Well, let us spray
Kelly Ryan
July 24, 2006
A SUREFIRE way of beating graffitists at their own game is simply to paint them out of the picture.
That is partly why a group of would-be artists sacrificed a Sunday sleep-in to start work on an important new mural in South Melbourne yesterday.
Sponsored by Metlink, the City of Port Phillip and Whitelion -- a charity that helps disadvantaged youth going through the justice system -- the mural aims to give the teens a sense of pride in their local community.
Armed with dozens of spray-paint cans, the group will spend the next few days bringing to life some of South Melbourne's landmarks.
The market and its produce, the beach and South Melbourne Soccer Club will all be brightly depicted on walls at the light-rail stop.
Organisers take some comfort from street lore, which says illegal graffiti artists rarely deface official murals.
The coolest thing about the mural from our perspective is that we are placed in equal importance with the South Melbourne/Sydney Swans, a poignant reminder that Hellas - and to a lesser extent, soccer in general - have been in the area for a long time. Now if only we could get some South Melbourne Hellas/FC branding onto Lakeside
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| The mural as seen from the South Melbourne Station tram stop on Route 96. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I sourced the photo from. Click the image to enlarge the photo. |
