SUMMER2016
MOUNTAINLIFE
47
words :: Taylor Godber
Kris “Kups” Kupskay is a painter. He’s also a
public speaking, dirt biking, youth leader and a
snowboarding, beer drinking, spandex wearing
yogi. He’s a chess player, both literally and
figuratively, whichmay have helped him crack the
algorithm in solving two timeless artists problems:
how to get paid to practice your passion, and
how to spray paint public spaces without being
arrested. But that’s getting ahead of the story
…
“I thought I wanted to be a lawyer,” professes
Kups. “I probably watched toomany movies
like
Philadelphia, AFewGoodMen, TheFirm,My
CousinVinny,
and
ThePeopleVs. LarryFlynt.”
Those movies led to a degree in Criminology
and during long hours in lecture halls, Kups
found his artistic tendencies taking over. “I
would draw all over my books,” he says.
“During lectures, I would illustrate my notes
rather than write them, but I still managed to
graduate with a 3.7 GPA.”
It was while conducting research for his thesis
paper, entitled
ArtandColourTheory&The Impact
ofGraffti andMuralson theCommunity,
that Kups
discovered the world of legitimate public art. “I
walked into a graff shop downtown [Vancouver],”
he says. “After I explained to the owner what I
was after for my paper, he askedme if I could
draw and ended up challengingme to enter a
graffiti competition taking place the following
week. I was accepted into the competition, met
some amazing artists during the event, was
invited the next day to help paint another mural,
and eventually spent the rest of my summer
with a spray can inmy hand.”
KUPS
PAINTS
FOR THE
PEOPLE
A summer job working with at-risk youth
allowed Kups to integrate that original desire
to help people and his new passion for paint.
“I was assigned to help kids with Youth
Agreements budget and balance their lives, as
well as Probation Order kids fulfill their court
orders, complete work service hours, and pay
back restitutions.”
Spray cans in hand, Kups began pursuing artist-
led communitymural opportunities with his
young friends inmind. “I was able to take the
kids that I was workingwith along to helpme on
the walls. I could teach them about art, graffiti,
and breaking the law all at the same time.”
After almost five years, the hustle of being a full-
time youth worker and a full-time artist caught
up with Kups; it was time to choose. “I’d have
conversations with all the kids, asking
The artist atwork. Shoes optional. ZOYA LYNCH
ARTIST
