Thirty-four artists will paint murals on 23 walls in Caringbah in one of Sydney’s largest street art projects, designed to counter graffiti vandalism.
Shire residents and visitors will be invited to watch the artists at work during the three-day Walk the Walls project from March 2-4.
The sites include the wall of the seafood shop next to the train station and the area on the western side of the shopping centre, bounded by Kingsway, Coles and McDonalds, which is heavily covered by graffiti.
Walk the Walls is a joint project of the NSW Department of Justice and Sutherland Shire Council.
The state government announced the project with a $50,000 grant in December, 2015.
The council flagged the upcoming event this week when responding to criticism of graffiti in the Caringbah centre.
The project is being curated by Phibs, the nom de plume of Tim De Haan, a notable street artist, and will involve two indigenous artists, an artist from Mexico, interstate and local and emerging artists.
Hazelhurst Art Centre is supporting this festival with a Walk the Walls exhibition, coinciding with the festival.
“Sutherland Shire Council has had such success with much smaller scale street art projects in the past that council has decided to make this street art project more of a festival to illustrate that art reduces crime,” a spokeswoman said.
Mayor Carmelo Pesce said, in some areas in the shire where street artists had been engaged for very small projects, crime and graffiti had reduced by almost 85 per cent.
Curator Phibs said it was “a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of many street artists and will bring colour to the streets of Caringbah”.
“This kind of project will heighten community ownership of public spaces,” he said.
“I am looking forward to working with these outstanding artists who will completely transform the walls and streets giving a new identity to this area. “
Participating artists: Zac Bennett Brook, Oz King, Maid, Lord Mischief & Camo, Mulga, Mayonaize & Peque, Onejessa, Ears, Pudl & Snarl, George Rose & Phibs, Mistery, Porno Graphics, Whom & Keys, Scott Marsh, Born Ready Art, Georgia Hill, Nico & Studio Dennis, Nicole Reed, Suchis & AWOL Creations, Karen Farmer, YOWA, Krimsone, Mike Watt, WIE 2 & Sven and Camo.
Locations where artists will be working:
- Corner of Denman Avenue and Kingsway.
- 344R Kingsway; 346A Kingsway.
- Park Lane, rear of 324-340 Kingsway.
- Park Lane, rear of 4-8 Park Lane.
- 9-3 President Avenue and Hay Avenue.
Walk the Walls Exhibition: Street artists in the Gallery, February 24 - March 6, Hazelhurst Art Centre, Gymea. Daily 10am – 5pm.
