Not Pretty Enough (bei mir bist du shayn)

I lived in St Kilda when Muso's and artists were moving on, paving the way for grunge to evolve into cool. They left the gays and Jews to cohabit in a blissful marriage of tradition and experimentation: The 1990's. It was all designer runners, comic teeshirts, 3/4 denim, warehouse parties, Midsummer, Miss Candy, The Palais, Russian bakeries.

To fireworks, dance music and Calvin Kleins (the pills not the jeans) the new millennium was welcomed. The Y2K bug didn't destroy us, but the new era killed St Kilda. The place soon became so cool it was hot, and it melted into one big festering mess of poo-beige.

The pretty people demanded nicer amenities, the removal of the prostitutes from each street corner, a clean up of Blessington Street, and a curfew on noise. They wanted a gentrified St Kilda. A nice place to raise designer kids and irritating dogs...or was it designer dogs and irritating kids? 

The old Jews survived the most horrendous experience of the holocaust, arrived on our shores, and built this wonderful city. Then they not only existed but thrived through it's darkest days, its hard days and its party heydays, to be left with this...Meh.  Nudne.*

Which brings me, of course, to Fitzroy this week... bushland? FFS!!!?! 

"... Cr Fristacky said she would have preferred a mural of scenery of bushland or the Abbotsford Convent. "I would say [the Sofles piece] is OK in a magazine or a book. But in public art I have my reservations."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/trouble-brewing-fitzroy-street-mural-could-be-censored-20140828-109h1w.html#ixzz3BqNMTxkB

To see the offending Adnate Sofles Smug collab check out Dean's page 

 *Apologies for bad, inappropriate or offensive Yiddish I am just a Goy

Fitzroy February 2012 (or Didn't We Almost Have It All)

Whitney died!  I could not possibly post without acknowledging this.  Nor can I blog without acknowledging that I am a long way from home, and when I took off, the life of one of the most beautifully eccentric members of our Fitzroy community hung tenuously in the balance.

And what of February and its streetscape?

Nufevah's political voice broke (liquid velvet).  Burg's profile rose (awesome!!!).   Frankie slowly dished out lush colour leaving me craving more.  Doctor and Takie have been clearly having fun.  Paste ups with poor placement have appeared and for the most part taggers have accepted their right of reply.

I am going to keep sitting on the fence for a while, but I suspect, if February is any indication, that there are some rules that need revisiting for the sake of peace. Rules like nothing over street art legends, nothing over pieces.  Probably leave the throw ups alone too. But then again maybe I am being old fashioned...

In addition to this February has so far given us amazing pieces, thank you Awol crew:  Slicer and Adnate being out of this world.  Rone can't stop, won't stop, don't stop and thank god as it has been awesome.