Hey fellaz,

As we told you HERE, we love the site Graffgirlz. Thank’s to the graffgirlz team, you’ll have the pleasure to read on fatcap an interview per week of female graffiti artists. Here’s an interview of EKOS. She’s from Canada, graffiti from Toronto! Big up to her!

WARNING: We also told you that fatcap don’t give a fuck about the sex of a graffiti artist… so don’t be boring on your comments. By the way we ‘re down with the last answer of EKOS… if a writer rocks, It rocks…

Presentation ( age, city, how long painting, crews…) :
I’m originally from Halifax, but I’m now living in Toronto, Canada. I’m 21 years old and I have been painting for 4 years. I’m not a member of any crews.

How did you first get into graffiti ? Why this mode of expression?
I always liked looking at graffiti picture, but I never tried it myself. It’s something I didnt see much of in Halifax until I really started looking.I started sketching really cheesy drawings in my blackbook, and I met some people in high school who painted, and thats how I started. None of the people I started painting with really paint anymore though.

- What is your definition of graffiti? Do you living it daily? How do you see the world of graffiti today? Why do you love graffiti?
I don’t really have my own definition of graffiti. It means lots of different things to lots of people. The world of graffiti today is very advanced compared to what it was when it began, although I still would have loved to be around when it began on the subways in new york. I love it because its an amazing feeling, and i find it very satisfying to paint something I’m happy with.

- What are your sources of inspiration, and your references in graffiti?
Im inspired by my friends, by bright colors, and simple but stylish letters.

- Do you have supports of predilection, preferred environments? What do you think of the use of canvas?
As for preferred environments I guess I like painting on the train tracks, in spots far away, on a hot sunny day, with lots of beer. I think the use of canvas is ok as long as its not all you do. For me I do canvasses when i get a bit of time, and I do them mainly just for myself, to give to friends, or to trade. I’m not trying to make a whole career on canvas painting.

- Do you make vandals sessions regularly? If not why? If yes How you feel when you are doing illegal graffiti? What is different between the experience of doing illegal and legal walls? Do you get the same satisfaction?
I don’t make them regularly, but I’m not opposed to them. Its obviously a rush doing Illegal graffiti. I like hitting spots that are illegal, but not completely street level. Spots where stuff will stay up a bit longer. I try to limit my illegal activities due to the profession which I am trying to get into. i wouldn’t be able to do it if i got arrested again. Theres a difference between doing legal walls and illegal graffiti, but I think it’s good to have a balance of both.

- How do you wish to evolve in graffiti, what are your projects (exibitions, trips, new supports…)?
I wish to keep painting and drawing as much as possible. Sometimes I go through phases where I just can’t think up new stuff, so I dont end up painting for a while. then theres this burst of energy and inspiration where I’ll pump out a bunch of sketches and go painting as much as i can. I also plan to work on canvasses a lot more over the summer. I’m quite enjoying that, I dont have any plans for exhibitions or anything though.

- According to you, being a woman in graffiti which is a world mainly masculine, it is an asset, or a difficulty? How are you perceived by the male writers? Do you have privileged contacts with the other females writers?
I don’t like the whole thing about being a girl really. I find that females get special treatment sometimes. For example girls who aren’t that good get so much respect simply because they’re a girl. If they were a guy doing the exact same pieces no one would look at them twice. I like it when people meet me and they’re like “Oh, I had no idea ekos was a girl”. I want to be able to push myself to paint as best i can, and for people to like my pieces before they know i’m a girl. i dont really have too many contacts with other female writers. There aren’t too many in Canada anyway. I know a couple, but I dont have contact with anyone from the States or anything like that.

- Any last words or shout outs?
Shout outs to everyone I know, they know who they are.

Thanks to Graffgirlz team

Stay tuned for more interview next week!

Peace yo

One more time and article from http://www.at149st.com/ which deals with a crusty subject: Woman in graffiti!

FEMALE WRITERS
Young women participated in writing from its earliest days, but have always been in the minority. The assumption that the qualities required of a successful writer are gender specific has been dis-proven time and again by many young women. Throughout the years many young women have earned their places in New York City’s graffiti art history.
In graffiti art culture women face many obstacles not encountered by men. The late hours and desolate locations in which most writing is done can be particularly dangerous for women. As with many male-dominated fields the social atmosphere can be extremely harsh. Female writers are often subjected to all kinds of harassment. They are frequently the subjects of rumors such as “She sleeps around to get style.” or “Her boyfriend writes for her”. In general women have to struggle for respect for their accomplishments. Another barrier frequently encountered was possessive boyfriends who discouraged participation in a male-dominated field.

EARLY 1970s
Females to gain attention during the early 1970s were writers like Brooklyn’s STONEY and COWBOY. GRAPE and CHARMINE were also early female writers. Probably the most prolific of the time period were Manhattan’s BARBARA 62 and EVA 62. These women hit streets, public parks and subway stations with as much vigor as their male counter parts. KIVU, POONIE 1 and SUKI were also active around this time.

MID TO LATE 1970s
From 1974 to 1979 few young women made consistent efforts on the streets and subways. During this time period LIL LOVE 2 of Manhattan occasionally accompanied her brother LEE (Quinones) to the lay-ups, but for the most part female writers were not active.

In 1979 PINK also known as LADY PINK came into prominence. She would become the most enduring and accomplished female figure in the history of writing to date. Since that time PINK has been an ever-present creative force in graffiti art.

1980s
In addition to the continued presence of PINK the 1980s saw female subway writers such LADY HEART, ABBY, CHICK, SS, (LIL-LOVE TBK), DAWN, ANNA and BAMBI. LADY BUG gained attention for her throw-ups on the BMT division during the mid to late 1980s.

1990s- PRESENT DAY
The new breed of female writers shows a level of commitment seldom seen in earlier generations. These women are involved in bombing, burners, roller letters and tagging on the streets on New York City. Recent female writers to make significant impact are MS. MAGGS who broke ground in the early ’90s. Brooklyn’s DIVA, HOPE, and DONA of the Vandals In Control crew, they have produced many elaborate murals across the city. JAKEE from the borough of Queens was a prolific street bomber during the late 1990s. Other recent day female New York City writers include MUCK, FNS, CLAW, MISS 17, ICON, EROTICA 67 and NAISHA.

With graffiti art’s expansion outside New York City in the 1980s many women across the globe pursued careers as writers. MICKEY of Holland and BLUE of Sweden have made significant strides and are a part of the New York writing scene, writing for the Fantastic Partners crew.

It is to the credit of all the generations of women that they thrive in a sometimes misogynistic “boys club” culture.