Studio Direct

This month in The Sauce Studio we’ve said goodbye to some canvases and hello to some new faces. Sauce has enjoyed using the studio to focus on more canvas work and to utilize the space for cataloging, re-arranging and finalizing unfinished works. As an artist, the creative practice of creating new works is always a challenge, but having the studio helps with the mundane and organizational details necessary for a consistent artistic output. If you want to commission Sauce, feel free to contact us here, or drop by the studio in Murwillumbah.

Clover Signs Blog

http://cloversignsblog.com/2013/07/graffiti-art-sign-art/

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

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. 

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

Snail Racing Van

It has been all systems go this week. After a mad scramble to get the Opening Night @ The Sauce Studio happening, I was zombiefied. But, there is no rest for the wicked and the next day saw me painting a van for a friend with Mr Fires. 

Coolnwynpin State School

This week, many months after I started the mural I finished a 75 metre wall. The long delay was caused by the rain that just wouldn’t go away at the start of the year. As a mural artist, there are a few things which are necessary to complete a wall, and one of those things is sunshine. After Cr. Paul Gleeson painted the wall, it was in desperate need of some colour and I think the koalas, lorikeets, possums and other wildlife should brighten the school and bring some cheer to the students and staff. 

Day Off

In late December 2012, Kosie and I had a pre-birthday bash at the legal wall in my home town, Murwillumbah. It was great to spend some time with a mate and just head out for a good old fashioned paint. As you can see in the pictures, the sun was shining and the paint was flowing, and later in the afternoon the beer was flowing too. I can’t wait to do it all again.

Friend or Foe?

Acrylic on printed canvas, 105cm X 82cm framed.

Update on 2012-11-28 06:57 by sauce

I managed to completed this piece in time to enter the Border Art Prize. I am excited as it has been selected and I will be amongst the finalists at the opening this Friday evening 6:30pm, Tweed River Art Gallery.

Green Leaf Cafe

Over the past five years I have enjoyed a great working relationship with the owner of the rebranded Green Leaf Cafe in Morningside. Every visit to the cafe is a pleasure as I always leave with a belly full of food and a head full of ideas about the next piece I can create on their walls. This time I wanted to paint a piece which was vibrant and modern but also keeping in theme with the cafe’s new corporate colours.

The Dragon Boats which cover the front windows encapsulate a different side of Brisbane. I wanted to showcase the energy of both the rowers and the synergy of the natural environment working with the built environment. Hopefully the rowers who visit the cafe for their weekly catch up will appreciate the likeness.