Small Victories

I would like to congratulate everyone who assisted in counteracting the shameful vitriolic explosions against Melbourne Street Artists, that I like to call the WordPress fiasco.  The website formerly known as (I will certainly not promote its name)...is now, on the basis of its countless illegalities, reduced to a shadow of its former vindictive self.  What I personally learnt from this was to be more clever in how I promote the talented artists I love so much.  With such learning I continue on my Flashin' journeys.  Sometimes you may notice I have under represented artists, dropped off links to their work, or just not named them.  I hope as time goes everyone will proudly shout out from every laneway wall, from shoptops, on the cobblestones in sculpture, and in the exhibition spaces that showcase you.   In the meantime, I am quietly resuming business as usual, albeit with one eye open.

Going Off Air Briefly

Peeps - has to be done.  Off air for a coupla weeks.  See you on the flipside...

The Smilies

Okay, I am officially defeated and haunted by these cutest of cute yet slightly unnerving smiley faces in bowler hats.  I have tried every Google search I can think of, scoured Flickr and berated myself for not recalling that one reference to them I did briefly see out there in the ether of internet street art commentary.  Arghhh these faces they taunt me, they sit there waiting and they see me coming, and smile down at me as a reminder of my failed detective work to date.  Well either that or I am being paranoid, self referential and melodramatic.  Either way can someone please put me out of my misery and tell me who does these? The prize of the title official far  superior sleuth awaits whoever can answer this, as does the satisfaction of helping the needy and slightly pathological.  

Indolent Dandy does it better

I need a zoom.  But you can check out far better photos of the images from my last blog entry, with a whimsical link, from the Fabulous Dandy. 

Who Is Vandal Spruce ?

I am not telling you anything new here, but in 2011 there are heaps of great new Paste Ups.  There are several "Hot Spots" in Fitzroy, where some artists are layering Paste Ups over old tags, pasting en masse, and generally just creating a visual explosion of colour and texture.  Think Flake, Drab, Suki, Doctor, Fresh-Chop and Kaff-eine, along with some that I am yet to recognise by name, so if you can help me out on that front please do.  What I am loving the most is this layering, its big Art on a grand scale.   I have just discovered the name Vandal Spruce, and it seems others got there before me.  I can be a bit slow on the uptake.  Their huge scale paste ups are mega cool, their choice of where to paste up even cooler.  I have also found "Captain and the Skipper" has filled a void where Ghost Patrol and Kali the Destroyer have been ripped down.

The elephant in the room

Okay, so I am gonna say it.  Dicknose.  Its like a fart joke, makes you chuckle the first time you hear it then it's far less funny when you smell it.  So who is Dicknose?  You cant ignore him.  He is everywhere.  He has been uploaded to Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7311284@N07/5210289312/).  There are other dicknoses in the world (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jovino/356559992/).  I oscillate between thinking he is Tres little brother, and thinking he is an artist with a wicked sense of humour and irony.  So.  Dicknose.  Whoever you are, dont consider this a shout out, but I just cant ignore you anymore....

Shadow Project

Shadow ... Fate saw me at a sweaty, crowded Belinda Carlisle Gig last night so I sadly missed the opening I was Looking forward to (story of My life!!!) This morning is another story. Nearest dearest friends in tow I Didn't miss a beat weaving a trail from fitzroy to Miss Libertines (oldest Pub in Melbourne) and a wander round the Shadow Project drink in hand. And I tell you Well Worth the Trek (which took me down well trodden paths for a mini tour of our ever talented legends). People I encourage a gander at this small but dynamic and rich hand picked selection - We enjoyed a serene pause on the comfy bench seat to reflect and discuss. Sparcs you totally rock (!!!!!!) so keep it coming and I want more of you in the hallowed laneways around me .... I'll tell you bout our run in with Flake and the Tony Wolf guy another time ...

Never + Always

I do love the underdog and his small but determined voice, his hand reaching out of the rubble and the grit of his determination. And it's apt to find the soul of the underdog rising up from the ruins of great artists work that has passed before him, in what I call the laneway of contention. Great names have been painted over by ... great names. So who is my lone soldier ? My quiet voice where champions have shouted rage before him? And could he be the most profound narrator of the time ? I have spent a year photographing the power battles played out in this laneway and he has summed it up with a felt tip pen, a brick and some plywood: Never + Always