“I love biographies. I read Patti Smith's 'Just Kids.' I'm into that ti...” — Barry McGee Quote

I love biographies. I read Patti Smith's 'Just Kids.' I'm into that time frame in New York, the '70s and '80s. In art school, I read 'Close to the Knives,' the autobiography of the artist and AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz.

As soon as I start reading, drawing comes to me more easily. I find I work in my sketchbooks more. But if I'm working on a new show, my reading completely stops except when I'm on a plane. I take a stack of New Yorkers with me. I feel awful about those stacks of New Yorkers.

As soon as street art got popular, I was just like, 'I'm out of here.'

The parts of graffiti I like are really antagonizing still - it's not something that a museum would really embrace.

I think to many people the term 'activist film' implies a film with a single point of view - something designed to provoke outrage and urge action on a particular issue - sort of the film equivalent of a rally. 'If a Tree Falls' is not that kind of film.

I didn't wake up and decide to become an activist. But you couldn't help notice the inequities, the injustices. It was all around you.

So let me get this straight: Kaepernick sacrificed his career, dreams, and reputation fighting for social justice because he was shown he couldn't do both - be an activist and be in the league. But in the end, the players coalition allegedly agrees to a deal with a price tag, and Colin's left out of it. Tell me that doesn't feel a little dirty.

People are always wondering if I am an artist or political activist or politician. Maybe I'll just clearly tell you: Whatever I do is not art. Let's say it is just objects or materials, movies or writing, but not art, OK?