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mr. maxx moses
hometown: san diego, ca
website: www.posetwo.com
Albus Cavus: Briefly describe your journey from Yonkers through Philadelphia to San Diego. And how did your art evolve throughout that journey?
Mr. Maxx Moses: From the moment I encountered the insides of bombed trains I realized graffiti and writing is an “art with a mission.” Seeing tags like “Voice of the Ghetto,” “Terror 161” and “A challenge to be free” evoked inspiration and rebellion. How could I resist this sweet temptation?!
I began in Yonkers and I consider myself to be of the 3rd generation of writers from that city. Until 1981 I bombed anything I could in New York... Then I was off to college, SUNY Brockport. Exiled from NY for 8 years with no trains, no mentor and only one magazine in the world (IGT, by Phase II), I was forced to develop my style.
Graffiti’s pioneers, crews and kings were already well established by 1989 when I returned to NYC. I refused to be overlooked and decided I had to be dramatically different. Fuck what everyone else was doing! It was time to change the game. While in college I studied art history and became influenced with surrealism... The merging of fine art and graffiti was the birth of the POSE II identity.
In Philadelphia I evolved into an international muralist, art educator, organizer and business owner. Yeah, I really began to flower in this city.
Moving to San Diego wasn’t a plan. I did an exhibition there in 2006 then sat by the ocean, and the ocean said it’s time for a change... so here I am... Creatively it was a great move. California serves me well... check out my present work ... my colors are and brighter and my concepts are more related to nature ... it just really feels right... and I’m also working with some really creative people right now and that’s challenging.
Albus Cavus: What do you prefer? Canvas or street?
MMM: Well I really enjoy spray painting and painting big in general. However, canvass has its place. It’s where I do my brush painting, filled with layers, textures and strokes... The variety is important to me. I’m a Pisces and I like to stay fluid.
Albus Cavus: What responses do you usually get from people outside?
MMM: Well this depends on where you’re at in the world. In Philly people have walked by and not even acknowledged that you’re painting but go to San Francisco and everyone takes notice... crack heads, junkies, the regular folk, they all comment on the art. They’re connected to it. Even when your bombin! It’s like that in Paris too. They really have an appreciation for painting.
Albus Cavus: How is your art related to your own lifestyle? The key words I would use to describe your pieces are: organic and spiritual...
MMM: My art and my lifestyle are evolutionary, “ a work in progress” a spiraling journey through the past, present and future condensed in the moment we call now.
Albus Cavus: I know you do yoga when did you get into that?
MMM: When I moved to Cali in 2006, I was in a “state of transformation” and yoga was right on time... It helps me relieve a lot of mental and physical toxins.
Albus Cavus: Why vegetarian?
MMM: Why not, better health! I used to suffer endless migraine headaches and I wanted to enhance my spiritual development... Most of the evolved cats I know are vegetarians so I felt it was time to move in that direction... It’s about evolution... I’m about 98 % there.
Albus Cavus: What kind of city do you want to live in?
MMM: I want to live in the city of my mind... a mind that is so in tune with its true self that no outer circumstance could possibly have any lasting effect on it, good or bad. An inner city of infinite sunshine, trained warriors, disciplined workers and devoted lovers... now ask me the name of that city.
Albus Cavus: Anything you would like to add...
MMM: I think America is taking a second look at her Bastard Child Graffiti... When this mother first saw her child she despised and ridiculed him. She hated his unforgivable visibility, acts of rebellion and his unending need for attention. These demands were too much for a young mother to handle... So instead of trying to understand and guide this unusual child she neglected him. But this didn’t stop Graffiti. He continues to grow bigger and stronger although his mother didn’t love him, he still gets mad love by all the kids around the world. He is praised, worshiped and adorned with color, beauty and style. He is charming and creative, destructive and unpredictable... he is the yin and the yang ... the visual manifestation of who we truly are... we just don’t want to face it... America love your child!
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