What’s The Creatures Crew all about? Give BombingScience readers a little history lesson on the crew, why it was started, and who started it?
Vogey: Prior to Creatures, we had a crew called ALSO. It was a collective of the local talent. That being said, there were guys in ALSO that a lot of us really didn’t have much in common with. We decided to shut ALSO crew down. I knew immediately that I wanted to start a new crew, and had “Creatures Crew” in mind as a name. I kept that to myself for a few months and had only told a few buddies what I was thinking. One night, out of the blue Herok (Noche) and Pues (Slae) showed up at my house with a bunch of bucket paint and said let’s roll a whole car. I asked our names? And they said “let’s do a CREATURES.” To be honest, I was really honored that they had taken my idea serious. We spent all night on that car and the rest is history. Basically that’s how creatures spawned.
So, you and Noche have known each other for a long time? Is that the same for most of the crew?
Vogey: I’ve known most of my crewmates for well over 10 years. We started as locals only but quickly expanded to some heads up north. Enter Eaks. He came to pueblo to paint with our boys Wase and Deks (Sant). Grips and Awful joined a little later.
Noche: I meet Vogey in 1996. Awful, Grips, and Sant the following year. Yes, I was just saying when we meet. We didn’t link up for a while with sprays.
How’d Grips and Awful come into play?
Awful: I was put on in ‘06 and we were pushing HDC at the time because Creatures was real hot in the streets and was worried about home raids and all that.
Grips: I came into play after knowing the guys for a couple years and painting a couple trains where we called the ghost yard. Was put in the crew 2002.
Creatures’ seems to be one of the big sleepers crews in the culture and is a lot larger than most people know. Exactly, how big is the crew?
Vogey: Crew size is approx 26 mates.
Wow! For some reason, I thought there were a lot more people in the crew.
Awful: We keep a tight knit family.
Noche: One thing I will say is we do not run the crew in sects (no motorcycle gang shit)! We are a family through and through. Wherever on the map we are at, we are in constant contact.
Vogey: We believe in quality control and that doesn’t just mean styles and work, but character too.
Noche: It’s simple; everyone in the crew has an equal voice. We listen, discuss, and make a final decision here in Pueblo. We are here for the long haul. We’ve ran it like this since the day one.
Vogey: Character is VERY important
What’s your opinion on the internet and how it has affected the graffiti culture?
Vogey: Internet is both good and bad, I think for obvious and various reasons.
Awful: Internet is good if used properly…I guess like everything it is good in moderation.
Vogey: And bad because there are a lot of dumbasses out there.
Noche: The Internet is what you make it. We’ve never equated likes or followers to what we want to achieve.
Do you guys think that the internet cheapens graffiti at all?
Noche: In a way. You’re only as “relevant” as your last post it seems these days. But once again, it’s what you make it.
Vogey: Our crew dates back to pre-internet. The web is cool, and I for one appreciate it, but it’s just a small part of the big picture and I think we as a crew understand that.
So, do you think that some cats get exposure when they haven’t really earned the right to have it?
Vogey: Not necessarily, it’s just the fast track. We prefer the head down and grind approach.
Over the past few years, especially with the assistance of Instagram, there seems to be a huge influx of “super” crews. What’s your guys’ opinion about crews that constantly recruit new writers using the internet as a primary recruitment tool?
Noche: Every crew has their own ways of doing things. And with the exception of one member, all the members of our crew have eaten chicken tacos on white. Ha-ha
Awful: Yeah for sure! Or a 5am breakfast burrito. Ha-ha.
Vogey: With green sprayface.
It seems that rarely you’ll find a Creature painting by himself. Would it be safe to say that Creatures really is a team effort? How do the dynamics work in the crew? For example, it seems that a lot of crews are divided into sub-sections or Chapters (similar to motorcycle clubs), can you see this happening with Creatures?
Vogey: Team effort for sure! No chapters. Pueblo is the home base….
Awful: I couldn’t ever imagine calling someone that wasn’t crew to go paint. It’s who we know and who we trust.
Grips: Started as a team finish as a team.
Noche: Everyone in our crew has their own bag of tricks we bring to the table. When we get together on something we share that bag. It’s always a team effort.
You guys seem like you’re constantly adding new photos to your IG accounts, it’s like you’re all constantly painting, what’s the force that drives you guys? Where does the energy come from that keeps you motivated? Also, how do you not burn out?
Eaks: I’d say it’s a number of things. Watching other members in our crew push so hard motivates me to try harder. There are about 6 or 7 new pieces posted on our crew chat at least in a week
Noche: The guys in the crew are so talented; I personally am just trying to keep up. Numbers aren’t the goal. But collectively we get work done. We don’t post everything we do either.
Eaks: It’s almost like a game of one up. For instance, Rusto came out with cranberry. It was a topic of discussion… Next thing you know there’s 5 burners with that color in mind
I think that’s good though. It shows a just enough skin–it’s like comparing a Victoria Secret catalog to a smut magazine J
Eaks: I like smut– On the record!
Noche: Try painting next to vogey! That’s all the motivation you’ll ever need.
Eaks: I hate [Vogey]! (LOL) I think we’re all just so into our crew and what we each bring to the table. It really pushes each other.
Having watched your crew in action, it fun to watch how you guys operate and talk to each other. For instance, when Sril and you guys painted the “Parrot Wall” in Denver you guys discussed the action and made suggestions to each other while the pieces unfolded. How important are the different crew members’ dynamics to the crew itself? Do you guys specifically look for a specific type of energy from writers when recruiting? How would you explain that energy?
Vogey: The dynamic between the different crewmates is very important. I think we look to each other to build a wall/car. Ya gotta work together to win together type a thing. We all do very different styles so it’s rad to pull from everyone’s personal ideas and to shape up a wall/car. We always find that medium. We all treat each other with brotherly respect.
Awful: I’m not too sure there has been a time when we didn’t agree we will talk it out and suggest different things and always come together and bang it out
Vogey: I think we know that this is our baby. It’s all for the crew at that point.
Noche: Yes, we always check whatever ego at the door.
Awful: And I’m not sure we look for writers when we put them down …its whether or not they click with us and we know right off the bat if they are Creatures or not.
Vogey: We prefer Latinos, but we have a black and a few whites.
Do you guys get confused for a Denver crew a lot?
Vogey: Yes, we always get mistaken for being in Denver
Creatures does a lot of mural work throughout your city, how do the close ties to the community affect your illegal work? How do you find a balance between legals and illegals?
Awful: I feel we are very important to the community and locals at this point people come up and ask is if we are creatures… even realizing what we write or who we are just the fact that we are CREATURES CREW is all they care about and all they know for that matter.
Vogey: The neighborhoods know we paint the walls and when they see us putting on a new one, the response is always positive.
Noche: The hood loves us!
When there’s a new member added to the crew, how does it change the chemistry? For instance, are there some members that never seem to quite mesh with others for some reason or the other?
Eaks: That’s a good question. We’ve had members that didn’t mesh and I think that type of thing worked it’s self out. It’s all a learning process… I truly think we’ve worked some bugs on the new member issues. Getting to know all about the writer before we even consider is a must! We chat beyond Graff though. I think that’s important…. We share family values and our homes are always open to each other. It’s a little closer knit for the pueblo guys… I’m the outsider white Mexican. Ha ha ha
Noche: Each member we’ve added we’ve got to know first. , painted with them, done dirt with ’em. Character is number one. We don’t look to change the dynamic, but rather add to it. Eaks, you’re honorary pueblo!
Eaks: I’m honored
Since we’re on the subject of legal work, a lot of the crew members seem to be into canvas work and other forms of creating artwork; for instance, Eaks and Vogey seems to paint a lot of canvases. What have you all learned about transferring your styles from walls to canvases and vice-versa?
Vogey: I feel the challenge of doing stuff on canvas–that might relate to my graffiti but not actually be that– is a good one. Also the fact that we are surrounded with such great talent makes it a natural move. My canvas work has always been inspired by these dudes.
Eaks: I always wanted to keep the two separate. Used to think I had it down… It’s slowly been leaking in to my graffiti and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Honestly Ikind of enjoy it.
Eaks, how do you mean?
Eaks: Mainly in my characters.
Grips: The challenge is keeping the letters off the canvas and trying to create something new.
How important is style to a graffiti writer? What’s your viewpoint on the fundamentals of graffiti?
Vogey: Style is crucial. But we like people who do at least three elements of hip hop.
Noche: Ha-ha. Gotta be able to cut a rug. Seriously though, style is everything. It’s what graffiti is all about. You gotta have strong letters.
Eaks: You used to be able to tell a lot about someone from their style. Not so much anymore
Eaks, you think?
Eaks: Internet kinda ruined that, in my opinion.
K78: Eaks, can you explain a little more?
Eaks: Totally… I think Creatures is one of the last holding on to a style that’s consistent and at the same time being completely unique to the individual. You know it’s Creatures when you see it.
Street Art versus Graffiti—Thoughts? What do you think about all these Instagram artists that claim to be graffiti writers, but have never actually painted illegally? Also, where do The Creatures sit on the fence of the street art movement?
Noche: All Street art is taking the easiest aspects of graffiti (stencils, stickers, etc …) and trying to make it is own thing.
Eaks: I used to really enjoy street art. –really! Then it became hip and profitable. Lost its soul.
Vogey: Eaks deals with a whole different landscape in Denver “street art” wise.
Pueblo has a real “folk art” aspect to it.
Eaks: I love Pueblo.
Vogey: In Pueblo though I must say, we don’t show much love for the wheat pasters and wannabe vandals.
Awful: I just feel that we have more of mural type dudes (Phame and Refic) rather than the wheat pasters and weirdos that put random shit places.
Let’s talk about all the trains that Creatures puts out there. You guys crush a lot of freights, can you tell us a little bit about that?
Awful: This is a good question….
Noche: Trains are my main focus. Everything else is secondary.
Vogey: I think as a collective, we have a strong respect for the freight scene. We have always seen them run here in Colorado and always make it a priority to try n touch them.
Awful: I feel we all share a strong connection with the steel either when we are rockin’ them together or separate…so when we do get a pass to knock a panel out we make it count
Vogey: Through the years we have added guys from the freight scene. It makes us a real well rounded crew.
Awful: Shit I feel we can do a full spread on freights. Ha
Grips: Trains are damn fun! Every time!
Awful: Especially when there is a warm ass breakfast burrito after.
Vogey: The whole experience: Warm whiskey, warm burrito, cold bed.
What’s your guys’ opinion on non-writers benching? Do you think that graffiti is becoming the mainstream trend thing to do?
Awful: Oh shit! This one is a catch 22!
Eaks: I like it till they have art shows (ha ha ha)
Awful: I’m all for it as long as benchers aren’t runnin’ through our spots making our shit hot the more the merrier.
Vogey: Let ’em have it, if they sell a photo of your piece, somehow it’ll come back your way in a positive light. The writer ultimately will get the credit. No sweat.
Noche: Benches are cool–as long as they are comfortable.
Grips: That’s true!
Awful: And them benchers are getting super fancy with their shots, makes it rad seeing your piece with a fresh ass background or foreground.
Eaks: I honestly don’t mind. To each their own. Straight on shots por favor.
Noche: Oh benchers… I like benchers.
Eaks: Street photographers are a dime a dozen these days too. Not sure if pueblo has that many. Full time job in Denver J
Grips: We have Art of Style and Dave Foto. That’s we need.
Vogey: And, Gary Glasser up in Denver is always willing to lend a helping hand as well. God bless them all.
What’re your viewpoints on the graffiti culture? How do you think it’s changed since the crew was invented? How do the Creatures evolve with the evolution of graffiti?
Vogey: We started in ‘01. Since then, times have changed, and the crew has changed. We all have some kind of love or addiction for graffiti. If someone is down, they are either smashing shit or are core members. We don’t fuck with slackers or bad characters. I think those are key components of our longevity.
Grips: We evolve threw team work, working as a machine has helped push us over the years.
Awful: Hate to say they get the boot but especially if they are younger or newer to the game and not really puttin’ in the work that they should be doing when just getting down then their hearts not in it and they wouldn’t last in the long run.
It’s safe to say that the Creatures are definitely about longevity then?
Noche: It’s a great reminder that we’re getting old! I feel the best is yet to come. We’re just getting started.
Eaks: I’d say we’re so much stronger these days.
Awful: Yeah true that I feel we have always been strong and tight nit but especially now we are closer than ever.
Vogey: I believe we have been on that path yes. When you have heavy hitters like Vodka and Paser join up it says a lot about the path. So as long as we can push on, we will.
The Creatures crew is coming up on 15 years, how’s that feel and where do you think the crew will be in another 15 years?
Eaks: It’s been such an amazing 15years. With how much everyone influences me…. Can’t wait to see us in another 15.
Grips: True!
Vogey: No one really knows, but I think we will still be trying to feed the monster that is Graff. On the real, I think in 15 years, our crew will be grinding along, searching for the perfect piece or the perfect car to paint, it’s the spirit of the crew, it’s what’s got us this far along, and I don’t see much changing.
You guys got anything you’d like to add?
Grips: Thank you for taking the time to hear some of our antics. Was a blast!
Vogey: We wanna thank BombingScience and Kasm for the opportunity to Gab.
Eaks: Major thanks.
Interviewed by: Kasm78
IG: the creatures
