MPLS.TV: What do you love about Minneapolis?

HOTTEA: The one thing that I really can’t live without are summers here in Minneapolis. The city is so alive and the energy is amazing! Movies in the park, looking up at the night sky with Cary Grant on the big screen is priceless. Biking down Hennepin and Lyndale at 2 in the morning in a T-shirt and shorts. Seeing live music at 7th St. Entry, there are just too many things I love about Minneapolis.

M: What inspires you?

H: The city is always inspiring me. There are endless possibilities in how we can interact with the urban landscape. I love bringing life to a space that may be lacking or be going unnoticed. I kind of represent the underdog locations of the city that can not compete with the strip malls, tanning salons or cellphone stores, etc., etc..

M: Does love play a role in your pieces?

H: Love has a way of working itself into a lot of the things I do. It’s a big part of all of our lives. Endless movies, songs, poems, books, artwork, street art can be traced back to the “L” word. I try to incorporate it without being too literal. It’s like if you notice it, then it just adds that much more value to the work.

M: What are your plans for 2012?

H: Well I have a lot of travel plans. If everything goes as planned I will start my travels in L.A then to Sao Paulo, Brazil and finally a street art festival in Poland. I also have several large-scale pieces I will be installing at disclosed locations here in Minneapolis.

M: What advice do you have for up-and-coming artists?

H: Honestly, this really goes for anything in life. MPLS.TV wouldn’t be where it is without it, street artists such as JR, ROA, BLU, Swoon, the list goes on… and that is CONSISTENCY. With that and a strong idea everything should fall naturally into place.

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See HOTTEA’s first solo show – Flying Solo – Saturday night from 7-9 at Haus Salon. HOTTEA will be debutting 5 brand new pieces. One of which includes 20 different colors with over 4,000 pieces of yarn.