Where did the idea for duct tape 'paintings' come from?
I don't really remember how [the idea originated] exactly. I just kind of remember seeing the tape. I think I was just stoned and in a hardware store, and I saw the tape, and it just kind of snapped-I can make pictures out of tape!

What was your first picture?
Oh, no. Can I tell you what my second picture was of, instead? [Laughing] The first one was Jerry Garcia. And, you know, I don't even know why. I fucking hate hippies. But Jerry Garcia was actually the very first piece that I did. It was awesome, too-even his lazy eye kind of looked like it was following you around!

Did you do other kinds of artwork before finding duct tape?
No, never. Well, when I was in grade school, in second grade, I did a cartoon called 'Lush Puppy'-it was this little poodle, and I would make mimeographs of it, when they were called mimeographs. All the kids in my class would read it, and I would make cards for them on Mother's Day, and they would give them to their moms. But, I never had any real visual art experience. I had performance experience, of course. I mean, I dropped out of high school in tenth grade, became a stripper. There must be a Journey song about that somewhere.

Do you see any parallels between the art world and the club world?
Yeah, totally. You're naked still. They're looking at your brains, instead of your tits, but you're naked. And, they take half your money! They feel free to criticize or say things to you that normal people just don't go up and say to someone. Of course, it's exactly the same. It's like being a musician. You're putting yourself out there, you've got to take it. Kind of, anyway.

When did you get your tattoos? ('Miss Mona' is tattooed across her knuckles.)
A year ago. It was my promise to myself that I would never have to get a real job again. Nobody will hire me now, there's no way. It kind of forces you into painting-I've got to do this, because I don't have a choice. I'm not going to be able to get another secretary job. And, then, if I don't make it, then I'm going to have to get a job as a waitress and all the people I've been so rude to are going to come in and not tip me and it's just going to be a fucking mess and I'm going to have to kill myself, it will be so awful! No, I have to do [art] now-this is my contract with myself, signed in my own blood. Of course, everyone tried to talk me out it. And, I haven't told my mother, yet.

See more of Mona Superhero at Duct Tape Art

As it first appeared in Print: