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Inside the Minds of Graffiti Writers: Meeting of Styles

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Meeting of Styles is an annual graffiti event that has been going on for almost 30 years. This year, we got the privilege to ask some of the dopest writers from the south side of Chicago about some of their outlooks and experiences in the graffiti world.

Image: Black and white comic image showing the title, "Meeting of Styles Weekend" in graffiti letters. The bottom text reads, "Meeting of styles is an annual graffiti event that has been going on for almost 30 years. This year, we got the privilege to ask some of the dopest writers from the south side of Chicago about some of their outlooks and experiences in the graffiti world."
Image: Black and white comic image showing ORYX in graffiti letters. The top of the image reads, "What advice would you give a young woman interested in pursuing graffiti?" ORYX response is shown in a bubble, "So this may be controversial but the best thing to do is to just start going out to spray solo dolo because the best teacher is experience. There's a lot of weird dudes in the graff scene so you have to be careful who you paint with, trust your gut about everyone (there's a lot of chill people too). Hitting the books is important but just isn't the same as bombing a wall. If you really want to develop your style you're going to have to grow some balls and hit the streets. Last piece of advice try to be open minded and stay humble."
Image: Black and white comic image showing VIRIL in graffiti letters. The top of the image reads, "Do you think MOS helps give the community an understanding and acceptance towards graffiti" VIRIL response is shown in a conversation bubble, "It's a great outlet to expose a different form of art that some people aren't used to seeing. If anything it's normalizing the idea of seeing "young" people with a can performing an act of liberal art instead of seeing vandalism right away. The mixture of artists and writers gets perceived with the same judgement."
Image: Black and white comic image showing ACTR in graffiti letters. The top of the image reads, "Growing up in a rough neighborhood, what are some things you had to beware of while painting?" ACTER response is shown in a conversation bubble, "Keep an eye out for gangbangers, they don't like writers tagging on their blocks, and they'll gladly show you that. I personally like to make sure no cars are around when I'm painting. Some can be fans while others are neighborhood heroes trying to call it in."
Image: Black and white comic image showing ELDER in graffiti letters. The top of the image reads, "You're no stranger of participating in MOS. How do you try to stay ahead and outdo yourself with style?" ELDER response is shown in a conversation bubble, "That's a good ass question. Honestly by watching TV, reading books, a little bit of porn. Any little thing inspires a movement in your head, a thought comes with an idea, the idea comes into action, and the action creates wisdom. That's the only way you can create something. Also by looking at other people. You're always competing with yourself and the next guy so there's never a leveled ground. You just have to be the best at whatever you do."

About the Artist: “Buflo” is a Latino graffiti artist who has been painting illegally for more than 10 years. Lately he channels his earliest memories of doing graffiti through short stories giving a glimpse on what one artist might go thru during painting a night in the south side of Chicago. 

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