the lady of the fevers
interview with i.t.a.
check the lady k fever gallery
hey lady k fever, tis certainly a pleasure to take the time out with one such as you who has really got the word from back in the day. greetings to powder.
Thank you for having me.
so you’ve been out there for quite some time now. to begin with I’d like to ask what you’re up to now and what projects have you got coming up in twenty fourteen?
Right Now, I am working on a light inspired project with ‘Repurpose’ a new public art intervention with the West Harlem art fund. I am working on a bunch of projects: researching and curating some new shows, painting walls and canvases, installations, exhibitions, Feverized my line of handmade clothing and accessories and teaching with the Bronx Museum, Studio Museum in Harlem and Bronx River Arts Center as well as just plain dirty New York City hustling... blood, sweat and tears.
your pieces seem to hearken back to the seventies and eighties style graffiti of the nyc streets. which artists from those days have been an influence on your work?
I dig the 70’s. I love old school 70’s and 80’s writers. I love all writers but I’m especially fond of the old school. The first book I ever read about graffiti was The Faith of Graffiti. There are so many writers that I am inspired by, I love the innovation of the 70’s and 80’s. In Canada, we respect the roots of culture so when I was coming up in Vancouver and Toronto, the writers/artists there were educated in the foundation of the culture of graffiti/street art.
When I first painted in New York in 2001, it was and still is, the old school writers/breakers that have embraced and mentored me and blessed me with opportunities. Cope2, Kase2 (RIP), ERO, PART 2, REE, Frostie Freeze (RIP), Rokafella and Quikstep (full circle), Tats Cru and so many more. I learned a lot with some great masters. I love to paint with old school, it is essential to know the foundation and build on it. I have been blessed to be able to give back to many by organizing shows, walls and pulling some old timers out of retirement!!! I appreciate and respect my roots and legends.
what current street artists influence you? and who would you recommend people keep an eye out for on the streets?
I am inspired everyday by artwork I see on the walls of the streets or on the walls of museums and galleries. I like collaborating with different artists with different styles.
My painting partner is Scratch (TOP). Our crew is Double Trouble aka Order of the Bastards. She is The Bastard Empress, one to watch out for, originally from Sweden, now living in New York and precise!
what led you out onto the street to create? how would you describe your first experiences as a street artist? what was the deal with the riot grrlz installation?
I found myself on the streets… I say this as a metaphor and as reality. I trained all my childhood and youth to be a professional dancer so when I was 17 and fell sick for 3 months, I was forced to quit and re-evaluate my life. I hitchhiked across the US for 2 months with a bunch of dead heads and ended up settling in Vancouver. I was lost so I took up skateboarding and studied theatre. I was performing with drag queens in clubs, (Lady K comes from my stage name) and I just found myself writing my name all over everything. I was involved with politics and activism and part of getting up was an act of activism for me. I call it the art of existence. Blood, sweat and tears!
At first when I started getting up, it was a group of friends, some involved with Riot
Grrlz, some not and we would go tag and paint up whatever we felt. As a member of Riot Grrl (Vancouver), we were invited to create an installation for Artropolis 93, a huge art festival that travels the world. We did a tagged up installation in a street level window. After this exhibition I got the fever for the streets.
since you’ve been out there have you ever had any trouble with the law? what do you do to make sure this sort of hassle doesn’t happen to you?
Yes, when is there not trouble with the law. I plead the 4th and 5th amendments always.
Now days I paint mostly legal. I get harassed all the time so it is part of the job to deal with all the craziness that comes. I try not to have a bad attitude towards to the fuzz. I negotiate with landlords and try to make the process of change positive all around. Ultimately if you are creating any kind of public art (as in the public has to look at it everyday) you will find some people are resistant to it at first and that is okay, let them be that way… just get the wall painted.
how important do you think street art is in today’s society? what role do you think it plays in the community? and do you think it’s something that has only sprung up over the last fifty years or has it been around longer?
Wow, street art has been an essential part of societies since cave days and plays a huge role in communities and cultures. We have learned and can learn about a culture through their artwork. It can be positive or negative, it can be an expression, reflection, action to get a reaction, place of mourning or celebration or just an advertisement that looks pretty and sells product. It’s the visual story of the human experience.
where does you inspiration come from when you’re creating a new work? are there certain things you do to get your inspiration flowing? and from there what’s your process?
My inspiration comes from many different things and it really depends on the projects and themes. I am inspired by languages and the play of languages such as slang expressions. I like textures, color and experimenting with concepts and styles. I listen to music which changes depending on the project. I have soundtracks or songs that I like to hear that are inspired by what I am working on.
besides art what other aspects of culture and life in general influence your work?
Politics and activism. I love music and dancing. I love to experience life and all that life has to offer. I love to chill in nature, hang out in the mountains, swim in the ocean and relax. I like to travel and my travels inspire me. That is why I write... Live love breathe create. My life is art and my art is my life.
you were the first canadian woman to be invited to paint at the renowned graffiti hall of fame in east harlem? how did that all come about and what was the experience like?
I had been painting in New York for a good two years before I was invited in 2003. Joey TDS invited the females to come paint the first female production in the history of the event. Muck was part of organizing the all ladies wall and she invited me to come. I didn’t ask questions. I got on the next bus to New York. It was a great weekend of nonstop painting shenanigans with Muck, Acet, Toofly and QA. We redid that wall again the next year and that was even better. It was DIVA, MUCK, TooFly, QA and Kase2 (RIP) was added onto the wall. He was honoured to be on the female wall. We painted next to each other and it was one of the best days. Kase2 was so funny and charming.
you’ve exhibited at a lot of different galleries. what were the most memorable shows? and what do you prefer the gallery or the streets?
I prefer all of the above: galleries, museums and the streets. I am happy to be creating and sharing my work. My most memorable shows have been the ones I have curated: 'History in the Making' 2 & 3 in 2005, ‘Made from Love’ for the Bronx Museum in 2007, and most recently ‘Outside the Box: Graffiti+Streets+Art=’ in 2013. I could write a book about all the legendary tales! As well as my first international solo exhibition at Masterworks Museum in Bermuda in 2011, Couturemonials: a performance/fashion piece for Art in Odd Places Festival ‘Bronx Lab: Style wars’ at the Bronx Museum in 2012, 'Born Again: eight artists respond' at Longwood art gallery curated by my dear friend and performance mentor Nicolas Dumit Estevez at Longwood Art Gallery in 2011 and so many more…
and as you’re originally from north of the border, what does lady k fever do to have a time in nyc?
I like to get outside and enjoy the parks, pools and beaches, ride my bike and go on adventures to discover all that New York offers with my daughters and friends but I am a big fan of chilling out and relaxing. It’s so important in New York to have a sanctuary that I can go home too. I need to go dancing a lot to loud good music!
cheers for taking the time to commune with powder lady k fever. you really have the soul of the street within.
Thank you! One Love!
Thank you! One love to all at powder!
check the lady k fever site
