so in case you were wondering who this jj veronis
was that darius and downey have been so inspired by here he is, i loved his
work for years before having any idea who was behind it. he has a pretty
awesome technique for installing these sculptures, a homemade clamp ladder that
allows him to scale the poles with ease…... he is an innovator and in my mind
an integral part of new york city.

The Q’s:
Wooster: How did
you get started in creating art for the street?
JJ:  Chalk drawings on
asphalt as a kid? Building treehouses and skateramps with Kessie in Central Park
in the 70’s - no nails of course. The metal thing came from the East Village
scene in the 80’s. Forging with Tovey and Parker at the now defunct “Rivington
School”, and, the Gas Station/2B. That spot was the shit and Johnny Swing was
king. He turned me onto bolting up metal sculptures on the D.O.T. ‘s poles. 
That was 1986 and it’s been ongoing since.

Wooster: What other
street artists do you most admire and why?
JJ:  Certainly
Keith(Haring). He had enormous generosity. From those vintage subway chalk ups
to his global redcarpet blitz. Richard Hambelton for his ominous apocalyptic
shadows, lurking in alleyways, rooftops, backs of parking lots. The orignal 718
crew - Joust + Keon, and I’ve always dug Jest and his flavor. In an augmented
style,  Andy Goldsworthy. His creations are magical. Pretty much anyone who
provokes and cultivates alternative thoughts in a bona fide way.The scene has
gotten pretty saturated out there.  Seems like everybody’s doin something. This
recent embracing of corporate sponsorship - “commodification” thing, aka,
selling out, that’s a sad aberration.

Wooster: What’s your
favorite city, neighborhood, or block, to post and/or to see street art?
/>JJ:  Well, is there really any other place? This is it. NYC - was, is and
always will be ground zero. As far as specific ‘hoods or blocks, the more
unexpected and unaware the better. Good for confusion and curiosity. Kansas
City was good to me.  Bangin’ BBQ.

Wooster: What inspires you
now?
JJ: Besides a fertile mind, the street pretty much provides
everything you need, really. I’ve always cropped my material from it -
physically and mentally.  Collect it, chew it up, spit it back out. It’s kind of
cyclical. And, music of course, always a constant in the shop.

/>Wooster: What are you currently working on? Can you give us a sneak
peek?
JJ: Been doin alot of design work lately, functional stuff. Also,
working on some new pieces to be hung under the I-95 overpass in Bridgeport,
Conn. Real industrial setting, 50 - 60 feet off the ground. Should be
interesting.