Ruby Tuesday

In the absence of any red photos I wandered down to Union Lane, of course, to see what street art was around.


There were a few new things but nowhere near as much good stuff as usual ... and very little had any red, except this little darling.


I'll just share a few more because I was there, not because they're red.

Do you think this is the cowardly lion?


This girl's so stylish and elegant.


This bird's very cute ...


and this girl's gorgeous too.


This girl looks a lot like a Debs ... but she's not! I'll check out the name next time I'm there.


For more ruby redness ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

Ruby Tuesday

Union Lane in the city is an interesting place.

For a start it's right in the centre of town running between one of our premier department stores (David Jones) and other stores. It's narrow and awkward since it doesn't really have a purpose in the way as it once would have.

But I love the way the building walls act as an art canvas and the lane as the venue for performance art.

And so it was one quiet lunchtime as I walked down the lane on my way to my favourite yarn store.

What I was faced with was a pile of balloons filled with water and glitter sitting on upended milk crates ... and several more stacks of crates and balloons along the lane.


And was it all about? Performance art ... with balloons to throw at the walls and add glitter to the street art.


Or to throw at each other. It didn't really matter much.


It was fun either way.

Interested in more red ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet for more.

Ruby Tuesday

I met up with a friend for dinner last week at Hu Tong dumpling bar in China Town and after a sumptuous dinner of dumplings (I love the chilli dumplings), Jo and I took a wander along Paynes Place and Croft Alley to view the street art.


I've made mention of Melbourne's embracing of street art and I'm proud ofliving in a city that understands art in its widest sense.


Not only understands it but embraces it.


So much so the City of Melbourne allows building owners and other to register street art.


I think this really encourages street artists to do their best, and for their art to improve in quality and scope.


You can see all the street art here registered at STA25 ... and it's in the tiniest space.


And another Debs ... a little light for red but it's still there.


And what could be more fitting to close this post: don't ban the can ... except for those annoying taggers!

Lots more glorious rubyness over at Work of the Poet ... check it out.

Ruby Tuesday

It’s time for Ruby Tuesday … probably my absolute favourite reason for getting my camera out and taking photos.

This week I found another laneway, this time in lovely downtown Windsor when I met up with my blogging pal Big Fil for breakfast at Yellow Bird.


My friend Phil's also interested in street art and we often take a wander through various laneways looking for new examples. This week’s find was beautiful and probably recently done … this gorgeous mural in muted blue and salmon pink the whole way along the side of a chic upmarket bar.

Isn't this amazing ... the sweetest turtle.


I think this is a cow.


A fish swimming uphill!



And I have no idea what this is? Ideas?


Melbourne’s an interesting place for street art. We get our share of graffiti, which nobody likes. But for some reason, and I think it’s because street art is not only embraced in Melbourne but welcomed and encouraged by building owners and especially restaurants … that there’s so many good examples and they change regularly.

What’s happening red wise in your part of the world? Mary over at Work of the Poet has lots more examples to share.

Ruby Tuesday

I'm a little late ... but better late than never I guess.

I found more graffiti I just had to share ... in Union Lane just off the Bourke St Mall to be exact. Right in the middle of the city ... literally.

This time it's a huge installation ... a satirical piece on taggers (rather than graffiti artists). They're portrayed as sinister, ghoulish entities ... the whole thing's in macabre grey with the exception of a huge splash of red (for today's theme of course). The project is also so large I couldn't photograph it in one go. The lane's just too small to allow me to do that.

So here it is in snatches ... the glorious splash of red emanating from the paint can of the first ghoulish tagger.


The red's been thrown towards these graffitists. I particularly love this character at the bottom. Look at him hiding his face behind the bandanna ... and the serious hardware to cut fences etc.


Standing on his shoulders is this guy stretching across to tag a wall.


Here's a better shot of the three of them ... and sadly defaced by taggers. They just can't help themselves.


And at the top right is this strange character stretching across from the window painting the wall. Perhaps he's preparing the surface for future work?


For more glorious redness ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

Ruby Tuesday

Anybody who’s read my blog before or knows me knows that I believe graffiti to be a legitimate art form. It’s topical, it’s current … and I like it also because it’s underground. Graffiti artists—which I think they are—are the Rembrandts and Van Goghs of today.

Before I’m slammed for promoting vandalism … I’m not talking about tasteless and pointless tagging done by people without talent or a life. I can’t stand buildings and trains defaced by people who should be made to clean off their childish rebellion. Being able to buy a can of spray paint doesn’t make you an artist any more than getting behind a fast car makes you a racing car driver!

What I’m talking about are people with real talent. And I’m lucky to live in a city that not only understands this … but which provides them with multiple canvases to share their talent.

The location I like best is the Hosier Lane area at the top end of Melbourne … this place totally rocks.

Check out this gorgeous girl … courtesy of Deb, one of the best known Melbourne graffitists. Debs has done work for various mainstream media in Australia and has even travelled to Los Angeles for her art. I love catching her work in the most unexpected places and I’m glad she’s able to work creatively in her preferred field.


And because I can ... a few more views along Ruttledge Lane, just off Hosier Lane.

The umbrellas look fantastic and I’m just sorry I arrived after one of them had blown away and another is askew. It would have been amazing when it was first put up.



And what about this? I love this new form of graffiti ... a sort of wallpaper installation that's taking Melbourne by storm. And wickedly red!


So what do you think of graffiti? Do you think it’s art … or do you lump tagging and graffiti into the same bag and think it’s all just vandalism? Maybe your city sets aside a canvas for local graffitists to explore their talent? Drop me a line … I’d love to see.

For more Ruby Redness ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

Neil: Sat 3 Jan 10

NEIL: Visiting the Art Gallery
The day didn’t start out with such nice weather so a day in order—at the Art Gallery—seemed in order so as not to waste the day.


Neil standing outside the art gallery against the water streaming down the glass wall ... Neil liked the way this was done.

Not really Neil’s thing—spending the day with grandparents and a day at the art gallery—but he was a really good sport wandering around and taking in a little culture. I expect him to wow his mother with talk of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and the broad, sweeping strokes of the early Impressionists. He’s all primed to impress when he gets back … don’t let me down Neil.


Look Mum ... Neil actually looking interested in art!

He was a little naughty as we wandered through the Asian artefacts and snapped a few pics using his flash. When the guard popped his head around to ask that the flash not be used he looked straight at me ... when it definitely wasn't me! Whoops!


And finally Neil with his usual expression towards the camera. Wini and he are definitely related!

It was nice to spend a not so nice day wandering around the art gallery ... but it's so small after the V&A in London and the Met in New York. I'm not sure I'll ever feel the same way about it again.

Project 365 Thu 28 May 09

UNION LANE, MELBOURNE
Melbourne has sensibly offered graffiti artists a home for work, with Union Lane in the centre of town the canvas. It's full of lots of dross but also some pieces worth taking the time to visit. I need to check this lane out more often.


An amazing phantom.


I love this crazy green something.


And a third great piece of art.