When is graffiti not graffiti?
When our local artists take a Spraycation!
Arming themselves with spray paint and imagination, our best established and emerging artists will be transforming large bland cubes into stunning, colourful and thought-provoking masterpieces.
Northern beaches street artist Patrick Hunter, aka Ink Hunter, is behind the idea of the Open Art Cube, which has been backed by a Northern Beaches Council creative community support grant. Since setting up his business more than five years ago, Hunter’s goal is to “disrupt what’s comfortable with a fresh perspective” and use art as a “prolific tool for change, pushing boundaries one artwork at a time”.
Last year, launching the Plastic Free Beaches project to coincide with Plastic Free July, he and a team of volunteers created large street artworks along Australian beaches to draw attention to plastic consumption and pollution. Closer to home, he and a mate ‘spilled some paint’ at Curly’s on the Corner. Yep, that stunning mural at the cafe is his!
Spraycation is more of an individual expression, giving artists an opportunity to promote their work and extraordinary skills. Over the next fortnight they’ll go to town, or at least to Manly, Freshie, Collaroy, Mona Vale, and Avalon, converting their adaptable canvas into a splash of meaningful art.
This Saturday established artist Shannon Crees and emerging talent Nina Korgul will kick off the project outside Manly Town Hall. Grab your Valentine’s hand this Sunday and watch established artist Reuben Boughtwood and emerging talent Micah Lihachov at work in Freshwater on the corner of Moore Rd and Albert Street.
During the following weeks, with artists yet to be announced, watch them live in action on Feb 20, Collaroy, north of surf club; Feb 21, Mona Vale Memorial Hall; Feb 27, Avalon Community Centre.
Dependent on weather, the artists will work between 8 am and 4pm.
To see more of Hunter’s work visit @inkhunterartist or @openartcube.
