Long ago, on a wall near you, it was written. Though graffiti is nothing new, few nonwriters understand why artists continually risk imprisonment, fines, and violence to leave a mark, especially when graf has gone from illegal activity to an often lucrative form of expression. Doug Pray's insightful 2005 film, Infamy, follows six prolific American graffiti artists (Claw, Toomer, Saber, Jase, Earsnot, and Enem) and examines their motivations. For the film's DVD release, Complex discussed the project with Claw, the 37-year-old Queens-born graf writer, fashion designer, author, and self-proclaimed "middle-class Jewish girl." Peep her mind spray.

Given the risks, why do graffiti?
When you've had an insecure, difficult adolescence, you can use graffiti to work out of that. It's a way to prove your existence. It's attention-seeking.

Has showing your face and bombing on film caused problems with police?
They arrested [one artist] because of the film, and they were screaming my name, but they haven't come yet.

Can they use the film against you?
They have to prove where, when, why. How are they going to prove anything? Could've been a set...

Have you been arrested for graffiti?
I've gotten arrested three times. I've been caught writing graffiti probably over 20, and talked my way out of it.

Being female must help with that.
You just don't think "graffiti writer" when you see a girl. When you're bombing with a guy, you just look like a couple. In the early '90s, before they caught on that we were all stealing spray cans, they weren't expecting me to clean out all the Rust-Oleum in the little mom-and-pop hardware stores wearing a dress and a purse.

Has being female hindered you?
I've thrown down, had bottles broken on my head, [but generally] when you have beef, it becomes your crew's beef, because no one's gonna let me fight a dude.

How has bombing changed since you started in the late '80s?
Now, if somebody looks at you, they could be calling the police [on a cell phone]. You have to be much more stealth.

Home » CELEBRITIES » Complex Women » Opening Graf: Claw