The Birthday Bash 2015

The annual Birthday Bash took shape again recently between the scorching sun and intermittant showers. Kosie and I had a top time with Rems, Deks and Squiz joining in the celebrations this year.

Some Like it Hot

If you’ve been to Central Queensland during summer you would know the meaning of hot. Sauce tells me it was a real scorcher, as in “f*&%ing hot”. But, there is no rest for the wicked, so Sauce made the best use of time and painted like there was no tomorrow on his day off out West. 

XIX LXIX

Sauce on the cans.

XIX LXIX by Sauce illuminates the possibilities of the space-time continuum, which as humans, we experience without consciousness. Earth is paradoxical by being both monumental and insignificant. Humanity is constantly seeking physical answers to metaphysical questions which creates barriers and restraints on our own freedom.

Sauce was thrilled to (finally) finish this mural in Brisbane this week. He created the mural over two days in the hot Brisbane sun, at a school in Mt. Gravatt. The principal graciously allowed Sauce to create this design at the school, as it was a challenge to find somewhere which suited the layout of this mural. If you’re thinking this image is familiar, then you’re right. This picture features as one of our postcard designs

in the studio in Murwillumbah

(Available for $3.00 in store. What a bargain!) and it also has

an interesting history

which can be traced back to Tasmania. 

Moorooka Jam

For a professional artist, finding the time to go for a paint can be a real challenge. Especially when there are many clients waiting for their works to be completed, but Sauce managed to squeeze a sneaky join up with Kosie1 last week. Sauce and Kosie1 have a ritual of painting on or around their collective birthdays in January, and they always plan to get together during the year and paint more, but with both lads juggling numerous jobs, it’s tricky to get them both to have time off! 

For this wall, Kosie1 had some overseas guests who were studying photography, so they sharpened their camera skills while Sauce and Kosie1 painted.

Sauce is currently working on the chrome effect with his pieces, and Kosie1 is sharpening his can control and colour combos.

Exit 75

When I said Sauce was busy, I wan’t exaggerating! He managed to smash out this Stomper on the Gold Coast over two days. It was in the pipeline for a while, as Sauce know it would be a mission to finalize. During this time, we received word that another Writer, Polka passed away, so it was fitting this wall would be a tribute to the young man who died too soon. 

There were heaps of different challenges to negotiate, from lining up paints to having enough space on site. The wall which is visible from the motorway, doesn’t have many neighboring buildings, so the ‘nature strip’ was more of an overgrown tangle of weeds with a large and steep drop. The lack of buildings also meant Sauce was unable to source power for his airless spraygun so the background was done with rollers. He was definitely stinky when he came home, so I can assure you plenty of sweat went into this wall.

This wasn’t the first time Sauce had painted here. Previously, an old friend Roms had organised permissions for the wall, but over time Roms had other things to manage and he graciously handed it over to Sauce to maintain.

Byron Bay Kickwall.

 

This mural at the Byron Regional Sport and Cultural Complex is one of the many different projects and plans lined up for January. Sauce was keen to finish this wall as it was a long time in the pipeline with loads more paperwork than the usual job. 

 

The initial Expressions of Interest was in July of last year, and I put together three separate proposals for the gig. At one stage, we received a phone call requesting more information about the proposals, which was strange, as I thought I had all of the bases covered, but I worked out that the team hadn’t read any of the information I had sent. *Sigh* I just love bureaucracy. 

 

Once we put application was accepted, there was a delay between the signing of the contract and the design phase. There were more hoops to jump through, but in the end we met a lovely contractor from the council who was fantastic to work with. She listened to our concerns and was the most organised council worker I have ever met. Our biggest challenge was the paperwork and the design approval process. It is literally easier for Sauce to paint the mural than to organise all of the different bureaucratic processes, but you have to take the good with the bad.

 

The best bits: working locally and creating some solid three dimensional graff. Sauce didn’t have to deal with traffic or scramble to find parking and all the other hassles of working in the Big Smoke. Once the initial design phase was finalised, the concept and colour scheme for the piece really stood out. Sauce was able to use some of the MTN 94 Transparents and experiment with different stencil techniques. We hope this is one of many different local projects in the Northern Rivers area. There are loads of walls in Byron and the surrounding areas which would be perfect for a good old fashioned graff piece. As a commercial artist Sauce doesn’t always choose the theme for every job. Opportunities like this are few and far between.

Goodbye 2013!

Wowzers! 2013 has been one rollercoaster of a year. Sauce painted more murals than we care to count and the studio has been out biggest adventure yet! 

The year started with a bang, as Sauce spent five days at Brisbane Pop Culture with Turtle and Em Undead. With all the rain and storms for the summer of 2012-13 Sauce was definitely battling the elements. But it was finished in time and luckily Em and Turtle escaped any flooding. We however, were not so fortunate. Country living has it’s downside, and while we were planning and scheming to open The Sauce Studio in Murwillumbah, we were flooded in at home for four and a half days, without power. But, we survived, and managed to open the studio, so Lady Luck must have been looking after us.

Buddah watching over us in the studio.

The Studio opening in March was definitively the scariest and most exciting thing we have ever done. In the lead up to opening night, it was utter chaos. We were busily organising shirts, logos, merchandise, advertising and all the paperwork that comes with running and expanding a business. We also had to re-fit the shop ourselves which saw Sauce and myself covered in paint and sweat from head to toe. A massive thanks goes out to all the people who visited for opening night (and throughout the year!). It’s heartening to know people are interested in the artwork and want to support an independent artist.

Ainslie Rose hard at work!

Once we opened the studio, Sauce was off to Tassie, and then Julia Creek, which was the first of three trips to Central Queensland this year. The Anglicare CQ team are without a doubt the most professional and dedicated team we have worked with. Every time Sauce visits Emerald, he’s treated like a superstar and the Anglicare CQ team have every detail organised. The kids are appreciative and enthusiastic. Sauce has even made friends up there who take him motorbike riding. Rough life hey?

The studio is keeping us both busy, with Sauce using the space as a workshop and I’m busy with all of the admin and paperwork. In September of this year, we held out first curated showcase, which was another adventure. I had the exciting role of Senior Curator, which meant I was developing and analysing the theme, while also advertising and vacuuming. For the week before Stains of Modernity opened, we had a young lad on work-experience who was dedicated and energetic. We almost couldn’t keep up with him!  Again, a massive thanks to all who came to the opening night and gave us a hand behind the scenes. It’s always scary throwing that type of party. We can never tell if it is going to be epic or, and epic failure, so thanks for making it a success.

Digital Interference. One of the pieces from Stains of Modernity.

It hasn’t been all beer and skittles, with Sauce facing some challenging bureaucracy and professional hurdles. We blogged about the many different experiences, and on a personal level it is disappointing to see the legal walls shut down, commissioned walls painted over and the zero tolerance approach taken by numerous organisations. I am conscious when we’re putting together blog posts as it is easy to moan about these issues, but we believe in standing up for what we believe in. Which is why we also write countless emails to officials and bureaucrats and make this information public. Just like Max Cavalera reminds us, “I’d rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees.” Too true Mr Cavalera.

One more exciting piece of information before we go. We are finally running stencil and aerosol workshops from the studio. Book it in your diary!

January 12th & 26th and February 9th.
$40 per head which includes a small canvas and paint supplied. 
Strictly 13 years or older.
Bookings essential. 
Wear appropriate clothing. All care taken, no responsibility for leaving paint on your new Nikes.

What ever you are doing this festive season, stay safe, look after your mates and enjoy yourself.

Peace,
Sauce and Ainslie Rose.

Sauce takes some time out with his new favourite book.

Capalaba Jam

Last Sunday, I was part of an eight namer on the back of a factory wall in Capalaba. I really enjoyed painting some good old fashioned graff and it was great to see some many different lads from numerous crews all painting alongside each other. 

A massive shout out to Kosie for doing all the hard yards with organising the gig and colour scheme. With so many walls being painted over and shut down, it’s a rare moment to have free range and paint something intrinsically motivated as opposed to a brief. It was even better to see all the lads out, as I’m sure that between us all there is a century of experience. 

I can’t wait to do it all again soon.

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.