Raul “Frame” Gamboa, the artists and founder of the West Coast Graffiti Party, explains in an interview with Label Networks TV just why graffiti art and the power of the spray paint can is important to today’s youth culture. The idea behind the October 20^th event, which took place in downtown Los Angeles at the Crash Mansion, was to not only showcase top legendary artists painting live installations to celebrate art and creativity within this genre, but also promote education and dialogue that programs and locations need to become available for young people to gather and create in urban environments.

“We do this event to bring together top artists and show people the power of the spray paint can,” explains Raul, who also goes by the artist’s tag of Frame DTK. “If young people have a place to create, or a program, we can show the world that graffiti art is not vandalism, but today’s artistic expression.” As he puts it, most youth culture in North America love to express themselves through many different mediums and among the most popular is through the spray paint can. While most people don’t understand the aerosol art movement, others get that it’s the future and that programs, especially in the Mural Capital of the World which is Los Angeles, need to develop for young artists to be able express themselves.

Hundreds of people gathered at the event, cramming around top artists to see their works in progress, including top legends such as King 157 from San Jose, Carlos “MARE” Rodriguez from NYC, Ces one from the Bronx, Ezra from Switzerland, Toofly from NYC, and other such as Ewok, Retna MSK, Jase & Neon BA, Siner LTS, Pose 2, Vyal COI, Make STN, Zone WST, and OG Abel. For many artists and fans, the West Coast Graffiti Party allowed them to gather autographs and tags from top artists, including each other as everyone had out their black sketchbooks to exchange signatures.

What’s interesting about graffiti art events is that respect and signing each others books happens also among other artists—this is simply a part of the culture and adds to the value of visual communication and creative expression within the subculture.

Also on hand were spoken word performers, MC’s, DJ’s, various dance troupes of B-Boys and B-Girls, and sneaker painter artists. The show was highly successful and plans are in the works for a 3^rd annual West Coast Graffiti Party. Among top sponsors included Red Bull, Vitamin Water, Tribal clothing which has supported the movement since ’87, GuerillaOne, and Scion.