Perfect Match

Community spirit is alive and well in Marrickville. This large Sydney suburb has found a way to not only enhance businesses, but to curb crime as well – and surprisingly, it is all done through the celebration of art.

Perfect Match, an initiative started last year by the council, matches local businesses with artists to create elaborate wall art. Painted directly on the external buildings of the businesses, the artworks are creating something inviting for the community and curbing tagging and graffiti in the process.

Mark Gardiner, Mayor of Marrickville says Perfect Match is about the community and “creating something truly beautiful through art”. The initiative started in 2014 with 14 local businesses signing up. This year the number has grown to 21, with participants including the JETS footy club and the opening of the Victoria and Hobbs Café. Artists are chosen through personal applications to the council. The decrease in graffiti has also helped to make this initiative incredibly successful.

Graffiti and ‘tagging’ (spraying your signature phrase on buildings, etc.) is a common problem for all cities, and Marrickville was no exception.

“A white wall is very inviting,” said Gardiner. “…And we know from experience that harsh consequences don’t stop the graffiti.”

With the introduction of Perfect Match, graffiti and tagging has decreased in the area. Gardiner believies that there is a respect from the vandals to the artists and the work they have created.

The Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown had experienced tagging in their building previously, and decided to be one of the many to sign up to have their blank walls turned into artworks this year. “We want something inviting for the people we help, as well as something positive,” said Che Bishop, CEO of the Asylum Seekers Centre. The centre has been around for twenty years but only recently moved to Newtown. They are known for the great work they do for asylum seekers and helping to introduce them to the community. Among their services they have provided emergency housing, food, health care and English language classes for fifteen hundred clients to date.

Bishop states they were looking for an artwork that would be positive as well as one that wound not offend; as the centre services all cultures, religions and races. The council found tthese qualities and more in the work of Andrew B-W. This artist is also known as Jumboist, and with one look at his Instagram and the positivity and colour jumps out at you. “I guess I would consider myself a glass-half-full guy,” said Andrew . He combines the abstract with the beautiful and is creating a new and unique artwork for the Asylum seeker Centre. Starting out studying fine art in school, he soon transitioned to larger and larger canvases. “I have always been interested in the subconscious and what is represents,” he said. Within the collaboration the Asylum Seekers Centre he also wanted the artwork to show a safe place for those who seek their services, as many have come from a place of great instability.

Mayor Gardiner also thinks it is a great idea. “These people have been through a lot,” he said. He hopes the introduction of the artwork brings something to brighten their day. Bishop, who has been watching Andrew B-W complete the artwork over several days, is impressed by what she has seen. Both Bishop and the artist hope that as the building is near the train line, it will also give commuters something beautiful to look at as they go by. The public is welcome to come and have a look at the artwork at the Asylum Seekers Centre on Saturday at a morning tea where light refreshments will also be served.

This year’s Perfect Match has one extra special art piece, with the council’s collaboration with Sydney Water. The Petersham Water Tower is celebrating fifty years and the council will be lighting up the tower with artistic light work by Esem Projects for the weekend. You can also take a bus tour to see all the artwork.Perfect Match is a true community event, where this weekend adults and children can view all the artwork and get to know the businesses in the community. Gardiner was happily surprised by the turnout last year and expects it will be even greater this year. By decreasing tagging and graffiti, creating gorgeous walls for local businesses and promoting artists, Perfect Match has found a genuine community event that benefits everybody.

PERFECT MATCH

JUMBOIST ARTWORK UNVEILING
Sat Aug 1, 11am-12pm. Asylum Seekers Centre, 43 Bedford St, Newtown.
See more of Andrew B-W’s work here: instagram.com/jumboist/.

CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF THE PETERSHAM WATER TOWER
Fri Jul 31, 5.30pm-7.30pm. Water tower car park, corner Regent Street and New Canterbury Road, Petersham. 

For information on these events and much more go to: marrickville.nsw.gov.au/perfectmatch