What Corki Sees

I took a guest photographer with me when I last went Flashin': Corki C (aka CJC).  Their brief was to point and shoot whatever interested them.  It was hard to walk past walls with nothing in my hand but I amused myself with the challenge. It forced me to appreciate the street as if I was not me, like I was just out there looking and thinking.  The images below are testament to my conclusion:  It is good to let a different soul tell you what makes Fitzroy.

Community Service Announcement

I have been loathe to comment on what's been happening lately in Fitzroy because I never want to discourage anyone's creativity. I always maintain that art is an action.  So whether good, bad or indifferent the act of doing street art IS art to me.  Graff in tall places, clever placement, mass bombing: these all make me look twice.

Unfortunately lately there has been some slacking off of standards.  I won't name names, nor pass judgment on anyone reading this who may feel this is directed at them.  I therefore will not attach photos either.  But PLEEEAAAASE people.  Fitzroy built it's reputation as a street art Mecca on the back of hard work.  Exacting work.  Think, among hundreds of others, of  HaHa, Everfresh, Awol, Aeon, Tres, iKool, TV Crew, Ghost Patrol and Miso, Lister.  These people are Giants. They made our reputation.

So with apologies for my arrogant opinion, condescension and paternalistic take, I implore every enthusiastic participant in the New World Order to:

1.  Stop pasting over other people's work - be it throw ups, pieces, or legendary stickers such as Ghost Patrol.  It pisses everyone off.

2.  Use good wheatpaste. No-one wants to look at creases or watch a paste up half hanging on a wall.

3.  Only put your good stuff up.  Say something, reflect, opine.  Give something.

4.  Look at a wall before tagging it to determine if any respect is due.

5.  Learn the history and context your work, today, is positioned within.

Thanks for allowing this self indulgent community announcement.  I have said it and now I will move on.  I still live to observe everything new that comes along.  I embrace the evolution of Fitzroy.  I just fear it's demise!

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.

Graff

This post is for the Graffers.  Flies Crew-F1(skary, Aeon, Tres, Histo, ikool, fact...I am gonna dedicate a post to these guys), Awol, BNF, SDM...Snez, Varsone, and everyone in between.  They are the backdrop of our laneways, the substance of the street.  A piece well executed can begin a space.  A tag well crafted becomes a welcome stranger.  They really are the Cornish Rex of public art: alive today and direct descendants of the early crews that started our compulsion for self expression on the street.