Street Art

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/78177/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Tourists are drawn to cities by a myriad of attractions and activities.
Some cities are blessed with iconic attractions that are on every visitor’s “must see” list – the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in Sydney, for example. 
Other cities rely on a more eclectic mix of “sights and sounds” to lure increasingly well-informed and diverse visitors. For instance, Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, has at various times promoted itself as the nation’s “sports and events capital”, the “arts and culture capital” and, more recently, as the “street art capital”. 
Street art, also known as graffiti, has not always had strong community support. The proliferation of the “art form” has many strident critics. For example, Graffiti Hurts spokesman Scott Hilditch complained that funding a mobile phone app to guide users around Melbourne street art sites would glorify graffiti vandalism. 
Yet there is no denying the growth of street art and the popularity of sites around inner-city Melbourne. On a sunny afternoon in the city’s laneways, you are likely to see a range of local and international visitors, some posing for photos in front of freshly painted walls, others passing by on their way to a nearby cafe for a flat white. 
You may see see local “artists” guiding groups on street art tours. You may even see newlyweds looking for that quintessentially Melbourne photo for their wedding album. 
 
Despite questions about the legality, and perhaps morality, of street art, its popularity is undeniable. Melbourne’s laneways and their street art have become a major drawcard. In a 2008 Lonely Planet poll, Melbourne’s laneway street art was voted Australia’s top “cultural attraction”. 
If social media counts (which it most certainly does), Hosier Lane, the epicentre of Melbourne street art, has arguably become the city’s premier tourist destination. It attracts significantly more Instagram hashtags than traditional destinations like Melbourne Zoo or Federation Square. 
Regardless of social and political disapproval, the proliferation of Melbourne’s street art does provide a point of distinction in an era of growing competition between cities.
City destinations are having to find new and creative ways to distinguish themselves from the rest. Numerous local and international websites, blogs and books have recognised Melbourne as Australia’s “street art capital” over the past decade. 
In turn, street art images have been selectively packaged and promotedto boost the city’s “creative” and “vibrant” image. The Melbourne City Council website recognises “the importance of street art in contributing to a vibrant urban culture”, and acknowledges:
Melbourne’s street art has become internationally renowned and has become an attraction for local and overseas visitors experiencing Melbourne’s creative ambience.
Despite this, the council seems at pains to differentiate between “graffiti” and “street art”. Melbourne City has a web page explaining to both artists and property owners the legalities of street art. 
The council refers to research and community consultations as the basis for its Graffiti Management Plan. According to its “Street Art” webpage, these revealed that:
… most people do not like graffiti ‘tagging’ … However, many people appreciate ‘street art’ such as larger, more artistic pieces, or murals placed in appropriate locations with the required permission.
However, trying to separate the two is problematic. Many street artists engage in both forms of “writing” – the term street artists use to describe their production of graffiti or street art. 
Although it’s broadly recognised by the City of Melbourne as adding to the city’s cultural aesthetic, relatively little is understood about the economic value of street art. Measuring its economic value to the city is challenging. But creative tourism forms such as this clearly have their merits as tourists increasingly seek out “alternative public spaces” in search of creative landscapes and authentic experiences. 
Thus, it’s possible that creative tourism is more valuable than conventional tourism. 
Certainly, Melbourne is increasingly well known for its “laneway galleries”, however challenging the management of this ephemeral attraction might be for governments.
Ryan Jopp is lecturer in Tourism and Management, Academic Director (Education Quality and Assurance), Swinburne University of Technology and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ryan-jopp-379405" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Melbourne’s love-hate relationship with being Australia’s ‘street art capital’

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Following in the footsteps of creative cities like London, New York and Berlin, Sydney is fast developing a reputation for its increasingly rich street art scene.
Now, leading property developers are making their own contribution through the use of street artists and creatives on their developments.
One such example is Sydney-based Coronation Property, with the company engaging award-winning street art specialists Authority Creative and renowned artists Elliott “Numskull” Routledge and Shannon Crees to create an 80-metre long street art mural surrounding their <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/expert-insights/buying/77179-charlie-parker-to-invigorate-surry-hills-of-west" target="_blank">latest development, Charlie Parker</a>, located on the corner of Charles and Parkes streets in Harris Park.
The art deco-inspired building, designed by leading architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt), will span 22 storeys and feature just 111 boutique apartments, as well as a terrace-level open-air pool and gym, and a ground floor residents’ library and lounge.
Envisioned as a destination for creative types, Charlie Parker will have art woven into its very fabric, with Routledge and Crees joining contemporary Sydney artists, Gillie and Marc, who created the Charlie Parker character – an iconic half man, half elephant sculpture – and interior stylist Shannon Vos, winner of 2014’s The Block: Glasshouse, in making a collaborative contribution to the development.
Routledge and Crees’ work represents the blending of the two artists’ very different styles to create a vibrant, large-scale painting that wraps the entire site.
Their graphic work, which came together over the course of a week in October and draws inspiration from the Charlie Parker character created by Gillie and Marc, will be one of the first ways in which the project will make an impact on the public – and so far, the response has been extremely positive, says Crees.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/15/Art2.jpg" alt="">
“The community has responded really well to the bold patterns and bright colours of blue, pink and yellow, with the artwork literally stopping traffic and heaps of locals engaging with us over the course of the week,” she explained.
Christopher Skyner, director at Authority Creative, says Coronation Property is leading the way in integrating public art with its developments.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/15/Art1.jpg" alt="">
“This is the third project that we’ve worked with Coronation Property on, following Liverpool’s The Paper Mill and Parramatta’s 8 Phillip Street, and I have to say, the Coronation team has helped to shine further light on our industry,” said Skyner.
According to Aras Labutis, director of Urban Transformations and Strategy at Coronation Property, street artists have a relevant voice in property development, both now and into the future.
“Inviting street artists to collaborate on our property developments has been hugely beneficial for all involved, and it has helped to reshape public opinion of this sometimes-undervalued art form,” said Labutis.
“There’s a big difference between street art and graffiti, which is the association most people make straight away, and this is confirmed by many major institutions now embracing street art and engaging companies such as Authority Creative to assist with activations.”
Prices for apartments at Charlie Parker start from $475,000 for a one bedroom suite, $567,000 for a one bedroom residence, $785,000 for a two bedroom and $898,000 for three bedroom apartments.
There are two four bedroom penthouses also available.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Street art brings a new dimension to Charlie Parker development in Harris Park

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A new piece of street art has been unveiled opposite Etihad Stadium that is in stark contrast to its drab surrounds. The poorly activated surrounds of Etihad Stadium has been given a boost with Melbourne developer Capital Alliance commissioning internationally recognised street artist <a href="http://r-o-n-e.com/">Rone</a> to create a mural overlooking the sporting venue.

The result is a new 140sqm edifice adoring <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/m-docklands-679-la-trobe-street-docklands">M Docklands</a>, a new five star hotel and residential complex which will officially open during January 2016.

Although Docklands carries varying forms of public art, Rone's Edge of your seat is considered the first ever piece of street art to land in Docklands. With the art medium commonly seen throughout the Hoddle Grid, Docklands' first addition is a welcome boost to the urban realm and the result of 250 hours of labour.

Edge of your seat is a continuation of Rone's penchant for <a href="http://r-o-n-e.com/artwork/">paintings of glamorous women</a>, while attempting to create an iconic form of urban art with a strongly emotional bent, according to the artist's website.

<h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
This piece celebrates the connection to the Melbourne sport scene and captures the transcendence of supporters in moments of high anticipation. The challenge was to capture this emotion and the expressions on the fans’ faces, as they passionately support their team in victory or defeat.
<cite>Rone, Artist</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
We’re thrilled to combine these three pillars of Melbourne’s identity in one piece of art, with one of our city’s finest artists celebrating sport on the side of a new five star hotel.
<cite>Mohan Du, Managing Director, Capital Alliance</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image169.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Marking the piece's completion"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image169.jpg?itok=moqpPvNW" title="Marking the piece's completion" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Marking the piece's completion</figcaption></figure><h2>Comment: none too soon</h2>

Telstra Dome, Etihad Stadium or whatever guise the venue has taken over its existence must surely be one of Melbourne's most poorly conceived modern additions in terms of both design and influence upon the immediate urban realm; essentially the venue is a non-urban design in a very urban setting.

Its shortcomings have been compounded by many of the surrounding buildings which have reciprocated, in effect creating an inactive chasm and a very harsh built form environment for pedestrians/sporting fans who traverse the precinct.

Both M Docklands and its sister building Lacrosse in many respects provide an excellent human scale experience relative to other buildings surrounding Etihad Stadium. Engaging podium design, permeability and visual intrigue have thankfully not been lost, with Rone's Edge of your seat adding further diversity where it matters: at ground level.

At some point in the future, Etihad Stadium will receive a much needed overhaul, but until that day arrives pending large-scale developments neighbouring the stadium such as AZX Group's 685 La Trobe Street and Salta's <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/feeling-at-home-next-to-the-dome">695 La Trobe Street</a> have the opportunity to further the decent public realm outcome achieved by M Docklands, or further slide the precinct into a design 'abyss' for lack of a better term.
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silvermb

Feeling at home next to the dome

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It's been quite a few months since we delivered an article highlighting a suburb's street art, let alone the powerhouse that is Fitzroy which was closer to the turn of the year. In the proceeding months many a new mural has been delivered along Brunswick Street and surrounding streets, laneways and cul-de-sacs, reaffirming Fitzroy as the location for mural street art in Melbourne.

Aside from highlighting the best work these artists with their magnificent (or contorted) minds can muster, the murals - as opposed to tagging or wanton 'graffiti' - have added immeasurably to the streetscape by bringing a heightened level of interest from pedestrians.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_2842.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="In full swing last week"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="816" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_2842.jpg?itok=WS80iGBT" title="In full swing last week" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>In full swing last week</figcaption></figure>While laneway art continues unabated in Fitzroy, larger, grander murals look to have taken a more prominent position during the course of 2014 with the apparent support of City of Yarra. Visible from many a side street in addition to Fitzroy Street, the large murals have proliferated and in turn added the the unique dynamic surrounding the area and suburb in general.

Click the images below to gain a greater perspective of what's new since our last visit, and above all else enjoy!
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What's new in Fitzroy

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I ventured down to Bridge Road recently with the intention of wandering through the area, capturing the sights of the popular inner city strip. Passing through some neighbouring streets, I was confronted with some interesting street art.
Street art in addition to the rich existing streetscape makes for a great urban environment, although Bridge Road and its surrounds - like so many areas - is under transformation with increased apartment development.
Enjoy a few photos I took along the way.
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melbournee12

Richmond + Bridge Road

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Another chapter today in the ever evolving artwork that is Hosier Lane which of late has begun a vertical expansion, elevating the visual delights to a point where they can be seen from afar.
Under the auspices of <a href="http://hosierrutledge.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Hosier Inc</a> and with funding from Melbourne City Council, <q cite="http://hosierrutledge.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/19_2_14_media_release_hosier_inc__paint_up.pdf">Melbourne-based artist Adnate will transform Australia's most iconic laneway, painting a significant wall that has never before been available to any artist. This is the first installment in a series of major artworks to be commissioned by local community association Hosier Inc. Paint Up! is part of an ongoing program of activities designed to activate the laneways and create a safe and engaging environment for all to work, live, visit and enjoy the area.</q>
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/wednesdaymorning003.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Works underway as seen from Hosier Lane. Image © David Russell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="773" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/wednesdaymorning003.jpg?itok=RETuobIf" title="Works underway as seen from Hosier Lane. Image © David Russell" width="580"></a>
The associated PDF press release is <a href="http://hosierrutledge.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/19_2_14_media_release_hosier_inc__paint_up.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.
Works on the 1945 McDonald and Company building at 165 Flinders Lane we undertaken in recent weeks. Whether further works are applied to McDonald and Company or the adjoining Forum Theatre remains to be seen.
The results of stage one are below along with the comings and goings on Hosier Lane &amp; Rutledge Lane during a typical Sunday afternoon.
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Paint Up! Hosier Lane reaches for the sky

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Time today for another installment of some of Melbourne's best street art. As the title suggests, a pocket of Collingwood bound by Johnston Street, Alexandra Parade, Wellington Street and Smith Street forms the boundary in which today's photo tour is located.
The area is also subject to a number of quality small and medium sized property developments, but for the purposes of today the subject matter is that which is visible for all to see.
From random skeletal figurines to totem poles to a 15 metre long mural in the most unusual of places, this area of Collingwood is supremely interesting. Enjoy.
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