Modesto-raised graffiti artists do battle for the art form

Imagine a battle without blood, but still with plenty of red painting the streets of downtown Modesto – also gray and blue and orange and some purple.

The Fasm vs. Kasm graffiti battle pitted two respected artists against each other Saturday in the city’s first public spray-paint showdown. Modesto-based artist Aaron Vickery, who goes by the graffiti tag name Fasm, and longtime rival and friend Josh Gabert, who goes by the graffiti tag name Kasm, faced off for the free public event to raise awareness and appreciation for the art form.

This is the third graffiti battle Vickery has organized in Modesto over the years, but the first open and accessible event aimed at a public audience. The artists squared off working on side-by-side, 8-by-20-foot constructed walls. After seven hours of painting, their work was assessed by three veteran graffiti artists from across California and a winner was crowned.

But it is the process, Vickery said, that he hopes intrigues people to learn more. The artists worked outside throughout the day in front of the Redeemer Church on H Street. People stopped by throughout the morning and afternoon to watch, sip free iced coffee and listen to a live DJ as the pieces progressed.

“First and foremost this is to give the graffiti artist a platform and lead by example of how to use graffiti art,” Vickery said. “Lead on how to use graffiti art in a positive way. I would love to get more support from the community.”

Vickery’s work already adorns several high-profile spots throughout Modesto. A large mural depicting famed Modesto mountaineer Royal Robbins is on the Camp 4 Wine Cafe on Needam Street, and two Graffiti Summer-themed classic car murals are painted on J Street – one on the Modesto Chamber of Commerce building and another on the Peer Recovery Art Project Gallery wall.

Vickery began doing graffiti art in the early 1990s, when he also chose his tag name. Modesto native Gabert chose his similar-sounding tag name a few years later when he began working the medium in the mid-1990s.

The rhyming names had been a source of contention for the two at first, but now the artists consider themselves good friends.

“Aaron and I have known each other for a long time in the graffiti community. It’s sometimes frowned upon to have similar names,” Gabert said. “But growing up we got to know each other and let that stuff go.”

Gabert grew up in Modesto, too, but now lives in Florida. He returned this weekend for the battle and to visit family who still live in the area.

Both artists said they hope the community comes to embrace graffiti art and to see at as not just a public nuisance. Vickery said more legitimate graffiti art can lead to less vandalism.

“I’d love to have legal walls in Modesto and a couple key spots locally. It’s just like soccer fields and baseball diamonds where parents can cheer on their kids,” Vickery said. “I’d love to see that for young graffiti artists. I’d love to see places parents can cheer on their kids. You can support the positive aspects of graffiti and help steer them in the right direction.”

But who won? Vickery, in what was termed a close call. But Redeemer Church was the big winner, as the two murals will hang on the walls of its youth rooms.

This story was originally published July 11, 2015 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Modesto-raised graffiti artists do battle for the art form."