Koala Cafe

Late last year, we were contacted by the P & C at Coolnwynpin State School as they had some ideas about how they wanted to update their tuck-shop area. The school also had a few sketches and ideas about the space as previously, they had run a design competition with the students to involve the students in the process. The P & C also wanted the sign to match the theme of the previous mural Sauce had created at the school.

Sauce spent more time in pre-production with this mural as it included reworking the design process, involving a young person, and a cut-out detail for the sign. He also had to work around the school schedule which can be a challenge when you’re working with several different schools at once.

An honourable mention goes to the Groundskeeper, who fixed and primed the wall, making it ready for Sauce to paint on, and Jodee the School Captain, who help with the mural.

Life and Death

We’ve had some varied feedback about our A-frame today, and I would like to thank those who spoke to me about their feelings regarding the sign’s content. 

This link explores the same themes provides insight into the issue of popularity and death. 

At the studio, we’re not about sledging Margaret Olley or her legacy, but what we are advocating for is support for living artists, so their careers can flourish. And as an organisation which is living in the shadows of other well funded facilities it is a challenge to run a successful arts business. 

We’ve exhausted every other polite way to demonstrate these experiences to the ‘powers that be’, and this is one way of creating critical debate about this topic.

p.s. Sorry about the relfective selfie!

Elevation

Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation - Gravediggaz

In the current political climate it is challenging to find suitable walls for aerosol artists, so when the principal from Upper Mt Gravatt gave Sauce the all clear, he jumped at the chance to smash out some 3D work. This wall was completed over two days, as the first day was spent at the school rejuvinating some old work and looking at another site for a new mural. On the second day, Sauce worked on the details of the 3D elements. 

Sauce was pleased with his efforts, and when he made it home, we discussed the need to just paint. How sometimes, it is difficult to balance painting murals with koalas and painting a good solid graff piece. Sometimes, just finding a wall to paint is a mammoth task in itself! I really like the colour scheme in this one and Sauce is already itching for another paint. If you’ve got a wall that needs a good old fashioned graff piece, let us know!   

Beast Mode Unleashed

 

Late last year, we were contacted in the studio by some keen young men from Iona College to create a ‘Seniors’ mural for their school as a leaving gift. The lads wanted something which represented them and their school and something that celebrated their passion for rugby. After some initial consultation with the lads and Father Mark Edwards, the Principal, Sauce smashed out a piece and beast over two days in the sweltering Brisbane humidity. 

Coming soon: Three Sixty Five

Redland Museum

Late last year, we received a phone call from Redlands Museum with a request for an interior mural with a horse ploughing a field. “Easy done!” I said. “No worries mate.” That was before I learnt it was a 14m x 6m wall. But, with Sauce being a professional I was confident the mural would be an interesting and suitable challenge. 

After some further consultation with the staff and volunteers, the theme and images were determined. The layout and design was relatively simple as the concept needed to be historically accurate since it was a part of the tractor display in the museum. The staff and volunteers at the museum were great to work with and it was refreshing to see such a professionally managed facility. With any luck, Sauce will be painting more backdrops and murals for the museum to help set the scene for their carefully curated displays. 

Update on 2014-03-04 00:54 by sauce

This mural made it into the local paper. 

Update on 2014-04-22 01:46 by sauce

The team at Redland Museum were so impressed with Sauce’s work on the farming display, they decided to commission him for a second mural for the Grand View Hotel display. The Grand View Hotel was the first licensed establishment in Queensland and is located in Cleveland, Redland City. The pub still stands today and as past residents of Redland City, both Sauce and myself have enjoyed a beverage or two at the old pub, especially on Christmas Eve, but that’s another story.

This mural was one of the most challenging and intricate murals Sauce has undertaken since the backdrop required a high level of detail to recreate the historic pub. The angle of the mural was also significant, as the pre-existing doors needed to be worked into the mural.

As always, the staff and volunteers were amazing to work with. Sauce tells me he was fed scones with jam and cream and had free reign over the tea room. Excitement indeed!

Bang on Trend

Are you a Blockhead? Sauce and I have to admit, we were sucked in hook, line and sinker when it came to The Block Sky High (and past series!). Maybe it’s because our house is in desperate need of renovation, or that as a public artist Sauce is always looking at new visual ideas and trends. Maybe it’s the scripted drama and the (non)reality t.v. Who knows why we’re glued to our set; Sauce and I watch The Block, like there is no tomorrow. So, when last night’s episode aired, of course we watched it.

The excitement was high and drama was promised, but Sauce and I noticed in the background of the factory, something which was distracting from the chaos of renovating. There was ‘graffiti’ in the background which looked prescribed. We couldn’t help but noticing it looked more of a mock up of what graffiti might look like if producers had commissioned a few kids to paint a wall. Which essentially, isn’t the biggest crime of the century. It even makes for exciting t.v. but… As the episode continued it was clear, the artwork was going to be exploited, and was used as another trendy statement piece. 

Again, the exploitation of graffiti art is not the end of the world, however when you make a living from the industry, it can be frustrating at the very least to have major corporations and brands taking over a subculture for their own financial gain. If graffiti art was required for the styling of the room, there are plenty of aerosol artists who could have painted the couple’s walls. How much more interesting would the room look if the artwork was seamlessly blended throughout the entire room?

On Facebook, we have stared an album, where we have images of graffiti gone wrong. We’ve called it #bangontrend since it is all about looking good and not about the art, not about the artists. Next time you see a pretty girl modeling the latest fashions in front of a graff piece, send us a flick! Not only are we standing up for the graffiti culture, it’s about the moral rights of an artist. 

Back in Black

It’s not everyday that Sauce is given permission to paint whatever he wants on a wall. In fact, most of his work is subject to a design brief and a rigorous consultation phase. So when his mate from Redland City suggested it was time to refresh an old piece, it was only a matter of time before the task was completed. Since it wasn’t a professional job, Sauce indulged in a few rums and kicked back with the boys in between painting. The results speak for themselves. 

Art Inspiration Straight From Sauce

Tweed Sun 23rd January 2014, page 2.

Sunday Mail

19th January, 2014.