Siloette currently works in San Francisco, California as a conceptual artist and project coordinator. Her current endeavors include yet are not limited to achieving an MA in Integral Arts Therapy and teaching public artwork within the Bay Area. She has been a featured artist in the Estria Graffiti Battles. Check out her work and find out more about up and coming projects at www.meaganspendlove.com.
Name: Siloette
City of Origin: Seattle, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco
One word to describe yourself: Resilient
1. What keeps you doing what you do?
A wise person once told me that the thing about art is the fact that there are no limitations. It is one of the only sources of ability where freedom of expression can be personified. I strongly believe in that.
2. What advice do you have for new or young artists out there?
Never forget who you are, no matter what happens. Within the great divide between two worlds lives the exterior vs interior aspect. If you can separate your personal agenda from popular demand originality can be obtained. Don’t be afraid to develop your own method within the madness.
3. How did art become a central part of your life?
I do not remember a time in my life where art hasn’t been instinctual for me. It started with visions and game plans, more often than not an escape route from from the reality that I grew up in. It wasn’t until eighth grade that Graffiti took my breath away. Similar to most kids I was a pistol from the get go. Big mouthed and over zealous for sure. I flew the coup at fifteen years old and never looked back. The zone really comes alive for me after midnight. Restless nights as an adolescent unfolded into missions in due time. It was my initial intention to keep things separate. To write under one name and use the extended version as my professional moniker. I was fortunate to live and work with many talented writers over the course of 15 years. There is a sort of common bond that makes strangers turn into friends or foes for life. Stories get woven and then word spreads. I figured I might as well give them a show in the process. Instead of going to school, I spent the majority of my 20’s traveling to over 50 cities around the world. Whether solo or with loved ones. Living out of a bag most of the time and making ends meet through assorted endeavors. Painting as much as possible and soaking in as much as I could from my experiences.
4. What/Who is your inspiration?
I value the friends and crew mates who helped pave the way. These places and people play out through memories on a regular basis. I look to reference books a lot or get serious about music. Sometimes I people watch. I see the way my daughter approaches her artistic spark; it makes it easy for me to recall how it felt to draw strait from the heart.
5. Why is art crucial for the up and coming generation of youth?
I’m having a hard time answering this one. Not because I cant think of a million reasons for why making things matters; but because i cant imagine life without it. Or dont want to rather. Art comes in many forms and cant be classified or held back. Use that visional voice; the world beckons to be rendered.
6. Do you have any painting “rituals”?
I try to create a tranquil environment, which these days is fleeting. Im a relatively slow painter and require steps of thought in order to really get into it. I can usually figure out where Im going pretty fast once my head is in the right place. It used to be difficult for me to paint in public because of this at times but now I really enjoy it.
7. How is your art linked to your struggle for justice?
As of now I am juggling several commission projects and heading back to school. With hopes of obtaining my MA in integral arts therapy. The goal is to open a teaching studio for kids in the Bay Area. I refuse to involve myself with people these days who condone violence. I have learned how to protect myself physically, mentally, emotionally and legally.Spending much of my time at the Women’s Building and teaching or speaking publicly when given the opportunity.
Thank you Estria for the support!