After almost half a century, art has that thirst again for something innovative, something that mainstream art galleries seem to miss, something that will shake the waters – a movement into street art. Christina Kyparissa reports.

The increasing attraction of street art or graffiti, will be realised today at a live auction of street artwork as part of the Sydney based art initiative, Project 5.

Bill Dimas and John Wiltshire, the faces behind Project 5 and aMBUSH Gallery in Sydney, says that street art is not only revolutionary for the type of creative tools that the artists use, but for the ideas that can be reflected in street artwork.

“Just like what Pop Art was in the 60’s, street art is for the generation of the 2000s. Many people in the traditional art world are arguing that change, but street art is becoming acceptable, and as time passes we can become part of the Nome” said Bill.

Last December, aMBUSH organised the first part of Project 5 along the water in Sydney’s Darling Harbour. Over three days, Ben Frost, Shannon Crees, Beastman and Phibs – four of Australia’s more prominent street artists – created live artworks on large 2.4m x 1.0m panels to the beats of a DJ in an effort to raise money for Information Cultural Exchange (ICE) based in Parramatta.

The event was unexpectedly successful, with people getting carried away while following the artists doing graffiti, collage, photorealism and sign writing works.

The event was followed-up with a second one which was organised as a charity auction on 20 May at Darling Park, and hosted by Leonard Joel auctioneers. The auction featured the four artworks and managed to raise a surprising amount of $10,000. All proceeds were donated to ICE.

ICE is a charitable arts and media organisation doing dynamic work in the western suburbs of Sydney, supporting young artists and emerging talent, as well as creative projects with disadvantaged communities. ICE’s digital production facilities give people the opportunity to attain skills and produce their own music, video, radio, online and other creative projects- and supporting their work to reach bigger audiences.

At the end of the auction event, the organisers were keen to have the project continue.

“After the success of the first attempt, Project 5 has been established and is now an ongoing initiative scheduled in three times a year with the Live Art events followed by the auctions” said Bill.

That success also made the project popular among the artists, and as a result, the word has spread as other street artists have accepted the invitation for the second installment of Project 5.

Among them was Anthony Lister, an internationally renowned street artist who has showcased his work throughout the United States and Canada.

“Last December, we had four amazing Australian artists, this time we were able to secure Antony Lister, who’s also Australian and doing very well globally. He’s a big name in street art and we are very privileged that he accepted to be part of the project.

Lisa Torrance, Acting Executive Director of ICE believes having a famous artist like Lister involved in the project will give the entire initiative a really boost.

Having attended the May auction, Torrance believes events like Project 5 will profile ICE to a completely different audience.

“We are based in Western Sydney and we’ve done many projects in Greater Sydney, but a lot of people don’t necessarily know what we do and this can be a chance to prove our self to the greater digital media and arts community”.

Meggs, one of Australia’s most easily recognised street artists has also featured works in the streets of Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and Hong Kong. As one of the artists involved in the Darling Harbour installation of Project 5, he was only too happy to accept the invitation and participate again.

“I had heard of it before, from Ben Frost and Beastman who took part last year, and then I was contacted by Bill and John earlier this year to take part. Originally I was meant to be part of the one later in the year, but, they brought it forward and [they] told me I’d be working with Lister, Ears and WeBuyYourKids. So, I said sure, yes, I love all those artists!” says Meggs.

These talented street artists have made Project 5 popular as an entertaining art event, and have added an educational and inspiring character that ICE seem to truly appreciate.

“It’s a really excellent opportunity on a number of levels for us; first of all because we are an organization who supports greater pathways for young people. From an inspirational point of view, young people coming down here to see these brilliant artists create work, will inspire them to make their own work one day,” Torrance says.

She admits the tremendous amount of skill involved in these work but it’s about exposing the process to people.

“Once they’ve had the chance to see how these types of art works are created they become much closer to it. They might think, if they can do it, perhaps one day I can too, so with that there is an aspiration quality in that”.

“The reason this projects is valuable is the obvious funding to new projects, because an organization like ICE is always looking for more funding. We have a very generous support from State and Federal Government, but this kind of support [it’s something that I must say] is a gift, and will create more buzz around these works and hopefully value as well,” says Torrance.

ICE has great plans for the coming future as their state-of-the-art multimedia and digital arts centre nears completion in November. The centre will include a recording studio, a film editing suite and digital media room. The funding from Project 5 with contribute to the new developments and benefit nearly 200,000 audience in Western Sydney.

“The partnership between ICE, aMBUSH gallery and Cockle Bay Wharf is tremendously beneficial. Our aim is to provide young people with the opportunity to explore their creativity with ‘like minds’ by some of our specialist trainers and our educators,” says Torrance.

Big plans are pinned on the future of Project 5. The next Live Art event is scheduled for December, followed by another in March or April next year.

Bill Dimas says that Project 5 is only will only get bigger from now on.

“For Project 5 (installation three), I had a phone call from a friend in New York who had an artist hear about Project 5 from Anthony Lister and asked if he could be part of the next project. That means that the word is getting out there, amongst the community of the artists, and they are finding out about it and they want to participate”.

“As a result, for December’s event we have secured another Australian artist who has made a very big name overseas, but you will have to wait for that to find out!”

The auction will take place tonight, October 14 2010, at 6pm at Leonard Joel auction house in Double Bay.