Clogged Caps: Taking Over the City By Chad Hankins
Clogged Caps is San Antonio ’s premier graffiti event. Every March, the best artists from around the world descend upon our city, and spend three days pushing their art to a new level. This year’s event will be no exception! With right around a hundred of the best of the best coming from near and far to paint large murals on the expansive walls of Backstage Live (1305 East Houston Street San Antonio, TX 78202), and live music for the 18 and up crowd every night, one can’t help but be curious about what this subculture has to offer the community as a whole. The following is my journey for the answers to that very question.
I figured that talking to the head promoter was the best place to start. He’s a local graffiti artist, who will also be participating in the event, that goes by Supher. He was more than happy to share the ins and outs of launching an event of this proportion. According to Supher, all of the permits and approvals from the city don’t go through until about thirty days before the whole spectacle is set to occur. This gives him, and his modest collection of associates, about a month to put the entire affair together. It sounds like a reasonable period, until you consider the conclave of artists and musicians that they have to assemble. And it’s not as if they’re just driving down the street to put some pictures on a wall. Artists like the LAWS crew of Texas , Haste from L.A. , New York’s Bekit , Perish from New Mexico , and even Rei from Spain, are all going to great lengths to travel to S.A. for the chance to spread their work . It seems like a year of brainstorming funneled into a month of desperately scrambling to get the details under some semblance of control. In spite of all of this, Supher and company are notorious for putting on a cutting edge and fulfilling experience every year.
Clogged Caps always features live music and, thanks to a spirit of friendly competition and a desire to innovate, new additions to their artistic styles. This year the promoters are also collecting donations for various local charities. Alameda School of Art and Design’s Graffiti Club will benefit from paint can, notebook, and marker donations, and Haven for Hope will be receiving any deodorant, toothpaste, socks, and other donated house wares that the C.C. Promoters receive.
I asked him if he could put me in touch with anyone else who might be able to satisfy my questions about graffiti in general, and he answered with “Call Sloke.”
I got a hold of Sloke, in Austin , the next day and shot him a battery of questions, including things like why so many people pursue this medium in spite of legal implications? If he could paint any structure in the world, what would it be? What are some of your favorite cities to paint in? And I gained an entirely new perspective on this ever expanding art form. I’ve always wondered what caused so many graffiti artists to gravitate toward train cars over the decades, so I asked him why he thought this was. His response was that it’s “All nation. More people can see it.” It’s such a simple concept, yet incredibly innovative. It’s pretty amazing that the simple fact that graffiti predates the internet caused such a well known and iconic part of our every day lives. The most efficient way to move your art from Oakland to Jersey in the 1970’s has become the synonymous image of an entire art form.
I also found out that Sloke has been coming to Clogged Caps since 2003. When I asked him why he was compelled to return year after year, he said “It’s a chance to see and meet new people… we’re all just wanting to paint.” That communal sensibility has universal appeal. It’s like summer camp when you’re a kid, but way cooler.
After about thirty minutes, we’d discussed his graffiti company that does commissioned walls in Austin and L.A. called All City Branding, the new, more technical direction that graffiti artists are going in, his desire to one day paint a DC-10, his mentor Skam, the joys of painting in the artistic climates of San Francisco and New York, and the art form that he describes as “Stylized typography,” and “Pretty self indulgent… writing my name over and over and over,” which made me laugh. Then it was time to go.
I guess that in the end Clogged Caps is a labor of love for the handful of people that give up their time to host the event, an incredible opportunity to expand their art for the people who come to paint, and an unforgettable exploration through a historically misunderstood artistic medium for the rest of us.
All of the shows are as follows:
March 8, 2012: Meet & Greet Artshow featuring DJ Vicious & DJ Hectik @ Hi-Tones (621 E. Dewey, San Antonio, TX 78212) 9pm – 2am No Cover 21 & UP $3 Minors March 9, 2012: Live Painting 12pm – 8pm FREE ALL AGES Backstage Live Courtyard; Kick Off Party featuring Apaso, GhostPizza, Milli Mars, & DJ Spinner T at Backstage Live (1305 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205) 10pm – 2am $5 21 & Up $8 Minors March 10, 212: Live Painting 9am – 7pm FREE ALL AGES Backstage Live Courtyard, Hip-Hop Heavyweights Night featuring Clemits & MSG Crew, Evolve, DJ Trouble, Paint By Numbers & DJ Charlie at Backstage Live (1305 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205) 10pm – 2am $5 21 & Up $8 Minors
March 11, 2012: Live Painting 9am – 8pm FREE ALL AGES Backstage Live Courtyard, Closing Party featuring BetaPlayer, AURAself and DJ Gibb, Black Note, & DJ Donnie D at Backstage Live (1305 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205) 10pm – 2am $5 21 & Up $8 Minors
For more information on events and charities, go to http://www.cloggedcaps.wordpress.com.
Category Archives: san antonio texas
20?’s with GEW
1.First off. What do you write ? GEW
2.where does your ass sleep at night and where are you from? MY HOUSE IN MY BED NEXT TO MY BEATIFUL WIFE. IM FROM SAN ANTONIO, BORN AND RAISED
3. How did you get your name? I WAS SPITING OUT LONG STRANDS OF DROOL ONE DAY AND SUCKING THEM UP BEFORE THEY HIT THE FLOOR, MY COUSIN WAS LIKE EWWW, THAT SHITS ALL “GEWY”… THEN THE NAME WAS BORN
4. How long have you’ve been writing ? 10 YEARS
5. What is your background in art ? Any formal school? NAW, NO ART SCHOOL
6. You have any good graff stories? BACK IN 04 ME AND MY HOMIES WERE DOING THIS ROOFTOP, WE HAD TO CLIMB TO THE TOP OF 1 ROOF IN ORDER TO GET TO THE ROOF WE WERE TRYING TO HIT, WELL WHEN WE GOT UP THERE WE COMPLETELY MISS JUDGED THE HEIGHT FROM 1 ROOF TO THE NEXT, IT WAS ABOUT TWO STORIES, SO MY DUMBASS WAS LIKE ” MAN WE CAN MAKE THE JUMP”, YEAH, I WAS WRONG. HALFWAY THROUGH THE JUMP I REALIZED IT WAS WAY HIGHER THAN I THOUGHT SO I TURNED SIDEWAYS HALFWAY THROUGH AND LANDED ON MY SHOULDER… I PRETTY MUCH JUST LAID THERE FOR A MINUTE IN PAIN. KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF ME REAL BAD I COULDN’T TALK FOR LIKE A MINUTE.
7. What’s your favorite quote? LOYALTY IS ROYALTY
8. You know karate? LOL, AM I THE ONLY 1 WHO WAS ASKED THIS QUESTION. I’VE TRAINED IN MMA FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS…. NOTHING SERIOUS THOUGH, JUST A FUN WAY TO STAY IN SHAPE.
9. Who are your influences in the art world ? SHIT THE LIST IS HUGE, FIRST AND FOREMOST MY CREWS… AFTER THAT, SAN ANTONIO PIONEERS, ESPECIALLY OER FROM RTD/WR, AND YOU (SUPH)…. CURRENTLY CENS FROM LC/RTD/BY/LAWS, IS I HUGE INFLUENCE ON ME, THAT’S MY DOG….
10. Where do your ideas come from for your style of pieces ? MY BRAIN LOL. I DEFINITELY LIKE TO USE A LOT OF COLOR AND KEEP MY PEICES BUSY… THAT’S PROBLY NOT WHAT YOU MEANT, BUT THAT’S THE BEST ANSWER I HAVE….
11. Ever find anything cool on the
street? NAW IM NOT LUCKY LIKE THAT…. MY WIFE FOUND 20 DOLLARS IN MACY’S LAST WEEK THOUGH.
12. What’s your favorite paint to use? MTN HARDCORE… AND MOST RECENTLY I’VE BEEN FEELING IRONLAK
13. You have any other hobbies other than painting? CARS, IMPORTS MORE SPECIFICALLY.
14. Favorite cartoon growing up? NINJA TURTLES
15. How do you feel about “street art”? I LIKE IT, THERE’S ENOUGH ROOM FOR EVERYONE.
16. What can you say to young kids wanting to get into this culture? RESPECT YOUR ELDERS, LEARN THE RULES, AND YOUR ATTITUDE CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOU….
17. You excited about painting at CC8? MAN YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO SEE THAT I MADE THE LIST AGAIN THIS YEAR. SHIT IT TOOK ME 9 YEARS TO GET INVITED TO PAINT HERE. I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE THIS YEAR.
18. Whats your favorite to paint on wood,metal,brick,glass,canvass? BRICK
19. Favorite writers in no order? OER RTD/WR, CENS RTD/LAWS/BY/LC, POSE MSK D30, REVOK MSK, SUPH RTD/LAWS/BY/CBS, LOSER LAWS/CI, SODE BY, SPIK LC/RTD/BY… THESE ARE GUYS THAT I’M ALWAYS REALLY REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY PUT OUT NEXT
20. Any places you’ve traveled to paint? NAW JUST AROUND TEXAS… ID REALLY LIKE TO CHANGE THAT SOON THOUGH
Shouts out. MY CREWS, LETTER CARTEL, BY, IGK, AND THE CREW THAT MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY “THE ROTTEN BUNCH”. ..SUPHER, NOT JUST FOR THE SPOT AT CLOGGED CAPS, BUT FOR HELPING ME DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, FOR BRINGING ME AROUND AND INVITING ME TO WALLS, WHEN NOBODY KNEW WHO I WAS, OR EVEN GAVE A SHIT TO KNOW WHO I WAS. I OWE A LOT OF WHERE I’M AT TODAY BECAUSE OF YOU. LOVE YOU BRO… MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER CENS. SPIK, LERN, JEDI LOVE YOU GUYS MAN. FREE DUO!
Feat artist @CC8 Rei
1.First off. What do you write ?
REI
2.where does your ass sleep at night and where are you from?
I’m originally from north Spain, (Basque Country), but at this moment I live in ATX
3. How did you get your name?
it’s an abbreviation from my real name, it comes from my sk8boarding days
4. How long have you’ve been writing ?
I started messing with graffiti around 1990, tagging my name at the local sk8boarding spots. I did my first piece around 1995
5. What is your background in art ? Any formal school?
I am self taught
6. You have any good graff stories?
quite a few, yes…anytime y
7. What’s your favorite shewp quote?
“dang bro, I can feel the bubble…”
8. Where can someone see your work?
facebook.com/rei.mkombos, rei74.com, but the best place would be in the streets
9. Who are your influences in the art world ?
so many good artists out there…
10. Best place you ever woke up at? From a long night of drinking.
my bed
11. Have you ever tried “docking”?
maybe…not sure what that is
12. What’s your favorite paint to use ?
Montana colors
13. You think 13’s a good or bad luck number?
just a number
14. Favorite cartoon growing up?
Mazinger Z
15. How do you feel about graphic design beig used in graffiti today?
why not…you still painting it on a wall..
16. What can you say to young kids wanting to get into this culture?
learn about graffiti history and ethics
17. Can you give us any insight on what you plan on doing art wise in the next couple of years?
I just want to make things bigger and more complex
18. Can you tell us more about question #10?
home sweet home
19. Favorite writers in no order?
so many different styles, color combinations, approaches, compositions, attitudes…at the end my favorite writers are those that I personally know
20. Any places you’ve traveled to paint?
I have been moving back and forth from Spain too the US for the past 20 years, so yes I have done quite some traveling around but there’s definetly many places I would like to go to in the near future
Shouts out.
Mortal Kombos, CBS, LAWS, RTD, BY, RWS, TRPS…
Thanks again.
the paint yard san antonio
another feat group Paint by numbers @CC8
feat. MC @ clogged caps 8 Milli Mars
Another featured DJ @ clogged caps DJ Gibb
Featured DJ @ cloggedcaps 8 Donnie D
Donations During Clogged Caps 8
Donation Requests for Local Organizations
The Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design Graffiti Club – Spray paint cans
– Markers – Notebooks – Graffiti art books – Graffiti movies
Haven for Hope – Deodorant
– New socks – Flip-Flops (all sizes) – Bags, backpacks – Shampoo/conditioner – Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
If you have any of these items please bring them to the events.
thank you
Clogged Caps Staff
Read & Post
Thursday – 03.08.12
CC8 Meet & Greet Artshow
featuring DJ Vicious & DJ Hectik
at Hi-Tones 9pm – 2am
No Cover 21 & UP $3 Minors
621 E. Dewey, San Antonio, TX 78212
Friday- 03.09.12
Live Painting 12pm – 8pm
FREE ALL AGES
Backstage Live Courtyard
CC8 The Kick Off
featuring Apaso, GhostPizza, Milli Mars, & DJ Spinner T
at Backstage Live 10pm – 2am
$5 21 & Up $8 Minors
1305 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Saturday – 03-10-12
Live Painting 9am – 7pm
FREE ALL AGES
Backstage Live Courtyard
CC8 Hip-Hop Heavyweights
featuring Clemits & MSG Crew, Evolve, DJ Trouble, Paint By Numbers & DJ Charlie
at Backstage Live 10pm – 2am
$5 21 & Up $8 Minors
1305 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Sunday – 03-11-12
Live Painting 9am – 8pm
FREE ALL AGES
Backstage Live Courtyard
CC8 Closing Party
featuring AURAself and DJ Gibb, Black Note, & DJ Donnie D
at Backstage Live 10pm – 2am
$5 21 & Up $8 Minors
1305 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205
CLOGGED CAPS 9 