, and the process of it has proven to work for me. I will die a Northwest artist, but before that time comes I want to work to create a scene here that has been lacking since Graves and Tobey made the northwest aesthetic internationally known. Artists are beginning to gather here. I feel like the most important aspect of Seattle, or any moderately sized reclusive city, is its community. Here artists can work together to create something special, whereas in larger cities individuals go there just to get their piece of fame, and in that respect cannot create a cohesive communal vision.

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The Audit: Dealer at the Tacoma Garages

Gabe Meier — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:39:20 -0800

So far in the life of "The Audit" I've only covered graffiti and street art from within the boundaries of the 206. This week, I'm giving an ode to our neighbors to the South by highlighting Tacoma's graffiti garages. Downtown Tacoma is famous for its glut of parking garages, and most are a dull blight on the city's landscape, but a set of garages along Broadway highlight some of the Northwest's most talented graffiti artists. The wall features works from Exiler, Lies, Loster, and of course, Dealer.

Gabe Meier
August 19, 2010

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The Audit: Parskid in Montlake

Gabe Meier — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:13:03 -0800

Some street art is used to send some sort of political or social message. Some street art is used to brighten an otherwise bleak wall, sign, billboard, etc. Local artist Parskid, through a number of different mediums, creates characters that represent the space they are placed in. Born and raised in the Northwest, Parskid's pieces appear to watch over the often bleak places where they are placed. Check out more photos of his work Here.

Gabe Meier

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The Audit: No Touching Ground on Capitol Hill

Gabe Meier — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:53:45 -0700

Not many street artists from the Pacific Northwest have been given as much recognition as No Touching Ground. Known for his vivid character and animal work, NTG has been featured on the world famous Wooster Collective and displayed his work at the Bridge Motel, Seattle Street Biennale and Elliot Bay Cafe. Working mostly in the wheat-paste medium, NTG's wolves, owls and winged men can be seen throughout the city.

Gabe Meier

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The Audit: Narboo in the Central District

Gabe Meier — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:50:45 -0700

Immediacy sets street art apart from more traditional gallery work. Within hours of an event, an artist, Narboo in this case, can make political/social statement seen by hundreds of people every day. If they can add in some humor, all the better.

Update: I've added a brief interview below the jump with Narboo.

Gabe Meier
July 13, 2010

What influenced you to start creating "street art" as opposed to more traditional gallery work?

I went to school and tried to shop my portfolio around and got sick of going around town and showcasing my work only to get ignored or told how to draw. I finally felt like you know what? I'm going to share my characters and thoughts with the world whether they like it or not. Seems people like it. Most of it has been positive. If it's negative, fine, I just want some sort of reaction. Pepsi and Microsoft get to put their message all over the place and shove their image down your throat because they have deeper pockets. I wanted my voice heard as well.

A lot of your art is politically motivated. What are the advantages of portraying your political views through your work as opposed to a more traditional route?

I actually started putting stuff up on the streets to oppose the war and George W, and then I realized that I can use my characters to help spread my message. I don't have time to stand on a corner and bitch about Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and BP but my moose or seagull characters do.

Have you worked in any other cities outside of Seattle?

I spread my narboo love everywhere I go. That's become half of the fun to go places. New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kona, Portland, Seaside, Vancouver BC, Disneyland- they have all some narboo from the past few years.

What are your views on the Seattle street art scene? Growing? Getting smaller?

When I first got involved a few years back in the street art scene, it seemed to be booming. There are still a lot of talented street artists out there doing their thing, but I think a lot of people lose the fire to get their message out there or they didn't have a message in the first place. They just thought it would make them cool and they've faded away and don't want to put the time and effort into it. Plus the Ballard Buffer is relentless in buffing our artwork. (Same in other neighborhoods.) But that's the nature of street art, it's not meant to last. If it does-BONUS! So to answer your question I think it is about the same :).

Any installations up right now?
Some friends and I just hit up Post Alley with some wheat pastes. I am showing at Market Street Shoes and Habitude, both in Ballard, this month. I will have a show up at Strut Shoes in November.

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The Audit: Blink and Taesor at the SoDo Free Wall

Gabe Meier — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:42:36 -0700

The SoDo Free Wall is always an incredible mixture of graffiti and street art, but since the Off The Wall battle a few weeks ago, it has taken on a whole new dimension. The below Blink and Taesor pieces have been done since Off The Wall, but almost incorporate pieces done at the battle. Events like Off The Wall give the free wall a much needed change and allow artists, both new and experienced, to add to pieces by local legends.

Gabe Meier

Gabe Meier

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Caperin' and the Seattle Freeze

Derek Erdman — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:03:00 -0700

Derek Erdman just moved to Seattle from Chicago. As he is hilarious, Line Out wanted to give him a weekly column, and all we told him was that it had to somehow tie into music and/or the city at night. Instead of doing this, he basically wrote something that apologized a couple times for not really having anything to do with either, and then he wouldn't touch it. Thusly, we give you the first installment of Caperin' with Derek Erdman. Look for it every Monday! —Eds.

Before I moved to Seattle, people sent me a bunch of articles about the Seattle Freeze. I didn’t really read the articles because I don’t really like to read, but I gathered that when you go to Seattle people are really nice but they don’t invite you to their parties. One of my roommates and I stayed up until 6 am the other night doing bong rips (her, not me) and we discussed this nifty phenomenon, but she thought it just meant that people in Seattle aren’t friendly at all. I’ve had at least 11 people from Chicago ask me if the Seattle Freeze is true. Geez Louise, I dunno! There’s some wonderful graffiti on the I-5 that says “WHY LIE THIS PLACE SUCKS”. When I told an ex-girlfriend who had moved to Seattle two years ago that I was moving here, her initial reply “WHY? THIS PLACE STINKS!”. She’s since moved away, which perhaps has something to do with me because I’m an awful boyfriend. But no, people really like to not like this place!

Trust me, I don’t intend on writing about being new to this town forever, because eventually I won’t be. But there are a number of things that I find confounding about this place that other people don’t at all seem to notice. LIKE GARBAGE. In Chicago you can throw a couch or an Ikea OMAR (oh, brother) shelf in the alley and some city truck will come and take it away. Apparently here you have to take the same things to a place and pay them to take it! I understand the necessity of this, but it really just causes people to leave furniture in the roundabout at Donovan and 12th. I’m sure this happens in other places, but recently at this particular location I’ve seen a particle-board hutch, half of a futon, four TVs, and a mostly destroyed wicker chair with a sign that exclaimed “FREE!”

A few nights ago, I stood on the corner of 1st and Broad in Belltown and asked people what they thought of Seattle. I don’t have a problem approaching strangers, but I think most people are uncomfortable being asked pointed questions on their way to eat. It seemed to me that most people visiting from out of town loved it here. Three people that lived here simply stated that they’re moving to other places. While in Belltown, I was tempted to eat, but decided to stay far away from Umi Sake House. When Rap Master Maurice was on Too Beautiful To Live in 2008, Luke Burbank suggested that I go there and it was a delight (though I may have been on drugs). But in the four times I’ve been back since, the quality has decreased rapidly. Look, I made a graph!

I like nearly everything about Seattle, except for Taco Time. Man, that place makes me so mad. It’s become the thing by which everything must be judged, forcing me to always look on the bright side of everything. Last week, I went into the apartment that I just rented near Alki Beach, and the inside was teeming with flies. My first thought was: At least this was better than living at Taco Time! The next day I spent the first part of my day calling a bunch of Taco Times pretending that I worked there and needed to call off because I was sick. Some of the people that I talked to got really mad, so I figured we’re almost even. I do have to admit though, their ice is great. It’s that crushed-up, hospital-type of ice. But those crunchy burritos are totally gross “food sticks,” like edible batons to be passed in some sort of sub-par Mexi-fast food relay race. Also, I can’t ever seem to find a post office here. I had to mail a bunch of hamburgers today and I sat in a McDonalds parking lot trying to find a post office on my phone for at least 20 minutes. Eventually I found one in Georgetown and it was empty and the clerk was really friendly. THEN I went next door to a sandwich shop called Sandwich Shop. It looked like it was from 1982 on the outside and it looked like 1986 on the inside. The sandwiches looked much like those my aunt Judy used to make me when I was six, and when I got home to eat it, there was a dollar bill between the paper and the sandwich. People just seem to love The Sandwich Shop on Yelp, but I certainly didn’t see anybody there when I went.

Recently, I went to the Pony to see La Sera and Broomsticks. I’ve decided that I’m going to try to spend at least 70 percent of the rest of my life at Pony, which reminds me of a mix between the punker bar in the movie After Hours and the punker bar Tech Noir from The Terminator. It was La Sera’s second show ever, and they’re going to have a record out on Hardly Art soon because their music is lilting and divine. The guitar leads sound like keyboards! A person named Carlos Alberto Fernandez Lopez (referred to as SLOPEZ by his ex-coworkers at Ikea) was telling people that in the last episode of M*A*S*H*, Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce kills himself, which is absolutely NOT the truth. I was introduced to the love of my life this same night, which was a puffy blue Michelin Man jacket worn by a person named Johnny. I couldn’t stop telling him how much I liked that jacket, and I later found out that he left it in his car with the doors unlocked and somebody stole it.

When Grant asked if I’d like to write a column for The Stranger, I was ecstatic. Not only because I’m going to be able to do things and meet people and then write about them without really asking first, but because the Stranger is five times better than the weekly I was used to in Chicago. Grant mentioned that I’ll have to write mostly about music and nightlife, which I certainly intend on doing more of from now on. I just thought this would be a nice way to meet you. HELLO. If you have any events or places that you think a new person in town should have a look at, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Oh, about the house that I rented near Alki Beach: The landlord told me that a guy killed himself while living there, and it’s in my lease that I’m not allowed to have dogs even visit the premises. Alas, it doesn’t say anything about not having giant housewarming parties, which is why I’m inviting everybody that reads this to the one that I’m going to have in November. It will be all day long, so you really don’t have an excuse not to come. I’ll be giving free haircuts. TAKE THAT, SEATTLE FREEZE.

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Interview with Karl Addison

Gabe Meier — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:20:15 -0700

On Tuesday, I featured the work of street artist Karl Addison. I also spoke with Addison, who now lives in Berlin, about how how he became involved with street art, who he admires in the Seattle scene and how he decided to move to Berlin. You can find more of Karl's work here and here.

Gabe Meier

What influenced you to begin putting your art up on street signs, telephone poles, electrical boxes, etc.?
Art—well it is one of the purest forms of communication and expression. My start was a combination of events. The more I started working in Seattle and doing art shows, exhibitions, installations, and projects, the more and more I had leftover pieces laying around. It seemed like such a waste to keep it hidden and out of view in my studio. As well, I draw all the time, as much as I can; started screen printing in 2003 with Partybots. Got to a point where I had way more drawings than I could ever print. The streets seemed like a great place to put up some drawings. Seattle has so many great public spaces to add a little bit of art [to]. In addition to that, I had a good friend from Los Angeles visiting me. We went out one cold November night to put up some drawings throughout Capitol Hill. The more I started putting work up, the more I started meeting like-minded kids. From pasting, to stickers, to painting—it all interested me so much. Seattle has a very solid street art scene—a bunch of great artist all using their medium of choice and doing their thing. I have a lot of respect for kids like Blink; he has some of the most amazing spots in the city, and everywhere. Aorta has incredible compositions and use of color. Baldman for the insane height he goes up to put up art. Pixeltron for his amazing use of color and technique, not to mention being a solid guy. Narboo for his lovable characters and bold style. Starheadboy is an art-producing machine—he kills me with how much art he makes in a single day. That is only a few, there are so many other impressive, inspiring artists. Once you meet these people, they are a huge inspiration to do more art and show it to the public. I like the idea of taking back public space, and giving someone a reason to look down the street, up at the walls, and not at their shoes. It's so easy to become numb to your environment with the amount of ads trying to sell you something all the time.

Click below to read about Karl's experiences in Berlin

You're originally from Tuscon. What attracted you to Seattle and the Northwest?

Gabe Meier

Ha, my past is fun. Born in Denver, raised in Phoenix, lived in Los Angeles, moved to Seattle, then to Berlin. Arizona is a pretty hot place. After 19 years I was out of there as fast as I could go. I moved to Los Angeles and worked for Whole Foods Market in their Marketing Department under the Graphic Team. When I got out of school I had this impression that to make it as an artist you have to be a graphic or commercial artist. So thats what I did. Managed a team of 25 graphic designers in three different states for Whole Foods Market. I learned so much from a Creative Director, but it was still not enough. So I taught myself to screen print and did this on the side in addition to an 80-hour-a-week job. At first printing was just to keep me busy with art projects, but it started growing more and more. Got sick of Los Angeles, and wanted a better quality of life, so I kept migrating up the West Coast to Seattle. My uncle lived there, plus a few friends from Phoenix that all had the same idea of the amazing Pacific Northwest. Worked for Whole Foods Market for a year more or so at a lower capacity, then left to focus on my art full-time and screen print. Came to the conclusion that you can be an artist, you just have to hustle super hard.

You do a variety of wheat-pastes, cut-outs, murals, etc. What's the story behind the behind the two headed babies?

I would say that 60 percent of my work is wheat-pastes. The rest is a mixture of hand-drawn or printed stickers and murals Paste-ups appealed to me the most because of my drawings. I keep all my originals, but since I like printmaking so much, it made the most sense [as a way] to reproduce my drawings for all to see. My drawing style developed due to the years of printing and [learning] the process to make screens and prints. Lots of cross hatch, hatch & stippling to make up my value range and texture. There is something to be said for crisp black-and-white drawings. The baby fatso was a series I did after coming back from a trip to Japan. It became extremely noticeable how over-weight and large Americans are to other countries. I think the baby was the most striking and strongest of the series. Started pasting them up where I could. Aorta and I were making some oversized prints, and one of the baby's bodies got messed up, so I just kept the head. We ended up pasting [that] up first, then the full baby to create a double-headed menace. More in the moment with a sense of humor and the desire to not waste. My latest murals are being done in abandoned buildings and utilize the same drawing style, at a much larger scale.

What influenced you to move to Berlin? How is it?

There were a few factors that got me to move. Lost my house in West Seattle, [and I] wanted to find out if I could live in another country. Berlin is one of the top cities for urban art, etc... The first week I got here, it was snowing, but I got to work quickly making "Bubba" paste-ups. I noticed how much graffiti and street art there is here, in fact it is everywhere. It's part of the culture, and it is rare that art gets buffed or taken down. There are so many international artist here. In the last few months I have had the pleasure to meet folks like Aaron Rose, Just, Emess, Gould, ROA, Marc & Sara of Wooster Collective, Krink. Berlin is must if an artist comes to Europe. I had my first solo exhibition last week at ReTramp Gallery, and the turn out was great, and it really made me realize I was not in Seattle anymore. It's very multi-cultural here, and there's always something new to explore and see. The amount of history here is mind-blowing. I would strongly encourage any and all artists to make a stop here and get some work up. I do miss mexican food... seriously.

Do you miss Seattle?

Yes and Yes, I do very much. I did rather enjoy all the back-and-forth on street art and the city of Seattle. Seems like the community of artists in Seattle are all doing the right thing. I miss my friends in Seattle, and riding my bike up Pike. At some point I will be back, and will be more than happy to help make Seattle a beautiful city with some more art.

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The Audit: Karl Addison on Capitol Hill

Gabe Meier — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:46:59 -0700

If you live on Capitol Hill or in the University District, you're more likely than not pass Karl Addison's handiwork on your way to work/school/etc. Addison's wheatpastes, cut-outs and murals are unmistakable and some of the most well-placed, longest-lasting pieces in the city. Addison now lives in Berlin, but much of his work can still be seen in Post Alley, at the Twilight Exit, and throughout Capitol Hill. I will have a short interview with Addison about his art and his life in Berlin up later this week.

Gabe Meier

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The Audit: Rime in the University District

Gabe Meier — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:38:16 -0700

Every once in a while, an artist from outside of Seattle comes through and throws up some incredible (sometime shocking) pieces. This time, Rime of the legendary West Coast MSK crew has graced our beautiful city with his handiwork. Rime works mostly out of Los Angeles, but has also done work in Tuscon, Brighton and San Francisco. Seattle has some incredible homegrown talent, but it's always great when a legend graces us with his presence.

Gabe Meier

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