A group of Gravesend graffiti artists plan to alter the street art stereotype, by brightening up the town centre.
As part of Gravesham in Bloom, the council commissioned art agency 1717 Alliance to decorate the walls by Rathmore Road car park with an underwater mural.
The group also spray painted an area in Lord Street car park on Sunday (May 17) with bees, ladybirds, toads and flowers.
Graffiti artists in action (pic: Dusty Defjam)
Agency creator Dusty Defjam, 48, said: “Graffiti is art at the end of the day.
“It has an element of destruction, but people have been doing art work since the dawn of time.
“Cave men were doing it on caves.
“We want to get a positive spin back on it.”
Graffiti artists Trans 1 and Skye 131 used in bloom and seaside themes, to create happy and uplifting murals.
The finished Lord Street mural (pic: Dusty Defjam)
Photographer Dusty, who lives in Northfleet, added: “It’s to brighten up the Gravesend town centre.
“This is our first couple of jobs so I have been lucky to get involved with the council and it’s local as well.
“I have been into graffiti for about 13 years.
“It’s a worldwide thing and we would like to try and get Gravesend up to date and a bit more trendy.”
(pic: Gravesham Borough Council)
Gravesham achieved a gold award in the South and South East in Bloom campaign, which involves hundreds of communities, for the first time last year.
This year’s competition will be judged in July.
Melanie Norris, Director of Communities said: “The town looked so beautiful last year, all the hard work really paid off with all the knit bombing, art work and flowers everywhere.
“The plans for this year are really exciting and I can’t wait to see what the team plus our many great volunteers manage to achieve this year.”
Gravesham Borough Council have organised hanging baskets and flower displays, a scarecrow competition (deadline May 29), community clear up days, and knit bombing with The Urban Knitters.
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There is also a photography competition, where the best photo will go on the front of the borough’s calendar.
The winner and 11 runners up will have their work displayed for two weeks, at the Blake Gallery from June 29 and the Gravesend Visitor Centre from July 6.
If you would like to get involved, contact melanie.norris@gravesham.gov.uk or Jackie.bowles@gravesham.gov.uk
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