Vendor Interview: WAR
Photos: Emil Lombardo
Where are you selling DOPE?
Highbury, Upper Street, Angel. Highbury is my main place but I kinda float around sometimes – Holloway Road, Archway, up in Highgate. I find that sometimes it’s easier to be in one spot. I’ve got some really nice regulars. And just in general, I think that when people see you trying, just trying to do something – people are more willing to help you when you’re trying to help yourself.
Do you ever get any bother?
About 2-3 weeks ago I was actually walking through Highbury and Islington park and I was speaking to a gentleman about the magazine. And then I noticed that some community support police were following me. They started saying “you’re not allowed to ask people for money here.” I said I’m not asking nobody for money, I’m just trying to sell a magazine, it helps me to support myself. I showed them the legal notice on the back of the bags and he began to read it out in a ‘I know I’m right’ sort of way. But then when it gets to the last bit where it says “just show them this message and tell them to jog on” – that shut him up. So, I said, would you like an edition, officer?
How long have you been a DOPE vendor?
It’s a few years now – I’ve been doing it nearly from the start. I started to actually do this when I came out of prison. I would never knock it, because it’s kept me going.
You have your good days and your bad days. But I can speak to people, I’m a people person. For me, I never, ever, ever thought I would sell a magazine. I’ve always worked, I’m actually a locksmith by trade. I find that it’s a really good ice-breaker, because I’ve really been pushing my art. While I’m out with the mags, I’ll also have my art with me. I do stuff to order for people as well.
Tell us about your art.
I do landscapes, mainly pencil drawings, shading – I can do the painting and stuff as well. I’ve sold quite a few canvases. My most of my drawings are A3. I try and get a little frame or something – recently I’ve found that the back of an old chest of drawers is a good canvas, you can do a little something on there. People are actually coming up to me now and saying “are you the art guy?”
