MEDIA RELEASE: Friday 1 May, 2009

No Graffiti On The Bus!

Auckland City Council is trying to block an application that would allow the public to watch the live creation of a commissioned art-work.

The graffiti art was due to be painted on the side of the Dargaville High School bus, on the afternoon of Thursday the 7th of May. Auckland City Council deemed the nature of the art-work to be contrary to their ‘tough stance’ against graffiti however and have denied the application for a special parking permit.

Dargaville artist Simon Gray, whose wife is a teacher at the High School, planned to drive the bus full of students down to Auckland for this event. He is about to start a graffiti project with the students and says the new paint job is “much needed” on the old bus, known as ‘Mr Whippy.’

The painting of this bus is part of a series of events organised by the Academy Cinema to promote the premiere of a new film called ‘Alter Ego.’ The film is a documentary featuring graffiti artists from all over the world, including local Auckland graffiti artist Askew.

Askew will be one of the artists painting the bus, along with the rest of the TMD Crew. Academy Cinemas Manager Gina Dellabarca says she is, “disgusted with the attitude of the City Council. This is a legitimate film that has a valid commentary on society and urban culture. The live painting of the bus is NOT graffiti; this is a commissioned art work that I have spent many hours organising. The medium used to create the art-work and the content of that art-work is not for the City Council to judge. All we want from them is a special parking permit for a few hours while the art-work is created!”

Dellabarca says this set back will not stop the project from going ahead; she will instead seek another location from the planned parking spot outside the cinema on Lorne Street. “I invite all Aucklanders interested in art and street culture to view this live art work creation (at a location TBC near the Academy Cinemas) from 4:30pm to 6:30pm on the 7th of May.”

Ironically the Auckland City Council, who own the building that houses the Academy Cinemas, have already approved the installation of a permanent art work by the graffiti artist Askew. This artwork is to be unveiled in the entrance to the Academy Cinemas at 6:30pm on the 7th of May, just prior to the premiere screening of ‘Alter Ego.’
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