BCC Wipes Out Another Mural

At Aerograffix, we were contacted recently by a Community Worker for a new graffiti prevention project. Initially, I (Ainslie) was excited, as I thought the project sounded exciting, exactly what Brisbane needed, BUT….after three scheduled meeting attempts, and waiting for over an hour for a ‘catch up over coffee’ I realized my meeting with the Community Worker was overrated.

The worker wouldn’t tell me what was required or expected of Aerograffix. There was no mention of where any of the projects would happen, or even if a mural would be created. When I specifically asked what services we would be required to deliver, I wasn’t given a straight answer. I was told, we would have to go to community meetings. Fair enough, given that it is a community project, it’s only fair that the community decides on what would be most suitable. I told the Community Worker that myself and Christian would be willing to go to meetings, but, since we operate as a business, we would have to act as one and therefore, charge for any further services provided. I said we were more than willing to come to the table, we just needed something on the table to come for, so to speak. It was clear, the Community Worker wanted someone to work for free. Again, fair enough if someone is starting their career or when budgets are tight, but I did a little digging. It turns out this is a part of a $150,000 project in Brisbane, which was given out of a 3 million dollar fund from the Federal Government. If a project is to attract industry professionals, then it is necessary to have the right funding to do so. 

A few days later, I received an email, informing us at Aerograffix that the Durack Guides Hall was going to be re-painted as a part of the Walls and Colours project, as it required rebranding. This is the same Durack Guides Hall which Christian painted in March 2007 which required very little maintenance and was a successful project. In the same email, I was informed that Christian could not be paid if he wanted to be involved in the rebranding and repainting process. 

Sure, I understand budgets are tight, and I completely understand that Aerograffix doesn’t need to be involved with every mural project in Brisbane, but…

How is it ‘in the sprit of community’ to paint over one mural with another? And why call us out to a meeting, not telling us any information about some ephemeral community project for which there apparently is no budget for? 

Long story short, this is another example of BCC completely missing the mark with graffiti prevention and working with industry professionals. 

We’re not happy with this, and we’ve voiced our concerns. Feel free to voice your concerns too. 

Below are pictures of the existing murals which were completed in 2007.

Update on 2013-10-02 06:15 by sauce

So, there has been no response from BCC, Visible Ink or any other community agency associated with the Walls and Colours project. Thus far two sites have been ‘vandalised’. 

We’ve had plenty of personal support, and kind words from mates, family and friends, but that doesn’t stop the mismanagement of funds. We’ve also had a few quiet words with other people and nothing seems to be balancing.

Aerograffix has since been contacted by IYS (Inala Youth Service) as they wish to use Aerograffix for the ‘rebranding’ of the Durack Guides hut. We’ve followed this up and offered to paint this wall for free, however this has been rejected as the site is reserved for the Walls and Colours project. We were informed by the Community Worker from Visible Ink, the only way Aerograffix could be involved with this site would be as a participant in the workshops. Which, as a professional artist, is nothing short of insulting.

At one stage, Visible Ink, had pictures of the existing mural on their website which were uncredited, which is just a blatent breach of copywright. They have since removed all but one image, which still goes uncredited.

Most importantly, we find it bizarre that out of ten murals (Specifically, one site which Christian has painted previously) which were suposedly a part of a $150,000 project, Aerograffix would be systematically excluded.   

In light of recent events, we thought a follow up including email correspondences.

Hi Ainslie,

Thanks for meeting me last week. Throughout the meeting it seemed like we work differently and have different requirements which at this stage makes me inclined to continue working with the Brisbane artists who have a similar approach to my own.   

I would also like to inform you that the project aerograffix did with the Durack Guides in DJ Sherrington park in Inala will need to be replaced. The Hut has changed lease owners and therefore it can no longer be called “Durack Guides.” Unfortunately, we will be painting over that mural.

I wish you all the best with your future endeavours!

Thanks

Community Worker

Dear Community Worker,

 

                      This is just to re-cap what we discussed at our Wednesday meeting this week. Christian is a professional aerosol artist and has over a decade of professional experience in creating murals all over the East Coast of Australia. He has a well established profile in Brisbane and you can view his website for examples of his work.

 

At the Sauce Studio we can provide workshops for aerosol art enthusiasts (aged 12+ for safety reasons) either on-site or in-house. Christian can also act as a consultant and provide advice and information regarding the sub-culture of hip hop, aerosol art and young people.  The Sauce Studio is a professional art business and must act as one, and therefore, we must charge for services delivered. I appreciate that working in the community development industry funding is tight and there are many other requirements with project delivery, however, neither Christian or myself are in the position to be able to attend further meetings in Brisbane without a fee. There are only so many projects we can be involved in without economic return. I would also expect that a Brisbane City Council initiative which is funded federally should have the funds to deliver a project in it’s entirety. If this is not the case, then I suggest any such project requires further funding and planning if it is to attract industry professionals.  

 

I am also concerned about the existing mural at the Durack Guides Hall. Aerograffix has not been informed that the site requires any maintenance from the buildings owner/user and I would like to question the need for another artist to repaint this site. As Aerograffix is the original artist, it wouldn’t be in the spirit of working with the community to paint over this mural for the sake of spending funding associated with your project. If I was informed during our meeting this was the case, then I would have raised my concerns with your methodology at the time. 

 

You specify that you wish to continue to work with artists who have a similar approach to your own, and I appreciate that you have every right to do so. However, as Christian is a professional mural artist and has over a decade of experience in working with councils and community organisations, I find it remarkable that your working style would be so dissimilar that Christian would not be suitable for this project. Since your initial enquiry took three appointments and I was left waiting for over an hour, I suggest your enquiry was not genuine, and you were seeking information on behalf of your organisation. Again, I appreciate you have every right to seek further information about community projects, but since you were unable to tell me what was required of Christian, when I specifically asked about what you would expect of our organisation to provide for your project, I assert this meeting was a tokenistic box-ticking exercise. 

 

I understand completely that there are other aerosol artists and I do not seek to undermine their work or capabilities. However, I don’t think it is appropriate to paint over another mural as a part of a graffiti prevention project. This type of action is not working with the community, and as I discussed in our face-to-face meeting, this type of action does not foster a culture of support, nor appreciation for legitimate aerosol artists. I also assert that by not divulging any information about the requirements for this project you are organising or not providing an ‘Expressions of Interest’ (or any other specific form of application) your are not acting in a manner that is fair, transparent or in the interests of the wider community and the existing stake holders. 

 

 

 

Thank you for your time, 

 

Ainslie Rose

Hi Ainslie and Christian

Thanks for your email. I acknowledge from our conversations that Christian is a professional artists with extensive experience in painting murals.

Because of the objectives and outcomes of the project, I do require a community development approach to the work. This means that I do not know what the project would look like or what my requirements or expectations from Christian would be. From a community development approach the local community partners would make the decisions around the structure and approach taken towards the project. Therefore I do not know what my expectations from Christian would be. This is decided in partnership with everyone.  The artist is viewed as 1 of these partners and would need to understand that “working together” approach, which require extensive flexibility and respect.

The Durack Guide Hut belongs to Brisbane City Council and like I explained the lease arrangements has changed with Inala Youth Service and the local youth service network GYPSES taking over the lease. Repainting and re-branding the hut is part of the process for the local young people to create ownership over the space. I plan to work with local artists, local young people and the local community to develop the process and outcome for this.  If Christian is interested to be part of the conversation he is welcome, however it is a community development approach and I would want to ensure enough conversations take place to create a shared value base to ensure we work in unity with the community. Unfortunately I can’t pay Christian for this time.

Again, thanks for your time and I would like to apologise for the accident on the Pacific Highway that made me run late.

Thanks

Community Worker

Blackbook

For the uninitiated, a Blackbook is where aerosol artists sketch out different ideas and concepts for new pieces. Typically, a Blackbook has a black cover with white pages, hence the name Blackbook. This is where the art form is developed, and allows for an exploration of the imagination. A Blackbook is more than delinquents planning their next line of attack for tagging walls, it’s about hand crafting new lettering forms and delving into the unkown. Sometimes writers might swap sketches in each others Blackbooks in a collaboration or as an organic method of mentoring younger and underveloped artists. Either way, a Blackbook is deeply personal, similar to a pictorial diary. In Sauce’s Blackbook there are simple doodles smashed out while waiting in airports and meticulously planned details for large scale projects. 

The Benefits of a Mural (Part two)

Welcome back to part two of ‘The Benefits of a Mural’. In the previous post we explained how a mural can be a cost effective method of graffiti prevention and how it differs from digital printing. In this post, we will explain the human elements of a mural.

A mural can be a cost effective method of creating a sense of pride and ownership for schools, community organisations and sporting clubs. The design elements of the creative process can provide your organisation with effective tools to make your space your own. The use of a mural creates a brand alignment with the handcrafted, bespoke and artisan elements of sign-writing. This type of visual communication speaks above the convoluted clip-art images we are all familiar with. By commissioning a professional mural artist to create a mural for your organisation, you are immediately communicating differently with your client base. 

 

Murals are also a great way to enliven a usually dull or dead space that would be usually ignored or avoided. Through the use of colour, you can make a feature of a normally wasted space. The human element of the design process provides a platform of realness to your organisation. The application process alone allows a level of flexibility which is unmatched with other sign-writing or visual advertising methods.

Feel free to contact us at Aerograffix to discuss your creative needs. We’d love to have a chat about your mural project.   

City Girl

Last week I put the finishing touches on a mural at Coolnwynpin State Primary School, and I enjoyed working with the different subject on this colaboration with Skone. As an artist, I am always looking for new ways to broaden my skills base and work with new themes, and this portrait is another example of trying new methods and ideas. 

The Benefits of a Mural (Part one)

There are numerous different options available for advertising and aesthetic improvement for walls and architecture, and it can be difficult to decide on one style or feature. Sauce has over a decade of experience with creating professional murals, all over the east coast of Australia, so let him make the decision easier for you.

 

With the availability of digital prints, advertising and sign writing, it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. By choosing a mural to decorate the exterior of your building, it communicates your ideas with your client basein a more subtle and sophisticated manner. It’s the difference between screaming through a mega-phone at your audience and having a quiet coffee with a friend. A mural can blend art with advertising and leave a longer more lasting impression with your audience.

A mural is also an excellent method of graffiti prevention. By using aerosols and a culturally sensitive design, a mural can be a highly cost effective graffiti prevention measure. There is no fail safe method, however, aerosol art is a part of the solution, and when incorporated with the building design or structure, a mural can also be a striking feature.

Stay tuned for parts two and three and find out how a mural is the best choice for your business.

Happy Campers

The pace slowed down this week as I journeyed down to Evans Head and created a mural for a family in the local caravan park. It made a nice change from sitting in the Brisbane traffic and I was well looked after by the family. I was even treated to a beer or two. Cheers!

Wynnum West State School

This week I created a mural at Wynnum West State School which incorporated the school creed and reminded the students to be responsible, respectful and safe learners. The enthusiasm of the students was evident during the lunch breaks and I’m looking forward to working with the school again in the near future.   

Emerald, Springsure and Capella

Redefined

Some days in the Northern Rivers you just, can’t understand why there are so many closed minds and cliché groups. As a professional artist, who has moved back to the area I have really struggled to find my voice amongst the naysayers and the pretentious creative types who have taken over. I’ve spent the past decade building my professional mural business and I have nearly twenty years of experience in working with aerosols and and creating public art, but the doors of the gallery are still jammed shut. To find somewhere to create my art, I have to traipse up hills and search over the countryside to find a place to paint, when in reality there are plenty of great public places which would be perfect for a professional mural. And that doesn’t even begin to cover how the Treasures of the Tweed is devaluing my profession. Some days in the Northern Rivers, you just wonder where it all went wrong; it’s a great place to live, but a difficult place to work

Emerald, Springsure and Capella

For the last week of April, I headed to Emerald, Springsure and Capella for a suite of stencil art workshops for the young people involved with Anglicare and some of the local schools. The team at Anglicare are a pleasure to work with and the young people appear to be well looked after. The stencil art workshops were a hit, with bookings filling well in advance. The young people completed over one hundred canvasses and we threw around twenty skate decks in there just for fun. I managed to squeeze in some work for Family Daycare too, with some boards for their fence, making the week jam packed with painting. I’m looking forward to doing it all again soon, but in the meantime, I’m enjoying working on some fine art and designs in my studio in Murwillumbah.