Australia Day & Re-Discover Street Art 2016

A couple of weeks ago Bunbury's  streets were buzzing with artists and people out to see the new Re-Discover 2016 street art. This is the third year for Re-Discover, an initiative creative director, Andrew Fraser, of the Bunbury based artist run group Six Two Three Zero which "seeks to use street art as a catalyst for urban development and social change by bringing communities together in conversation and creative inspiration." 

I blogged about 2015's Re-Discover last January here - Bunbury Street Art and I was keen to see what the local, national and international artists were bringing to our streets, laneways and buildings this year.

We decided to take a walk around Bunbury late on Thursday afternoon while the artists were still at work, and had a chance to talk to some of the artists and mingle with other people doing the same as we were, following the guide map and discovering the street art. It really added a new dimension to our experience by being able to see the artists at work. There were also offering guided tours late Friday afternoon after the artworks were complete, but we decided to do our own thing.
Last Friday we took friends from Perth on our own walking tour to see the completed artworks. 

Come walk with me to discover some of them. It was interesting to recognise the style of work of artists that had been involved in previous years. I'm not an art critique, so I won't even attempt to go down that path, so instead I will give you a few words from the profiles of each artist. You can click on the links to go to each artist's web page. 

Here is a link to a short video created by Peacock Visuals about ReDiscover 2016 -  ReDiscover 2016

And now the walk around....
  
Below you can see Gemma O'Brien from Sydney working on her tribute to David Bowie. Gemma is an Australian artist and designer specializing in lettering, illustrations and typography. 

 Next up is Phibs, one of Australia's most respected and renowned artists in Australian Graffiti-Street Art. We spoke to Phibs briefly and watched him create with his spraycan part of this vibrant large scale piece depicting seahorses. 

Anya Brock's painting of birds now decorate the sides of the city music shell. Now resident in Sydney, Anya's strikingly bright and colourful murals decorate many walls in Subiaco in Perth and Fremantle. Anya's earlier street art was my favourite in the first year of ReDiscover in 2014. You can see it at the bottom of this post.

Here is Beastman's latest work on the back of the cinema complex, and lower RH corner his last 2015 piece on the back of the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery. Beastman is a multidisciplinary artist based in Sydney, and influenced by repetitive geometric patterns and organic lines. You can see his style in these two pieces.

Inspired by a love of comics, graphic novels and anime, Gimiks Born 's painting of a dancer appears on a wall in Ron Mort Park.  

Recognised for his attention to detail and search for perfection is a feature of
Vans The Omega's artwork. His piece for Re-Discover can be seen adjacent to the double storey carpark behind Barrett's. 

This amazing photographic-like portrait by Rone is in the carpark behind Koombana Court. We wondered how he managed to get the piece so life-like when it is this size. Rone, who spearheaded street art in Melbourne in the early 2000s, is best known for his haunting, stylised images of women's faces. 

Here are a few more from around the city. I've written the artist's names on each one

Local artists were working in the lane-way behind Souths, and many people were wandering up and down the lane watching them paint.

 Along with aboriginal artists with a message for us. To go on a local aboriginal cultural tour please visit - Ngalan Wongi Aboriginal Cultural Tours

Love them or hate them, Rediscover is bringing art to the people through its street art program. They certainly encourage you to walk around the CBD, engage in conversations, think creatively, brings art to the people and "cultivates a city that encourages and gives room for creatives to develop their respective craft."

If you are in Bunbury I encourage you to walk and look at our street art. If there is street art in your city, take time to go and see it. I will be next time I go to Perth. You might even find a message that speaks to you. 

To find out more about Re-Discover Bunbury please for to Six Two Three Zero's Facebook page by clicking here - Six Two Three Zero

Today, 26th January is Australia Day. This morning we welcomed a new great nephew into our family, and this evening we went into the city to watch the fireworks. Some may consider fireworks are a waste of money and the money could be better spent elsewhere, particularly in light of our recent devastating bush fires in our state, however judging by the number of people in town, the fireworks as a celebration of Australia Day also bring communities together.  so happy AUSTRALIA DAY.  The day we celebrate all that is good about our country, and the wonderful diversity of our land and its people.

 Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays
Lifestyle Fifty Monday Linkup 
Our World Tuesday
Through My Lens 
Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Worth Casing Wednesday
What's It Wednesday
Travel Photo Thursday
The Weekly Postcard


You might also like - 
Bunbury Street Art 2015
Street Art in Penang
Celebrating Australia Day and Waltzing Matilda