It’s official: Danielle Bremner aka Utah, is finally a free woman, after sitting down for a 6 month bid on Rikers followed by an additional sixer in Boston. Debt to society now served and free to admit that she is indeed the infamous daredevil that has adorned the world’s trains and walls over the last 10 years, the 27 year old student and artist is ready to take on the internetz with her new blog.
Just so you know, I am lucky enough to call her a friend and got to catch up with the very pretty, petite, and unusually chipper young lass, who was kind enough to grant an interview. That and more after the jump…
If you’ve never heard of Utah, either you know nothing about graffiti, don’t read the paper, or live in a cave in Williamsburg. Her arrests and subsequent court appearances produced numerous write-ups in the media in the last couple years – the vast majority of which have painted her and partner/boyfriend Ether as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. But there’s more than that – Bonnie and Clyde robbed banks for riches, Utah and Ether painted cities all over the world for nothing more than the satisfaction of getting over and leaving with a nice photo of their work. Being that nowadays risk for anything but monetary reward is pretty unheard of, Utah stands to remind us that self-satifaction can still be found elsewhere, and that somethings are worth doing just to do them…
What year did you start and what made you start writing graffiti?
Growing up in NYC, I was surrounded by graffiti from an early age. As a kid I was somewhat fascinated with it, wondering who did it and how they did it, but it never occurred to me as something I could do myself. I didn’t start writing until way later, around 2000/2001. At the time, I was hanging out with a few kids who wrote, and I would always go along with them on missions. They would paint while I would take photos and explore. I did that for a while, without ever picking up a can. After getting into a few chases, and realizing that I would be arrested and charged the same as everyone else, I figured I might as well join in on the fun and write my name too.
What are your major influences?
Early Americana. Hunter S Thompson. The first season of Twin Peaks. Oh, and Pokemon.
Why the name Utah?
I guess I just liked the letters. I know, you were probably hoping for some really witty and intelligent reason why. It’s kinda an unusual name, so I can see why people think there’s a story behind it. But nope, it really is just random.
Any favorite partners?
At this point, I only chill with crew members, or by myself.
Favorite brand of paint?
I’ll use it all. I’m not a paint snob. If I can use it to write my name on something, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do, regardless of the name on the label.
Is it easier to get over in the States, Europe or Asia?
It’s really all the same. I think it has more to do with who you are rather than where you are.
How many times were you caught in your career?
Surprisingly few, considering it’s something I’ve done almost every single day of my life for the past 10 years.
Being a woman was an advantage or disadvantage? (Sorry, had to ask)
It is what it is. Its a non-issue for me.
How was the case built? What kind of evidence? What was used against you and how was it linked?
My lawyer has some very interesting paperwork, that’s for sure!
“What if” sucks- but what would you have done differently both as an active writer (pre-arrest) and for your defense?
I have always had a pretty strict policy of not having regrets. To me, there is nothing more unattractive than someone who lives in a world of “should haves” and “what ifs”. It might sound kinda corny to say that I am really happy with myself and my life, but I am. Be it good or bad, I believe that experience is what makes a person who they are. I’ve definitely had more than my fair share of both good and bad experiences, but hey, at least it’s never boring.
Tell us about jail?
Jail isn’t great by any means, but really not that terrible either. It’s just the biggest waste of time ever. It’s like hitting a giant pause button on your life. Basically you have a whole bunch of time, and its kinda up to you how you’re gonna use it. You can relax, reflect on things and come up with a game plan, or you can sit around being angry and sad that you are in jail. I dunno, I think there are enough crybabies in the world already, don’t you?
New York vs Boston?
Each had its pro’s and con’s. At the end of the day, jail is jail. None of it is particularly ideal.
Did you have friends? Have to join a clique inside?
I was super cool with everyone I met in jail. It wasn’t cliquey like how its portrayed in movies or television dramas. Basically, its a bunch of grown women hanging out all day in their pajamas, reading Cosmo and watching Law & Order SVU. Its not like anyone can go anywhere. You all are pretty much stuck together, and it’s in everyone’s interest to make the best of that. I mean, for sure there are disputes, and if you go into a scenario like that looking for a fight, you’ll have no trouble finding one. For the most part though, everyone’s just trying to do their time and go home.
Wait, you guys watched law shows in jail? Kinda ironic, no?
Oh my gosh, pretty much all we watched were law shows. Most of the time they were the only thing everyone could agree on to watch. I am pretty sure I have seen every single episode of Criminal Minds at least 5 times now. Law & Order, The First 48, Cold Case, CSI, NCIS, Americas Most Wanted, the list goes on. Except for Monday nights. That when we all watched The Bachelor.
Being a vegan is truly difficult in the outside world – how did you survive on jail food?
Yeah, I’m pretty sure that I probably never want to see a pack of Ramen noodles again.
How did you spend your time?
I slept. A lot. Like, 18 hours a day a lot. Seriously, when else in my adult life am I going to have the chance the sleep until 4:30 in the afternoon. I figured I might as well take advantage of being away from my day-to-day responsibilities. Other than that, I read a whole bunch and traded drawings to people. In jail, once people find out you can draw, you’re pretty much set. Everyone wanted a drawing, so I kept myself busy sketching out names of people’s kids and baby daddy’s and whatnot. Lots of people asked me to draw them up tattoos. I don’t tattoo, but I can draw. And judging by some of the tattoos people had in there, I figured whatever I designed would probably be a whole lot better than what they were getting on the street. I drew the line at designing anything Tribal though.
Oh yeah, and there was a treadmill and exercise bike in Boston, so I was getting my fitness on.
What are the major flaws in the penal system?
Haha, oh gosh, what isn’t flawed about the penal system? That would certainly be a shorter list. Basically take the most simple, everyday situation you can think of and then picture handling it in the most backwards, inefficient way ever. Now times that by 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Yeah.
What was the most interesting thing you learned in jail?
How to make a lighter out of a double A battery and a piece of wire. I don’t smoke at all so its not like i really need a lighter for anything. But just knowing that I could construct one, if I ever wanted to, makes me feel super crafty. Kinda like that guy on Man vs Wild.
How do you feel about graffiti now?
Um, I think it’s awesome! Wait, is that the wrong answer…darn, a year in jail, and I still cant get it right…
Seriously though, I don’t feel any differently about it than I did before. Which is to say I don’t really feel any way about it, beyond that it’s a super fun thing to do. I never really sat around and analyzed the significance of graffiti, and I have no plans on starting to do it now. To me, graffiti is something you go out and do, not something you hang out and ponder the greater socioeconomic meanings of. Its funny, with my case being in the media so much, it seems that everyone has come out of the woodwork with some sort of opinion about graffiti. It for sure amuses me to have made everyone think so much about something I give so little thought too.
Was it worth doing a year bid?
That’s a good question.
Everything has been crazy-busy lately. I’m in school full time, which doesn’t leave time for much else. The few free moments I have are usually spent concentrating on my artwork. I just finished a canvas for the T.A.G Les Lettres de Noblesse auction at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris on February 15th. The proceeds go to a racism prevention organization, which I think is pretty cool. I have some group exhibitions coming up later in the year, so I’ve been hard at work preparing for those. I’ve also been working on finishing up the layout for my book, and focusing on my new website, utahoner.com. Yeah, after all these years of holding out, I’ve finally joined the interweb. I figured it’s a good way to let folks everywhere know what I’ve been up too, especially since pretty much all of the exhibitions I participate in are overseas. People can go to the website to see my artwork, and read the blog to find out what shows and events I have coming up. I’m also working on setting up a store, it should be up and running in the next few months. There will be limited edition prints, cool gear for the cool kids, and even some original artwork.
We hear she might even become a contributor to Blogue – go team!
Hello, I would like to feature this article and its images on my site, can I? Please let me know. Go Utah!
surely – get the word out!
Claw, thank you for writing this!
this is hands down one of your best entries ever!
good shit, i’m glad shes out.
i really hope she still intends to bomb shit.
Welcome Back Utah !!! Let the bombing begin !!!
After she gets her store and someone bombs her place,she might change her mind about graffiti,no???
YESS!! utah is not only great writer but fucking HOTT damn
Wow! I love graffiti – awesome interview. So glad to hear Utah is out and doing her thing! So gangsta!
its still worth the stretch
I truly hope that her next paint can explodes in her face and blinds her. Then she can ponder the greater socioeconomic meaning of writing stupid things on other people’s stuff.
just don’t rack from dollar stores in pittsburgh!
*looks at first picture*
…..
DAYUUUUUUUUUUUUMM UTAH!!
another late bloomer with no history in the game getting publicity.
gimme a break!
obligatory.
@ class of 72 utah bombed harder than most writers that get shine. tags throwups freights cleeeeeeeeeeans. anyone who has lived in new york since 2000 cannot deny she put this town on smash. welcome home utah.
Made what’s good?
I think it was sad she had to go to Jail, and people think oh its a wake up call fuck outta here once you taste Graff theres no wake up calls you ride till the wheels fall off, Utah your hot marry me! Lol
Haters get off this blog and go comment on Saster – bitches!
je get at me!
DAMN she is lookin so fine in that pic…nothin sexier then a fine who graffs
utah hit me up if u read this lets hook up lol!!
http://streetsworth.blogspot.com/2010/02/utah-free-woman.html
When are you gonna do a Miss 17 interview – by the way I love you three ladies.
Nasher – don’t be an idiot.
UTAH isn’t even talented. She hot, that’s why you people care.
Utah is definitely talented – one of the most creative and hardest working writers to ever pick up a can. She’s painted more cleans than most dudes have painted freights times ten. Free the big homie
Damn Shes Just An Average Tagger Much Respect For Utah loved Pokemon To My Self.
UTAH rulez! And your stupid to think she didn’t grind all over the place. Good to know that she’s out of jail.
I heart Utah!
<33333 I was wondering what hapened to her. Danielle if youre reading reading, it's Bri! I haven't talked to you in ages, and I found Marina because she's tattooing now.
stills ups in toronto
Mad props to Utah!
Still ups in Toledo, except this stoopid kid that crossed you out, and got the MUL abandoned car buffed.
I hope things work out.
Danielle looks good but that spot is sexy!
so when’s the UTAH limited edition montana coming out?
Hey, any chance you could put me in contact with UTAH? I’m trying to reach her for a Toronto project. Like bellwoods said:
“stills ups in toronto”
!!
comment on her blog! utahoner.com
I don’t get it? She seems really arrogant. Shes been writing since 2005, got her throwup from Ader, got her street cred from Host, jumped from one writer to the next until she got caught. Now shes trying to cash in on something she says people shouldnt think about but just do? If shes that real she shouldnt be selling out but change her name and start writing. work on her skills instead of capitalizing on graffiti.
Utah is an ugly TOY
@Johnson
How do you get street cred from Host?
damn shes easily one of my favorite writers, and shes also extremely pretty, shes truly a great person to admire and look up too. hope she keeps hitting shit loved seeing her in boston
Thanks for writing this Claw, great to hear she’s out and doing well. Peace.
she paints, drive route 80 east from NY through PA, every bridge has a faded utah tag, when i saw that i was impressed.
now she’s media famous, so, logically, she’s hustlin’ for some money while she’s in school.
SOUNDS LIKE EVERY WRITER EVER.
quit that 70′s/80′s credibility nostalgia.
utah is dope….ya’ll hating cause u ain’t datin…….
she got known by going over host then by going over a shit load of other people.. why you see her shit dissed so much? she gets no love in new york
i wanna marry utah for real! sick writer and shes hot!! what more do you want?
hahahahah how in the hell could anyone get fame from going over host!? stop hating cause you boys are threatened by this cutie with bigger balls than you!
she did more writing than most, and did it good. she got style from someone else? who didnt. she is cashing in and “selling out” who should be making money off of graffiti someone who never put anything into or someone who went all out in it? utah earned the fame and deserves the spoils .point blank. big her up.
Hej, really nice interview. Nice to read such things, sharing really personal stuff. Thats how real graff go, everybody has different ways of growing. Just be creative. Keep it real! g*
Who cares?
YOU, cus you commented. Nananana nee nahhhhhhh!
Her whole style is wack and anyone can rock panels and if you ask me she is not pretty.
shes nearly as ugly as her graffiti
Time to easily forget about this girl. She has admitted to who she is and is blogging. Its over.
For those that care,when she sets up her blogs “store”,have a heart and buy a tee shirt or something.
Hopefully she will stand up and pay back her folks for bailing her out of a potentially bigger disaster.
yo honestly i never knew utah was a chick … i crossed her out in boston many of times … sorry but u kno the game … id still fucks her tho … sure why not… wait she was prob in south bay doin time with nasty ass dike bitches wit no teeth …
mad love for utah.. keep crushing fuck the haters. you are the truth
i respect utah as a writer, but what i dont understand is why she would agree to do an interview and then give quick thoughtless answers to half the questions… “thats a good question” is not a answer
please dont stop getting up utah.
MANR! You still around on here? I’d like to get in contact with you, too!
posterchilds.blade.diary@gmail.com
Utah gets up (or got up)….do you?
I seriously hope you don’t hang up your graff career cause of jail. I did 4 months and been in way too many times….Shit Don’t Stop!! You are going to win….
Nasher, I hope a midget rapes you….
yea, kind of a weak interview.. she dodged most questions
graff
girls
ea!!!
massive props from norway utah!
who is going to break it to her that Ramen has animal product.
WOW! I can’t believe some or the hateful and pig headed things a few of you people said about this girl. YOUR just hating on her cus your jealous! Any female who has the guts to bomb a major city and catch Fame,plus have a year stolen from her life,deserves Respect.
Much love to UTAH ONE!
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