Mr. Unek (CBS) – Born and Raised
Some of the most inspirational experiences over the years have been the moments in time that I find myself in places I’ve never been, and had a little time to take a moment and soak it in. Meeting new people and realizing how many of us there really are. Since I’ve been spending some time in the Southwest, I’ve really enjoyed the unique & diverse styles and the energy of the people.
A little ways back I posted some pics from the “BREAK YO’SELF” Paint Session in El Paso, TX., roughly 60 artists from all through-out the Southwest including L.A. based artist Cre8 – (RTN, WCA, LTS) and artists from CBS & C4P crews. I had a chance to meet Alberquerque-based graffiti artist and photographer Unek (CBS) for the first time face-to-face. Over the past few months, we’ve kept in touch and took some time to talk about his work and experiences.
La Famiglia – Could you give us a little background and introduction?
Unek – My name is Mr. Unek, I was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in the Four Corners of New Mexico. I remained there until I graduated in 1998 and have spent the remainder of my time in Central New Mexico.
I got into graffiti when I was a freshman in High School. I didn’t start counting till the day I actually picked up a spray can to paint, but I was in the 5th grade when I got interested in graffiti. When my parents were still together my dad would take us on vacations to make up for the times he wasn’t there. So we would go to LA, San Diego, Tucson, Vancouver BC, Albuquerque, and so on. Graffiti had caught my eye and inspired me to learn this amazing form of art that was just based on letters.
So when I got back home, I would pull out the paper and start drawing what I saw. From then on I started to develop my own style. When I became a freshman in High School my mom bought me some cans of Krylon and that night I went out painted my first piece on the side of the highway on this old beat up trailer. The next morning on the bus I heard the kids talking about my piece. From there on I fell in love with the hype a name can give and letters would create.
Since then, I kept painting and 18 and 1/2 years later I’m painting with some of the best graffiti artists that I looked up as my mentors to getting into the game. I never thought I’d make it this far ever in my life. Every time I meet people like my good friend Pose2 FX, Vyal, Dytch66, SnowFX, Bates, and the MAC I’m still in shock that I got to meet them. Now I’m rolling with one of Cali’s oldest crews, CBS. That to me is a major accomplishment especially a poor Navajo boy, coming from a small town who didn’t give up and kept pushing to something better. I don’t see too many natives ever trying to better themselves, I want to be that example and inspiration to the Navajo people.
La Famiglia – For those that might not be up on things, could you give us a little more background on CBS?
Unek - Cali Bomb Squad – Can’t Be Stopped Family is one of LA’s oldest graffiti crews. I joined up with CBS about a year and a half ago thru my good friend Dytch66. Since him and I became friend’s we started painting a few productions and he would come out here to Albuquerque because of a graffiti event I would help organize and promote called “Bomb the Canvas”. After a few painting sessions in Albuquerque and in LA, Dytch and Anger asked me to become a part of CBS because of the expansion of the crew was being directed worldwide. It was an honor being placed into the crew. I do wear the 3 letter badge proud when I paint and represent myself, and as well as the crew because we Can’t Be Stopped.
La Famiglia – Where did the name “Unek” originate?
Unek – One day I was trying to figure out a name for myself. Something that would best describes me and who I am. I was always the quiet and artsy person that sat alone and drew. So I thought about the name Unique, but that was too long to write. So I played with the name a bit and came up with Uneek, but that didn’t look appealing, so it just became Unek. I thought that name best suited me as an individual. It became my life. So i sat and sat thought about what this name means to me. That’s how I came up with U.N.E.K. now when i do all my work “Unek” is what I use.
U. N. E. K. (Universal . Native . Endigious . Kaptivator)
Universal- Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Body Art, Photography and Graffiti.
Native- Just being a Native American (Navajo) my culture. Not forgetting where I come from and how hard it was to get where I am today.
Endigious- Using my surroundings, originality, emotions and pain to show my creativity.
Kaptivator- Using the tools, mediums, style, color schemes, uniqueness, imagination to capture my audience and society to see inside my world.
La Famiglia – How would you describe the influences and styles in your work?
Unek – My influences come from studying tattoos and pin stripers. I got into Pin Striping in High School and loved the a freedom of the flow it has. I mimicked that technique in my graffiti. The sharp look has the tribal effect – which turns into what I call the “Razor Phase.” The style of lettering I’m more known for is the “Razor”. It’s formed of sharp points like a razor and has crazy wild style lettering. This style was formed from pass experiences in life and all that I’ve been through. Sometimes life can hurt like needles and razors. If you let it get to you, it can take you down. This expression is a way to protect myself to show that I can’t be stopped in life.
The other style developed is the 3D form what I called the “Technical” phase. This style of letters I use to challenge myself. It’s much more advance with color schemes, shading, realism, and more technical physics. Today I’ve merged the two styles together, which is known as the “Rebirth.” It’s a way to redevelop myself as a artist and as a individual in a new way.
La Famiglia – Who are some of your favorite graffiti artists and why?
Unek – My favorite current artists today are still my friends like Vyal, Dytch66, Woier, OG Gill, Pose2, SnowFX, Hex, Codak and I can keep going down the list but I will always look up to them. Everyday their work amazes me. I may be up there with them but them’ cats will always be a step ahead of me. I’m just glad that I worked hard enough and stayed in the game long enough to have the privilege to meet them and get to know them.
They influenced me thru styles and skill that I can’t find here in New Mexico. So traveling a lot, I am able to bring back new techniques like blends, colors, style and knowledge. They just make me a better writer. Dytch took my 3d to a whole new level when I paint with him. I like to thank him for it and my boy Woier who has a cutting edge style like mine. So I thank everyone who I’ve met.
La Famiglia – What inspires you as a photographer?
Unek – This is my view from graffiti to model photography. I light the model the way I sculpt my 3d letters, Perfecting the highlights and shadows as I adjust my light. When she poses, I bend, position and mold her like my letters. You can twist, shape, flow and exaggerate just like graffiti a letter . Taking a simple letter/model and making it into a beautiful form of an amazing masterpiece. That’s my inspiration for photography. I always refer back to graffiti with everything I do.
I have other photographers that I like to study such as Joel Grimes and Richard Reinsdorf. They both have amazing styles and lighting that I admire. The other good resource for photographers is Flickr. People don’t know how powerful that site is till they actually sit down and see what it has to offer photography and model wise.
La Famiglia – How you feel you’ve evolved as an artist and what were some of the major transitions in the evolution of things?
Unek – Over the years of being an artist, I’ve developed many styles. Based on what my life was like around that time. Every year it changes as I meet many other artists out there across the country. It’s amazing seeing what other people can create and see thru their eyes of what art is. I feed off their vibes and creativity to better myself. Just like a MC or music artists they will read books, newspapers and magazines to see what’s evolving around the world in news to get that inspiration.
After getting caught with graffiti I took a change in wanting to help others get started. Being a leader in giving back to those in the art and photography field who don’t know where to start. Which is something I didn’t have, I learned the hard way by just jumping in and see where it takes me. I guess the best way of learning, is learning the hard way. Right now my friend Lauren and I started up a project/business called Elaborate Collaborate. It’s the same concept of helping others from fashion designers, make-up artists, photographers, and hair-stylist get started in the field that don’t know where to go.
They build up their portfolios and network by attending our workshop meet and greets. Sometimes I do speeches to the youth in directing them in the right direction. Telling them about my background where I come from. Showing them that you can turn a negative into a positive to better themselves. So guiding others has been the evolution to my life and I’m loving it. Knowing that I inspire others to begin somewhere.
La Famiglia – What have been your greatest struggles as an artist?
Unek – My greatest struggle of being a artist is to keep getting myself out there. It’s a lot of hard work. I learned that it all takes time and years. In time and patience things will evolve. There’s been times I almost gave up on my art life because of the struggles of having no money and no one is buying my work. The hardest part is everyone wants something for free. They don’t understand the craftsmanship and time it took an artist to create that. I get upset a lot of the time and try to explain to a non-artist about that.
La Famiglia – Outside of art, what inspires you?
Unek – Outside of my art life, Mountain climbing and my family is my inspiration. Mountain climbing is what keeps me going… Life is like mountain climbing. You start out at the bottom. Working your way up it gets harder, but you can start to see everything. You want to give up at times, but you can see the top and see how beautiful things are. Once you reached the top it’s rewarding. It’s the best feeling you can ever have, because you made it through life’s challenges and it makes you stronger. Life just doesn’t end there. There will always be higher peaks and bigger challenges to go through.
The best way to put this is I push myself as far as I can get, I don’t’ give up when things get hard or gets in my way. I taught myself there are always other ways around it. In the end it’s very rewarding. I always keep those thoughts in my head when I need inspirations to life. Also my mom is my greatest inspiration, seeing what she has gone thru to make a life for my sister, brothers and I with no father around. She’s the mom and father all in one. I give her my biggest love that she showed me that it’s a lot of hard work and that anything can be done.
La Famiglia – What would you like to do in the future that you haven’t had a chance to?
Unek – There’s a lot of stuff I want to do. I want to travel overseas to paint with some of the Euro writers and to also show them my cultural background of being Native American.
La Famiglia – Any last words?
Unek – My last words to people is, don’t give up on a dream. If you have dreams peruse it. Only you can stop yourself from going forward to a brighter future. It’s a lot of hard work but in the end it’s all worth the effort. I started from a poor family with nothing on the Navajo Reservation to someone.
Mr. Unek CBS World Wide Family
Check out Unek on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unek_505
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