Melbourne's Lanes

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Today we are looking at the sequel to the All Your Walls event held in both Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane which commenced last month and had its culmination a few short days ago.  Part of the National Galley of Victoria's Melbourne Now exhibition which champions a wide array of art related events, a detailed summary of both event and initial works can be found by viewing the first Paint It Black article <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/paint-it-black-hosier-lane-reborn" target="_blank">here</a>.

Some readers will disagree with the notion that this is valuable art, yet in the general sense the area's greatest asset from Urban.com.au's perspective is its ability to draw people in who interact with the artwork or with others.  Compare this with so many other morbid or underutilised laneways through Melbourne such as the nearby Oliver Lane and  the Hosier/Rutledge duo is equally about the social interaction, public benefit and activation of an otherwise dead space as it is the exceptional street art.  

Based upon Urban.com.au's observations during the most recent visit to Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane, the cross-section of onlookers were wide and varied in terms of both background and age.  Teenagers to 70 plus, tourists, photographers, artists, the odd website contributor and the plain inquisitive constituted an ever changing flow of people all with a common interest - the benefits of such a place and such an event as Paint Your Walls.

I'll draw the readers attention to the final image found in the slide show below bottom; produced by artist DEB is an image of Sree Ghanesh.  First appearing in 2010 the piece is somewhat of a survivor making it to 2013 where essentially all other pieces have been superseded many times over.  What's to say the this piece of art won't exist in 20 years time as an impressive figure of longevity surrounded by dynamic artworks?  It may gain heritage value in due course be recognised as being materially important to Melbourne. Fanciful possibly, unlikely yes, but this is the intrinsic value of the Hosier Lane/Rutledge Lane duo - unique, impressive and so Melbourne!

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_0247.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Getting the lowdown on Hosier Lane"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_0247.jpg?itok=I8SDir_s" title="Getting the lowdown on Hosier Lane" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

Urban.com.au wandered through the area during Sunday morning.  From high and low all angles were covered; click the images below to expand and above all else...enjoy!
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silvermb

Paint it Black - the sequel

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Parts of Melbourne's famous Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane combination may have <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/after-the-blue-rutledge-lane" target="_blank">turned blue</a> during August, yet last weekend marked the first time both thoroughfares have been wiped clean so to speak, with a fresh start in mind.  A team of workers and artists applied a black undercoat to all areas with the intention of reserving plots for specific artists. Scissorlifts, traffic management and security all played their part as existing works were painted over, ready for the transformation that followed.

Labelled the 'All Your Walls' project, Hosier Lane's revamp is part of the <a href="http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/melbourne-now/explore/artists" target="_blank">Melbourne Now</a> exhibition championed by the National Gallery of Victoria which seeks "Engagement with artists and audiences, through ground-breaking artists projects, commissions for kids and families, architecture and design initiatives, and curatorial engagement with dance, performance, music and sound."

'All Your Walls' is a two part program where last weekend focused upon the higher areas of the buildings surrounding both lanes, while November 29th will see completion as lower levels are bought to life.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/1_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/1_2.jpg?itok=2vlQ-lyE" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

Given the clean, vivid colours on show at present, the completed works toward the end of November will be a sight to behold.

See below progression images taken over a number of days - click for a larger view.
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Paint It Black - Hosier Lane reborn

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Rutledge Lane, one of Melbourne's premier graffiti art laneways branching off the more well known Hosier Lane was transformed last weekend, when Adrian Doyle of <a href="http://www.darkhorseexperiment.com/" target="_blank">Darkhorse Experiment</a> fame boldly replaced the Lane's striking graffiti with a simple baby blue covering, entitled Empty Nursery Blue. With the backing of Melbourne City Council everything from the walls, garbage bins and even the asphalt was covered in blue paint, with the past artworks adorning the Lane consigned to history.
Earlier this week the Sydney Morning Herald ran a <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/out-of-the-blue-street-artists-bold-statement-cops-a-spray-20130826-2smck" target="_blank">piece</a> which detailed Adrian Doyle's rationale behind the paint job, his expectations and the backlash from other artists.
While much artwork was lost, it created a blank canvas for Melburnians to work with, and like moths to a flame it didn't take long for street artwork to make a reappearance. Walking through this week, the laneway was full of graffiti artists, locals and tourists exploring the 'new' Rutledge Lane.
Below are some images I took on my journey through - click for a larger version.
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melbournee12

After the Blue - Rutledge Lane

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Another installment today in a series of urban street art tours, this time focusing on Little Smith Street Fitzroy. As is generally the way, stumbling into an area unintentionally can often lead to interesting results as seen in the article slideshow.  Little Smith Street as per the image below seems like a typical laneway, yet devote the time to walk its length and a myriad of street art works are there to be viewed adding to an otherwise uneventful walk.
Laneways such as Little Smith Street may not be the most visible or popular topic on Melburnians minds yet it's little gems such as these that add to the urban experience and the fabric of a suburb; and that's why UrbanMelbourne.info will always find interest in areas such as this.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_7013.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Little Smith Street from the south"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_7013.jpg?itok=21z5-1JT" title="Little Smith Street from the south" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
No doubt by now many of these have faded into obscurity or have been replaced by new works. If for no other reason it gives UrbanMelbourne.info a reason to visit the area once more down the track.  Enjoy the photo set below captured earlier this year.
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Little Smith Street, big style

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So the half year has come and gone, an opportune moment then to take a brief look at what Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane have thrown up during the first half of 2013. Ever changing, most of the images through the area live a short life, superseded by new and interesting artworks on a regular basis.

For what it's worth, this piece below is my standout. Appearing in June it's subtle yet with a detail that allows her eyes to seemingly follow the viewer - great stuff!

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Img_4889.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sitting comfortably within its confines"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_4889.jpg?itok=xM1kjYDN" title="Sitting comfortably within its confines" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
<figcaption>Sitting comfortably within its confines</figcaption></figure>Enjoy the images below of Hosier and Rutledge Lane's, and the many people who frequent them.
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Hosier Lane: half yearly snapshot

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Considered one of the longest continuous Chinese settlements anywhere in the western world, Melbourne's Chinatown has a lot to offer those who meander through. Quoting <a href="http://chinatownmelbourne.com.au" target="_blank">chinatownmelbourne.com.au</a> "It was the discovery of gold in 1851 which attracted Chinese immigration to Victoria on a large scale. Ships sailed to Australia from Hong Kong with their cargo of men who had come in search of the “New Gold Mountain”. The small but burgeoning Chinese community in Little Bourke Street provided for all the needs of the diggers – lodgings en route to the goldfields, food, equipment and medicine."
Running east-west along Little Bourke between Exhibition Street and Swanston Street, the area spawns a number of laneways, in and of themselves well worth viewing; eateries, street art, the Chinese Museum, hidden bars and much more. 
Here's a collection of photos I took during my recent visit to the precinct.
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Photographic Tour of Chinatown

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Blender Lane and its artwork is the most visible legacy of a concept first created by celebrated street artist Adrian Doyle during the year 2000. While an extensive rundown of <a href="http://www.theblenderstudios.com/" target="_blank">Blender Studios</a> can be found here, the practice's aim is simple - "Blender has become more of an art complex and ideas factory where nearly anything goes. It is self-sustainable and tries to bring art to everyone."
To that end  Blender Lane off 110 Franklin St, Melbourne now pays homage to Blender Studios with a body of work from a variety of artists that is regularly changing. Whilst art installation such as those below appear occasionally, Blender Lane is best known for its free-hand paintings.
<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Image1_13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Images © theblenderstudios.com"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image1_13.jpg?itok=0mNnP9oo" title="Images © theblenderstudios.com" typeof="Image"></a>
Having never heard of Blender Lane until earlier this year I paid the Lane a visit recently, with camera in tow.
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Blender Lane artwork

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Welcome to the first of what will become regular updates dedicated to one of Melbourne's tourist and cultural attractions, the artwork of Hosier Lane. Bound by Flinders St and Flinders Lane, Hosier Lane and adjoining Rutledge Lane are home to an ever dynamic and ecclectic body of street art, but for those not aware of this cobbled jem an apt description can be found at <a href="http://lanewaymagazine.com.au/hosier-lane/" target="_blank">Laneway Magazine</a>.
Whilst only taking in the final weeks of 2012, Urban.com.au hopes the images below will go some distance in wetting the appetite of the reader, and rest assured subsequent updates will be comprehensive. Enjoy
 
 
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