Australian Graffiti for Heritage

Interview with: Justin Tolentino

SIMPLE SIX

1. Besides art & music what else drives you?

good friends, shit talking, beer

2. Favourite character from the Muppets?

I think its a toss up between animal and the Swedish chef.

3. Window or isle?

window.

4. 3 favourite colours to use?

in order they are
70's dirty green, blood red and psychiatric ward yellow.

5. First thing on your mind most mornings?

"my dreams are fucked up"

6. Favourite artist to collaborate with?

Chris Sabatino
Christopher Burch
and the rest of the screwed in crew
all of my St. Louis artistic geniuses

http://www.myspace.com/screwedin



  




DOWN to BUSINESS


• What style of art do you create & where did it start for you?

Well I like to call it urban contemporary. . but I have been getting tired of hearing people over use the term "urban". It definitely has its roots in street art and graffiti but in some of my works I feel it can span a wider than the urban stereotype into an almost abstract realm.

• Who was your main inspiration at the start?

my father my grandfather and my cousin looking at their art as a kid. their art inspired me to create and think on a different plane when I came to two dimensional surfaces and what I could do with a pen or marker. as I got older skateboarding and hip hop influenced my art work looking at all the west coast designs on decks and t-shirts and also all the old hip hop movies really inspired me to write on things and expand on letter forms and characters...


• What are you trying to say or create with your art?

Well obviously my art is an interpretation of my day to day life experiences... but as far as what I am trying to convey to the viewer... to me it is more about what emotion they take away from the piece. if they must know what each piece is all about I will tell them, but I feel in some situations its not as fanciful as what they have worked up in their head.

• Where have you taken your art or had it put up?

I have had my art all over the states and internationally.
Canada, UK, AU etc.


• How have you used your art to change your lifestyle?

Well I think it effects the people I hang out with and what I do as far as how I use my time.
for the past nine years I have been curator and a board member for a grassroots art organization providing assistance for up and coming artists in the St. Louis area.


• How does the community benefit from your art?

Aside from the arts organization.
I take an apprentice about 2 or 3 years and try to help them with their artwork direction and get a foot in the door in the art community.


• With the boom of urban art & the many classifications such as street art, graffiti, bombers. . How do you view these styles & what would you like to say about them?

I appreciate all of them...

A lot of people have a problem with bombing once they become established street artists or just artists. I don’t, with out me doing that I may have not became the person I am today... I feel its a necessary element of any growing or thriving city... imagine what these kids could be doing if they weren't out creatively altering a city.