The Slumdog Millionaire of Documentaries

Home for the 'pickers' aka catadores

Irma (aka the cook's) image

Muniz at the worlds largest garbage dump 'Jardim Gramacho'

The image auctioned at Sotheby's (the money went back to the pickers)

Vik Muniz traveled to his native Brazil where he created these portraits of the people that work in the worlds largest rubbish dump. They spend day and night 'picking' the recyclable materials from the trash, yet this horrible job does not dampen any spirit or personality. Sometimes when you think life can't get worse, you just have to think about how lucky you really are, cliche but true- these people are so inspiring, so happy and joyful it is truly amazing. The portraits created by Muniz and the pickers are wonderful tribute to human endeavor and this documentary is a creative, uplifting must-see.

For more info visit the website: http://www.wastelandmovie.com/index.html

Same same but different?

SARA WINFIELD

"My name is Sara Winfield and I am an emerging Perth illustrator /  artist. I am originally from a town in the south west of WA. The outdoors, natural environment an clean fresh air are elements of my childhood I would never take back, and are influences I strongly encourage throughout my work. I have a love for anything visual, descriptive, unexplainable, wrapped in brown recycled paper, covered in beach sand or bleached from the sun. 

After a small stint studying fashion design, I was allured to the free nature of art and painting, and how it has allowed for a more personal and direct outlet for my creative energies.

My works are distinctly autobiographical in subject, and seek to portray elements of feeling, unresolved issue and thought through the use of the female figure and expressive paint applications. The initial drawing element of each painting is integral in the mood and concept of each work, and is where I find the best portrayal of human form and existence."

Amazing stuff but too similar to Barton?...

DEL KATHRYN BARTON

'I ate the rainbow up...' 2008

Synthetic polymer paint, gouche, watercolour and ink on polyester canvas

180 x 160 cm

What are your thoughts?...

REVELING IN A REPOST

I think that society has progressed from a time when a certain movement defined the social, cultural and political occurrences. Since Futurism, people have begun to increasingly question and rebel authority. And why buck this trend? Art these days is a reflection of personal satisfaction and the varied outlooks simply mirror the diversity of our generation. Lets bring this out even more and make our mark by amplifying what the Futurists disliked- tradition, modesty and cowardice. Let's create our own version of 'art' and make it work in our own lives.

Ace.

The Unclassifiable Whirly Bird

Vintage grey leather shorts and white lace top, Jil Sander patent brogues.

Harrys Cafe in Bondi Beach does some seriously delicious avocado on toast and has some of the best baristas around (that actually know what they are talking about). Go by for breaky and check out the jazzy murals and benches by Lewie JPD.

http://www.lewiejpd.blogspot.com/

Born into a dream, grew up in a machine, learnt to hustle as a teen... Lewie JPD is a writer, designer and performer who has lived in Sydney, Tokyo and L.A. He now chooses to reside beachside in idyllic Byron Bay where he is doing his Masters thesis on 'The Holes in Donuts - Their Quantifiable Ramifications on the Philosophical Development of Humankind Discussed and Sauted With Ginger and Soy'. He enjoys solo walks on the moon, escaping from Utopias and chocklit (edible books). If approached, he may flee, but don't worry, he's not your problem.

I get it now

There is something to be said about truly experiencing art. I know this blog is primarily focused on street art, but I had to include this post about Ian Grant's work and the trip I just had to Cowra in NSW. 

I have to say, I didn't quite grasp the sublime in Grant's pieces, but after immersing myself in his subject matter for an extended period of time, I got it. The vast spaces, the beautiful lines and curves and sense of peace that only the Australian outback can have. 

Being IN the art this way is similar to having art in ones immediate environment- the way street art presents itself....something to think about.

Cowra, NSW

Cowra, NSW

Parkland, 2009

Acrylic on linen, 61 x 61cm 

4 o'clock, 2008

Acrylic on linen, 97 x 97cm

Ian Grants work available at Tim Olsen Gallery

www.timoslengallery.com 

How to Make Art

Want to REALLY know how to make art in today's society? Hennessy tells you whats up....

Remember, its all in the proposition.

WUTUP EVERYBODY, THIS THE PHARAOH HENNESSY, BACK WITH YOUR BEST INTERESTS IN MIND. WHO NEEDS CRITICAL THEORY WHEN A LITTLE BIT OF SOME PRACTICAL TYPE ADVICE WILL HELP YA'LL OUT MORE, RIGHT INTERNET? LET'S GO!

SWAG.

I fucking LOVE this guy. Will be posting all videos over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

ART THOUGHTZ

HENNESY YOUNGMAN ON: BEAUTY

GYEAH! HELLO ONCE AGIAN INTERNET, TODAY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS VERY ESSENTIAL TO ART AND THAT THING IS BEAUTY. IS BEAUTY STILL RELEVANT IN OUR FUTURE AGE WHERE INFORMATION IS MAD VALUABLE AND NEOLIBERALISM IS THE NUMBER ONE POP TUNE THAT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL ALWAYS BE PLAYING EVERY TIME YOU TURN ON THE RADIO FOREVER INTO INFINITY? WELL I DON'T GOT ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, BUT THAT DON'T STOP ME FROM ENWISENING YA'LL TO THIS SHIT! LET'S GO!

Good Graff Bad Graff?

The gorgeous Sydney transport system.

Shot by Julie Healy in Aurelio Costarella.

In which situation is this graffiti acceptable? Does fashion render the purposeful and somewhat egocentric tagging of a building or public service OK? There is something to be said about street art;  a creative expression in a anonymous way to enrich our streets and boardwalks, but has tagging gone to far? Are these graffiti 'artists' devaluing what street art is trying to achieve?
So now....

Welcome to the Graffiti Connection. An artistic representation of international, interactive street art. We give a voice to the renegade artists of this generation. Those Guerrilla creatives who seek to inform, inspire and investigate. We do not endorse egotistical vandalism and tagging of public and private property, but we do celebrate the radical works that are hidden in capital cities and usually overlooked by the untrained eye. Fusing the cultural legacy of photography with the musings of sub-culture's finest, this is the artistic mirror of raw street creation.

The world is your canvas...
Share it here by emailing street art images to amyjfinlayson@gmail.com

Behind the Scenes! KEN DONE X ACCLAIM MAGAZINE

Coming to a store near you...

The Order of Disorder

Beastman and Numskull

Sam Smith

 OUTPOST

Cockatoo Island, Sydney, NSW

LOLZ COLES

 Will Coles

Born in the UK, Lives in Sydney.

My new cement LOL Gun

31/50

"Most of his work, if pigeonholed, is either semi-figurative or conceptual. His concrete pieces are found cemented all over the streets of Sydney and Melbourne, and recently he completed cementing streets over Europe." 

-Outpost Biography

Nice Ride

All aboard the Graff Bus!

(t-shirt by James Perse, Dolce Bag, Ray Ban sunnies)

OUTPOST EXTRAVAGANZA

KID ZOOM @ Outpost

Cockatoo Island, Sydney, NSW

BEASTLY!

In front of the Beastman mural of Foveaux street, Surry Hills, Sydney.

(Vintage Fur, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Bally wedges)

 

For more, go to: http://www.fatcap.com/artist/beastman.html