talking off the wall mag #5

KAZillionaireOrigin of the name KazillaIt’s an evolution of nicknames and some of my favorite things; I have a huge crush on old school monster films. Godzilla vs. Mothra is one of my favorite. When I was younger, I think it was in junior high, people started calling me “Kass” and it turned into to “Kaz”. Then when I started painting

on the streets, when I was tagging and doing throw ups

and just doing little character sketches, it turned into “Kazilla”, like Godzilla and it kind of stuck; I liked it.

Becoming a Street ArtistWhen I first started painting it was a hard transition from drawing, which I had done for a long time on paper with pens and markers. I had difficulties painting small, so the more comfortable I was getting at painting, the bigger and bigger canvases I was doing. Then painting on walls was a natural extension of that. I actually enjoy doing murals a lot more than canvases now, since there is so much more to work with.

Any Formal TrainingI went to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale to study Digital Illustration. I learned how to use all the computer programs. Got to spend some time practicing on my sketching skills. I had just started painting in community college the year before I started there; so it was an opportunity for me to really grow and blossom as a painter as well.

Why Large CanvasThe attraction for me of course is that I can get real expressive and paint big. I can use my arms and body to paint instead of just painting with my wrists or my hand. A lot of my artwork is done with a lot of large motion. I used to work as a dancer, so I like to be able to move with my paint and really express myself more than just in a two dimensional space.

Your StyleMy style? That is a good question; how to describe my style? I guess a formal way, would be to call it “Pop Surrealism” perhaps?! It’s really hard to put my art into a classification because I add a lot of different elements into my work. Some is graphic and some is photo-realistic and the combination of the two is kind of beyond classification in my mind. I derive a lot of my inspiration from things I see around me, in nature and in my studies. I am a complete book nerd. I get inspired when I read different topics, like on philosophy, science or biology. I always wanted to be a geologist or an oceanographer. I am constantly finding inspiration in the elements around me.

Have you ever worked in collaboration with other artists? Yes I have. Collaboration is my specialty. I am part of Few and Far, an all-female crew of graffiti and skate artists. We are scattered around the globe. Our focus is to bring beautiful art work to neighborhoods around the world. We also show in numerous galleries and places. We come out to a lot of events and try to make a difference. We also participate in skate competitions and are constantly out there. Keep us ladies shining and inspire others to do the same. The other artists that I collaborate with, are all my best friends in Miami and all over the world that come here.

Shout Outs Yes, I would like to shout out to my girls, Few and Far. I got to work with TooFly, Mimi, Agana, Deity; which was our guest at the time, painting a wall. It was most excellent working with you and my girls of Few and Far; always making moves. Way to go girls. And also Louie Diamondz. I’ve had him in my life for quite some time since I was in school. He’s been a big inspiration to me. Grab, we got to awhile this Art Basel also. Yess and Justin. Those cats are really cool and my people at Yo Space.

Crowd ReactionsI don’t know. I really don’t expect people to say anything when they look at my artwork because I think it speaks to different people in different ways. I know what I feel when I look at my work and if I don’t like it I don’t stop working on it. I think it is a personal journey for everyone, because there is a lot of details in each piece. I guess I want them see something personal.

Why is Street Art ImportantStreet Art is important because it connects to the communities. It connects to everyone, every walk of life. Everybody seeing it, everybody walking by. Everybody gets to see it on-line from across the world. It’s a powerful tool in communicating, good vibrations or messages. Basically something that you have to say. I think it is a cool tool to inspire people to create in their own lives. Are you working on any projects that you can tell us about?I am working on a good amount of things actually for this winter season. I am going to Atlanta in the next couple of weeks to paint a wall, do an installation, and participate as a featured artist at the Art Beats and Lyrics Show by Gentleman Jack. This is my third year with them and I am really excited about it . It was great last year. I have a Few and Far print show. I have a mural that I will be painting live, for the LiveNation Coral Sky Festival, in West Palm Beach on October. There is the Miami Book Fair where me and 7 other street artists from Miami, are painting walls around the Fair. That will be fun! There is also the G40 Art Summit, where I am doing some 3-dimensional pieces that are going to be exhibited. It’s one of the biggest Art Show and Festival I know of. They have a mural program in DC and Virginia. I am going to be looking at teaching a mural program in the FAT Village Arts District in Fort Lauderdale. I will be painting a giant room at the Viacom/MTV Studios in South Beach; it should be really cool. Then of course, the most important, I save the best for last; I have an exhibit in Dubai at the Street Art Gallery-Dubai opening October 9th. I’ve titled the show: Kazillionaire. It will be a very posh exhibition of my finest work. I hope that you all keep an eye out for that as well. Bless.

KAZILLA

Kazilla | Photo by Pascal Doytier

Friday October 10th Cauley Square Art Walk• Cauley Square, 22400 Old Dixie Hwy, Miami FL 33170. 7-11pm• Every 2nd Friday of the month, the studios and galleries of Cauley Square host an Art Walk filled with music and performances. Providing any artist a great venue to showcase their work.

Friday October 10th to Sunday 12th III Points Music, Art, Technology Festival.

• Soho Studios 2136 NW 1st Ave Wynwood Arts District

Saturday October 18th Downtown Hollywood Art Walk Hollywood Blvd./Harrison St. & Tyler St.• 3rd Saturday of every month 7-10pm

Bird Road Art Walk Experience Miami’s Art Scene• Conveniently Located Just East of the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) & South of Bird Rd (SW 40th St), The Majority of the Studios Are Located off of SW 74 & SW 75 Ave, Miami 7-10pm

Thursday October 23rd BBAD Boynton Beach Art Walk• 408-422 West Industrial Ave, Boynton Beach• Providing Florida Artists in all disciplines a venue to showcase their talent and creativity• Every 4th Thursday of the month 6-10pm

The Street Art Gallery in Dubai• United Arab Emirates Opening reception for Skott Marsi Solo Exhibit. Saturday October 25thFAT Village Art Walk • North Andrews & NW 5th St, Fort Lauderdale 7-11pm

Flagler Village Art Walk • MAC Fine Art Gallery, 833 NE 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale

Wednesday October 27th Last Call Comedy Show Hosted by Jessica Gross• Wynwood Brewing Co. 565 NW 24th St, Wynwood Arts District• Last Wednesday of every month at 8pm

Thursday September 25th BBAD Boynton Beach Art Walk• 408-422 West Industrial Ave, Boynton Beach• Providing Florida Artists in all disciplines a venue to showcase their talent and creativity• Every 4th Thursday of the month 6-10pm

Saturday September 27th Downtown Hollywood Mural Project Internationally acclaimed artist duo “The London Police” will soon be transforming the west-facing wall of

1909 Harrison Street 7-10pm

Art Is… Opening Reception • 1310 Gallery - 1310 SW 2nd Ct, Fort Lauderdale – 7-10pm

FAT Village Art Walk • North Andrews & NW 5th St, Fort Lauderdale 7-11pm

Flagler Village Art Walk • MAC Fine Art Gallery, 833 NE 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale

Wednesday October 1st Gringo Bingo • Wood Tavern 2531 NW 2nd Ave, Wynwood Arts District• 1st Wednesday of every month

Starting at 7pm Friday October 3rd The Downtown Miami Art Walk• McCormick Place, 111 SW 3rd St, Miami 1st Friday of the month – 6-10pm

Sunday October 5th Average Joe Sale• Yo Space 294 NE 62nd St, Little Haiti – 3-8pm • The whole idea behind these Average Joe sales is to make it possible for everyday people to be able to support their local artists by presenting art work in a laid back environment at affordable prices.

Thursday October 9th Wynwood Returns to Dubai• Far Far Away from Wynwood, somewhere in DUBAI, United Arab Emirates @ the Street Art Gallery

Opening of Kazilionnaire with Kazilla & Jenny Perez

TALKING OFF THE WALLYour CommUNITY Street Artist’s Voice

FACEBOOK /talkingoffthewall

INSTAGRAM @talkingoffthewall

Masthead/Logo: GG Artwork

Poster: Artwork by Kazilla

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Cover Photo: Pascal DoytierCover Concept: Pascal Doytier

TOTW talented writers, amazing photographers, contributors, unconditional supporters, artists and friends:Christy Thompson, Clara Vanessa, Heike Dempster, Sandro Abate, Sean R Sullivan, Craig Ledermann, Robert Dempster, Robert William, Andrew Kaufman, Jonathan Delgado, Sunshyne Reels, Myra Wexler aka Yo Momma, Yuval & Lorie Ofir, Sookie & Maddie Endo, Justin Hamel, Yess Miakoda, Zoel Zupstar, David McCauley, Renda Writer, TMNK aka Nobody, Luis Valle, Able Gw, Ivan Roque, Chy Tea Shoulin, GG, Danny Ferrer, Kelo, Jorge Rodriguez, Subi Roberto, 2Square, Kazilla, The DOWW, Leza One, HecOne, Diana Contreras, Atomik, Jenny Perez, Evoca, Trek6, Asek, Buddah Funk, Derek Wilson, Effis Art, Registered Artist, Rigo Leon, 8bitlexicon, Steven Reyes, Nate Dee, Sergio Quinonez, Krave Art, Luis Berros, Tee Davis & Jessica Schnur, Abstrk, Astre74, Gons, Ernesto Kunde, Jenny Perez, Danelle & Michele Pino, Barbara de Varona, Monique Lassooij, Eleazar Delgado, Joshua Kingston, Yuhmi Collective, Aquarela Sabol & Sharif Salem, Carolina Tesoro, Ramzi Adek, James Brutus, Jay Bellicchi, Rolando Chang Barrero, Jake Cordero, Craig O’Neil, Hector Garcia @ The Hangar, Gregg Shienbaum Fine Art, Nadia Desjardins, Stefanie Caro, Chor Boogie, Lee Hoechstetter and my children, Lucas, Maxence and Shayna. Special thanks to Steev Rullman & PureHoney Magazine for believing in TOTW and making it possible. Peace

Jenny Perez, an upcoming Artist with a sense of womanhood that is undeniable, is taking more than the streets of Wynwood by a storm with her unique and strong portrayal of glamour and beauty in all women.

Born and raised in Miami, she struggled to find her calling until she took an Art class that changed her life and sent her into an adventure that has provided the freedom

to express her art, her inspirations and the ability to share them with the world.

When we ask her what kind of Artist she considers herself to be and where her inspiration comes from she will, with a subtle but beautiful smile, say; “I am a Pop Artist. I have been inspired by Artists such as Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. As an Artist I have always been infatuated with the idea of exaggeration. Women are typically exaggerated by wearing long eye lashes, long nails, hair extensions so this is where my character was inspired from and what I have tried to perfect everyday”.

Jenny, who has been painting for over 8 years has found her calling in the streets of Wynwood where she has been doing murals over the last three years. “Street Art provides a sense of freedom that is unquestionable, Wynwood is a place like no other”.

This young Artist is making her mark by collaborating with Artists such as Kazilla and Diana Contreras, just to name a few. Jenny will be exhibiting her Artwork along with other Artists from Wynwood in Dubai in October. A month that celebrates womanhood in such city. One thing is certain, this young and always smiling Urban Artist, is beautifying her collector’s living spaces and the streets of South Florida with her colorful portrayal of voluptuous women. Kudos to her.

JENNY PEREZ

Jenny Perez | Photo by Pascal Doytier