Venice ~ CA

San Pedro ~ CA

Highland Park ~ CA

(Continued)

It was a few months ago that we sat with our friend Galo “MAKE ONE” Canote for this interview. The legendary Los Angeles graffiti pioneer and founding member of our city’s Second to None Crew had some unusual free time due to a regionally not too-uncommon traffic mistake. A lot has been said about Galo and his contributions both past and present to the art world, but knowing him to be a funny, deep, and intelligent guy, we figured it best to let him do most of the talking on his art, city, women, and everything else you’ve ever wanted to know about the man. Since talking, Galo has been characteristically up to his old flurry of tricks, waist-deep in the art world and recently having dropped STN as his crew, which we caught up with him to explain within. Enjoy the q&a and learn of Galo’s orgins, his inspiration, his work with Los Angeles youth, and of his in-demand services as a male escort. Apparently, LoveGalo has more meanings then we thought…

TACO: Yo Galo, what’s up man? Spending a lot of time at home recently? What exactly happened to get you that anklet?

MAKE: (Laughs) Wassup man? Yeah – a lot of time!! Well…what can I say? I made a bad decision and got popped for a DUI again. SUCKS! So being such a lightweight – they assigned me house arrest for two months. Beats being in jail having to deal with all the lame politics they have. It’s alright though, just have to step-up and take responsibility for my actions. Things are coming along.

TACO: You’re a legend in today’s graff art world, and a hero in Los Angeles…

MAKE: A legend maybe. But a hero? Aummm…Yeah I guess I can consider myself one too. (He smiles)

TACO: Where in L.A. did you grow up? What neighborhoods did you hang out in back in the day?

MAKE: I grew-up mainly in the Mid-Wilshire area, just south of Hollywood. I hung out a lot around the Belmont Tunnel/Yard. Other areas were: Pico-Union, Alhambra, K-Town, North Hollywood, Little Tokyo, ELA, Baldwin Hills Area, by Laurel Canyon Elementary, Venice Beach, and of course Hollywood. Pretty much all over L.A.

TACO: Where would you most want to live in the city if you had your choice?

MAKE: Any area where people care about their neighborhood, where people take pride in their community. Any area where all neighbors get along. Any area where all my neighbors are hot, single, sexy women. Once you know of one let me know. Oh and where Winona Ryder, Drew Barrymore, Elisha Dushku, Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Teri Hatcher, Brittany Murphy, Golden Brooks, Eihi Shiina, Lisa Bonet, Ivonne Montero, Persia White, PJ Harvey & Cristina Ricci are all my neighbors. (winks)

TACO: Heh. And what do you remember about growing up in our city? What was the L.A. of your childhood like?

MAKE: Mannnn…it was different. From what I remember things were chill. Or at least it seemed they were. Perhaps cause I was younger, I was a bit naïve and oblivious to a lot of my surroundings. But as I grew older, I slowly began noticing things, you know? The drugs, the gangs, the crime, how skin color was an issue and lame stuff like that.

TACO: How’d you spend your days as a kid? And how have you seen L.A. change through the years, and your experience here change from a kid to today?

MAKE: I spent my days mainly having fun. Being a kid was or is fun. I am still a kid! (laughs) I took my childhood years for granted. It’s the best time, at least for me, to be exposed to different and new things, to be free, to be innocent, to be unaccountable, to experiment, to absorb, etc.

As a kid I was only into two things, art and girls. If it wasn’t girls, it was art. If it wasn’t art, it was girls.

(Continued)

Seen at the Hungry Pocket, 1715 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica.