Over the last month I’ve had the pleasure of working on an
installation in a new STM office in St Leonard.
Featuring in the office foyer is the vibrant artwork by
local artist Silly Pear (Charlie Nivison). Charlie has captured
the essence and quintessential elements of NSW and Sydney life in his
mural,‘Sydney’s brighter side’.
The artwork depicts a celebration of significant
references from growing up in Sydney’s northern suburbs. Summer
days spent at the beach, hibiscus flowers, the innocence of young girls
with flowers in their hair, and the importance youth plays in the
evolution of this city.
This vibrant, playful artwork welcomes customers
into the STM office.
Drawing from the artwork I designed the office frosting, capturing the waratahs and gum leaves, blending together a connection between artwork and the office environment.
This vibrant, playful artwork welcomes customers into the STM office.Drawing from the artwork I designed the office frosting, capturing the waratahs and gum leaves
I think the overall effect is a perfect blend of art and workplace.
Whilst councils are committed to the quick clean-up of graffiti, the lure of a freshly painted wall is too attractive for taggers, an invitation to encourage new graffiti, it seems no suburb is immune to the issue. And so the cycle goes on, proving an expensive exercise to remove each time.
Why not turn the cycle around? This is whats being done in and around the Inner West with outstanding results. Sydney’s Inner West Council has recognised it is time to consider a different attitude towards graffiti.
The Perfect Match program is a renowned alternative council initiative started to combat local graffiti. Now resulting in something far greater than anticipated.
Perfect Match is a unique initiative tackling
unwanted graffiti through fostering legitimate creative expression and art in
public spaces. This program has grown to become one of Australia’s best-known
public art and graffiti prevention initiatives.
The program’s unique approach brings artists,
residents, businesses, property owners and the community together to
collaboratively create fantastic new street artworks in public places.
Newtown’s Bedford Foundary
One perfect example of a successful response
to battle graffiti is at the Bedford Foundary apartment block in Newtown.
Historically this building site was a playground for graffiti artist wanting to hone their artistic skills.
BEFORE DEVELOPMENT: the building was constantly targeted by taggers
Located close to railway lines, proven
attractive for offenders, the site’s developers knew they had to find a new
method to address the issue of constant tagging and feature this in the design
of the new apartment development.
The developers, in collaboration with
architect, PBD Architects, designed a building that responds to the culture of
the local community, and doesn’t work against it.
The Bedford Foundary apartment block features space for a large street art piece on the surrounding, diagonally piercing blade walls.
ARTIST IMPRESSION POST DEVELOPMENT: The Bedford Foundary
Social media used to seek artists
The mission was then set to
find the right artist for the development. A social media campaign was
established by the developers calling for entries from artist interested in
being involved in the project:
“Do you want to be the artist commissioned to paint the
graffiti works on this forth coming development?
Send us what a draft of the artwork which you would install on this
building. The judging will be based on community voting (ie likes, and
comments) as well as suitability for the project which will be determined by
the developers and architects.”
Several responses were
received and the decision was made to commission
the artwork of highly respected local street artist, Steven Nuttall, well known
as Ox King.
The result was outstanding. This striking artwork spans the entire western feature wall in a burst of red, blue and orange colour. Steve’s work adds a funky edge to the sharp concrete lines of this architecture.
For years tunnels built to allow people to cross safely under
railway lines have been a favourite site for graffiti. Petersham Station subway, like most tunnels
in the Inner West has always been heavily graffitied and not a very safe or inviting
space for local residents who often have to use these tunnels on their daily
commute.
This year the Inner West council in collaboration with
Sydney Trains have commissioned artwork as part of the Perfect Match Contemporary
Art Program to paint the tunnel, preventing unwanted graffiti through fostering
legitimate art in public spaces.
Called “Vanishing
Point” this artwork is a collaborative works by local artists Tim Phibs,
Brad Eastman, James P Simon and George Rose. The mural creates a visual journey
for commuters as the travel throughout the tunnel. Geometric patterns derived
from aerial photographs of the railway tracks.
This mural is a celebration of contemporary street art, the
acknowledging of traditional owners of this land and dedicated team of people
who believe that fighting the battle against graffiti is not won by covering
walls with brown but often more successfully received when bringing art to the
public while offering a showcase for our local artists.
Sydney Trains, strict zero tolerance to graffiti along with the Heritage listing of the Tunnel mean this project almost did not go ahead, being bogged down in bureaucratic paperwork. But council was dedicated to the pursuit of the project along with the determination of the artists meant the success of this landmark piece.
While openly admitting years ago he may have once been
responsible for some of the graffiti in the tunnel, he is now fortunate enough to
make a career out of his skills. Street art projects such as these can be
inspiring to young artist considering a future in the arts.
The inner west is Sydney’s spiritual home of
street art. This past 10 years has seen a significant shift from illicit
tagging and graffiti to the more contemporary street art pieces being seen.
This can only be attributed to more social acceptance, tolerance and projects
such as this one that allows the artists the time and funding to truly show us
what they can achieve.
So if your out and about Sydney – make sure you hop off at Petersham Station and go see this wonderful piece of street art.
Have
you ever wondered why you prefer to hang out some place but not others?
As
a city resident I often find myself migrating to my usual hangout to walk the
dog, catch some outdoors or meet up with a friend.
I
often try to remind myself that I should venture outside of my comfort zone
more. But there is more to your local comfort zone than just familiarity. I
began to ask myself what and why?
Public
Placemaking is something I am hearing and taking notice of more and more. A
creative way to reconnect your community. Placemaking capitalises on a
local community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of
creating public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and well being.
Placemaking is nothing new. Councils and developers have been creating these
environments with parks and public spaces for years. Its only recently around
my city I am noticing more attention is being taken to create these mini
community places.
But
sometimes inadvertently these places create themselves. Abandoned buildings and
industrial sites often have an atmosphere begging to be discovered. All it
takes is creative input and some art to pull together the trendiest locations.
On
my Street Art tours I sometimes take people down alleyways and laneways. Places
quite often many people would not usually venture. Most people are surprised at
what they find. I love exploring abandoned places. Graffiti and street art
amongst the harsh industrial backdrop provokes beautiful urban space. Add the
smell of coffee and the lour of music and the place, transforms an
abandoned crack den to somewhere even the coolest hipster would be willing to
hang.
Gentrification is welcomed as a ‘cleaning-up’ of suburbs. But how much cleaning up should we do before the atmosphere needed to encourage community gets lost? Creating pleasurable public spaces is more than cleaning, renovating and infiltration of expensive eateries for the well-off to enjoy. (Tramsheds comes to mind).
We need the diversity, creativity, inspiring atmosphere, community assets and potential for it to thrive.
In 2010
the Apple iPad was released. So like any good demented design orientated person
– I had to have one. The whole idea of a light weight computer in a book that
you can carry around with you and learn how to use in 20 minutes … well that
was my kind of computer. So I entered into the tablet age with enthusiasm.
I don’t
know exactly when it was that I started reading books on my iPad. The crossover
from a physical book to ebook reader was a blurry process. At first it was newspapers
and magazines that had me. I read mags and newspapers on the iPad and loved the
ease of it. Particularly Newspapers on the iPad. No more folding over the pages
getting black fingers and ending up with reams of paper, the majority of which
just got chucked away in the rubbish. A waist of paper, goodbye I was glad to
get rid of it.
The
progression to ebooks happened shortly after. It was a moral dilemma of sorts.
You see I love books. I love the smell of a new book, the feel of books their
texture of the paper, their beautiful glossy cover designs and I love bookshops
and libraries. I can spend hours browsing in a bookstore – I read the staff
reviews and ultimately always get sucked in by a beautiful cover design – go
figure. I don’t care I love the whole experience, I still do.
But
then I got my first eBook. It was a free one I thought Id give it a go. And my
it was fun and easy to read. I love how crisp and clear the screen is. I love
just tapping the screen to change the page and I love how all books weight the
same no matter what size they are. it all seemed so practical. I then travelled
overseas and I could put a dozen books on my iPad and chuck it in my handbag
and away I went. I was hooked.
Why is
all this relevant to me now? This week I find myself without an iPad.
No
problems – I can cope with this. It might be a good time to get familiar with
my favorite classics and enjoy a “real book”. How bad can it be…?
I’m
lying on the couch snuggled up with my favourite book. Happy days. Firstly I
need a good light because the book has no self lighting – no problem. Then I
roll over and I cast a shadow over the pages – damn – straighten up again. I
have to hold my thumb in such a position that the pages don’t close in on
themselves as I’m reading – its uncomfortable. I’m constantly adjusting the
page to get the light onto it – left side then right side, how boring, I’m
getting distracted.
Then I
have to change a page – WTF it takes two hands to do this! I turn the page –
whoops skip two pages instead of one – go back one have to lick my finger and
try again, scratch about until I get it. This is all starting to bother me. I
don’t know when they started to make the type so small but I’m having trouble
seeing the words. My favourite book is a little old and worn and the pages have
a brownish tinge to them, the type is not crisp. My hands are getting sore and
the book seems to be getting heavier.
Usually,
if the book is exciting enough, in any one sitting I can read a hundred pages –
tonight I read 5 and Im over it! And surprisingly I’m lonely – where are my
friends and what are they up to on Facebook – twitter – flickr – iMessage … I
better go check the computer.
This is
ridiculous but its driving me crazy! What am I going to do tomorrow night? Im
scared to open that book again. I want my iPad back and I want it now (much foot
stomping movements) . I can’t cope with this, I’m having withdrawals. I have 3
new ebooks and I want to read them now.
I guess I can officially say I’m an ebook reader now
Eight years ago stencils by ELK, a Sydney based Street Artist were often seen on and around the streets of the Inner West.
His stencils were unique
and often held messages about the futility of war. In 2012 ELK, (Luke Cornish)
won the Archibald for his stencil of Father Bob. He was the first Street Artist
to win the Archibald.
This stencil by ELK can be found in Martin Place. City of Sydney have a zero tolerance to Street Art but ELK has managed to pull this off with the help of ANZ bank. Maybe an Archibald on his CV didn’t do any harm either.
Slightly hidden on the
side of the Commonwealth Bank, George Street Wynyard you will find this Shepard
Fairey. An Internationally renowned Street Artist his works have been seen all
over the world often motivated by global politics.
In this piece Shepards
tag ‘Obey’ can be seen. The idea of consciously obeying verses subconsciously
conforming, is the meaning behind this. Something that I find fascinating about
the human spirit. Does conforming make us happier?
Commissioned by
Destinations NSW this piece is one of Shepards largest pieces, and one that I
am very happy so see as I walk down George Street. Go see it – it really is
magnificent.
On one of my random lunch hour walks around town I came across this little gem.
On the corner of Kent and Market Street there is a man who makes clay sculptures from the people that stand on that corner.
Of course, I was suitably intrigued. I stopped and looked around. I could not see the man in a window. What window, where is he, and why did someone put this notice here?
I often walk this way during my lunch hours and often stand
here waiting for the lights to change so I can cross the road. I wonder if
there was a little figuring that represented me?
I am constantly fascinated by the art I find on the streets.
Sometimes I find out the little stores behind the art, but sometimes, like in
this case, I don’t and I am just left wondering.
