(painted in 1991) illegal bit of street art that has subsequently become an iconic part of the area. A very simple design. The face of Martin Luther King next to a large and now very faded reresentation of the world and under that are the first couple of words from a very famous speech given by Dr King. ’ I have a dream….”Underneath it is a representation of the Aboriginal flag. It was a wonderful speech and its a wonderful and enduring mural.
It was painted all that time ago by two people who were both very damaged and maybe even a bit mad at the time. He was on the run from the law for a terrible crime and she had just been abandoned by her husband, leaving her destitute with three tiny children and an imminant eviction. They were both artists and met one day when they were both painting something on the side of a building on the same street. In their mutally recognized despair and confusion they decided to reach inside to somewere really deep and give a gift of themselves to all around in order to stave off the darkness that otherwise would have engulfed them and tumbled them right down into the pits of hell. Not far from where they were was a blank three story wall on the side of building on the main street. Perfect.
So less than two weeks after they they had met they painted this great humanist message on the side of this building, knowing full well that they risked imprisonment for defacing the street with this simple but profound message of peace and love. And they poured it out over two days and two nights. Never even signed it but rather gave it as a gift to anyone who could see it for what it really meant. Then walked away in the silence of the night not really expecting much from it. But the people of Newtown took this gift in to their hearts and in the ensuing 18 years it has become one of the best loved and most iconic representations of this amazingly diverse and vibrant community. Almost a sacred symbol of Newtown really.
Funny story this one. The artists never made a penny out of it and are not even really know for their own work but sometimes just sometimes one of them reflects on the inanity and shallowness of the artworld and wonders why she bothers and then she remembers that sometimes just sometimes the gift of the spirit moves in her and no matter how hard it all is sometimes …. that it really is worthwhile to give of yourself. That it can make a difference to work from the heart. And that thought helps her get through the next moment in
"I have a Dream"
time.
Great rendering of the painted wall. The blackness of the wall itself makes the earth and face seem to be hanging in space… with that oddness of the two windows disturbing the illusion. Nice telling of the story too.
October 5, 2010 at 1:29 am
Hi Ben, great story to go with a powerful image. I may have seen in whilst walking around Newtown, can you remind me where it is.
Now to some antagonistic questions. If the artists gave of it freely to the people, how come you put a copyright logo on your photo? Is this a unique photo? How have you added to the original artwork which was given freely? You write as though you are in communication with one of the artists, if you are, have you sent her a link to this post?
All sensitive questions I know, but with all the issues of public photography royalties on everything from architectural to natural icons, does anyone think that the artist who created the original work might actually want to know, not to make money like mercenary governments, but rather to be filled with joy about how much their bleak moment touched the hearts of so many?
Thanks again
Suzi
October 5, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Glad you like the rendering as well Johno it came up trumps i thought with the film i had loaded. The sun nice that day for across and i thought to process the two windows out during post but as i shot it with film it to me need to stay the same and i kinda like them there anyhow also to give some scale of some sort
I do have to admit to both and all that the words are not mine this time at all and have to apologize if any thought i had written them.. After shooting it i wondered more about it and i found this link through good old google
http://www2.redbubble.com/people/juileep/art/916531-6-i-have-a-dream-mural-in-kings-street-newtown
Suzi, Hey there, its nice to meet you.
I do have to thank you for such a good question to by the way as i had a slight dilemma myself with that one :/ i couldn’t find anybody’s name on it other then Juille’s who i can only think is selling cards of the mural therefore i didn’t think that publishing her name would be very appropriate..
I didn’t have any literature about it at all so i just copied her word except the second last word “moment” at the bottom. (because i thought it did need correcting;)
my copyright marks are just a me thing and i have been doing in now for quite some. I am a photographer and i do usually caption my own work with something or other and i always © my intellectual property with a water mark if i release anything over the internet i.e. public domains/websites just so that i feel comfortable knowing if one is interested in knowing the author then it is available and easy to read.. There are so many great shots out there that i come across with no mark and i can never think and appreciate the owner.. also with my style as it builds up a particular angle that more people can see happening perhaps.
I placed my watermark on this piece because it was taken from my perspective using my bw 6×7 film equipment and i know that if people do ask i can share the love with the optic nerves…. fell free to constructive crit as we can only ever bet better
“All good comments and peace to all”
Much love…
Ben
October 5, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Thanks Ben for explaining that, I can see your photographic skills in comparison to the shot from the Red Bubble site, so I found the link helpful.
I went to a very interesting seminar recently on Creative Commons which explained that the machines can do the tracking for us. I was the only creative in the room so when I asked if the machines could send a “ping back” message each time our images or content is linked to or copied, it was met with suprise. As many people are involved in transferring data which is already in the “common” of their workplace or the internet, most people don’t realise the time and effort it took someone to create the content and hence they simply copy and paste, download or view without a moments thought.
The time will come when technology supports those who drop out from full time employment to create new things for the world to see. It might just take a while! Until then, keep going, coz I love your work
Suzi
October 6, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Oh yes there is a mural in Avalon on the side wall facing the post office. I have a photo but I can’t post it here, maybe you could take one for us. Does anyone know the story of how it got created?
October 6, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Oh yes there is a wonderful mural with fairies and rainbow here in Avalon on the wall facing the post office. I have a photo but I can’t post it here, maybe you could take one for us. Does anyone know the story of how it got created?
October 6, 2010 at 6:20 pm
I’ve tried taking a picture of that mural, but it’s hard because as I recall it’s quite faded. Perhaps time for another try. Don’t know anything about the origins though.
October 7, 2010 at 1:37 pm