Street art gains cred

From left, John Dunne, Samantha Baldry and Shirley Dougan, with two works that will be in the show. The one on the left is a skateboard. 171823_04 Picture: ROB CAREW

By Wendy Williamson

A forthcoming exhibition at Ferntree Gully will move art off the street and onto the walls of The Hut Gallery.
Ferntree Gully Arts Society’s annual street art exhibition started about five years ago, with the aim of making street artists and their work more valued and respected.
This year the exhibition will include, for the first time, a skateboard art competition. Arts society president Shirley Dougan expects competition to be fierce.
She said the gallery bought some skateboard decks suitable for painting on, as well as some canvases for the street art and offered them for sale to artists. Many have sold.
“It’s gone ballistic!” she said. “And we know some people are supplying their own decks and canvases.”
Entry is open to all ages, from the young to the young at heart.
Ian ‘Blokk’ Blokkeerus is judging the canvases and Dee Zabel the skateboards.
The Globe skateboarding company has generously donated a skateboard and some decks and a coffee table book, Shirley said.
“They’ve been fantastic. We also get support from Knox City Council.”
The official opening of the ‘Street Art on Canvas and Skateboard Display’ and the announcement of the winners will take place at 2pm on Sunday 10 September. Guest band ‘One More Weekend’ will feature. The exhibition will then be open weekends from 11am to 4pm until September 24.
For further information, see The Hut Gallery – Ferntree Gully Arts Society Facebook page or thehutgallery.wordpress.com/