Interview with Chor Boogie

( images courtesy of Mr. Chor Boogie)

I met Chor for the first time recently while hanging a show at the Ayden Gallery in Vancouver. I was aware of his work as a muralist and was told he was a great guy but it wasn't until we rushed to hang his tiny items of beauty that I really got a chance to get to know him. Chor is such an amazingly colourful character, on and off the canvas. His positive energy is contagious and flows freely from his hand to the can.

wlfmrs: First I have to ask, where did your moniker, Chor Boogie, come from?

CHOR: WELL I STARTED OFF AS CHORE ONE WHICH WAS HANDED DOWN BY A FRIEND OF MINE SIMPLY BECAUSE ANOTHER GUY HAD THE NAME AND WASN'T USING IT RIGHT ... IT WAS FUNNY, IT WAS GOING TO TURN INTO SOME CRAZY STREET BATTLE ..BUT NEVER DID.. THEN OVER THE YEARS .. I WANTED TO BE MORE ORIGINAL AND WANTED A NEW NAME BUT LOVED THE NAME CHORE... SO I BASICALLY KEPT IT  AND TOOK OFF THE E... BECAUSE IT WAS SHORT AND FAST AND LOVED THE LETTERS... THEN NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT ADDED THE BOOGIE FOR SOME ORIGINAL STYLE ..SOME FUNK.. SINCE I LIKE TO BOOGIE DOWN WITH MY CREATIONS.. SO WHAT A BETTER NAME THAN.... CHOR BOOGIE... FOR MY SELF ..IT STUCK .. I LOVE IT ..THE PEOPLE LOVE IT... WE ALL
LOVE IT... BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAME IS DEEPER THAN THAT... IT MEANS .. MY CRAFT OR MY CREATIONS ARE A CHOR, A CHOR TO EVERY MANS NEED.. AND I JUST GET BOOGIE WITH IT.. SO 50% MIND + 50% HEART = 100% BODY + 100% SOUL= 200% SPIRIT THEN ADD AN INFINITE UNIVERSE ..YOU HAVE A CHORBOOGIE CREATION..

wlfmrs: In your bio you reference being 5 and knowing that you wanted to be an artist, do you recall the content of your first art pieces? Also, how did your family feel about this youthful revelation?

CHOR: I REMEMBER MY TEACHER GIVING ME SOME ART SUPPLIES ,SAID GO FOR IT ,AND I DID .. WHEN I WAS FINISHED ..I TOLD HER WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE AN ARTIST.. AS FAR AS THE RECOLLECTION OF WORKS FROM THE PAST ..WELL AT THAT AGE I WAS JUST BEGINNING SO THEY WHERE SLOPPY MESSES BUT I DO REMEMBER USING LOTS OF COLOR AND MESSING AND MOLDING THEM TOGETHER .. SO MAYBE IT WAS A PREMONITION OF MY FUTURE USE IN COLOR..BUT AS TIME PROGRESSED I WAS INTO SCI-FI HORROR MOVIES AND STARTED TO DRAW EVIL TYPE IMAGES,PLUS I WAS INTO COMIC BOOKS A LOT, AND STARTED PRACTICING FROM THERE AS WELL.... AS FAR AS THE FAMILY GOES ..THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE... SOME HAD DOUBTS BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT AS AN ARTIST IS IF YOU ARE DEAD.. THIS WAS MOTIVATION FOR ME TO ACTUALLY STRIVE FOR THE GOLD WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARTS..BUT OVERALL MY FAMILY HAS BEEN FRESH ABOUT IT AND THE LITTLE SUCCESS I'VE HAD, THEY CAN'T REALLY BELIEVE IT..

wlfmrs: Do you consider yourself to be a product of your environment?

CHOR: WELL I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THE BLAME GAME AND BLAME MY ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT'S MY CHOICES THAT DICTATE THE FLOW AND FATE OF MY LIFE...I WOULD SAY MY ENVIRONMENT PLAYED A HUGE ROLL AND HAD AN IMPACT ON MY LIFE...AND THERE WAS SOME MISFORTUNES AND BAD DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY ..BUT I'M NOT PLAYING THAT "I'M A PRODUCT OF MY ENVIRONMENT ROLL" SO YOU CAN FEEL SORRY FOR ME..GROWING UP I WAS EXPOSED TO A LOT OF WORLDS AND LIFE STYLES WHICH LEAD TO GREAT INFLUENCE.. MY FAMILY WAS WELL OFF AT ONE TIME ,MY FAMILY WAS POOR ....PROBABLY THE SAME STORY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD HAVE ....SOME WORSE... IT DOESN'T MATTER.. WHAT MATTERS IS IF MY ENVIRONMENT INSIDE IS CORRECT AND THAT ENVIRONMENT I'LL BE WORKING ON TILL THE DAY I DIE, AND TRUST ME THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

wlfmrs: You are a full time artist, what was the last regular job you had?

CHOR: DAAAMMNNN THAT WAS ABOUT 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO I WORKED IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY..JUST A BULLSHIT JOB TO PAY THE RENT... BUT IT WAS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE HAVING TO WAKE UP A CERTAIN TIME EVERYDAY TO BE A MODERN DAY SLAVE ... I DISLIKED IT VERY MUCH... YOU ARE NOT FREE.. BUT ULTIMATELY IT WAS LIKE I WAS WORKING TWO OR 3 JOBS.. BECAUSE AFTER WORK I WOULD GO AND PAINT... PLUS I WORKED FOR A YOUTH / TEACH KIDS HOW TO PAINT CENTER IN SAN DIEGO CALLED WRITERZ BLOCK .. I WAS THEIR MURALS COORDINATOR .. SO ACTUALLY THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE MY LAST JOB BUT IT AIMED MORE TOWARDS ART.. SO IT WAS ALL GREAT..OH YEAH, WHEN I WAS WORKING MY SLAVE JOB I WAS THERE FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS AND I REMEMBER TELLING MY SUPERVISOR.. SINCE THEY ALL KNEW I WAS AN ARTIST ..THAT THIS IS A STEPPING STONE AND I'LL ONLY BE HERE 3 TO 5 YEARS BECAUSE MY CAREER WILL BE PICKING UP.. AS IT DID I WAS OUT OF THERE THE 5TH YEAR AND THE SUPERVISOR WHO WAS A MANAGER BY THIS TIME ..REMEMBERED WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT AND CONGRATULATED ME.. DESTINY IS VERY INTERESTING..

wlfmrs: Other than creating beautiful works of art, do you posses some other magical powers that make it possible for you to work as a full time artist.

CHOR: WELL I'M A VISUAL ARTIST ..WHAT EVER THAT MEANS.. SIMPLY BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS VISUAL, EVEN SOUND.. SO I BELIEVE IF I PUT MY INTEREST AND BELIEF INTO SOMETHING CREATIVE I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN... BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION .. HONESTLY ..NO... THIS ALL I KNOW HOW TO DO... I'M SURE I CAN DO SCULPTING, WHICH I PLAN TO DO SOME MORE OF.. AND GET INTO MUSIC ..I HAVE AN EAR FOR THAT... WELL WAIT A SEC .. I WOULD DEFINITELY GET INTO HI END WOMAN'S FASHION.. SIMPLY BECAUSE I CAN SEE MY DESIGNS, LET ALONE ARTWORK ,WALKING DOWN THE CAT WALK..SEX IS AN ART FORM SO I'M SURE I CAN MAKE A LIVING AT THAT..LOL

wlfmrs: Favorite crayon colour in the box?

CHOR: WELL MY FAVORITE COLOR IS RED ..BUT ULTIMATELY I DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST COLORS THEY ARE ALL MY FAVORITE..

wlfmrs: Recently, while painting a mural on Mission St., you experienced some unexpected negativity, can you tell me about that? Also, does this change how you feel about the area? How do you get past something like that?

CHOR: WELL I HAD A CONFRONTATION WITH SOME GRAWFEETEE KIDS.. WHO TRIED TO STEAL SOME PAINT FROM ME.. WHILE I WAS WORKING ON A 100FT LONG MURAL ON MARKET ST... THE MAIN STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO... WELL ,I CONFRONTED THE GIRL WHO ACTUALLY STOLE THE PAINT.. SHE TRIED TO DENY IT..I GRABBED HER BAG AND PULLED OUT THE CAN AND SHE HIT ME ,SO INSTANT REACTION WAS ..I SMACKED HER IN THE FACE WITH THE CAN .. HEY I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE IF YOU ARE PLAYING THAT STREET GAME .. MALE OR FEMALE YOU SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.. SO AT THAT TIME 3 OTHER GUYS COME OUT THE WOOD WORK RIFF'N AND THEN IT WAS ON .. I HAD TO FIGHT 3 GUYS ..AND AT THAT TIME THEY REALIZED THEY WHERE MESSING WITH A GROWN MAN AND HAD TO PULL OUT A KNIFE .. WHICH I DID NOT REALIZE THEY DID ..BUT AT SOME POINT WHEN WE WHERE FIGHTING I DID NOTICE THE SHARP OBJECT IN THE GUYS HAND.. BUT MY ANGER AND ADRENALINE DID NOT SEEM TO CARE AT THAT POINT.. AND I PROCEEDED.. WELL THE FIGHT ESCALATED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ON MARKET, WHILE CARS ARE PASSING US BY AND YOU HAVE I DONT KNOW HOW MANY SPECTATORS ON THE SIDE INCLUDING THE LOCAL DRUG DEALERS MIXED IN WITH PEDESTRIANS WALKING BY WATCHING THIS GO DOWN.. THEN THE KIDS FLED... I CHASED THEM DOWN AND WE STARTED FIGHTING AGAIN.. THEN SOMEBODY SCREAMED POLICE..AND THE KIDS SCAMPERED OUT OF THERE.. AS I WAS WALKING BACK TO MY STUFF A DRUG DEALER CAME UP TO ME AND WAS LIKE 'HEY CHAMP ,HEY CHAMP ,YOU FUCKED THOSE PUNKS UP ..BUT I THINK YOU GOT STABBED' ..I WAS LIKE 'NAHHHH THAT'S HIS BLOOD AS THE EGO AND PRIDE HAD TO STILL STAND STRONG..LOL...' HE WAS LIKE 'NO BRO THERES A HOLE IN THE BACK OF YOUR SWEATER WITH BLOOD COMING OUT OF IT'.. I LOOKED AND CHECKED THE REST OF MY BODY AND FOUND A HOLE IN MY LOWER STOMACH ..SO I WAS STABBED TWICE.. THEN THAT'S WHEN I JUST WENT WHA WHA whaaaa...AND I CALMED MY SELF DOWN.. MY WIFE SHOWED UP LIKE 5 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS DONE AND WE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL... THAT WAS CRAZY AS WELL .WE GET TO A HOSPITAL AND I STEP OUT OF THE CAR, I SEE SOME AMBULANCE WORKERS THERE AND I TELL THEM I'M STABBED THEY START FREAKING OUT AND TELL ME ..'WELL YOU CANT COME TO THIS HOSPITAL.. ITS NOT A TRAUMA HOSPITAL'.. I WAS LIKE YOUR FUCKING KIDDING ME... SO THEY PUT ME IN THE AMBULANCE CUT OFF ALL MY CLOTHES AND I'M BUCK NAKED IN THE AMBULANCE ..THEY TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL .. THAT'S WHEN THE SHOCK STARTED TO KICK IN.. AND I TOLD THE DOCS TO GIVE ME SOMETHING
FOR THE PAIN ..AND THEY DID... THAT WAS FUNNY ..I WAS LIKE CRACKING JOKES WHILE THE DOCTORS WHERE STICKING COTTON SWABS IN MY HOLES TRYING NOT TO LAUGH... BUT LAUGH THEY DID.. HAD TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE SITUATION..LOL
THE STOMACH WOUND WENT IN ABOUT AN INCH DAMN NEAR CLOSE TO MY LOWER INTESTINES AND THE ONE IN THE BACK WENT IN ABOUT 2 INCHES CLOSE ENOUGH TO MY LUNGS IF IT WHERE TO HIT EITHER .. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FATAL.. WELL AFTER THAT THEY JUST PLUGGED ME UP AND SENT ME HOME.. AND THAT'S THAT.. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GET INTO THE LAW SIDE OF IT BECAUSE THAT SUCKS.. LETS JUST SAY WE KNOW WHO THE CULPRITS ARE AND AIN'T A DAMN THING CHANGED OR ANY JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED.. NO WORRIES.. TIME TELLS ALL..

AS FAR AS HANDLING IT.. I'VE JUST FORGIVEN THE FACT BUT I'M NOT FORGETTING... ACTUALLY I'VE EMBRACED IT AS A PART IN MY LIFE ,A CHAPTER IN THE BOOK.. AND ACCEPTED WHAT HAPPENED.. AS FAR AS THE AREA ....ANOTHER PRODUCT OF MY ENVIRONMENT THING .. NO ,THE AREA IS COOL , I HAVE NO ANIMOSITY TOWARDS THE AREA ..NOR THE PEOPLE .. BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE OR BREAK THE AREA... THAT'S THE TRUTH..SO TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT..GOOD TIMES..

wlfmrs: What are you focusing on in 2010? Shows, projects, commissions, personal growth?

CHOR: WELL THERE ARE SOME SHOWS COMING UP... HAVE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PIECES IN THE ROOM GALLERY IN MARIN COUNTY.. THINGS ARE DOING WELL... MY MAJOR FOCUS IS TO DO SOME MORE MUSEUM WORK.. I LIKE MUSEUMS ... THERE SURFACES ARE MUCH MORE GRAND AND YOU CAN DO MORE.. SOME PRIVATE COMMISSIONS COMING UP AND SOME TRAVELS... FOCUSING ON JAPAN AND EUROPE RIGHT NOW... MAYBE AFRICA ,KOREA, ANTARCTICA..WHY NOT..

AS FAR AS PERSONAL GROWTH I USE MY ART WORK AS A HEALING CIRCUMFERENCE OF MY LIFE ... THAT'S WHY PAINTING IS A SOUL PART OF MY LIFE.. MY 5 YEAR PLAN WOULD BE THE SAME IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.. BUT SUPPORTING MY SELF AND A FAMILY OFF WHAT I LOVE TO DO RIGHT NOW IS IDEAL..
BUT I SEE MORE SCULPTING IN MY CAREER.. MAYBE A RELOCATION PROGRAM..LOL DOING SOME MORE WITH MY MTN SPONSORSHIP...AND HELP TAKE THAT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.. IF YOU DON'T KNOW .. MONTANA SPRAY PAINT IS MTN COLORS.. THERES ALWAYS A WALL OR PROJECT SOMEWHERE.. IF NOT, I'LL TURN IT INTO A PROJECT.. I SEE DOING MORE WITH PAINT YOUR FAITH .. ALSO BUILDING MORE WITH ALBUS CAVUS A NON PROFIT COLLECTIVE I WORK WITH ON THE EAST COAST WASHINGTON DC..THE LIST GOES ON AS THE SAGA CONTINUES..

wlfmrs: What's your musical preference at the moment? Does your playlist have anything to do with your creative mood?

CHOR: OF COURSE MY PLAYLIST PLAYS A REMARKABLE ROLL IN MY CREATIVE PROCESS..HENCE THE FACT OF BOOGIE BEING APART OF MY NAME.. I'M LISTENING TO A LOT OF CLASSIC ROCK ... SOME HIP HOP.. SOME 70'S BOOGIE, TO MORE OF THE HIPSTER TYPE MUSIC OUT THERE... I LIKE ALOT OF MUSIC THAT HAS SOME EMOTION TO IT, SOME FEELING ..I LIKE SOME MAINSTREAM STUFF AS WELL .. AS LONG AS THE BEAT IS CATCHY.. I DON'T DISCRIMINATE .. I WOULD LIST SOME SONGS BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY TO LIST.. BUT I'LL LIST A FEW.. FROM MY BOY BLAME ONE TO GURU
FROM GANGSTARR..TO I'M A STAR ..FROM GUCCI MANE.. TO MGMT AND PREVIOUSLY BEEN HIP TO THE FACT OF THE HUMANS FROM VANCOUVER.. TO.. SKINARD TO HURDY GURDY MAN BY DONOVAN TO ROXY MUSIC .. IN EVERY DREAM HOME A HEART ACHE.. THE LIST GOES ON..

wlfmrs:Favorite place to hang out in SF?

CHOR: MY HOME... ITS WHERE I PAINT.. THE MISSION IS COOL ....BUT DOWN TOWN IS EVEN BETTER..

wlfmrs: Oddest commission request? Most favourite commission request?

CHOR: WELL THE ODDEST ONE WAS BEING COMMISSIONED TO DO SOME MURALS FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER.. THE SUBJECT TOOK PLACE IN BRAZIL.. AND SHE WAS PHOTOGRAPHING PROSTITUTES FOR A BOOK AND USED SOME OF MY WORK AS BACK DROPS WHICH I THOUGHT WAS COOL.. PLUS I TURNED THE TRIP INTO MUCH MORE, WHICH PAYED OFF AT THE END OF THE DAY.. BUT IT WAS CRAZY BEING AROUND ALL THESE PROSTITUTES FROM BRAZIL .. AND HAVING THEM GRAB MY WANKER WHILE I WAS PAINTING.. WHAT A DISTRACTING SHOCK.. IT DID HAVE ME CRACKING UP THOUGH.. INTERESTING TRIP..
MY FAVORITE.. I WOULD SAY THEY ALL ARE... BUT A FEW THAT STAND OUT ,DOING THE PORTRAITS OF HUE HEFNER, JAY Z, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE,, OL DIRTY BASTARD WHEN HE PASSED AND BEING ON STAGE WITH WU TANG WAS FRESH HAVING METHOD MAN AND GZA HOLDING UP MY ART WORK TO A CROWD OF 5OK PEOPLE.. PRICELESS. DOING THE OLYMPIC MURAL IN CHINA ... THE LIST GOES ON..

wlfmrs: Have you ever seen a plastic banana protector? What do you think about it?

CHOR: I'VE SEEN A PURPLE PEOPLE EATER...LOL.WHAT THE FIDUK. A PLASTIC BANANA PROTECTOR... YES I HAVE ...I'M WEARING ONE RIGHT NOW IT PREVENTS BRUISING WHILE JOGGING

.. I WILL GOOGLE THAT RIGHT NOW JUST TO SEE..WOW THAT'S CRAZY THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A BANANA PROTECTOR .. TO PREVENT BRUISING ..GOOD GUESS..

wlfmrs: Other artists you are digging right now?

CHOR: MY PEOPLES .. PHASE 2.. VULCAN ...APEX... LOVE GUSTAV KLIMT AND MICHELANGELO FROM A HISTORICAL STANDPOINT ... BUT I TEND TO SHOW SOME SORT  OF BALANCE TO ALL ARTISTS.. ESPECIALLY IF I'M REALLY DIGGING AND FEELING THE WORK..

wlfmrs: Can you share some words of wisdom for other artists trying to make it in
these uncertain times?

CHOR: I'LL SAY WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE TRUTH.. AND I'LL REPEAT THESE WORDS OF WISDOM LIKE ANY OTHER INTERVIEW... ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS... BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DO TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF ALL UNIVERSAL POSSIBILITIES.. BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DICTATE THE FLOW OF YOUR LIFE AS WELL AS BE THE MASTER OF YOUR OWN FATE.. REALIZE THE TRUTH AND UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR TALENT IN WHICH YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR.. ALSO REALIZE YOU DIDN'T START THIS ARTISTIC PATH WITH FAME AND FORTUNE.. SO RESPECT YOUR TALENT THE FRUITS WILL COME AND NO MATTER WHAT ... STAY CREATIVE... MUCH RESPECT, I LIKE YOUR STYLE
STAY FRESH AND KEEP SHINING...BECAUSE WE ARE ALL BRIGHT SHINING STARS.. AND IF YOU LOOK INTO THE NIGHT SKY AND LOOK AT THE STARS.. SOME STAND OUT MORE THAN OTHERS... SO BE IT .. YOUR STILL SHINING..

wlfmrs: Shoutouts or last thoughts you'd like to share?

CHOR: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK WALLFARMERS AND MY VANCOUVER /CANADIAN FAMILY... FOR TAKING CARE OF ME WHILE I WAS OUT THERE ,IT WAS A BLAST.. UNTIL NEXT TIME.. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE ART WORLD AND ARTISTS.. JUST FOR BEING ARTISTS AND THE ART WORLD...MONTANA COLORS FAMILY ...FOR THE SPRAY PAINT VOODOO ..NEON..YOU GUYS ARE THE FRESHEST.. MY PEERS ..APEX,VULCAN, PHASE 2,... THE BEST LETTER GUYS ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET..I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE SO FAR AND THEN SOME TO COME... BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST.. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE MOST HIGH WHETHER IT BE A MAN OR WOMAN ..IT DON'T MATTER ..I SHOW THE LOVE... STAY TRUE ALWAYS... RESPECTS

CHECK OUT CHOR'S WEBSITE AND BLOG AND TWITTER FOR UPCOMING SHOWS AND NEW ARTS.