TORONTO MURAL SEMINAR Summary

Transcription

1 TORONTO MURAL SEMINAR Summary The annual Toronto Mural Seminar took place on July 5 th, 2011 and proved to be an enlightening, educational and fun experience for all that attended. The themes/topics covered included; health & safety, rules of engagement in the public realm, the step by step process of mural production, politics of public art, and the designing and scaling of murals (APPENDIX 1). Those who attended had the hands on experience of breaking out into groups, coming up with their own Mural Designs, and the practice of pitching them to potential clients. The administrators from various organizations also had the opportunity to learn what happens behind the scenes of mural production and what they can do to smooth out the process. Ninety two people registered and eighty three attended (APPENDIX 2).

2 After registering at the front, the participants were asked to write what they would like to learn/take away from the seminar on a large white board. Some of these interests included: the creation of business opportunities (economic benefit), politics of graffiti transformation, the logistics of mural production, gaining confidence as a project leader, the possibilities of mixed media mural production, concerns with pricing and industry standards, safety and graffiti removal etc. The day started out with around the table introductions from the various group representatives. Participants were asked to share stories of Mural Production and Gary Smith, of the Corktown Residents and Businesses Association, stressed the importance of measuring and scaling murals accurately. The first session was on Health and Safety with Michael Brown and it consisted of doing risk management activities. The participants were divided into groups and each group was asked to assume that they were in 1 of 6 different unsafe work scenarios. They were then asked how they would handle them based on all the information that Michael had provided them with. He also covered the importance of having a health binder which includes a critical injury plan, contact sheets, various MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), and a first aid kit. 2

3 The second session was on Rules of Engagement with Karin Eaton of Mural Routes. She discussed the importance of being cautious with mural content (if it is a GT project, and otherwise) and not involving politics, religion, profanity or sexual images. Karin also spoke about copyright laws and the importance of being legally protected. She also spoke on interaction with the community and how to handle certain unpleasant situations. The last point that was touched on was the importance of having signage. Participants were told to, identify what you are doing for onlookers to be aware of this encourages people to engage with you, get excited, ask questions! The second half of the session was presented by Zion. He talked about the history of Graffiti and the different styles that have evolved from the 1990 s movement. Some honourable mentions whose work he spoke of included Dondi White, Kilroy, Twist, Banksy, Space Invader and Basquiat. The third session was facilitated by Michael Brown and Rob Matejka and was all about project management. This included getting the mural on the wall ; choosing the mural site, assessing the site (is it suitable for a mural? is there potential for water damage, etc.), measuring the site (crucially important to the accuracy of your work) and choosing materials and equipment (including ladders, scaffolding, etc). They described the importance of planning ahead and also presented the participants with Health and Safety sheets that allowed them to explain the dangers of certain tools and equipment. 3

4 The fourth and last session was split into two concurrent sessions. One was facilitated by Karin Eaton and covered the behind the scenes of mural production for administrators and project leaders. The second one was a continuation with Rob and Michael and focused on drawing to scale, designing the mural, and going from idea to image. This is when the participants were split into breakout groups and were faced with the task of working with strangers to come up with one mural design and draw it to scale on a large sheet of white paper. The day ended with questions and a general open discussion. Some points that were brought up included Rob Fords new laws on graffiti (and the short notice he gave to wall owners), the need for distinction between vandalism and graffiti art, how groups and people can work together to form better shared resources, and the importance of permission and copyright in mural production. Overall, the seminar touched on every point that was brought up in the beginning and addressed all the concerns that the participants had. 4

5 After the Seminar, participants were asked to complete and online survey about the event. (See results attached.) Presented by Mural Routes We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Government of Ontario through the Programs and Services Branch of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the City of Toronto through the Innovation, Opportunity & Prosperity Program and Transportation Services

6 APPENDIX 1.The Program TORONTO MURAL SEMINAR A symposium about community mural-making for artists and project managers Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at Metro Hall, 55 John Street, 3 rd Floor 9:00 am Registration and refreshments MAKE YOUR MARK What would you like to learn today? Let us know on the white board 9:30 am Introductions - facilitator Karin Eaton OUR STORIES Former mentor and youth participants 10: 15 am SESSION 1 Risk Management for artists and supervisors Michael Brown Basics of health & safety and site responsibility 11:00 am SESSION 2 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT - working in the public realm 1. Signage, Acknowledgements and other practical matters - Karin Eaton 2. The Writing on the Wall: Graffiti Art Matters Zion 12:00 pm Lunch break 12:45 pm SESSION 3 GETTING THE MURAL ON THE WALL Rob Matejka, Michael Brown 1. Choosing the mural site 2. Assessing the wall / site 3. Measuring the wall / site 4. Choosing materials and equipment (paints, ladders, scaffolding etc) 1:30 pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS 4A Room 308/9 Site Specifics - Presenters Rob Matejka and Michael Brown 1. Drawing to scale 2. Designing the mural; going from idea to image BREAKOUT GROUPS 3. Rough Draft: Putting the design on paper (hands-on session) 1:30 pm 4B Room 310 Behind the scenes of mural production for administrators and project leaders Roundtable discussion and questions to help a smooth production process. Facilitator Karin Eaton 3:30 pm IN CONCLUSION Design Presentations and Critiques General questions and open discussion 4:00 pm Adjournment Presented by Mural Routes - Sponsored by the City of Toronto, Transportation Services

7 APPENDIX 2. Organizations & Facilitators That Attended TORONTO MURAL SEMINAR Presented by Mural Routes - Sponsored by the City of Toronto, Transportation Services ORGANIZATIONS: Arts for Children and Youth Art Starts Christie Ossington Centre City of Toronto Economic Dev Community Centre 55 Corktown Residents and Business Association (CRBA) Crossroads of the Danforth BIA Davenport Perth Neighbourhood & Community Health Centre Danforth Mosaic BIA Flemingdon Neighbourhood Services Frontlines Harbourfront Community Centre Mural Routes Ralph Thornton Centre Rexdale Community Health Centre Scadding Court Community Centre St. Christopher House The Bloor Court BIA Urban Arts Village of Islington West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre Working Women Community Centre

8 APPENDIX 2. Organizations & Facilitators That Attended FACILITATORS: Jiawei Chen Karin Eaton Michael Brown Off The Wall: LT Students Rob Matejka Zera Koutchieva Zion

9 APPENDIX 3. Design Workshop TORONTO MURAL SEMINAR

10 APPENDIX 3. Design Workshop Presented by Mural Routes - Sponsored by the City of Toronto, Transportation Services

11 APPENDIX 4 TORONTO MURAL SEMINAR 2011 PARTICIPANT SURVEY Are you a/an Administrator 33.30% Artist 16.70% Youth 27.80% Other 22.20% 22.20% 33.30% Administrator Artist Youth Other 27.80% 16.70% Were you involved in last year's mural seminar? Yes 11.10% No 88.90% 11.10% Yes No 88.90%

12 How did you enjoy the seminar this year? (1 the least, 5 the most) 1 0% 2 0% % % % How did you enjoy the seminar this year? (1 the least, 5 the most) % % % 2 1 0% 0% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% How useful to you or your organization was the information presented at the seminar? (1 the least, 5 the most) 1 0% 2 0% % % % % 0% How useful to you or your organization was the information presented at the seminar? (1 the least, 5 the most) 5.60% 33.30% 61.10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

13 Please rate the sessions according to how intereesting, informative and valuable you found them. (1 the least, 5 the most) Risk Management for artists and supervisors Michael Brown 0% 0% 11.10% 38.90% Signage, Acknowledgements and other practical matters Karin Eaton 0% 0% 17.60% 29.40% 52 The Writing on the Wall: Graffiti Art Matters Zion 0% 11.10% 11.10% 38.90% 38 Site Specifics for artists and youth 0% 0% 33.30% 20% 46 Behind the scenes of mural production for administrators and project leaders 0% 0% 28.60% 21.40% Behind the scenes of mural production for administrators and project leaders Site Specifics for artists and youth The Writing on the Wall: Graffiti Art Matters Zion Signage, Acknowledgements and other practical matters Karin Eaton Risk Management for artists and supervisors Michael Brown 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

14 TORONTO MURAL SEMINAR 2011 PARTICIPANT SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE: Panel installation Working with metal, like: how to attach a metal mural to a brick wall; what kinds of paint materials work best on metal; what types of metal would work best and where to source them. How to be on a list to be informed of mural projects How to transfer designs from hardcopy to the wall in a way that allows for better proportions, and straighter lines on surfaces that are not brick. Marketing how to sell your mural production Which brands of paint, brushes, etc. work the best for on specific surfaces, whether interior or exterior, etc Spray painting techniques and applications How to set up a mural program for BIAs Wall preparations Health and safety in working with murals and paints Toronto's current issues and recent history of grafitti transformation Feedback: The presentations could have been more interesting than a speaker and a PowerPoint. (A little too much just talking "at" with pictures for the grafitti presentation, hope to get more interactions with the audience) Printed materials for each presentation or session will be great Provide a larger space to invite more youth and artists to participate in this seminar, especially youth that are presently involved in Graffiti Art. More time for idea sharing and networking with other agencies, especially for administrators and project leaders, for continuous knowledge sharing/equipment sharing and for future partnerships