Scum rises to the top

By Casey Neill
A GROUP of Upwey teens are trying to change their town’s image through a new art project.
The Scum Pups, Anna, Trent, Charlotte, Jacqui and Zoe are out to tackle youth violence and negative opinions with help from artist Tiffaney Bishop.
“The word scum is so often used to describe the young people in the community of Upwey,” Ms Bishop said.
“They have chosen to empower themselves by embracing the word in an attempt to reverse its damaging effects.”
The 14-year-olds proudly display the tag on T-shirts as they work on a new photo and film-based art project at Upwey train station each Monday afternoon.
Jacqui said the group encouraged people on the platform to get involved.
“Most people want to get in,” Trent said.
“But we don’t wanna force them,” Anna said.
The project’s emphasis is on engaging other young people in the community and celebrating their lives ahead of a new exhibition at Burrinja Gallery in February.
“We’re trying to capture the goodness of Upwey,” Ms Bishop said.
The group presented photo exhibition We’re Afraid of the Daylight at Burrinja earlier this year. The teens shared their stories as victims of unprovoked, random acts of violence in Upwey.
“The last exhibition was confronting to get attention,” Ms Bishop said. “This one has a lot more laughs.”
The group will soon replace a mural on the station platform and document the results. “It will be interesting to see what happens,” Ms Bishop said.
“You may get affirmative graffiti.”