Graffiti world champs postponement forces refocus
New Zealand world-champion graffiti artist collective TMD has been informed by organisers that the world’s biggest and only major graffiti competition “Write4Gold” has been scaled-back to only include EU nations this year. TMD won the competition in 2006, and after the event had a year off, returned to Germany in 2008 to win again. Despite the intended first place prize including travel costs to compete in the competition the following year, financial problems have rendered this an impossibility for organisers in 2009.
As the event only ever intended to provide travel costs for up to 5 team members, TMD recently embarked on several fund-raising activities to allow for a further ten of their artists to also attend. One of these projects is a book showcasing exclusive artwork from the whole crew, and another is the “Team Dynamite” designer t-shirt line.
Due to logistical difficulties resulting from the cancellation, the launch of the “Team Dynamite” t-shirt line has been delayed a week to the new date of Friday, 20th March, 7pm at Loaded on High Street in Auckland.
As these fund-raising ventures are already in full swing, the group has decided to channel the proceeds into their charitable trust to focus on community art projects facilitated by TMD artists. Proposed initiatives include workshops, mentoring for other graffiti artists showing long-term potential, and the creation of bright and enjoyable murals in the less-picturesque communities in urban areas and rural centres.
Another local issue the group wants to act on is the increasing absence of legal areas designated for graffiti which are common overseas, as Police are cracking down on places where graffiti art has long been accepted and even enjoyed by the community without need for artists to have specified permission. Meanwhile, local body council anti-tagging campaigns and misdirected government legislation continue to struggle to make any visible progress against problem graffiti.
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Comments ( 3 )
When will the book be published?
How can I buy it online?
How much exclusive work, apart from the stuff you publish on the internet will be featured in the book?
dem added these pithy words on
Mar 09 09 at
9:36 pm
Hey dude.. we hope to have the book out within the month. It will be available for sale online primarily, details to come. It’s pretty much all exclusive content that has been kept off the internet! 6 pages worth from each TMD artist.
askew added these pithy words on
Mar 10 09 at
10:49 am
