When the famous street artist known as Banksy spent a month long 'residency' late last year in New York it caused a stir. Art fans loved it, politicians not so much, the New York mayor criticising his work as 'graffiti'.
As various walls in Toowoomba are undergoing street art makeovers, the mayor of Toowoomba seems a little more progressive than his New York counterpart. He says there might be a place for the English artist in the Garden City. Maybe.
"We've got some darn good laneway art in Toowoomba that's really enhancing some of the lanes in Toowoomba," Paul Antonio says. "Maybe there's a chance for him here."
"'Maybe' is a good place to start!" Says Susy Wenitong, from the Toowoomba Youth Service. "Street art is not graffiti, and it's not tagging. That stuff is disgusting and unsightly. Street art is about brightening our streets up."
Toowoomba Youth Service has joined forces with the Council, Graffiti Stop, and a number of art groups for an ambitious project to paint 15 laneways in the CBD during February.
"We come and wash the walls off when they've been tagged, and they get tagged the next day. But we have found the walls with murals on them never get tagged again. I think it's a much better alternative."
"First Coat is the name of the project. 15 walls. 15 artists. One weekend.
"Fintan Magee is coming. He is world famous for his murals. He hasn't done a lot of regional work, so it's great to see him coming to Toowoomba. I'm hoping we'll do a Second and Third Coat, and that Toowoomba will become well known for its street art."
Wenitong has run many projects in the city for 'at risk' young people, and finds teaming them with artists to work on public murals has many benefits.
"I cannot believe the change I see in the young people after coming to the end of the projects. They learn respect for their community. We get them in a public space doing the art, and the feedback I hear from the community is always positive."
"It's amazing that a can of paint can help teach a young person respect and pride. We have had lots of young people learn about art and painting murals instead of doing illegal graffiti in town, and at the same time we're combating the graffiti."
Getting back to the famous English street artist, Suzi thinks she's seen the perfect place for him to work. "Dear Banksy, how about a month in Toowoomba? We'll change Bank Lane into Banksy Lane!" Wenitong laughs.
But if Bansky is busy, the youth worker is excited for the 15 artists who are already locked-in to coming to town to brighten 15 more lanes.
First Coat will take place in various laneways in Toowoomba from February 21-23
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