It was business as usual this week, which means battling the Brisbane traffic and smashing out another quality mural in suburbia. This was a rejuvenation gig, as I completed a mural on the same site in 2010/11, however a section of the wall was replaced and rebuilt due to cracks. The commuters showed their appreciation with plenty of ‘toots’ and ‘thumbs up’ from the busy roadside at Eatons Crossing Road so I must be doing something right.
Fresh from my week long residency at Calvary Christian College, I headed back to Brisbane and guided the young men at Moreton Bay Boys College through the finer points of aerosol art. This was my second visit to the school and my Senior’s mural was still looking fresh.
I was invited to their Art Show on Friday, the 25th of October, which should have some interesting and exciting works. I also had the pleasure of meeting Christian from CJ Sprayart. Apparently, he was so inspired from last year’s visit, he created his own business. It doesn’t get any better than that!
For the first week back at school of term, four I was Artist in Residence for Calvary College at the Carbrook campus. This marked my fourth year at the school and as always, the school community was great to work with. I did several workshops with the art classes and completed a mural for the sports shed.
Local Aerosol Artist, Sauce has been selected as a RAW artist for the Encompass Showcase in Byron Bay on the 13th of November at the Beach Hotel.
RAW:natural born artists, is an international independent arts organization that hand-selects and spotlights independent creatives in visual art, film, fashion, music, hair & makeup artistry, photography, models and performing art.
Sauce is excited to be chosen for the local event. He said “I’m looking forward to Encompass as I enjoy painting in public. Painting in public helps breaks down stereotypes associated with aerosol art”.
Sauce has a studio in the CBD of Murwillumbah which is open to the public. The current exhibition Stains of Modernity is on display until November 22nd.
Save the date folks! We’re going to be at ENCOMPASS! Show your support by booking a ticket for the princely sum of $16.65 and get yourself to The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay on the 13th of November from 7 pm. Make sure you wear your party pants and are ready to boogie the night away. There will be all different types of artists so make a night of it and bring all your friends. See you there!
After the Stains of Modernity Exhibition which opened on Saturday, I was back on the road to Benowa State Primary School.
High Modernity, Post Modernity, Post Modernism, Post-Post Modernism, these are the times we live in. Pontificating about art and high culture will only go so far, it doesn’t address the bigger issues and is inaccessible to the wider population. Art is more than oils on canvas which are hung in well lit and over funded galleries. Graffiti embodies the notion of doing art as an act of expression as opposed to the more palatable and tamed visuals of the gallery market. Graffiti is more than just paint on walls from some young hoodlums. It’s a part of a culture and a way of life. Humans have been making their marks on walls from the beginning of history and the typography scrawled over the urban environment is just an extension of this.
This Hip Hop culture is evolving over time and is a part of the urban identity. It is this identity which creates a new history and a new narrative. Hip Hop grew out of the disquiet of New York and the American streets during the 1970s. It’s often associated with crime and violence, but true Hip Hop is anything but violent. It’s about battling to be the best and earning respect from your peers by honing your craft and perfecting your style. It’s peaceful, respectful and skillful. Flash-forward to now, and Australians have their own take on Hip Hop. It’s more about mates, larrikins and beer. The music talks more about politics and BBQs than bitches and homies, but there’s still a good dose of competition and testosterone. And graffiti is just one of the four elements which is celebrated and elevated by this competition. By eradicating graffiti and aerosol art from our streets, marginalizing it and calling it a crime is sheer ignorance.
The beginning of modernity saw immense change and the industrialization of the Western world. This industrial change is responsible for the creation of the aerosol can and the colours which are now accessible and neatly packaged. Modernity also reinforced the bureaucratic and hierarchical social structures which seek to marginalize and denigrate anything with unique thought, thus making graffiti the best weapon against this concrete and urbane landscape. Graffiti is as old as time itself, and now the tools are pre-packaged and readily available.
I began this mural in my studio in Murwillumbah nearly six months ago. I don’t normally work so slow, however I’ve travelled far and wide while Buddha patiently waited for me to finish him. The omnipotent Buddha is an image which has been replicated and celebrated all over the world, and I hope this version brings inspiration and tranquility.
Local Artist, Sauce returned home this week after his third extensive tour of Central Queensland this year.
The tour funded by Anglicare Central Queensland, provided the area with ten murals and eight stencil art workshops in various schools and community organisations.
Sauce said of his experience “I think the first demonstration at Central Highlands Multicultural Festival was the highlight of my trip. People were lining up to grab a canvas and the atmosphere was great. I really enjoyed meeting people from all different backgrounds’.
Sauce has a studio in the CBD of Murwillumbah which is open to the public and he will hold an exhibition Stains of Modernity on the 28th of September.
