Blackbook

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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)

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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.   


Central Queensland Schools Tour

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It was great to pack the mural truck and head west to Central Queensland recently. The two week tour entailed working with six schools to complete seven murals, several workshops and stencil art demonstrations. Commencing in Barcaldine I then visited Muttaburra, Aramac, Jericho and Alpha. I had a fantastic time working with new students and on many occasions built on well established relationships with schools Aerograffix has become more than familiar with. The reception in each community was exceptional…I think I can almost claim famous in Central Queensland! I wish to extend my thanks to Mr Collins, all of the principals and staff for such great hospitality, Ozzie at the Accacia, John & Lynda at The Ironbark Inn, Anna’s place, Jeff and the tennis allstars, Mary and the market people at Jericho and Kez the Alpha pool pro. I have a mountain of photos from a very productive tour, here’s a glimpse.




Media Release 25/2/12

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A mural located at Harris Street Wellington point costing more than $6000 has become the scene of debate and controversy as the current graffiti prevention methods have repeatedly failed. When this failure was brought to the attention of the City Infrastructure member Ann Marshall, Community Development Team members including Byron Shreeve and the Councilor for the area, Wendy Boglary the response was muted and ignorant of the problem. Further investigations into the matter show an incorrect approach towards the target audience and the subject matter of the mural are primarily to blame.

A letter dated, 9th February, written by the Community Safety Officer Byron Shreeve and signed by the Group Manager of Community and Cultural Services Greg Jensen indicates the Community Development Team no longer wishes to consult community members for expertise on graffiti prevention matters.

Christian Griffiths is a mural and aerosol artist, who has eighteen years experience, and until last year ran his business in Redland City creating murals as a method of graffiti prevention. In 2005, Christian was commissioned to create a mural at the Harris Street underpass which involved young people at risk of entering the Juvenile Justice system. Christian has worked with numerous other local councils, schools and youth organisations, including IN-SYNC and Boystown. On a variety of occasions Christian has offered his services for free or at a low cost as an artist or as a consultant to council to provide effective solutions about graffiti prevention in the Redland area and in recent years he has been repeatedly ignored or denied. This is problematic as council spends $135,000+ each year on graffiti removal and council minutes indicate council has as zero tolerance approach towards graffiti, but a Community Development approach to prevention.

Christian says “Its not about me or my art work. It’s about the people engaging with aerosol art and a lack of opportunity to do so in appropriate circumstances. This mural has completely missed the mark with any of the objectives. It hasn’t prevented graffiti, a wide target audience hasn’t been sought and the Expressions of Interest developed for the initiative wasn’t relevant or applicable for the situation. At every step of the process I informed Council of the associated risks with this project and now the rate-payers such as myself, will pay the ongoing price.”

 

See: Bayside Bulletin article “Cool tunnel Art” 21/7/05 page 26.

See council minutes for information detailing the costs associated with graffiti and other policy decisions regarding graffiti. 

 

Please feel free to contact either Ainslie or Christian for further comments or information regarding this topic. Original communications and further supporting documents can be provided on request.

 

Ainslie Meiklejohn-Griffiths

Publications Manager

www.aerograffix.com

ainslie.mg@gmail.com

The Flipside

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After a discussion with Brian Hurst the editor of The Redland Times I am pleased to announce a clarification will be printed which declares Sauce from Aerograffix as a legitimate aerosol artist (but you already knew that). Keep your eyes peeled!

A mural volunteered by Sauce in 2008 at The Rage Cage, Capalaba.

 

Upon completing this mural I also signed the the back…

See the article published: The Redland Times, August 13, 2010, page 6 

 “Laming Promises Graffiti and CCTV Camera Funds” (13/8/10)

 The article written by Jenna Daroczy is grossly incorrect and the picture featuring Dr Laming, Cr Karen Williams, Pauly Gray and Peter Grieve is specifically incorrect as it features art work and not graffiti. The picture shown in the article in dispute is depicted as a representation of graffiti in need of removal. However on the other side of the picture as shown in the article, is a mural by a voluntary artist who has permission from council to apply artwork at the site. It needs to be noted the picture as displayed in the paper is of a signed piece of artwork and not a tag as insinuated in the article. This is an example of what is featured in Stanley Cohen’s Folk Devils and Moral Panic where news papers reporting on crime and specifically youth related crime vilify and incorrectly target petty crimes and misrepresent the truth. None of which is beneficial to the wider community.

Although the funding as reported in the paper is policy driven and based on Liberal party ethics, it could be suggested the money was better directed elsewhere. The article further explained “The council has a lot of good initiatives place, this funding will just help them to roll out more of that faster” (Laming et al Daroczy, 2010). Alongside this, the article further explained how graffiti is removed or in some cases, artists are allowed to participate in “big murals that allow people to express their aerosol art publically without vandalising property” (Greive et al Daroczy 2010). It is possible to rebut this as on many occasions local aerosol artist, Christian Griffiths from Aerograffix has volunteered his skills, expertise and equipment when it comes to large scale murals without adequate support from local council. He is also a qualified youth worker and has been prepared on many occasions to facilitate workshops involving young people focusing recidivist offenders and linking them into community projects which engage them in interpersonal skills. All of this has been ignored in the article and further ignored by organisers within local council. Aerograffix has been involved with countless rural and regional councils with a high level of success, however in comparison the Redland City council has been obstinate and stagnate when it comes to youth issues and more specifically the subject of graffiti.
 
It is important to note Aerograffix understands the need for the media and journalists to publish articles of public interests to its readership. Furthermore, Aerograffix understands the need for politicians to campaign on issues which the majority of constituents of an electorate are concerned about and in this case Liberal candidate Dr. Andrew Laming has chosen to publicise the issue of illegal graffiti. This instance proves how The Redland Times has misrepresented the facts and avoided use of the Media Entertainment and Arts Code of Conduct (current) by failing to uphold section one which describes the importance of accuracy of facts and nine which states “Present pictures and sound which are true and correct. Any manipulation likely to mislead should be disclosed[1] <#_ftn1> .”  As a picture of an artwork associated with Aerograffix has been used in the instance of dispute it is possible to argue The Redland Times has publicly defamed the name of a local business. This instance of gross manipulation of facts has been overlooked by both the journalist and editor of the local paper and is indicative of poor journalism and does not aid the campaign of Liberal candidate Dr. Andrew Laming as it shows a lack of regard for local business. It also shows how The Cage, a local youth initiative driven by the  Christian faith ideals  is tokenistic by using the artwork of a local individual, without asking for comment of the artist in question and attempting to justify this by claiming the group is involved with aerosol art murals.  If the journalist had researched for the article or looked at the other side of the artwork in question, it is possible to find www.aerograffix.com </> which has further information and contact details of the artist Sauce.

Ainslie Meiklejohn- Griffiths,
Publications Manager, Aerograffix.

[1] <#_ftnref1>  www.alliance.org.au/code-of-ethics.html <http://www.alliance.org.au/code-of-ethics.html>