Renowned local and international artists use charcoal from bushfires in new ‘RISE’ exhibition to support affected communities
(Anthony Burrill, UK)
Local creatives, brands and agencies have collaborated with the global art community to launch RISE, a disruptive art project that will showcase work using bushfire charcoal as a medium.
Globally recognised artists and designers include prolific ‘godfather of graffiti’ Lee Quiñones of Brooklyn, NYC; Eric Haze who also reigns from Brooklyn. NYC; Mr. Brainwash of French origin (the main protagonist in Banksy’s Exit Through the Gift Shop); Brooklyn-based contemporary artist José Parlá; Los Angeles based Shephard Fairey, who is the artist behind the iconic Obama ‘Hope’ poster. Also featured are some of the world’s most prolific letterform artists: Londoner Ben Eine; and Parisians Jean Jullien and Fafi.
Local artists include legend Reg Mombassa behind the iconic Mambo series, Archibald winner Craig Ruddy; contemporary indigenous artist Otis Hope Carey alongside controversial mural painter Scott Marsh.
(Shepard Fairey, USA)
L.A artist Andy Howell, who started as a professional skateboarder in 1988 and was recently affected by fire, said, there’s an emotional connection to the charcoal: “Working with charcoal’s raw, deep and organic nature has been an emotional experience. I hope through our work we can support those that really need it.”
All artwork will be sold on an online auction with proceeds going directly to bushfire relief organisations, including the RFS, Wildlife Victoria, BlazeAid, WIRES, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Wildlife Victoria, and the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Fund.
(Beastman, Australia)
Prior to auction, all artworks will be on public display from 12 March at Sydney Carriageworks, with a curated wine from bushfire affected region of Tumbarumba.
RISE was co-founded by Matty Burton, APAC creative chief, Google partner innovation, and Luca Ionescu, founder and creative director at Like Minded Studio.
Presenting partners include: M&C Saatchi, Mastercard, NRMA Insurance and Google.
(Bigfoot, USA)
Says Burton: “The word partners is true in every sense, we have had all kinds of support form each of them, from keeping the creative talents of M&C up late into the night, integrating our payment systems for the fundraiser with Mastercard, dragging coal from the bushfires through Google office and when we really needed help, finding that in NRMA Insurance. We are so thankful that all of them have come on board.”
Ionescu, said the idea behind the exhibition came from a feeling of helplessness after bushfire smoke blanketed Sydney over various months: “Matty and I were thinking of ways to get support behind those on the front line, which led to the idea of using burnt wood charcoal in art.
(Brooklyn Whelan, USA)
Burton said they’ve been overwhelmed by the level of talent wanting to get involved: “Every artist in the show affects culture. From people who started street art in the US, the early days of hip hop, the skate scene in California to Australia’s own surfing counterculture. These artists are huge names. And they are alongside up and comers who are creating new culture right now, in music, media, fashion, food, and every other kind of medium. We want RISE to bring people together, to inspire them and help affect positive change.”
(Domenico Bartolo, Australia)
Says Stu Couzens, RISE’s production partner and Alfred founder: “It’s great that our friends and industry partners have jumped on board without question to help stage such a large-scale show. We have a great venue in Carriageworks, an incredible lineup of local and international artists, and plenty of other ingredients to make it an excellent show. Don’t forget your wallet.”
People wishing to purchase art where all proceeds will go back to bushfire-affected community can visit here: https://riseexhibition.com/
(Ella Grace Lister, Australia)
RISE’s PR partner, Eleven, has been managing media and artists to ensure the initiative generates global attention and support.
Says Russ Tucker, ECD, Eleven: “The team jumped at the opportunity to get behind Matty, Luca, Anna, Stu and the global creative community to ensure we can give back and support those on the road to recovery.”
What: RISE artworks using and inspired by Australian bushfire charcoals as a medium – featuring over 100 high-calibre local and international artists and designers
When: Open to public evening of 12 March, register for a ticket at https://riseexhibition.com/
Where: Carriageworks Bay 25, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015
How: Purchase artworks in an online auction here: https://riseexhibition.com/
(Helio Bray, Portugal)
(Mr Brainwash, USA)
(Pudler, Australia)
(She One, UK)
RISE
Founders: Matty Burton, Luca Ionescu, Anna Hunt, Stuart Couzens
Production: Alfred
PR: Eleven
Presenting partners: M&C Saatchi, Mastercard, NRMA Insurance, Google
Supporting partners include:
Tripoint Rigging, Innovative Production Services, Preset Construction, Merivale, Sweet&Chilli, Crossguard, Future Classic, Page38, Love Police, Hawke’s Brewing Co, Tanqueray, Johnnie Walker, Seedlip, Fever-Tree, Fab Frame, Mammoth 3D, Great Bowery, Kat Rollings Photography, Rex Frame, Coleman Group, United Nations ‘The Lion’s Share’, Finch, Doctor Lisa Cooper and Wine Curation by Mike Bennie.
13 Comments
https://www.google.co.nz/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/education/2014/jun/12/glasgow-school-art-fire-student-show
https://www.jwt.com/en/work/ash-to-art
Equally powerful second, even third time round.
https://campaignbrief.com/embers-of-empathy-artworks-to/
Here’s hoping it successfully raises money for those devastated by the most catastrophic fires in living memory here in Australia.
That’s the beauty of the idea no one owns it! It’s what’s being done with it. Our ancestors having been using burnt charcoal over the ages to draw pictures. This isn’t about ego or an Advertising Campaign, this is about people helping eachother! This is about the rest of the world showing love to Australia.
I’m indigenous too, what tribe are you from?
Let’s hope they don’t enter it into any awards if it is just about raising money.
We’re not doing this for awards you knob ends. Nor will ever be entered.
Awards are useless. I don’t enter them anymore and the sooner you move on from that fake world you’ll see that there is much more to life.
There are many ideas using this platform, the ones you cited as first are not actually first by the way. If you’re interested, it is a not for profit in the US who have created paint using charcoal to raise money for their own troubles. (And yes, we are collaborating with them.)
I would encourage you to look at the volunteer run charities we are supporting, the work they do and the difference they make. If you dont want to support this, that ok with me but please support them.
Right now they need it more than ever.
Nice response Matty and beautiful work.
I love this initiative. Just one thing though, one of the artworks has the artist’s name ‘Brooklyn Wheeler’ attributed to it. It should be Brooklyn Whelan.
@Matty Hear, hear! Onya. Well done to everyone involved. I’ll be there.
I love everything about this.
Props for everything you are doing.
But please recognise chasing awards early in your career landed you in a place now where you no longer need to “worry about them”. Very few reach this position.
Awards are creative currency.
I don’t know.
Awards are creative currency for people in the advertising industry. But this is a construct of the advertising complex.
Chasing awards may get you a job in advertising but by chasing them you block out many other opportunities.
Outside of advertising they are even more irrelevant.
I can’t speak for Matty but I can speak to some things I’ve been noticing.
The idea that something has been done before for instance, as referenced above is completely at odds with how many other industries work.
(By the way – the idea was first done probably in cave before we could even speak)
The idea that a couple of people can master multiple mediums every time and create ideas that land to an audience without anything science to back it up or a plan to evolve it constantly and at pace is another one.
I think by chasing awards, you are quite literally chasing the opinions of other like minded people who work in the same industry as you.
I’d rather chase the audience.
Take a look at any of Scott Galloways talks on advertising if you’re interested.