It’s always interesting when the underground somehow makes the establishment… and you wonder what is lost and what is gained in that transaction. That’s certainly the case when it comes to street art. I remember a conversation on a train, a couple of years ago, between two stencil friends, one of whom was a stencil artist. Another friend was currently serving time for his public defacement of buldings – ie stencilling. However, this same friend’s work had just appeared in a new Melbourne City Council approved book on Melbourne’s stencil art. There’s the rub, don’t you think? Especially with this medium – people can endorse the product, legitimised and comodified, made respectable, but not the method, or the medium. It’s an interesting tension.
And where better to ponder the issue than at a Stencil Art Festival like Sweet Streets.
From their website:
Welcome to Sweet Streets 2010, proudly presented by Melbourne Stencil Festival in conjunction with the City of Yarra & 3RRR. Our festival celebrates & embraces the diversity of street art. Discover why Melbourne has a global reputation for these art forms through our extensive list of events, and happenings which will take you on an unforgettable journey that you will want to share with all of your friends. Our sponsor partners & wonderful team of dedicated volunteers, artists & supporters are proud to present a dynamic and diverse 16 day festival (8 – 24 October 2010) which showcases the very best of contemporary urban and street art culture.
The calendar of events is here:
With the opening and awards show happening at 1000 pound bend on October 8th. More info here:
Underground Melbourne 