Mural Fest upholds competition rules

In a storm of controversy, Mural Fest finalist Christian Griffiths, aka ‘Sauce’, is now out of the competition.

Governance Manager Phil Turner said the issue arose when Sauce insisted on using his own paint.

Mr Turner said that it was clearly defined in the agreement signed by all finalists that the artists must use the supplied paint.

“Sauce was intending on using a mix of his own paint and the paint provided by us,” Mr Turner said.

“Complying with the terms of the rules, and to be fair for all parties involved, we see it as a compromise in the competition that he didn’t want to abide by,” he said.

Mr Turner said the committee met several times with Sauce in an attempt to resolve the situation, but that he had returned to his mural station and continued to use his own paint.

It was thenthat he was asked to leave the competition.

Mr Turner said their intention was not to be heavy-handed, but to be fair to all of the other competitors.

Sauce, a seasoned Mural Fest finalist, was painting in the competition for the fourth time.

“We really appreciate Sauce as an artist, and very much wanted him to paint,” Mr Turner said.

“But breaking the rules is not in the spirit of the event,” he said. “Rules are rules, and in the interests of all the other competitors, we have to uphold them.”

“And it’s not just about the art and artists,” Mr Turner said.

“This is a community event, and we need to consider everyone involved, including all of the volunteers who give so generously of their time and skill.”

Arts Manager Julian Bale, a five-time Mural Fest finalist and previous winner, said the rules from day one have been that artists paint with the supplied paint.

“Artists tend to have their favourite paint,” he said. “But most artists have been very happy to comply in the interests of the competition,” he said.

“Sauce is extremely gifted, and he could have finished his mural very easily with the paint provided,” Mr Bale said.

“The paint we supplied can be used for all styles, including graffiti art,” he said. “You can put the paint into pressure cans, to get the same effect as an aerosol.”

“We did everything we could to get Sauce to stay,” Mr Bale said. “Even offering to fill his pressure cans for him.”

Mr Bale said they used a supplied paint in an attempt to keep a level playing field.

“But also, because the murals are commissioned works as such, which may end up on our “Wall of Fame”, we have to consider the issue of longevity and maintenance,” he said.

The paint supplied is Resene, a world-renowned mural paint. It was chosen for its ease of blending, longevity and consistency – less coats are required, enabling artists to finish their murals faster. It is also one of the most eco-friendly paints in the world.

“We’re trying to give the artists the Rolls Royce quality,” Mr Bale said.

Mr Bale, who is also the curator and restorer of the Sheffield murals, said the problem with using aerosols is an issue of longevity, and with having it curated and restored.

“To seal it is a bit tricky, and also to maintain it,” Mr Bale said.

“You can still do graffiti work, but you have to use the paint supplied.”

Having an artist leave the competition is a first for Mural Fest, but the committee stand by their decision.

Mr Brown said their main concern was in upholding the integrity of the competition.

“Rules are rules,” he said. “We have an obligation to all of our finalists and sponsors to run the competition fairly,” he said.

The remaining eight finalists will now compete for the Inder Prize of $12,500. The winner will be announced on Saturday, April 6.
Des Brown