Grafitti On The Gallery

Media Release - Christchurch Art Gallery

Media Release, Thursday 19 April 2001

GRAFITTI ON THE GALLERY

International and local graffiti artists will blitz the new Christchurch Art Gallery¹s construction fence with aerosol cans and hip-hop music tomorrow ­ with the support of the Gallery.

The project is part of the "Hip Hop Don¹t Stop 2001" festival on from the 18 ­ 20 April.

"The gallery has had an awesome attitude to getting involved and supplying us with the wall," says professional graffiti artist and wall organiser Jonny Wartman.

"It¹s also a great opportunity for the public who don¹t usually get to see graffiti artists in action to come into the central city and check it out"

There will be several artists working on the wall including hip-hop artist DLT, Phat ­1 and Askew from Auckland, internationally renowned graffiti artist ECB from Germany and local Christchurch artists.

"Graffiti is typically viewed by the general public and the art community as a low art form, but this is a great chance for them to come along and for us to show that graffiti does have artistic merit."

The 70m long graffiti wall will be situated on the Worcester Street boundary of the new gallery site. The artists will kick off at about 12pm and continue through until about 6pm.

Director of Public Programmes for the Christchurch Art Gallery, Ronnie Kelly, says supporting the graffiti wall shows the gallery¹s commitment to young artists and new art forms.

"The new Christchurch Art Gallery is one of this country¹s most significant cultural projects," says Ronnie Kelly.

"The new Gallery will embrace all aspects of New Zealand¹s dynamic arts scene and reflect the innovative and new as well as the traditional and established forms of local art."

The Hip Hop Don¹t Stop 2001 festival also involves workshops on MC, DJ and break dancing workshops on the Wednesday and Thursday and a free concert at the Great Hall in the Arts Centre on Friday19 April at 7pm.

… Media are invited to film/ photograph graffiti artists in action tomorrow, Friday 20 April from 12pm ­ 6pm on Worcester Boulevard.

For further information: Corrie de Vries Glass Tower 03 365 1445 or 025 721 768

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