Long time readers of this blog know that my love affair with Street Art started in Hawaii where the crew of Amandla were anchored during the 2013-2014 cyclone season.
I discovered Street Art in Oahu about two weeks after the Pow! Wow! Hawaii 2014 festival concluded. I missed the festival but was hooked on the art form. It seemed that where ever I looked, I saw it.
(Note: This beautiful work was sadly white-washed over after I attended the festival)
When we sailed to Tahiti in July of 2014, I came upon the works of several local and international artists, including those created as part of the ONO’U 2014 festival…..which ended two months before my arrival.
Again, I had missed the festival, but still enjoyed photographing the murals that remained.
When we sailed to New Zealand in November to sit out the 2014-2015 cyclone season, I enjoyed finding Street Art everywhere I traveled, always missing the festivals and gatherings, sometimes by just a few weeks.
That is until All Fresco 2015.
I was returning from an appointment along Symonds Road on Friday when I spotted two murals in progress. I parked the car near K-Road on Queen Street, and then headed along Upper Queen to check them out.
When I arrived, I was greeted by a lovely volunteer (and artist) handing out walking maps for the All Fresco 2015 festival. I took one, and learned that I was watching Berst_1 and Owen Dippie create murals right before my eyes. My ‘inner groupie’ was bursting with joy!
For the first time, I was going to enjoy a Street Art festival as it was happening.
I had read about the festival when we arrived in New Zealand, but thought we would be sailing northward by the time it started, so I put it out of my mind. But circumstances had kept us unexpectedly in Auckland and so I was able to attend the festival.
It was wonderful to enter the colorful world of these incredibly talented and welcoming artists, many of whose works I’d adored in other locations during my travels. All Fresco 2015 drew art appreciators of all ages and felt like both a community and pan-Pacific event all at the same time.
I consider my All Fresco 2015 experience to be one of the highlights of my round-the-world sailing journey. Having direct access to renowned artists and watching them give birth to masterful works was priceless, yet the entry was free. Can’t beat that!
If you are living in or traveling to New Zealand, you’ll want to walk the festival route and check out all the Street Art from 2015 and previous years.
If you are traveling virtually, you can enjoy final works from this and previous years in my New Zealand Street Art Gallery.
So excited to share this with Jo and all of her friends at Jo’s Monday Walks
Lisa, I don’t know how you do it but you seem to find some amazing street festivals wherever you go. The best thing is that you take wonderful photos so at least we get to see some of them through your eyes.
Charm will get you everywhere Mark :-). Thank you for putting a smile on my face with your lovely compliments.
What an exciting treat for you! Love the way you’ve presented the artists and their incredible work, and your photos show great insight to what goes into each mural. Feel as though we’re there with you!
🙂 Thank you Jenny! It truly was a treat. I was happily drowning in color! And a HUGE thank you for sending me your wonderful photos from Pow!Wow! Hawaii 2015. I so wish I could have been there to enjoy the event with you but it was wonderful to see it through your eyes!
Thank you Lisa. I love Street Art, so thank you for posting these pictures from so far. I like the way you captured the artists smiling and in action, I have seen very few pictures of them.
You are very kind Dominique! I am so pleased to know that you enjoyed the photos and that you share my love of Street Art as well as for sailing.
Have you all set out on your own sailing adventure yet?
Interesting to see from a couple of the images how much work goes into making those murals. So impressive. You captured some great murals.
Agree! It is truly amazing how much work goes into the murals and how much beauty can be created with spray cans, rollers, and brushes. Thanks for enjoying the murals with me virtually!
I love all that art.
I am so glad you enjoyed it Eva! The colors reminded me of the beauty you create
These are amazing, and even more so watching how they are put together! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for walking All Fresco with me virtually Terri! So pleased that you enjoyed it 🙂
Lisa – your photos are extra special to me because of the way you get the artist in action. and then all the extra shots- like the spray paint on the ground and just different up views – it really tells a story and gives us the essence of things we might not even know how to describe. and of course getting some of the artists to smile and wave adds -or the one with the artist looking up on the ladder –
truly a photo journalism gift and I love your work so much (which you know) okay – enough flattery (for now – ha)
now… regarding the art – much of it was not really my style. Like I did not care for what Owen Dippie was doing with the face – even though I am sure his message is layered.
and Xoe Hall’s figures kinda annoyed me – for a few reasons, but the stereotypical body features she used are part of it –
but each artist has their own flair and preference – and so while I greatly respect their work and the beauty they add to these walls and parts of the city. But for some reason, as I looked at each of the wonderful collages you give here – I was reminded about how artists convey very real messages with their work – subtle – ambiguous – overt- accidental – intentional – and all that – and how a piece of them is definitely portrayed in their output- which is why art can be so powerful.
Flattery always works with me Yvette :-). I am so pleased that you like my work.
Funny how we enjoy each other’s photography so much but have such different takes on these pieces. I am absolutely blown away by Owen Dippie’s images and think that this piece (Hine) is his best yet. And Xoë Hall’s figures totally speak to the bad girl/princess/diva aspects of myself 🙂
I guess that another thing that makes art great is the individual response it evokes and the dialogue it engenders.
well I think another huge thing to remember is that art is also something that is “felt” and so when we see a photo – even a good one – it is still never the same as seeing it in person. I think Van Goghs and Matisse works are especially this way – the photos are nice and even a large print can pull you in – but to see the work and to feel the colors and get the essence of the line s- well that changes everything – and I bet seeing the works in person could have me like a work more – or even like one less –
and coming back again to see your photos – the lower right one of Owen’s – where you can feel the neck rolls and skin color – well that is what reminded me of how I likely need to see it in person. Even though I do have a feeling that you and I have lot sod different tastes – like even with the Emerson quote – you liked the short version (and it was good) but I really loved the long. and here, I think even in person I would find it hard to appreciate Hall’s work because of my bias and dislike for the stereotypes I felt she depicts – all in the good taste of art – maybe – but that kind of character irritates – and with that being said – with you noting the way it related to your diva and maybe sass side – well I could appreciate it slightly more – and it does have some good use of color – ha!
I do hope you get to see the works in person someday Yvette. If you can get to New Zealand to see them before May 6 we could put you up :-).
Thanks as always for having a read of my post with your detailed eye and for your extremely valuable feedback.
Oh you are so sweet – seriously – 🙂 and even though I do want to go to NZ someday – it is on the B-list -which is actually pretty good because it was not even on my list before – but I have many so many awesome NZ bloggers – and it seems such cool place. anyhow, it is at least 6 years from now – and so hopefully there will be other art to see (which I am sure there will) – but you are so sweet to say that – have a great weekend
Whoa…how do they do that? Very good photos…interesting stuff!
🙂 Love you Mr Badfish! Thrilled you enjoyed the photos! Yay.
Lisa, I am in awe with this post. I even envy you (in a good way) and perhaps I should not do that as I already envied your round-the-word sailing journey, and don’t want you to be mad at a me. 😉
I am happy you finally could be there when there is a festival!
And I agree with what was said before that you have knack for photo journalism.
Brilliant post, and photos are superb.
I could never be mad at you Lucile :-). I am incredibly honored that you are in awe of this post and think my photos are superb. Your wonderful feedback has me grinning from ear-to-ear. You’ve brightened a very rainy day here in New Zealand.
Amazing post, Lisa. I am so glad that you managed to be there during the festival this time – and that you will be able to show me around the “site” tomorrow! 🙂 Looking forward to your commentary! I will bring my camera, but I will never be able to capture the images as well as you did. Such a great job with the collages!
It was wonderful to have you visit! Thank you for letting me show you the festival pieces. Loved your capture of our time together!
Amazing post, Lisa. I am so glad that you managed to be there during the festival this time – and that you will be able to show me around the “site” tomorrow! 🙂 Looking forward to your commentary! I will bring my camera, but I will never be able to capture the images as well as you did. Such a great job with the collages! My favorite is the close-up of Owen when he paints the Maori woman’s face.
🙂 I can not wait to show you the ‘sites’ tomorrow. Thank you in advance for letting me blather on as I will most certainly do on the tour! How lucky am I that you are in town for a visit. Thank you for your lovely compliments, but more importantly, thank you for the soup you and Mark made us when you visited us on SY Amandla. Sadly, no more left 🙁
A brilliant festival!
😉
I’m a late convert to Street Art, Lisa, but increasingly I’m seeing some incredible work. So happy you finally got to see this festival ‘in action’! 🙂 🙂 Many thanks for the link. I thoroughly enjoyed our stroll together.
Thank you Jo for taking me on so many lovely walks and for joining me on this one 🙂
[…] Walking the All Fresco Street Art Festival […]
The street art is a wonderful way to add life to a city. How cool that you managed to see some of it being created (I always wonder about that process whenever I see a huge mural!)
I wandered over here from RestlessJo, btw…
Thank you so much for your comment! Lovely to meet you! I had actually found (and adored) your post about the Swan Parade on Restless Jo. Thought I’d commented on it but when I went back grab a link, I did not see my comments there. I seem to be challenged when commenting on blogspot with my mobile. Anyhow, the march of the swans down the street (with the Chinese goose leading the way far in advance) was priceless.
Great article !! Very inspiring. I would love to be there and see it.
I am so pleased that you enjoyed the article Magny! I so enjoyed watching artists that I admire create their works real time. Such a treat!