A TWO-day workshop with a professional graffiti and street artist has seen students from three local high schools this week design and create a bright and colourful mural on the grounds of the North Coast Institute of TAFE Taree campus.
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It's the first of two workshops, with the second to take place next week with students from different schools.
The Graffiti Art Workshops are hosted by Greater Taree City Council as part of its graffiti management and crime prevention plan with the aim of teaching young people the art and appropriate use of graffiti and street art.
The project is funded by the Department of Attorney General's Proceeds of Crime Act and the workshops facilitated by professional graffiti and street artist Ash Johnston from Open Studio in Coffs Harbour.
"It's been great, and good to see the motivation towards a positive public mural and to get recognition from the community which is positive," Ash said
On Monday and Tuesday TAFE provided workshop and wall space for students from Taree High School, Manning Valley Anglican College and St Clare's High School.
The students were given an introduction to the history and development of the graffiti movement and were instructed on sketching techniques, letter foundation and style development.
Participants were introduced to the spray can as a tool, given lessons in technical awareness, painting techniques and safety and protection. The group of budding artists brainstormed ideas, messages and imagery suitable to the TAFE context, and discussed scale, proportions and the technical and physical aspects of mural installation. Students then executed the mural, learning how to mark-up a piece, apply base colours, and how to make fades, detailing, outlining, shading, and highlighting.
The group researched the courses delivered by the TAFE nationwide and used imagery to represent the services on offer, including child care services, business scenes, arts-based concepts, landscapes, horticultural motifs, automotive themes and more.
The TAFE's therapy dog, Juno was a constant companion for the group and also features in the mural.
"The students were a credit to the schools, they were committed and engaged in the process and were exceedingly proud of what they achieved," said Bree Dennis, council's youth development officer.
"The mural was the secondary outcome," added council's graffiti management coordinator, John Fitzgerald.
"The real achievements could be observed in watching the young people interact.
"Many of these students had not met before, but they quickly bonded as a group and became a supportive and cohesive unit, encouraging one another all the way," he concluded.
"We think we have been successful in educating participants that graffiti is a complex art form," said Bree.
"It is an art form that requires skill development and that there are education pathways and professional opportunities for young people who are passionate about developing this skill set.
"The message was clear: That random tagging in public places is not art, but vandalism.
"Graffiti and street art executed in the right way is something for the whole community to enjoy" she concluded.
For those interested in seeing the new art, the mural is located in the TAFE court yard adjacent to the library entrance.
Next week, a new group of students from the TAFE and Taree Christian College will have the opportunity to participate in the same workshop, executing a complimentary mural for the space.
