J*9 interviews F.Lady of Cat Fight Magazine

If you have not heard of the influential ‘Cat Fight’ magazine, where have you been?Cat Fight is the first graffiti magazine dedicated to female writers and was created in 2005 by Dutch Graffiti artist FLady. J*9, poses a few questions to this amazing writer check out the interview below.

J*9: What got you involved in graffiti?
F.Lady: Other people’s scribbles in the streets of my old hometown caught my attention when I was about 16. It made me wonder who would do such a thing, how they did it and at what time of day? Their names were weird and the tags had style beyond normal handwriting. I just had to try it.

J*9: How long have you been producing graffiti?
F.Lady: My first illegal piece was in the beginning of 1998.

J*9: How would you describe your style?
F.Lady: Graphic lettering with candy colours. But recently I have started practising tattoo style characters which is more illustrative.

J*9: You are formally trained as Graphic Designer how does that affect your work?
F.Lady: My background has an influence on the colours and forms I choose for pieces and artwork. When designing screen prints having graphic design skills is really practical, even when the original is a drawing I can use the computer to try out some colours before we really start the printing process.


J*9: What graffiti artists have you collaborated with?
FLday: With a lot of nice people from all over Europe and beyond. But I like most to collaborate with my crewmates.

J*9: Tell me how Cat Fight Magazine started?
F.Lady: It started when I finished art school and wanted to get better at Indesign. And I needed to come up with a good project to do so. So I thought of this concept for a magazine. A magazine that had never been made before and I thought it was a good thing to have. There was no medium yet that highlighted female graff. The sites that were there had outdated info and pictures and only a few female writers were really internationally known. So I sent out a mail to every writer I knew and after a few months the first magazine was there.

J*9: What did you hope to achieve with the magazine?
F.Lady: First just to showcase what was out there so people could see. But after the first issue the magazine developed a bit further and issue after issue you could see the quality of the works improving. This was really important to me. Not only the network was getting bigger, more and more girls found Catfight and got inspired.

J*9: How do females use your website?
F.Lady: Mainly to download the mag. There is also a forum connected to Catfight and Graff Girlz where you can show your skills and discuss Graff related things.

J*9: Is it important to have resource like Cat Fight for female graffiti artists?
F.Lady: To answer that is quite hard. But if I wasn't making the magazine, I would definitely check it out to see what other female writers are doing. To get inspired by their styles, techniques but also to see the diversity of what is out there.

J*9: You are also a part of Bitches in Control, how did you two form?
F.Lady: At the time I was still in art school me and some friends had an art gallery for young artists. Lowlita and I were both working there and we hooked up. She was doing a lot of stickering in the streets back then, and I was both into graffiti and stickers and posters. As we were working there we started working on artworks together too. The gallery has been closed for some years now but we still work together.

J*9: What was it like being featured in Graffiti Woman?
F.Lady: Working together with the writer was crap, but the book turned out
quite ok. It is the only book of its kind so you kind of have to appreciate it, and I do think it has a certain value.

J*9: How does your gender affect your work?
F.Lady: It makes me want to use pink in everything I make.... ha ha no way! Gender and graffiti both influence my work. It makes me more versetile as an artist. Being able to make blunt typography is quite a manly quality, but I also make fine feminine illustrations and
typography.

J*9: Is the graff scene still as sexist as it once was?
F.Lady: In every male dominated scene there are macho men and nice men. I tend to hang out with nice guys and put the rest on ignore!

J*9: Are women starting to get some recognition now?
F.Lady: Yes, definitely. There are way more women in the scene nowadays and they get noticed for their skills.

J*9: Do you have any favourite artists in the scene at the moment?
F.Lady: LD crew from Amsterdam and Faith47 from South Africa.

J*9: Tell me about any interesting upcoming projects...
F.Lady: My newest crew the Fly Force is a badass all female hip-hop crew and we are planning to travel to every continent to show our skills. We’ve already been to South Africa this year and our next stop is hopefully Brasil. With the Bitches in Control we have an exhibition planned for May in Paris which is going to be loads of work, but I’m already looking forward to it.

Check out these link for more of F.Lady
www.catfightmagazine.com
www.bitchesincontrol.com
www.theflyforce.com

Jay Star Nine Interviews Street Artist Suzko

J*9: Describe yourself in 3 sentences.
Suzko: I suppose I’d describe myself as a true artist: a bit fucked up, over and under enthusiastic about everything, overly ambitious but lazy, way too sensitive but hardcore. Just one big contradiction.

J*9: Off the creative things to do, why did you choose art?
Suzko: Art has been my life since I can remember. As a kid, I could never go anywhere without a pencil and would scribble and doodle everywhere and on everything, much to the annoyance of my mum. I guess it was kinda a release of thoughts and feelings that maybe I couldn’t express at that age.

J*9: What inspires you to create pieces?
Suzko: The city and London life inspires me in a big way. New trends and sub cultures interest me. I have recently been focusing on the London cycle courier scene which has exploded in the last year and it’s pretty easy to get inspiration as my boyfriend is one of them. Other urban artists inspire me, graffiti artists, manga and also traditional art forms; the renaissance period and the old school Italian masters.

J*9: How would you describe your style?
Suzko: For the last year I have been experimenting with a new style. I have been using posca pens on canvas primarily used by graffiti artists which creates a poster, pop art feel in bright fluro colours. I’ve been doing alot of commissioned portraits which has been great cos it brings in the money and its always cool trying to find that unique look within the subject. But really my true passion is hidden within the darker side of things. I used to paint in oils and would twist and distort figures into mythological creatures and weird fantasy style bird-like characters. There are some pretty freaky things that go on in my imagination and I do my best to recreate them onto canvas.

J*9: How is your style unique?
Suzko: To be honest, I don’t know if any artist could really say that their work is completely unique. All artists take inspiration from other peoples work and hopefully it evolves into something new and different.

J*9: When did you realise you had this talent?
Suzko: I think I’ve always known I had talent but my parents always really supported me as a child and told me how good I was so it probably started there. However, no matter how much natural talent you have, you always have to practise, and continue doing it otherwise you can lose it abit. I never went to uni, so when all my friends were going off to do that, I went to work and lost all enthusiasm for what it is that I love: art. For three years I did nothing so when the time came to get back into it, it was really hard. I had to kinda re-teach myself all the basics, but it does eventually come back to you.

J*9: What other street inspired artists do you admire?
Suzko: There’s a French guy called Amose who covers loads of areas with his collective, Mercurocrom, including digital images, illustrations and graff murals. He creates weird elongated and distorted characters which I love. Another guy from his collective is Erone and his work is right up my street. But these guys have already made it and what I really want is to big up all the unrecognised talent out there. There are so many amateur and outsider artists with so much going for them. Cat Johnston, Zoe Moss, inkfetish and Sichi being but a few.

J*9: What is the best piece of art you have created?
Suzko: It’s really difficult to choose one of my pieces which I think is the best. I spend so much time working on them and staring at them for hours that it’s hard to see them with fresh eyes. When you look at something for so long it strips it of its purity and you can never see it for what it really is. Having said this, I do love one called ‘Baby and Tash’, which is a portrait of my grandfather holding me as a baby. The colours I used give it a real comic book/superhero feel.
I honestly don’t feel like my gender affects my art in any way.

J*9: Where in the world would be your ideal place to produce some art?
Suzko: Two places I’ve never been but have heard are amazing are Berlin and New York. I’d love to go out there, especially Berlin as it full of artists, musician and all creatives. However, probably the most idealic place for me to be to do art would be somewhere like Indonesia. A place where rainforest meets beach, sitting in some broken down little beach hut with no material distractions, just nature. I’m not a hippy, I swear! Ha-ha!

J*9: Tell me about any upcoming projects you may have?
Suzko: No real plans for future projects yet. I wanna get back to my dark side; create some proper twisted characters in oils. I really wanna teach myself to use spray cans as well cos then I could get into doing big murals and stuff. That would be great!

Check Suzko on: http://susielowe.carbonmade.com/

Man, I feel like a Woman

Today, I bought a book called ‘Graffiti Woman’ by Nicholas Ganz. It got me thinking, ‘Does gender make a difference when producing gendered themed book?’ This work of photography features a cross-section of female graffiti artists from all over the world. Each artist brought her own style to graffiti as an art form and was an enjoyable experience to page through. But, this thought still lingered. It would have been more empowering if a female had been the curator of this book; then it would have been a collection of female graffiti art by a female author. It suggests that these women are only worthy because their talents have been recognised by a man. If women were given equal space in the many graffiti books that are focused on men, then essential we would not need a book of this kind. As the man or woman that would make such a collection of work would be mindful if it appears that one gender is dominating the content.Ganz admits in an interview,‘Women are often forgotten or underrepresented in the graffiti and street art related literature. Men didn't take them seriously...graffiti was and still is very sexist and male dominated.’

Getting your Nails Did...

Upon my travels around London, I picked up my trusted friend, 'The Metro' and I found this piece about a Japanese Nail Fair. Well, we all now the Japenese are the most creative brunch. Obviously, it is in the sushi as they have spawned some of the best designers, Yohji Yamamoto, Nigo of Bathing Apes and Rei Kawakubo founder of Comme des Garçons. For cry out loud they have Harajuku district. This is clearly a sign fromm God because I need to get my nails did.

Kid Sister f. Kanye West "Pro Nails"
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Here is Kid Sister for some moral support.

jay STAR 9 interviews Renna from Brick City Boutique

For those who don’t know prepared to be educated. Renna runs Brick City Boutique, a successful monthly night for those wanting to sell and buy their artwork with a street inspired style. The night is an amalgamation of the four elements of hip-hop culture: Djing, Emeceeing, Bboying and Graffiti. Since it is a female running the show, B*I*T*C*H*E*S had to meet up and find out more about this creative fem.


J*9: Describe BCB in three sentences?
Renna: BCB is a platform for up and coming street inspired artists it includes those form the Fashion, Art and Music worlds. The idea is to create a springboard for young people who are coming up in the scene to perform on the same stage as established artist on the hip-hop scene.

J*9: How did the idea come about?
Renna: Well, I have been running my own jewellery business for the past three years that is based around street art and my own graffiti and personalisation. When I first set it up, I find it quite difficult to find a market place for my product and to fit in any part of the sector. I thought wouldn’t it be great to have a market place with all elements of hip-hop happening under one roof. That is the ethos of BCB. To have a place for street inspired artist to sell their work to a like minded audience.

J*9: How did you set it up and get people involved?
Renna: I approached a couple of people in the hip-hop scene, and that was DJ Snuff from End of the Weak. I asked him and End of the Weak to be the stage host because I know they are prolific in the hip-hop scene and is an international collective. They also run an open mic night and I want that to be a part of BCB for young people to voice their skills. It seemed natural to go them because of what they do and he loved the idea. It also open up a lot of doors and through that channel I went to Sensei FM and then links were made with basement Sessions as to who I collaborate with as well. It came to life of its own.

J*9: When you had your first event, how were you feeling?
Renna: I was really nervous. I have done events before but more on the underground scene, but this was different I was opening up the stage and it was just a big responsibility but exciting t the same time.

J*9: So what is the secret to its success?
Renna: Everyone gets what it is about. With an event like that it is kind of unique in what it stands for. People on the hip-hop scene are open and supportive and they can see the potential of it. I have been approached by some important names in hip-hop and asked if they can perform at the next event. That is such a buzz.

J*9: (interrupts) Can you name drop?
Renna: (laughs) Not right know! Because nothing is set in stone yet. That is just such a boost. People are starting to come to you now and that makes it worth it.

J*9: BCB has a really relaxed and easy going energy, how do you create that?
Renna: The hip-hop scene that I know and love in the UK, in other places like Prague, Berlin in fact where ever you go, there is so much love involved in it and thinks that shines through. With an event that focuses on hip-ho p culture you are always going to get that love and unity and that is what I love about it.

J*9: BCB is really unique in what it does, how does that make you feel?
Renna: It makes me feel great. In a way I don’t see myself as a part of it as it has taken a life of its own. I like going to it just like everyone else. I am proud to be a part of the hip-hop scene it feels good.

J*9: Who is the BCB crowd?
Renna: The typical audience would be into anything hip-hop. So emceeing, break dancing, Djing, I get a lot of young emcees coming down because of the open mic opportunity and also to meet other artists. The general crowd of BCB are young enthusiasts who are artistic and expressive. They are the typical hip-hop-heads that you could spot, none of that fake gold chains stuff!

J*9: How do you know when nights have been successful?
Renna: I guess the looks on people faces when artists are performing on stage, the turn out and if people are up dancing, that’s how I generally gage it.

J*9: So apart from BCB, what else do you do?
Renna: As I mentioned before, I run a graffiti jewellery business and my collection is called ‘Ghetto Soul.’ The idea of Ghetto Soul is similar to the ethos of BCB and is about my dedication to hip-hop culture and the celebration of the four elements of hip-hop. On top of that I teach in a College on retail course and I teach on a fashion course run by DV8 Training.

J*9: Now that you mentioned your jewellery collection how did get started?
Renna: I studied a HND in Jewellery, my designs were started to collaborate with my graffiti. One day I was doodling away, I thought I wondered if could turn this into a ring. It seemed logical to mix my graffiti designs with my jewellery making and I gave it a shot and it work. I made a ring for boyfriend and everyone said I should follow it through and wanted pieces for themselves.

J*9: So how did the name ‘Pieceology‘come about?
Renna: When I was trying to think up of a name. I was studying jewellery and graffiti and thinking about how I could make these pieces work. The word ‘piece’ stems from master piece and ‘logy’ means the study of and it came to me.

J*9: What inspires you to make pieces to jewellery?
Renna: I would get an idea and I would just want to pay with it and experiment. I make things which appealed to me and what represent the hip-hop culture that I am emerged in.

J*9: So what got you into hip-hop, what was that song?
Renna: The first hook line was Wu Tan song it must have been when I was 15 years old and it took me with both hands. I loved everything hip-hop from that moment. Then all the important hip-hop groups that were out at the time and then there was no looking back.

My 1st Ever New Era Cap

For the first time in my life, following a the massees. I am completely loving New Era Caps and plan to buy a whole lot more. Not only do they discriminate and employ beautiful people, they have an array of colours and
designs to keep you entertained.

I'm heavily inspired by hip-hop and felt my first purchase shouldd reflect that.

Sa-Ra Creative Partners @ Deviation 4/11/09

Sa-Ra was performin set at Deviation held at the ever-so-cool Gramophone, a bar and club in East London. Thinking about the few gigs I have been able to make they are number one.

The night was so sick, pulling out signature tunes like 'Rose Bud' and 'Hollywood' which sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The most appealing factor of the night was the refreshing and down-to-earth attitude, they mingled in the crowd and several times gave thier thanks for us being there.

It's official I am marrying Taz, and here is the song that sent the crowd pumping.