88352 Picture: CHARLENE MACAULAY
By CHARLENE MACAULAY
CHAMBERS Lane has become a hive of activity since the Footscray Street Art Competition came to town.
The competition, which invited artists to decorate a 1.5 by 2 metre piece of wall with street art, stencil art or painting, has seen artists come from all over Melbourne to work their magic.
Collingwood artist Michael Maka, who works under the name Makatron, took out the $4000 prize last week with his entry Bees, an aerosol rendition of bees perched on the wall.
The 32-year-old has been a prolific artist around Melbourne and the world, and said bees were a constant inspiration to him.
“They’re a metaphor for humans infesting the world and they also represent sweetness – it’s the juxtaposition that fascinates me,” he said.
“It’s been flattering (to win).”
Mr Maka said he planned to invest his prize money back into his work.
Fellow artist Damian Mitchell was runner-up for his artwork Jana, a street-art portrait of a friend.
Judge Jessica Kease said deciding on a winner had been tough.
“The standard of work from new emerging artists to established entrants was overwhelming and made for a hard decision,” she said.
“In the end, Makatron was picked as a favourite, not only among the crowd but between the judges, Kendal and I.
“(It was) definitely a very iconic piece from Makatron and a fitting winner for the Footscray Art Prize.”
Organiser Grant Miles, who is a candidate in the upcoming Maribyrnong City Council election, was thrilled with the success of the event and said he planned to host the competition annually.
The works will remain along Chambers Lane until next year’s competition is launched.
