Metal Fingers Krew -WASP Interview

Thanks for sitting down with us today man. Introduce yourself for those who don't know you: 

WASP - MFK

What got you started in graffiti? How have things changed today?

I got started in graffiti around 2004/5 and painted my first train in 2006. What got me into it was seeing it as an adolescent and wondering - Who? When? How?. Seeing names on the highway as a kid out of my parents car window had me intrigued and interested in how I could participate. Graffiti is evolving more rapid than ever so to answer how things have changed is a very dense question. Things have changed more than I can describe here but size, styles, ground being covered, connections amongst the community, it's just growing so fast it is hard to describe the changes!

What does style mean to you? What makes one piece superior to another?

Style means a lot to me and much more than just the letters or techniques a writer chooses to use. Style comes in many shapes and forms, the way you dress, your slang, your demeanor. It can carry over to your other art practices, the way your home is decorated, the way you document your creations. etc etc. Style defines people. It is hard for me to determine what makes one piece superior to the next, a lot of times for me I am not looking at one individual piece and assessing a writer, I am looking at an entire body of work. I have a hard time sitting back and comparing two pieces of graffiti next to each other, it just isn't how my head works. In obvious cases - if one of the two pieces is by an undeveloped, style lacking type of person it is easy to determine. But if we are talking about 2 established writers and picking which piece is better than the next I am thinking a lot about what each writer has done to get to the level of creating these pieces.

Do you have a preferred spot or object to paint? 

No preferred spot no. I have my "go to" spots but I would rather not disclose much about them. Favorite object...I am a freight writer! I love autopart flats, new reefers, racks, the new boxes, so on and so on. But another one of my favorite surfaces to paint is an old beat up wall in an abandoned or vacant building. The way paint and color can transform an old dilapidated surface is magical. I love using objects on a surface to help define the shapes of my piece, like old meter boxes or transitions from one material to the next etc. I Will use those surfaces to help me compose my piece on the wall.

Tell us about your philosophy towards life and graffiti:

To enjoy it. To make the most of it. Graffiti has given me purpose in my life. Graffiti keeps me motivated to chase more goals, it has taught me patience, discipline, persistence. I find myself setting goals and being hyper focused on achieving them. Some large some small. For years, Jigle and I have shared our annual goal lists with each other and check in on them periodically, helping each other stay focused on the goals and assisting if needed. If I dont do this, I find myself wasting time or not feeling like I am making the most of life. Time management is key.

You recently organized and curated a group art show for the 2Buck Invitational event, What motivated this? What were some of the challenges/things you were proud of?1 response

I did, yes. I curated a show called "Sign Language". This show was focused on tying the relationship between graffiti and signage together and giving writers an opportunity to display their work. I want to contribute to the guys that organize the jam. The jam happens in my hometown and is in memory of a key figure of our graffiti community, 2BUCK. I knew 2B and have memories of time spent with him that still stick with me today. I also know his crew and am friends with the present guys in the crew. It felt natural to partner with the event and bring something to the table to contribute to the weekend and create an opportunity for writers and the community to socialize, check out some cool work and create new memories to build from. Challenges - honestly not many, none worth mentioning. Proud of - super proud of the line up and turn out, proud to be able to get some pieces sold and put some cash in writers hands, proud to be a contribution to the weekend. Overall proud to be a part of such a dope movement and play a roll in moving the ball forward.

What would you like to see happen in Graffiti today?

Originality, experimenting. Not being so confined to the rules. I think tradition is awesome and people that keep tradition alive need to be valued and praised for it. But I also realllllly enjoy seeing the bar get pushed through style, locations, approaches etc. I want to see people dedicating themselves to this culture, not just one foot in one foot out "oh i will paint when it is convenient" type of approach. When people become fully immersed is when we start seeing real leaders and evolution. I am most inspired by the people that have dedicated themselves to this and fully apply themselves.

Cats are reaching increasingly new heights through the use of ropes and climbing skills. What do you think of this new trend and are there plans to repel yourself?

It is cool to see! I really don't have a lot to say about repelling. It isn't on my immediate to do list and to be 100 - I am not a heights guy! But maybe in the right setting with the right group of people around me I may give it a go. Props to the people pushing the bar with this, I do think it has evolved graffiti to a new level and it is exciting watching it unfold in real time.

Do you practice meditation or spirituality?

I spend a lot of time seeking solitude. I wouldn't call it meditation or spirituality but I love deep thinking, I love getting all the way through a thought opposed to letting thoughts enter and leave my mind in fleeting moments. I spend time in the gym as well as the sauna and in these moments I am reaching a mental space where I can really clear my head out and think about things at a slower pace. I also work in my studio a lot and have quiet moments where I am able to just be. As the world is moving at this extremely rapid rate on a daily basis, it feels good to lock myself away from it briefly and work through any mental snags I may be having.

What's OSRS? How did that come about?

OSRS is an art collective that specializes in large scale murals, sign painting, studio work, guerilla advertising, photography, digital design, etc. There are 2 divisions of the brand, OftenSeenRarelySpoken and OSRSMuralCo. The difference is OSRSMuralCo is created for commercial work, while OftenSeenRarelySpoken is a curated body of work that takes on its own personality through the aesthetic of still life painting, abstract compositions and a common goal for those involved. This came about in 2016 as my team and I saw an opportunity for growth within ourselves but also the community. OSRS is a team of 5 artists that work together in all capacities to create to the best of our ability. We travel far and wide painting walls and seeking creative opportunities that allow us to pursue our goals as a collective. OSRS also creates merch like tee's and hoodies, tote bags, stickers, hats etc etc.

How do you balance your personal home life with all of your creative endeavours?

I don't. It all carries over. My partner supports what I do and allows me the space I need to create whether that be at home, the studio, the yard, or on the road. My balance is a mental state for me. Sometimes it is hard for me to get out of the groove of creating or brainstorming but that is when I feel I am being most useful and true to myself. Being creative is basically a mandatory physical act I have to do to stay happy and motivated. Be it drawing, designing, shooting photos, painting, building, etc...I just need to be doing these things to stay on a level mental state otherwise I can feel the tension building within myself.

Any crazy stories to share?

I struggle to keep firm details together in my head from crazy stories. Obviously as a graffiti writer and artist we have crazy run in's and situations ALL THE TIME. They have become cloudy and end up running together in my mind as I try to catalog them all and put them in the right mental folder lol. Some times that stick out to me - Fullcar nights lighting fires in the yard to stay warm, traveling 10-12 deep as a crew for missions, 30 day stays in NYC all on someone else's dime, pallets of paint showing up time and time again, sleeping in cars just so we can get day flicks at the crack of dawn, meeting my heros, finding places in cities that people that have lived there their whole lives haven't seen before, etc etc. Graffiti creates a lifestyle that is constantly bringing new and exciting experiences. It is so hard for me to keep up with these experiences because as soon as one is complete we are planning for the next. I take photos and often go down the rabbit hole of nostalgia to try to remember the great times. My stories are no crazier than the next guy's and I know they are going to keep coming. If you are reading this and have a crazy story or memory we had together, reach out and remind me!!! I always love reminiscing.

Shout outs:

Too many fools to shout out man....all of MFK. My girl, my little brother, anyone that has put me on while I am traveling...there are just too many to name!!! Love you guys.