Montana Cans LOOKBOOK 2022

← No cutting

← No cutting corners— Claw is about that paper. → These boots are made for walking? Well, these heels are made for climbing. You go, girl! MC Why is that? Do you think maturity or a certain age plays a role? CM I know many people who peaked way too young, from Graffiti writers to musicians. People that achieved a certain notoriety in their teens or early twenties. And it’s tough to keep that momentum going. It seems common within the Graffiti community that many older writers can’t get over their peak. Probably, what they did when they were 16 years old is the absolute most spectacular moment of their life. Maybe that applies to me, too—but I think I honestly peaked a bit later — with my career as a high point and not actually street bombing. Do you know why, perhaps? I feel society does not respect young women. They like them in a box, but they don’t respect them the way they do respect an older woman or even a young man. So I wasn’t really able to peak young — plus I became better with age! In a way, it is sad that so many writers are still holding on to their early beginnings because it’s a very fleeting time. I feel society does not respect young women. They like them in a box, but they don’t respect them the way they do respect an older woman or even a young man ↙ Watch your step, or some sharp fangs might rip right through your Gore-Tex! MC Do you have any practical advice for young writers? CM Well, advice is all I got! My experience is when I meet young male writers, they’re so open now. They’re telling me that they have all these girls in their crew, and it’s normal for them that women write graffiti. It’s not this weird novelty or tokenization the way it was when I was young. Within the culture, it’s normal now. Maybe a little bit surprising, but it’s also completely normalized. MC But do you think this is a recent development? Do you feel there is a historical underrepresentation of females within Graffiti media history up to this date? Chris “Freedom” Pape said something along the lines of Eva62 and Barbara62 disagreed with being part of “Wall Writers.” Historically, they were there. Still, somehow they didn’t take part in the documentation. CM Since I started doing my podcast particularly, I noticed that women, in general, are not as open and talk as freely as men. Instead, they’re somewhat conscious of what they say, very deliberate, and they’re often held back. And that I think that was true in graffiti, too. Maybe they didn’t want the spotlight on them. I heard Barbara62 and Eva62 were up more than anyone, man or woman. They were the king of kings of all writers — truly trailblazing for women. I think women have to really take their safety as a significant consideration in their lives, day to day, where it’s very different for a man. Maybe they didn’t want to put themselves on Front Street. They just were writing. They weren’t trying to get into books or make it into the galleries. They were just doing their thing, then they got into adulthood and changed their focus from bombing. 44 Artist in focus / Interview CLAWMONEY

MC Or do you think the boys took over the shine more or less? CM Yes, of course, of course! It’s a much more remarkable story when it’s all guys — a story of pure machismo. Everybody is tough and dangerous. Suddenly, two women are killing it, which disrupts the narrative. MC You’re an exception in many ways. You revealed your face in Infamy, which is considered taboo as a writer. You allowed the film crew into your home with your family. That feature was so intimate it almost felt like a social study instead of a Graff movie. CM Back then, I had signed a book deal, so I knew it was the beginning of the end of me painting illegally. I was lucky because the step was calculated. It was a deliberate choice, and I wanted to own the process rather than have it happen without my vision. My girlfriends told me, “Claudia, enough with fucking painting all the time. These girls don’t know that you’re out here. They don’t know that you’re a woman, that women do this. So it is your moral obligation to tell them.” I started my clothing line when I was bombing again in 2002. When the clothes were out, Graff suddenly was advertising for my brand. People said, “Oh my God, I see this everywhere. I need this.” After all, I was lucky the way the timing worked, but I did have a rough plan behind all my choices. Back then, I had signed a book deal, so I knew it was the beginning of the end of me painting illegally MC One quote of yours that I found very funny was “Wild Style is a terrible movie.” CM Haha, it is! I get it; Europeans love Hip Hop — it was funded by German television. It was both terrible and incredible at the same time — so many amazing cameos and performances. But honestly, though, if it was me that was in that movie, let’s say, in Lady Pink’s role, I would never have allowed them to write the part as they did. You know, let them call me a ho or whatever? I would’ve just been like, No, I’m not going to be in this movie. Let’s elevate this! Authenticity, business, cliché — a street art 101 MC Do you consider yourself still a writer or an artist? What does graffiti mean to you? CM First off, let me say this, Hugo Martinez is responsible for changing the trajectory of graffiti and what graffiti means in a cultural context. Changing the mindset of what these kids were doing. Changing the perception from vandalism into art through his reshaping. The meaning of what graffiti is will be forever changed. And that is incredible! But I noticed that when people refer to me as a Graffiti writer, it’s very limiting to who I am. Now, there’s so much more; that label just seems very basic because I have taken all of that life and turned it into a brand. MC Do you mind elaborating on that notion a bit further? CM I’m in this business realm where I deal with people who would never paint graffiti. They imagine me with a ski mask on, creeping around at night. I’m not really doing that anymore.I mean, that's where I can no longer be to bring this stuff out into the light. And I’m here to change people’s belief systems of what women can do in many areas. I find graffiti like a one — note thing, but I’m also old now. I don’t want to paint illegal graffiti. I can’t run anymore after breaking my leg and shattering my knee ← Top to bottom! Details of a colorful mural. Artist in focus / Interview CLAWMONEY 45