Starting September 1st, Yves Laroche Galerie d’Art will be presenting The Seventh Letter Crew’s first Canadian group exhibition: WILL RISE. Los Angeles based, The Seventh Letter is an institution born from
street culture, and comprised of an army of artists with roots in graffiti and beyond; including fine art, tattooing, graphic design, sculpture and music.
Montreal’s own OMEN to lay it all out for you.
Anyone who is in the graffiti world knows The Seventh Letter, unfortunately, not everyone in the art world does.
Yet.
The art world did it’s token nod to graff back in the 80’s and even brought many of the same artists back for another show at the Brooklyn Museum in 2006. The only people remembered from that time are the likes of Haring and Basquiat. It seems like the photographers of this period seemed to almost do better than the artists themselves. Many of the artists were forgotten by the “high art” community but not by their peers.
Knowing the savage and overwhelming aspect of The Seventh Letter’s graffiti I was surprised how it was able to translate into an art show. I guess they didn’t want to explode the heads of unknowing viewers so they kept it on the humble size. I think heads are still going to be blown anyways…
All the pieces are tight and convey the essence of each artist. Some of them even feeding off each other and style and feel.
NORM & RETNA’s pieces with complex overlays over photos in black in white have a dark, sensual appeal to them. The hard edge and bold colours are what unite PUSH & POSE. While REVOK & REYES have their own distinct styles that mirror what one is in black and white to what the other one its in colour.
You know you’re going to see this show so I don’t know want to say much more about the pieces but would rather talk about the heart that goes into all the work.
There is a definite family vibe that is present throughout the time I got to hang out with them. Even when they grudgingly granted me a 6 minute “NORM interview” (with PUSH and EKLIPS present) This being the first time I ever interviewed anyone I decided to keep it short and sweet. I was surprised by their simple candor.
OMEN: What are your thoughts on the new generation with all the new caps and legal walls and internet…?
NORM: Um. I guess if you have talent you have talent. If you’re good with something it doesn’t matter what you have to do it with. If people like what you do they like what you do. That’s why you get fame because people like what you do. I don’t really think it has any thing to whether you paint with a spray bottle or if it’s the best can in the world. If you have style then you have style. If people care for what you do then they’re gonna show their friends and then show someone else. And if you suck… It’s all in the person not in the paint”
PUSH: Yeah, what he said.
NORM: At the end of the day the internet or whatever is what we have to use. Before we had to trade pictures. Before these guys (points to EKLIPS) …way before me You had to paint everywhere for people to see it
OMEN: So you have nothing but love for people that rock legal spots?
NORM: I really don’t give a shit about what anyone does.
If they’re happy with what they’re doing; then do it.
OMEN: OK. Fair enough
NORM: Everyone ones got something to do. Let them do it.
OMEN: As far as the gallery experience goes. Do you feel like new players in an old institution. Is this the NORM interview?
NORM: Yes. It’s the NORM interview. (laughs)
OMEN: [Galleries] had their first [graffiti art] movement back in the day in 1980 when they had their first exhibit…
EKLIPS: uh huh.
OMEN: It was socially relevant back then and now that graff is coming back, the graff esthetique, is being approved (OS GEMEOS, TWIST…). Y’know?
NORM: We’re just lucky we’re able to do what we do. We’re lucky people pople right now actually care about what we do. Me, as far as I’m concerned, I’m fortunate to live the life I get to live because of art. I mean everyone feels the same way about that (glances at PUSH & EKLIPS). EKLIPS’ business or PUSH’s paintings or whatever it is. It’s all because of what we’re able to produce. Funnily enough people like it right now. There are a hundred different artists out there that can paint a thousand times better than me but people like what we’re doing so we’re very fortunate.
OMEN: Okaaay. (all laugh) I had no preconceived notion of what you were going to answer. I wasn’t going to say “fuck this shit”.
NORM: You know what I’m saying.
OMEN: No, I get it. It’s awesome.
NORM: Being able to do a gallery show is awesome!
OMEN: It beats “would you like fries with that”.
NORM: Yeah, I don’t want to work at subways and luckily I don’t have to.
OMEN: what are your feelings towards…
NORM: I like subways though.
OMEN: …paintings as apposed to bombing. There is a certain satisfation towards that as compared to going into a studio. I sometimes feel its not the same vibe [as bombing] when you execute something. What are you’re feelings when comparing street to studio? (pause) someone?
NORM: (to PUSH) you. You paint the same stuff outside as you do inside. I don’t. I think that’s a good question for you.
PUSH: I think with everything that I do it’s a different idea for every approach. Whatever it is, it’s not going to be the same…approach I guess.
NORM: Inside or outside.
PUSH: Yeah, Inside or outside.
OMEN: I know you like bombing. What are your feelings towards bombing or painting?
NORM: I used to [bomb].
OMEN: I used to? (jokingly) Yesterday…
NORM: There’s usually no time in the day. You gotta travel outside the country to have a good time painting graffiti at least… Sometimes it’s forced because you have to paint something for a certain time. Then you just do it. This time I actually like the idea that I had, every thing just worked out and I had a good time doing it. It wasn’t stressful. Sometimes it’s stressful and I can’t find the place where it’s easy. Drink a bunch of coffee, smoke a bunch of -something- and make paintings happen.
OMEN: Alright, that’s simple. Ok, cool thanks.
NORM: Is that enough?
OMEN: Dude. This is my first interview. Fucked if I know.
Also, don’t miss the CAN YOU ROCK event on Saturday 4th+Sunday 5th: local & international graffiti artists will be painting the outside walls of 1825 Cabot, in Montreal, from 10am to 8pm, to the beats selected by Montreal’s finest: DJs Maysr, Jabs, Eric the Tutor, Trontell Jordan, Sagewondah, Twitch, Midas, Mana, and many more. There’ll be 500$ to be won in a street soccer tournament. The CAN YOU JAM big loft party takes place 10pm-3am on Saturday @ 377 Richmond in Griffintown. Live music by Side C & Karma Atchykah. DJ sets by Truspin & Djoolz.
All photos in this nopost are credited in the caption. Here’s a couple more. Word to the artists and crew.
