More Talk

From a couple of weeks ago, a discussion around graffiti issues hosted by Geroge FM’s Mark Graham, and comprised of Carole Shepheard (Proff of Fine Art), COmponent, and Matt from Beat Merchants.

Sideroom Mag Launch

Yo get along to the show and the party. To celebrate the dropping of the latest edition of Sideroom.com Magazine they’re cutting loose with a night of typically messy entertainment.

Better be there.

CloseUp

The great moustachioed one came and had a chat with TM, Flox, Peepshow and City about the house that hosted the locally famous wrecking ball party.

Check it out online here.
(find the graffiti house link).

old nu’s

Some stuff from the news.
Quite a bit of coverage on the work of this guy. His stencils were featured on Campbell Live and the newspapers. Personally I like it and it’s really hard to imagine how media could cover it without inducing some truly cringe worthy moments, so we ignore this like we must learn to when hearing our own voice on recorded messages, or looking at other peoples photos of you that you didn’t get a say in during the editing process.

I think art with a cause can become trite or sanctimonious quite easily so I appreciate the simplicity of More’s approach.

I also appreciate his approach to location, with a sensitivity and understanding of the power of the right site.

I doesn’t hurt they are well executed without the illusion ruining overspray. Check some more out here as well as a link to the tv3 story.

Also, the case of the pink taggers.

A community constable from down Welly ways has come up with a device to shame the taggers he catches. Has sparked debate on the appropriateness of the punishment, specifically the inherent connotations of the colour and historical use of similar methods used by the nazi’s. Personally I think it’s a pretty harmless, albeit petty response. Constable Theo Gommans has, by seemingly all accounts had a positive impact upon graffiti within his community.

This paper is worth a look, it includes funding details on Wellingtons ‘Graffiti Flying Squad’, as well as another (Wellinton City Council’s) ‘dob in a tagger’ scheme, and a pretty detailed account of the attitudes and policies of the ‘authorities’ towards graffiti. Lacking is any debate or speculation around the cause of graffiti in the first place other than the peer fame thing. Also no mention of the use of pubic murals as a strategy.

The last time I painted in Wellinton CBD I heard stories of a bit of heat going certain spots but still managed to spend a couple of uninterupted hours painting, even gave the nearby young girls nervously talking about doing a ‘bomb’ the left over paint (the next day I saw they indeed went through with it). The time before an officer walked straight past us without even blinking. While the spot is one of those grey areas with some element of inherent legitimacy, you’d think it’d be one place the ‘flying squad’ would spend some time.

Also check out Radical Cross Stitch for a good little piece on Pihema Cameron, the pink vests and public outlash at tagging in general.

And damn do I want some pictures of what they wrote about Michael Laws on the Sarjeant Gallery. Something along the lines of him being another celebrity Mayor of the worst kind perhaps? John Banks lite?

spare some change miss

Been really missing having my camera lately. Not for want of a back up however, i have a dozen others of assorted size, shapes and formats. It’s just they all scream “photography” when i pick them up as opposed to “just take the photo and get going!” A true reflection of the state of the economy perhaps in that it’s proving really hard to get together some coin for a replacement. Or more likely just a relection of my personal current broken arse state.

So we owe it to the readers who generously forward their image on to us to give some much needed fresh content.

From Wellytown and Nelson, thanks to JL .

Drypnz

LOCAL STYLES

Few pics thanks to vent  for the pic’s

ASKEW (TMD)(SUK)    VENT (RTR) ,

Nice work ..

Best of the Badmen

One more of the great pioneers of modern music has passed. Bo Diddley figures an one of my most rated badmen in the guitar slinging world (my son was named after him). The power of rythym never more harnessed than in the Diddley beat. He was able to make songs with one chord that still beat all comers, and while more known for early days rock n roll, his funk is HEAVY. Check this album out, i’ll be dropping plenty off it in my Sunday Blues radio show – the Bo Diddley tribute, Sunday June 15 on Base FM from 6-8 pm.

Fitting that I caught Boss Christ covering Bo during the weekend then.

Manky Chops

Spent the weekend in Wellington, meet some cool people as usual, including the crew up at Manky Chops Gallery and studio. Only just opened over the last week, this new gallery had people lined up around the block for their official opening, even turning some Te Papa big wig away at the door. Great to hear of such an enthusiastic reception.

Go check them out at 166 Cuba St (upstairs), next to Spacesuit and ALC. Awesome people. And an awesome Simon Morse logo.

Had some time for a quick something with Flox, was way too dark to see properly though.

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in what was an action packed visit. Got to say too, Welly’s service industries leave Ak’s for dead. Too many indifferent customer service experiences up here lately. And as usual Slow Boat Records comes through with the goods, picked up a long sought after Link Wray record, and a mad 80’s electro reggae version of Cab Calloway’s Minnie The Moocher, amongst other goodies.

Ah Wellington, always good times and not even a drop of rain.

stencils

Some new  stencil pics from round Kingsland and Mt Eden. Seen the 2pac one around for years, this has been left in the school for a while it seems. Thanks to Ian for images.