The Kings Cross community was horrified last week when Council contractors removed four life-sized photographic portraits installed by Channel Ten’s Guerrilla Gardens team seven weeks earlier on the corner of Ward Avenue and Roslyn Street.The work was on a private wall with full co-operation of the owners, the 'Sisters on the corner,' Catholic nuns who have worked in the area for over 20 years.
I've written a full report in The City News.
Truly, the City of Villages would better be known as The City of Pillages.
By contrast, when Guerrilla Gardens created an installation near the Balmain Tigers Club, Greens Mayor of Leichhardt Jamie Parker wrote to them advising that some of the plants would not survive the sunlight they were exposed to. The team responded and replaced the plants with more suitable varieties. Result: Balmain richer, Kings Cross poorer. Thanks Clover.
Above: KX busker Cathie O’Brien posing in front of her portrait, part of the original installation. Below, today's blank walls courtesy of Clover Moore, with the disappointed 'Sisters on the corner' who had been thrilled to have the work on their wall.
PS 30 May: Council has apologised for the removal of the art and has issued the following statement:
“Unfortunately the mural was removed after a complaint was received from a member of the public about offensive graffiti on the mural. Rather than remove the graffiti only, City graffiti removal contractors took down the mural. The City supports the work of the Guerrilla Gardeners, providing there are no safety issues and we apologise for this error. The City is now investigating what options there are for reinstating the mural on the site.”
3 comments:
By golly this council is stupid! I'd love to see them sued by a property owner for vandalising private property.
They can't be sued, as I understand it, because they had a state law passed that allows them to do it.
"Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power."
- George Bernard Shaw
Working around the corner, I pass this site almost every day and I don't remember seeing the photos tagged or defaced in any way. I smell a rat and regret from the council. City of Sydney Council once again cleaning up anything that may just give some character to the place. Ease up Clover.
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