REVOK FUNDRAISER: some details

It's been a long week trying to get things together for the show in July at POP Gallery.

Due to the recent arrest of one of my favourite artists (REVOK) and the recent battle between several local governments and graffiti artists I decided to turn our show into a fundraiser for REVOKs' legal fees and any other fees he might incur while locked up.
I hope that the message of the show will be one of community and artists rights.

While putting the show together it soon steamrolled into a bigger and bigger event. I truly appreciate all the artists and companies from around the world who have come forward and want to participate and help REVOK.

So some of you who are close friends with REVOK might be asking yourself..."Who the hell is this person in Canada and why the hell is he putting a show together for some one who he has never met?"

I am 41 years old I am a writer. I've been a writer for 26 years. I was never in a popular crew I was never an all city king but, I loved writing graffiti and I still do. Having a can in your hand is still one of the best feelings in the world.

While living in SF in the 80's and 90's I lived a few blocks away from Psycho City. I would spend hours and hours there. I never crewed up. I was more of a loner. I liked to paint. That was it.

I started seeing a lot of REVOK and SABER pieces pop up around the city and I immediately realized from the style... these kids were not from the Bay. I never got involved with beef. I never went over anyone and i wasn't going to start. I respected those guys for coming into a hostile environment and doing their thing. Besides beef means one thing.. you're one step closer to getting nabbed.

Soon after I moved to LA. That was an education. I feel in love with the sharp lettering and handstyles that defined the LA graff scene. I started taking the bus to the warehouse district by the river and I would just walk around and try and figure out how the fuck these guys were doing this stuff. There were techniques that crews like AWR/ MSK/ CBS/ LTS/ KOG were doing that were light years ahead of everyone else.

I learned a lot from REVOK without ever talking to him. I had a lot of respect for his art work, he was never just "getting up" he was also creating some amazing artwork and sharing it with the city.

When my Mom got real sick I decided it was time to move back to Canada and take care of my family. Fortunately I live one mile from Detroit so I don't feel completely out of the loop. Mom is healthy and doing well and I found myself settled down with a wife and a life.

When I saw the direction that  Eklips had successfully moved MSK/AWR and 7th in and I saw that REVOK and a few of the guys were doing gallery shows it was the first time I realized that galleries and pushing graffiti in another direction was a possible option.

I started painting again. and I had a new set of goals for my art. I don't think that would have happened if People like REVOK and the MSK/ AWR guys wouldn't have led the way.

SO why am I having a benefit for REVOK?
Why wouldn't I?
I have the opportunity to give back a little to someone who has given me a ton of inspiration and has been instrumental in moving what we do into a respected and recognized movement.


MECA.

REVOK

Heres the article from LA weekly. This is such bullshit. How can you set bail at $320,000.00 for ann outstanding warrant not related to a violent act?
 http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/04/revok_jail_fundraiser_la.php

New Studio

Well the new studio is finished. Looks pretty tight. Now I have to get ready for several shows I have coming right around the corner. The big one is going to be the REVOK fundraiser at POP gallery. I have a ton of work to do for that show.