Street Artist Sand-One Explains Her Mi Vida Piece (Poll Included)

As we reported on Monday, June 27, Street Artist Sand-One recently painted one of her Sand Chicks on the outside wall of York Bouelvard's Mi Vida Boutique.

We've read some mixed reaction from Highland Park residents about the work. The shop's owners--Danell Hughes and Noelle Reyes--said the mural perfeclty represents the Chicano Punk style of their boutique.

However, one commenter to the site, MoJoMoon, said she thinks the Sand-Chick looks like a "BRATZ advertisement"

We recently exchanged e-mails with the 20-year-old Sand-One--who talked to us about how she developed her Sand-Chick style and what motivates her as an artist. She also gave us a little background on this particular Sand-Chick, who goes by the name Vida.

Who are the Sand Chicks?

They are my babies, my dreams, aspirations, struggles, creation, motivation, weakness and my addiction. My cartoons make my days full of creativity, success, failures, travels and deceptions. I have learned with them to build thick skin and a shield around me to withstand the many art critics and that daily erupt to criticize what I love. Amongst a competitive art world emerges the Sand Chicks full of new life and endless ambition to shatter the many stereotypes that follow our youth minorities in California and all over the U.S. They are the dream within to succeed and aim for an unknown dream away from the ghettos and statistics that bring a Latina down.

Describe the inspiration for this Sand Chick.

This mural was a challenge, since I have never painted a “Day of The Dead” influenced character on a wall, but I took it. The ladies at Mi Vida really loved the [Mexican] Day of the Dead style I had previously done on one of my fine pieces on wood surfaces for my 2011 collection called Bow Ties. This particular piece was of a girl with long hair, wearing a tuxedo with a bow tie. The way her hair flowed had an air of mystery; her eyes were dim and sad. So for this mural at Mi Vida it was a younger and bigger version of what they had fallen in love with. The ladies were very supportive of my West Coast Gangster influenced characters [laughs].The results? Another cute cartoon in the big city of Los Angeles.  She now lives in the artsy and calm area of Highland Park. I love the location since it's owned by two beautiful young entrepreneur Latina women.

Can you tell us a little more about this Sand-Chick?

Sand Chick Info:

Name: Vida

Age: 16

Ethnicity: Latijapamerican

Resides: Outside wall of Mi Vida Boutique

Hobbies: Eating tamales, corn on the cob or esquites and champurrado. Coloring on people’s faces while they sleep in Highland Park and playing Sock Her. Every week she is shopping for make-up and petal lashes.

Occupation: Full Time High Skull Sophomore

Marital Status: Currently dating Chaz Bojorquez, oldest son Senor Suerte--who’s originally from where Vida was born, East Los Angeles.

What do you think of Sand-One's piece? Take our Facebook Poll and let us know!