A partnership between Right Track, FORM and the City of Subiaco, the Street Art Youth Workshop on April 10 gave 13 teenagers from 14 to 17 the opportunity to not only speak with the incredible artists – but also to create their own works.
The project forms part of Right Track’s investment in diversionary programs, and aimed to provide students with positive activities to keep them off the streets, as well as creating a healthy respect for and understanding of legal street art – as opposed to tagging.
Artists ‘Gaia’ (from New York) and ‘Ever’ (from Argentina) spoke to the young participants about how they made a career out of street art, and the difference between graffiti and street art.
The teenagers were also shown the artist’s striking new work, which has just been completed at the PTA’s West Leederville underpass, and discussed how they merged their two styles and worked together to create the piece.
After the educational portion of the evening, a skills-building workshop provided further insight into each illustrator’s artistic process, from Ever’s preference for brushwork to Gaia’s multitude of styles and how they layered both colour and use different techniques and nozzles to form a cohesive and exciting work.
The students started off their street art journey using a mini roller, and were tasked with drawing a face. They then had to switch colours with their neighbour and were encouraged to layer multiple colours on their face before having the chance to try their hand at spray painting.
A pizza dinner and a temporary break from paint fumes (safety – particularly using masks when painting, was a particular focus of the workshop) followed, before participants, who were selected by entering a drawing competition based on Right Track’s key messages, were able to have one-on-one time with each artist to refine their artwork.
Right Track communications officer Bryony Parker said it was clear from the outset that there may be several budding street artists with hidden talents among the participants, who were able to take their works home at the end of the night.
“When I went the next day to drop off some of the artwork to the Right Track students they had told everyone about the workshop and were still talking about how cool it was,” Bryony said.
“The kids all showed the artists lots of respect and they all learnt so many new skills.
“It’s definitely something we’ll look into doing again.”