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October 21, 2003
Profile : JJ Veronis
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.
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