Getso Interview
What do you write? Where are you from? What crews do you rep?
Stu Getso: I write Getso, born and raised in Toronto and have been living in Montreal for the past couple of years and I rep UNC and BR.
How long have you been doing graffiti?
Stu Getso: Since about 2001 or 2002, but with numerous breaks in between for various reasons.
Where does the name Getso come from?
Stu Getso: I wrote a bunch of different things before settling on Getso. Once I settled on that, it just seemed right. The letter flow is nice and symmetrical and it’s good to use in a sentence like, “getso drunk”, “getso high”, the list could go on and on.
How were you compelled to start doing graffiti?
Stu Getso: My buddy, Mind, lived down the street from me since we were practically born and he always tried to get me into it during our skateboarding days, but I just didn’t feel that compelled to do it even though I was always crazy about art. Couple years passed and a couple boys from my hockey team thought it might be a good idea to start up and have an exciting pastime considering we didn’t make the playoffs. We started fucking around with shitty ass dollar spray cans behind a blockbuster in the middle of the rain at like 8 pm on a Friday night and I thought, “yeah, this is for me”. So, I just started sketching and doing that same shit every weekend with those guys for a long-ass time and now here I am.
Who’s all in Urban Nightmares crew?
Stu Getso: Mine, Cinder, Dethrock, Loves, Sen, Wets, Jaber, 45 Lies, Sek, Reset, Morons, Spek, Meor, Sohoe, Mozy and of course me.
Does the Urban Nightmares crew paint together on a regular basis?
Stu Getso: Ha, ha. Not really. We try to do as much as we can. Also, Sohoe and I have been living in Montreal for a while, so that makes it difficult to paint with a lot of the Toronto members. Sohoe, Meor and myself would go pretty consistently in Montreal but this was before we were all even in UNC. Myself, Dethrock and Mine got funky a bunch last year. But, this is all pretty new anyway, I was just put down about a year ago, even though I’ve been painting with Deth for quite some time now. Meor, Mozy and Sohoe were just added within the past couple months as well. I’m sure now that the crew is starting to revamp itself more, there will be much more productions coming out. As for the other guys, not so much. Not really any of them paint anymore. Loves is killing it, but he’s out west so that doesn’t really allow us to paint with him anyhow.
What do you prefer, walls, freights or bombing?
Stu Getso: Hard to say. I go in phases a lot. I was enjoying a pretty heavy bombing scene in Montreal this past year and last Summer and Fall I got a lot of freights done. But I would still have to say walls. Doing a real nice banger is my favorite. Walking away and just not being able to stop looking back is a good feeling.
When was the last time you were painting? What did you paint?
Stu Getso: It was just a couple days ago actually. On a rooftop on Queen Street in Toronto. Did the straight letter rooftop with my girlfriend, Festr and Ego. As well as Tread did the background. We just got into our boxers and kicks, made a bunch of Sangria and painted it right in the middle of the day. It was like the first hot day of summer and it’s fuckin’ June! I got sunburnt to shit too. But it was definitely worth it.
How would you describe the Toronto graffiti scene?
Stu Getso: I would say it’s pretty good. It’s a bit slower than it’s been in the past couple of years, but there’s definitely a lot of talent. I think the older dudes are still producing some amazing shit and there’s tons of new kids that are coming out of nowhere that seem to really be stepping it up. I definitely think it’s going in the right direction.
Have you painted in other cities? If so where?
Stu Getso: Oh yeah, I’ve painted in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia, Berlin, Germany, Paris, France to name a few.
Do you have a favorite city you like to visit? Why?
Stu Getso: Berlin, definitely Berlin. The scene is just unbelievable. It’s so covered that you have to go over somebody just to do something, not to mention that the majority of the shit is off the hook. It’s absolutely mind blowing. When I arrived, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Is there a city you haven’t visited but would like to?
Stu Getso: Yeah, Barcelona. I heard that place is unreal. I definitely plan to make a trip there in the near future.
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
Stu Getso: Louisiana Chicken Sub.
Out of all the paintings you’ve done, is there one you can call a favorite?
Stu Getso: Hmmm, I don’t know. Sometimes I look back at the ones I like and I start to hate them and then there’s ones I wish I never painted that I can’t keep my eyes off of. It’s a really tough one to say. Maybe the big gray GETSOHOE blockbuster along the GO line in Toronto.
Can you share any chase stories with us?
Stu Getso: I like telling stories a lot but they usually drag on and are extremely animated. I’ll save it for another time.
Do you have a favorite type or color of paint you tend to use?
Stu Getso: I used to always be a Belton man. I absolutely love Belton, but I just recently used Ironlak for the first time and my mind is started to change a little bit.
What can we expect to see in the future?
Stu Getso: More obscure and ridiculous paintings, tons more fine art and definitely some gallery shows.
Do you have any last words or comments you’d like to share with the Senses Lost readers?
Stu Getso: Forget all the bullshit and do graffiti because it’s fun. It shouldn’t be a chore, that takes away from the whole experience. Do what you want because you like it and it brings you pleasure. I would also like to shout out my family, girlfriend, UNCity and BR clicks, as well as all of the people who have been with me since the get go and of course, SensesLost. One love.
