San Diego California Graffiti Writers, Kiska and Pres1, Paint Together at the Writerz Blok

I’ve always admired artists who can work together to create something fresh and new, while complimenting each others style during the creative process. In May of 2009, while I was working with Culture Shock San Diego to photograph the painting of the stage art for the Graffiti Life performance, I met two very talented graffiti writers, Kiska and Pres1. I had seen their graffiti art before on the side of the Undisputed Fitness Gym building in downtown San Diego and liked what I saw, so I was excited to get to know them better. After Kiska pulled her car up next to the wall at the Writerz Blok where she and Pres were going to paint, spray cans were unloaded, tunes were cranked up and before I knew it, they were painting. After I was finished shooting this assignment, I was so impressed with how well these two artists collaborated, I asked them if they would be open to me doing a feature on the two of them on my blog. Needless to say they were and Kiska was even kind enough to send me some text to help illustrate their story, which you can read below.

“Pres and I met last summer when I discovered the Kleenhouse. It was that same night we did our first collaboration… with sidewalk chalk ^-^. It was also that same night that we got busted for “tagging public property” seeing as a particular type of people that live downtown take chalk drawings as a violent way of “gang” expression o_0. Since then we’ve collaborated on many pieces. Every artist has their own level of passion for what they do, their own perspectives, as well as their own personal reason as to why they express art in the form that they do. For some odd reason, doing art is something that I think I was born to do. Its the only thing I know how to do right, and proper every time, no matter the challenge. Its my expression, its my thoughts, its my visions… its my life, 24-7. And the reason I work with Pres continuously is not only because he’s an amazingly talented artist, one of my close friends, and a truly genuine person but he’s the only other artist I know that feels exactly the same way that i do about art. You have to have drive, along with that passion in order for your art to speak loudly, by itself. That requires discipline, patience, and a little bit of insanity. Very few people I know are willing to devote that much to doing what they truly love. But when you do meet some of those few, its explosive! Pose2 devoted 2 days solid, fueled by high-octane coffee, 7-11 goodies and sushi, on a piece. That was the first time I’d painted with him, uno to uno, and I was blown away! I’d always admired his techniques, his diversity, his flow, as well as his philosphies on art. But when you get to paint alongside that, its an atomic chemistry only another artist would understand. You inspire, motivate, and radiate an aura of creativity. Its infectious ;p.
As for graffiti and aerosol art, everyone has their own perspectives about where it came from. And honestly, they’re not right or wrong. Its when it became a beautiful thing in THEIR lives that matters, not when it started. It’s a ‘way of life’- period. Thus “Graffiti Life”, not “graffiti”. There are a lot of things people wanna associate with graffiti as well that aren’t true. But that’s within the understanding of its art form, not with any assumptions. So I end this hoping you got some sort of inspiration to express your thought process creatively in everything you accomplish. Pres and I are continuously challenging ourselves everyday to be just as diverse, and knowledgeable as the artists who inspired us. “an artist must have his measuring tool not in the hand, but in the eye.”- Michelangelo” — Written by Kiska (which she told me means “Kitty” in Russian)

Kiska and Pres1 painting a wall together at the Writerz Blok, San Diego

Kiska spray painting one of the stage backdrops used in the Graffiti Life performance.

Kiska and Pres1 painting a wall together at the Writerz Blok, San Diego

Kiska taking break from painting to pose for this portrait while she works on the Graffiti Life stage art at the Writerz Blok.

A side view of Pres1 and Kiska painting a wall at the Writerz Blok, San Diego, California.

Kiska thinking about what color spray paint to use next

Pres1 spray painting on the plywood panels used in the Graffiti Life performance at the Lyceum in downtown, San Diego.

Kiska painting on one of the plywood panels to be used in the 2009 Graffiti Life dance theatrical at the San Diego Repertory Theatre.

Kiska and Pres1 collaboratively bombing a wall at the Writerz Blok, San Diego.

Kiska spray painting on her half of the wall while Pres works on the other half.

Unfortunately I had to leave that day before Kiska and Pres were done painting this wall, but I came back later to find great collaborative painting. I had hoped to get them both together for a before and after shot but our schedules just didn’t work out, so I decided to post as is. And Trust me though, I’m not done photographing this creative dynamic duo. And from what I’ve seen their art is very much on the rise in San Diego. I hope and plan to incorporate more urban/street/public art into my portrait photography in the future. ~~~ Art that is created by the people, for the people. Always changing ~ always evolving.