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

thefitzroyflasher: Meandering

thefitzroyflasher: Meandering: "http://thefitzroyflasher.blogspot.com/2010/12/discoveries.html"

Being in Brissie and Being on a work mission will not deter me from the blog. And since I have found a decent coffee my optimism has picked up (despite a tagger I hope was being funny by spelling Rabbit wrong). Anyway I will post now, flash later and hopefully come up with some good stuff soon!

You Snooze You Lose

I don't know if it was the glass cut on my foot distracting me last time (I really do suffer for your art!) or if they are brand new but a bit of activity lately in one of my fav little corners - a new Flake, plus an art critic has aptly deduced the art previously pasted as being the work of "rad cunts". I decided to revisit the broader area and I am glad I did as Shida and Capush had been around some time and a neat little paint job by an unknown artist with a fondness for ties made me smile! Further afield some fresh pieces on a blank canvas lane I have had my eye on. Btw Nufevah has been sticking a sold sticker here and there - cute. All up a good catch today.

Meandering

Okay I have been Out and About searching for art in obscure places - found some awesome kaff-eine up dead end laneways seems to be beginning to be a trademark of theirs. Some gorgeous Sim2 Mishap - reliably amazing, and predictably some Tres following behind like a younger brother who has been told to keep his distance. Most excellent art on my mind this week though is by Sparcs. Watch this space cos I am on the hunt ! And when I get to the computer will get the link to the Shadow Project exhibition happening soon Feb 4 Walls ... Check out Sparcs on flickr. Sparcs if that link doesn't work I will fix it very soon.

In the meantime, art in obscure places