NEWCASTLE became a canvas on the weekend, as some of Australia’s best street artists were let loose as part of the Hit The Bricks festival.
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Held as part of the broader Look Hear arts festival, Hit the Bricks saw artists from Australia and New Zealand at sites across the city, transforming the urban landscape with eye-catching murals.
Sally Bourke, one of a trio of artists who organised the event, said an estimated 2000 people had visited the sites, a response she said had ‘‘far exceeded expectations’’.
‘‘Initially I was quite nervous at what the response would be, but the more we started selling the idea and getting support, the more I realised the community support was there,’’ she said.
Ms Bourke said street art added ‘‘another layer’’ to the kinds of art offered in a gallery.
‘‘In the sense that people who wouldn’t normally attend an exhibition, or who might be intimidated by that setting, it’s something that is in their environment so they become exposed to it.’’
Sydney artist ‘‘Numskull’’ has been painting for more than a decade, and he said he enjoyed his art becoming part of the physical environment.
‘‘You can experiment with walls and do stuff you wouldn’t be able to do inside in a gallery or on a canvas,’’ he said.
Numskull’s bright yellow mural was painted outside the Newcastle Art Gallery, and he said he hoped it would promote a ‘‘positive message’’.
‘‘The art gallery has been through a bit lately so hopefully it will promote some good vibes I guess.’’
The festival was launched at Newcastle Art Gallery on Friday night, with lord mayor Jeff McCloy and his predecessor, John Tate, both staying for an artists’ panel discussion.
Cr McCloy said yesterday that Mr Tate had ‘‘politicised’’ the launch by speaking from the audience.
But Mr Tate defended his actions, saying he had been prompted by a comment from the panel that Newcastle’s artistic renaissance had started with the 1989 earthquake.
Mr Tate said he spoke of the ‘‘stepping stones’’ from graffiti and street art to exhibition in a gallery.
He said that if there was a ‘‘political’’ part to his speech, it was where he said ‘‘the ability to redevelop the gallery was laid at the feet of the current council and they passed it up’’.