Firstly I must credit this beautiful snap shot to Carla. This is a photo I saw on the Rebozilla fotoblog. Apparantly she took this picture in Canada and apart from the fact that its an ecko shirt it does the job nicely. I thought it was in the spirit of ilovemelbournegraffiti and blogged that puppy up. I must apologise to both Carla and the honourable Mr. Rebo as I neglected to ask permission for the image. Forgive me..

I also have to give props to snails for the comment on the block. She summed up alot of the streetart vs graff situation and I relate to what she said. I think the point of "sticking to one thing" was paramount as I chose this the day I saw my first peice. The concept of ilovemelbournegraffiti spawned from the need to support all forms of art made by the people in the community during its irradication before and during the commonwealth games. Graffiti is a state of mind that can be used in many different methods. If you have no idea what I'm on about then check the comment on the last post. I believe if you check it then you can link up to her blog and so on.

Another blog I like to check and read is my man Johnny Taise's. He has a prolific blog of which I always forget the address as he adds it to his emails and I get on board that way. I usually google THE JOHNNY TAISE FACTORY+SQUARESPACE and it hooks me up. He is currently in Japan and has a nice photo gallery of graff and non graff flix and quircky stories on how a tall white dude negotiates Japan.

After my break through T-shirt event with the director of the movie NEXT (which was pretty fresh by the way), I had a conversation with the same guy about his preference in Graff and that in relation to his movie.

At this point I should note that I embrace street art as a whole warts and all, but I do have a particular loyalty to graffiti art in the form of spraypaint and letter styles. With that in mind we discussed that the directors intention was to show the NEXT styles of graffiti/street art internationally in what ever form it took (brush, spraypaint paste-ups etc.).

I found myself challenged with the same old-same old of not being sure of the artists he chose and their departure from the traditional graffiti I know and love. It made me think am I being prude and narrow minded in saying graff is spraypaint and letters or am I just loyal.

I didn't have to strain myself in realising that I just feel that in the large scheme of things graffiti is young and has plenty of room to mature and grow in its traditional style and form. I do love and support any forms that spawn from this technique or its roots and I concluded that its like travel. I prefer to go to an exotic foreign location yet love exploring my own backyard in Australia just the same. Its still traveling. Or in the case of my dilemma its still graff in a different form.

I'd be interested in some feedback on this one. Any writers out there relate? Graff, Street-art, is it all the same? Let me know post a comment. Let me know if your not a writer also!

Back to the movie there was a particularly fresh bit on Delta from Holland. This guy is a king! Or at least I think so. Some nice graphic work either by him or in homage to him. Check him out, google him if necessary. Try Delta INC (INC is his crew)

Till next time...

City lights.

When I chose to work with the idea I Love Melbourne Graffiti, I knew quite openly that it wasn't original and that to my knowledge the I love NY motif was the first to break the ground. I also recognised the impact that it had on me and the world and the fact that it transcended all cultures and genre's. So much so that I saw this in the city and thought yeah see it works for them too. I love this town...

Graffiti the symbol of....

Someone said to me just yesturday that they heard a quote that graffiti is the symbol for freedom of speech. I like that infact I related to it and it inspired me. When i went to theMelbourne art fair I saw many works that were both top quality and superior in there craftsmanship. Not many of them said anything to me though. I suppose being a writer means I speak a different language. Or is it that I speak a freer language? I'm not sure but thats nothing that a cup of coffe can't fix..

Breakthrough!!!!

I Love Melbourne graffiti

Yes the calm before the storm equated to a small storm, or at least a bit of drizzle!

Yesturday a movie about graffiti was screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival with the director present wearing an I love Melbourne Graffiti T-shirt.. AAhhhh YYYeeeaaahhh.I think the movie was called "Next"?
This guy seemed pretty proud of his wear and I have to say thanks to some devious work by a loyal I love Melbourne Graff soldier for the work that made the deed done.

I also saw a fresh movie called "Beyond Beats and Rhymes"..If you know or like hip hop culture check it out when it reaches your hood as it does a good job of challenging over inflated male ego driven wak hip hop culture. It could have been edgier but finally some one is confronting the system of macho hip hop. Some assertive creditable hip hop ladies would have pushed the message home harder too. Still credit where credit due.

Word to my Mums....