Tue
Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus or just (hopefully) making it past the end of the world that you’re celebrating this holiday season. It’s always nice to score the perfect gift so here’s what’s on our wish list this year as a bit of inspiration for your pressie shopping.
Perfect as an early Christmas present and bound to be a talking point at the office party. #Jaejess have a whole heap of festive ear danglers as well as all their classic dreamcatcher webs featuring all your favourite sport’s teams and WU TANG, WU TANG!!!
#JAEJESS
Hello Kitty x Christmas Earrings
$20.00
Get it here
A whole year of dope chicks! The Few and Far crew have gone from strength to strength over the past year. Join the girls on a 12 month journey through some of their favourite pics and support the crew as 2013 brings more adventures for these spraycan-wielding bad bitches!
FEW AND FAR
2012 Calendar
$16.00
Get it here
Throw out the cheap Ikea dinner set and prepare to eat in style with these super-cool plates by Aussie expats DABS and MYLA. Even the C.O.P. staple of baked beans on week old toast will taste better served on these. Unfortunately these sold out all too quickly for Santa to score us some but hopefully the magic elves can make them appear in time for Christmas day.
DABS MYLA X DOUGLAS AND HOPE
Limited edition melamine plates
$40.00 (SOLD OUT)
Check them out here
Slaps are the name of the game lately and graffiti’s notorious couple UTAH and ETHER can arm you with some to stick up around your hood, or even frame for your wall. These are limited edition and no two packs are the same.
UTAH & ETHER
Sticker Series 1
$35.00
Get it here
Ladies Killerz is an all-female graffiti event held annually in Australia, this year the event is being held in Sydney and will feature around 40 female writers from across the country. Closing with a huge after party with DJ’s, hip hop acts and live painting this is the perfect reason to head down-under. Oh and did I mention it’s summer here!
Ticket to Sydney in January for the 2013 LADIE KILLERZ Female Graffiti Jam
$49 – $2500
Book with your local air carrier
Gucci Gucci, Louis Louis, Fendi Fendi, Prada… Don’t be a basic bitch and get yourself a custom, handpainted wallet from young LA lass, Sand Oner. Guaranteed to get compliments.
SAND ONE
Hand painted Wallets
$85.00
Get it here
We know our readers are ‘sicker than your average’ and Randumb Miami have this too-cool-for-school tank from Acrylick so everyone else knows it too. Perfect for the Aussie summer.
RANDUMB MIAMI
Acrylick Sicker Than Your Average women’s tank
$27.00
Get it here
Don’t rock the cheap knock offs, we can tell! Get the original wooden accessories straight outta Brooklyn from Goodwood NYC with this cute little gift pack. Perfect as a stocking stuffer!
GOODWOOD NYC
Diamond Gift Pack – Natural
$38.00
Get it here
Roger Gastman knows a thing or two about street art and he brings his knowledge into a world of Kawaii-ness with this book of artworks inspired by Sanrio characters.
HELLO KITTY
Hello Art! Works of art inspired by Sanrio characters. Compiled by Roger Gastman
$35.00
Get it here
Kweenz Destroy collaborate with EWOKONE to create this on-trend (Oh no! I did not just say that) raglan tee. The rad spraycan lady character totally makes up for the fact I just said on-trend.
KWEENZ DESTROY x EWOKONE
Spray-Can Lady long sleeve raglan tee
$39.99
Get it here
I’ve been known to get adventurous in the kitchen when the green has been plentiful but my skills are fairly limited to ‘special’ shortbread cookies. Little did I know I could have made cannabis spring rolls! Probably don’t use any of these recipes for Christmas lunch with the relos… No, wait… That’s a perfect idea!
HIGH TIMES
The official High Times Cannabis Cookbook
$15.00
Get it here
If you want a rad tattoo, then see Sam Rulz, simple as that. She’s an amazing tattooer, calligrapher, artist and is handy with spraycans as well. She travels around from time to time but you can mostly find this Kiwi gal far from home in Vienna.
SAM RULZ
Tattoo appointment
$ POA
Contact her at: ouchiscool [at] gmail [dot] com
These translucent aerosols from Ironlak come in black and white and have revolutionised creating depth, 3D and drop shadows in pieces, characters and lettering. The above example from SOFLES shows just what can be done which is far beyond what our poor-to-average can control could ever do. Totally worth experimenting with, you’ll fall in love.
IRONLAK
Techies – Transparent Spray Paint
$ Varies
Get it: Your local graffiti supply store
I was a bit ‘meh’ about the last, very floral, Nike x Liberty collection so I was happy to see the much more edgier print and neon highlights in the recent collabo. If you’re not a fan of the wedge sneaker, the collection also has an Air Max 1 and some running styles as well as a rare letterman jacket (see below pics). The dunks are easy to get but the other styles will require some hunting down.
NIKE x LIBERTY
Nike Dunk Skyhigh
$179.99
Get it here
UK’s top chicks GIRLS ON TOP have recently dropped a zine at a very affordable price. The pages are full of many unseen pics from CHOCK, PUNISH, LYNS, LUNA and PIXIE. If you’re a graf mag collector (hoarder – as we are) then this is a much needed addition to your stash.
GIRLS ON TOP
Girls On Top Crew Zine
£3.90
Get it here
This is not just tequila, this is tequila cream. A blend of 1921 blanco tequila, soft Mexican cream and Mexican flavours including agave spice, cinnamon and vanilla and a hint of coffee. Perfect for after dinner shots or try a Tequila cream chocolate martini. Party!
1921
Tequila Cream
$30
Find a stockist here
Sun
We recently received a question from a reader asking us for graf advice. Being the know-everything-about-nada chicks that we are, we decided to consult some experts on the matter as well as throw in our own bad advice. Thanks to MEME, LUCKY LUCY and CHOCK for helping us out with this one, you should actually listen to what they say ‘cos unlike us, they actually know what they’re talking about.
QUESTION:
I’ll keep this short: I’m a girl, been into graff since I was 13- so 9 years now- but only ever sketched cos I had no one to write with and didn’t think it was wise to be walking around alone. Recently I’ve started tagging, but it ain’t that fun alone. I’m wondering: should I just give this shit up? Is it too dangerous for me to be out alone, just making up evasion tactics/ wall climbing methods as I go along? Am I really likely to meet other writers who won’t jack my paint and fuck me up?
Love from London
ANSWERS:
CHOCK | GIRLS ON TOP Crew | UK
If you wanna make friends go to a legal wall, most of the people there especially in London are safe. People there are just wanting to paint. The illegal vibe in London is way more thuggish so be prepared to go jack some cash tills or get your pens robbed. I have had a fair bit of grief in my time from being bottled to being robbed, but if you really like what you are doing you will just carry on regardless. I gotta say I don’t have the energy for it in the same way anymore but I relished it in my 20′s. Also watch out for CCTV there is way too much of it in central London. I used to find a nice safe get on for the tracks and walk them all night but usually with a mate, yeah you need to make some friends with the same interests! Get out on the piss with mates and just take your markers and if you’re finding climbing hard borrow a boy to stand on, haha that’s what I used to do. Graffiti isn’t wise but it sure is fun!
MEME | Few and Far | USA
First off get some god damn confidence if you want to do graffiti. Otherwise, give that shit up!! Ok if you been painting 9yrs!!! You should know how to climb shit, it’s just common sense. You see shit you wanna paint and then you hit it. No matter what is in the way.
If you don’t have the balls or even try to tag by yourself then your not into the bombing game and wont get any respect from any writers. Try doing legal walls if you are scared. Or you can get a buddy to get a little drunk or high with you and watch your back. Random friends that don’t paint always find it exciting to get into mischief with ya. When painting alone dress like a guy and in dark clothes *reminder lighter and spray paint = Crack head protection.
If some guy rolls up on you at a spot while your painting, act cute put your chest out act like it’s all good then jack his fucking paint if he trys to jack you. Weirdos seem to think women don’t have know how to run game on fools…but we do!
If you have issues making friends that paint. Get one of your homegirls that’s “out going”= (drunk girl) to to run around with you in your city. Lace her with paint and a glove and write your NAME which isn’t used by another writer. All over the fucking place.
If stopped by a cop, say you are out walking cuz you got in fight with your man. Cops never wanna deal with a crying girl, trust me works every time!!
Do some graffiti homework… For the love of god!!
LUCKY LUCY | Full-time artist | Netherlands
If you don’t think it’s that fun or satisfying alone, than that says something in and of itself. In nine years, seems like if you were really into, you’d already be taking legal avenues to paint like permission walls. You would know if the fire is strong within you. You can’t count on anyone but yourself, and there are plenty of us writers that are going it alone. I prefer my own walls rather than collaborative productions.
It can’t hurt to go bombing with a pro or two to learn what to do and not to do. That’s what I did when I started, but I also did a lot solo. There’s definitely been times where I looked back and thought how lucky I was nothing happened because at some spots no one can hear you scream. Carry a knife and/or pepper spray on your pants, not in your bag. For the same token, don’t be a wuss.
There are tons of super sweet, loyal, generous writers but there are also tons that will jack your shit too. Always assume people you just met/hardly know are not trustworthy and never leave your paint alone. I’ve seen a writer that shared a room with other writers at an event and then get all his paint jacked because he had the check out info wrong, they saw the opportunity and took it all. I’ve gotten paint jacked from a locked “safe place” at an event. I’ve had paint jacked from off the lift, inside a warehouse at a paid gig. ALWAYS ASSUME YOUR PAINT IS GOING TO BE STOLEN AND TAKE IT WITH OUT. Never be flashy with how much you have. Don’t leave it sitting all vulnerable either. I advise a little wheelie suitcase. As far as getting beat up, use your instincts.
IVEE | C.O.P. Magazine | Australia
The simple answer is: If you truly love graf then get out there. Don’t let worry or fear hold you back.
The more complicated answer is: Yes, you’re right it can be unsafe to be in the streets late at night. You need to keep your wits about you and don’t make yourself seem an easy target. If you feel scared, you will look scared, so walk with confidence, like you do this shit erryday. You could also carry a weapon, but this comes with its own set of difficulties, if the cops search you and you have graf stuff and a weapon then expect to be wearing some special silver bangles. You also have to always have it handy ‘cos you can’t just be like “Oh hold on Mr Rapist while I retrieve my box cutter from underneath yesterday’s cheese and tomato sandwich in my handbag” and you have to be prepared to use it if you gotta.
Have you thought of taking a group of friends with you when you bomb? Some of the most memorable bombing missions are with non-graf buddies ‘cos they just get such a huge kick out of it.
There’s plenty of nice writers out there who won’t jack your paint or want to fuck you up. Maybe you could start an Instagram or Tumblr of your sketches to start getting your name out there? If you’ve been into graf for 9 years then you would know the places where writers network, so meet people. You know what they say, real recognise real, if you’ve got the passion for it then other writers will see this.
On the personal tip, when I first started painting, another girl and I were doing a piece and we got sprung by a dude who was not impressed with our artwork, he managed to land a solid man boot into my guts. I could have given up that day and never painted again but my passion for graf was stronger than the internal bleeding. I also learned a very valuable lesson to always stay alert to my surroundings.
Ultimately, it’s up to you how much effort you want to put into it. Graf comes with risks as well as rewards and you have to be prepared to do some ballsy shit to get any sort of recognition. If you’ve got the ticker for it then go hard at it! If not, then keep killin’ those blackbooks.
Got a question for C.O.P. friends and fam to answer? Hit us up info [at] c-o-p-magazine [dot] com
Sun
A while back, contributor Irina Makrova blogged for us about the plight of Russian feminist performance art group, Pussy Riot which you can read here.
As Putin Vs Pussy Riot continues to make headlines around the world and even Australia’s PM Julia Gillard has spoken out about the 2 year prison sentences handed down to 3 members (aged 22, 24 and 29, 2 of which have young children) who were involved in the February Moscow Cathedral performance. Stating to reporters in Vladivostok for this year’s APEC leaders summit, “We have indicated our view that the sentence for these young women we believe is disproportionate”. But pollies and celebs like Bjork and Madonna (who have also been vocal in their disbelief in the sentencing), aren’t the only ones being heard on the matter, graffiti writers and Pussy Riot supporters are also making their opinions known with ‘Free Pussy Riot’ messages popping up in public places from suburban Sydney to the busy lanes of Eastern Europe. The below pics have been ganked from all over the inner’net and are living proof that anarchist spirit is still alive in the streets and Pussy Riot have made a global impact in their stand against Putin’s rule and a successful (albeit ill-fated for the imprisoned members) demonstration against the restriction of free speech in their country. FREE PUSSY RIOT.
Sun
Piece of the week goes to the lovely IGASM from Sydney, Australia with a fresh burner painted over the weekend.
You might recognise her funky letter steez from the Ironlak pages inside the front covers of C.O.P. print issues.
Yep, she’s dope!!!
Sat
Hahaha I love this so much! I never quite grew out of drawing dicks on things so when I saw this naughty artwork by ex-Melbournian couple now residing in Los Angeles DABS and MYLA, I was in awe and hysterics at the same time. The cheeky content in their quirky cartoon style earns it this week’s C.O.P. piece of the week title.
Sun
This week’s piece is from UK burner, CHOCK. The GIRLS ON TOP crew member recently painted this Wildstyle van. Anyone for a roadtrip?
GOT crew also have a fresh new tee design available, head on over to their blog for more info on how to make one yours.
Sun
This week’s piece of the week comes all the way from Chile with a piece by Turronas Crew member, ANTISA. We’ve featured ANTISA in the magazine before and continue to love her complex, colourful pieces. She’s also an awesome graphic designer, you can follow her work on her website.
Finished a piece you’re proud of? Seen a piece you love? Send it to us for piece of the week: info [@] c-o-p-magazine [dot] com
Thu
I remember when Eriks and I first connected with MEME, founder of Few and Far, we were blown away by how much passion she had for her art and she was real… like, really real. Her flick collection was full of serious bombing, not pretty legal walls but freights, billboards and all the rest. She was truly living the life that, in my opinion, is the spirit of Few & Far – real women doing real art.
A year on, Few and Far has achieved so much, growing to 20 women and completing a number of murals (including the first all-female mural at Art Basel Miami) Skate jams, events and even a road trip through west coast America. It was inevitable that a group show would be on the cards and we were stoked to see that an exhibition is being held to celebrate their first birthday!
FEW AND FAR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW
fewandfarwomen.com
179 | KSRA | HOPS | MEME | REDS | AMANDA LYNN | MAGS | SILOETTE | ERIN YOSHI | DIME | ERIN ASHFORD | TOOFLY | AGANA | GLORIA MURIEL | REZ | URSULA XANTHE YOUNG
June 8, 2012 6-10pm (closing reception 13 July)
BHERD Gallery | 8537 Greenwood Ave N. Suite #1, SEATTLE WA 98103 USA
Wed
For those of you who have become regular readers of our blog, you might remember a series of posts from our favourite penpal Lucky Lucy as she traveled around Europe for Meeting Of Styles 2011. Last we heard, she had just returned from her European adventure and painted Meeting Of Styles at home in Chicago, USA. She later told me that she wanted to move to Europe permanently and in a busy year of fundraising through commissioned artwork and murals she has done just that and packed her most important belongings including her kitty and moved to Europe. Arriving just in time for 2012 MOS in Zurich, Lucky Lucy is once again blessing our inbox with tales of her latest adventure.
Whattttupppppppppppp! Unfortunately I have not had time until now to write a lil note about this latest adventure aka life change. Seeing as I’m European by birth and a citizen I thought this time in my life would be perfect to get the fuck out of the USA and see what kind of adventures Europe beholds for me. It took a year to save money and prepare myself. The Crawford Steel Dali wall commission from February to May basically paid for the move. Sold/gave away/tossed most of my stuff. Put about 6 suitcases of memorabilia and personal stuff, 4 boxes and 2 boxes of art at my girls crib. Packed my paint bag, some clothes, the cat and after MUCH logistical paperwork and bullshit finally was ready to get the hell out of the country. My final destination will be a whole different country than Switzerland but that’s still a ways off. Was not going to miss MOS Zurich for anything. Thank God one of my long time friends came the weekend prior to leaving and helped with packing, and saving the furniture i loved. Organized one of his friends to assist with a big truck and after trials and tribulations at least got my things to where they needed to go. That’s how you know who your real friends are. They fucking step up to the plate even when the tasks suck.
This is how the cat got his freedom: Took him to the vet in February to get chipped, rabies shot and medical certificate ($135). Sent the certificate to the US Dept of Agriculture’s vet department for “further certification” ($37). In May, considering my Dali wall took forever, took the cat back to the vet to update the papers. Apparently they failed to chip him in February. They majorly fucked up. Another chip, another shot. Another certificate. No one saw the value in driving me so took public transportation an hour and half to get the certificate certified in person to make sure there were NO fuck ups. One stupid paper had to have a different date on it and it had to be original. Went home, back to the vet, another hour and a half transit time. I was so desperate to have some assistance – told one of my girls if she was a dude I would have sucked her dick to get a ride to the stupid office for the paperwork bullshit. Not that I would have but I was being dramatic to make a point. Her phone “died” for the rest for the day. Paid more money for certificate #2 ($37). Then I had to pay $125 at the airport and another surprise of $90 upon arriving in Zurich. WTF. Tested out kitty drugs ($30) on him for the weeks prior so he could be perfectly drugged for transit. The whole week of prep prior to leaving was one disaster after another but whatever. That was then, this is now.
Day 1 at the airport was a debacle. No flights out. Went back to my girls house, had a tearful breakdown feeling abandoned by all helpfulness when I needed it most. Forward to Day 2 – got some “chill pills” which helped calm down my near nervous breakdown. Had a horrible morning but managed to get a ride to the airport. Thanks sooooo much for scooping me up and saving me from crying the whole way to the airport. All the flights had room for us this time. The cat got to sleep on my lap half the flight because I snuck him out and put him under a blanket. We were happy. I have to apologize for my assholeness on this morning. I was at my very, very, very worst after a long stressful week. I did get the super hook up on the flights though. Buddy pass! Flying internationally on stand-by with a pet is definitely stressful however.
After we made it to Zurich, my luggage was magically already there from the day before, took the cat out for the longest piss of his life outside the airport. Gooooood kitty! Then I made it to the main station utilizing the luggage cart for all my stuff. That thing was so handy I managed to take it all over to my final destination. The city people gave me weird looks and I had to drag that heavy ass mother fucker up and down some stairs. The Rote Fabrik now has a new luggage cart. ha. Hey – I paid my two francs for using it – we’re just not done using it yet.
My saving grace that day was one of my FB friends which met me at the train station, brought me a sack of some greens, helped me figure out which train to take, etc. Basically has been my ambassador. Thank you sooooooo much!!!! It was soooooooo awesome to see my peeps from the year before on the first day. The cat and I napped under a tree by Lake Zurich. He got to drink some clean Zurich lake water. Now he’s part Swiss.
Got totally fucked by the hotel I had reserved to the tune of over $200 for missing the first night due to no flights so instead we got put up in a room in one of the organizers of Meeting of Styles Zurich’s apartment. What a relief and breakthrough that was! The cat is exceedingly happy, as he has good taste, likes nice clean apartments and awesome people. Jessi has been a fantastic hostess. I’m so fucking lucky!
Next let me attempt to summarize my MOS experience. The theme was fantasy so it took about 2 seconds to decide I wanted to paint a fantastic unicorn. Stole one from those free desktop wallpaper sites (as usual). Last year my paint got jacked so this year I made sure to pick colors that would be left over if something got fucked up (which it always does). We each got 16 cans of Montana Gold paint (fancyyyyy). Mine were mostly, white, black, grey and blues. Used some white roller paint for the bottom half to save paint. Sketched out the unicorn and worked a lot on the wings the first day.
Day 2 – First thing in the morning, walked up to one of the MOS boys with somewhat of a dire look on his face. “Lucy I have bad news for you…” Knowing already my wall got fucked up went to assess the damage. Some asshole fucked up several walls by stealing a roller and a bucket of roller paint from the MOS team and doing giant crew rollers over our walls. Thanks dick, I wish you bad luck for all eternity for being such a douche. Wouldn’t let anyone take pics until I “erased” it. Then I had to spend the day fixing it. Dr. Drax and the MOS team were heroes and hooked me up with blues, and a few extra cans of black and such. I negotiated a partial white can from Leza of Geneva to make it through the night with adequate paint. Much of the wall was done by nightfall but considering the fuckery that happens at night, my “ambassador” and I decided to camp out by the wall and babysit it. We went on a mission to get provisions and made it back on the last bus. The wall had a light on it so I just continued to paint through the night. We woke up next to the wall in sleeping bags in a rain storm. Yes, maybe I’m a lil crazy but hey — my wall did not get fucked with by the MASSIVE amount of drunks rollin’ through that night. On Sunday it rained and my wall was done early in the morning already. Having an event wall done before the end of the event is unprecedented for me. I also decided to skip the letter styles I was gonna do. The wall looked done without it and it may have been overkill.
Here is my Flickr account with all the pics in case anyone wants to share it with people that don’t have a Facebook account.
Peace! More adventure time. Thanks to the ladies at C.O.P. Magazine for making me feel important and asking me to blog for them.
Sun
OG LA writer JERK and new resident of the west coast REDS rocked side by side pieces in Los Angeles recently. JERK has artwork in ‘No Joke’, an upcoming exhibition in LA and REDS is on the grind with a t-shirt project and Few and Far’s 1st anniversary exhibition. Mad love for both these chicks.
