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Arts & Entertainment

Ellis G, Street Artist

Jen Carlson

Published Apr 27, 2009

Modified Apr 28, 2009

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Jen Carlson

Published Apr 27, 2009

Modified Apr 28, 2009

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Ellis G is a native New Yorker who may be best known for his shadow etchings with chalk. Also involved in other street projects, not too long ago he got into the less temporary and more dangerous game of fire tagging. He recently told us what else he has going on, and it certainly doesn't end at chalkdust and flames.

You became famous for your shadow silhouettes here in NY—are you still doing those? Absolutely. Mike Vargas and Moni Pineda did a video piece on me that is airing in over 51 million homes worldwide on Current TV.

What other kinds of projects are you working on right now? Street works, photographs, screenprints, paintings, installations, collaborations, as well as a few books (one on stickers, one on shadows, one on fire tags, oh and a kids book!) and I got some merchandise I am working on as well.

You've been working with the Neo-Con collective, which includes the recently famous PosterBoy and the tape-artist Aakash Nihalani—why'd you get together with them? We all work in temporary mediums. Those guys are great, I love PosterBoy and Aakash's work.

I heard recently that you guys were splitsville over creative differences. Tell us a little bit about that. We were seeing things differently with different visions. Classic case of creative differences, it happens all the time when you have people working together, similar to like a band breaking up. However, we have a real dope show that is on view at the Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art in LA through April 30th.

You said the NYPD paid you $5000. What did you have to do for that cash? I was being profiled by PBS for a video piece and on camera I was arrested for chalking the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk which is 100% legal in new york so in essence my constitutional and civil rights were violated. I, in turn, sued the NYPD and the city of new york and was granted a check from the comptroller of the city of New York for 5g. Paul Hale defended me and did a damn good job. He is based in downtown Brooklyn. It took a year and a half to get the money from the city. I paid off a couple credit cards with it.

What's the deal with you getting an Emmy? That same PBS video profile I mentioned above where I was paid 5g from the city also won an Emmy. It was called Art in the Shadows.

We did a post about the fire-tags you're catching. Now that seems like a pretty dangerous thing to do. Do you ever worry about burning off you hair, Michael Jackson style, or accidentally burning down a building and killing some people? Nah, I'm a professional. I have been exploring/researching/experimenting with different spray paints and testing it all out the last few months. (Video)

What kind of precautions are you taking to keep from dying? Should small children attempt this at home? Small children should certainly not try this at home! Some precautions I take are: not breathing while I am writing a fire tag as to not inhale the noxious odor, and keeping a good amount of space between myself and the can. Also making sure I do not burn down the building.

You're curating a show coming up at Alphabeta—what's that about? A Brooklyn group show in the works, will keep you posted.

Who is the artist you most admire in New York these days? UFO 907. He is the man. His stuff is everywhere. Oh and also Beast from Alphabeta. His portraiture with spray paint is off the meter.

Let's say the world is ending—what do you do with your last day in New York City? Chill with my wife and son. Go to a delicious restaurant, eat appetizers, entrees and desserts and have drinks. Then drive north towards Canada. We love a nice drive.

Tagged

Ellis G

fire tagging

interview

street art

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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