Hurwitz told the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader about the difficulties of painting moving people:
“It was quite daunting at first” he said, “but I got people to stop and pose. The activity of it eventually made the painting.”
ART-Town sponsors have put forward $4,000 as Visual Arts Awards for participants in the 2012 competition. They do stipulate that artists use the street as their studio and gallery:
“ART-Town invites artists and the wider community to take advantage of the largest art gallery and studio in the world; the street” says the website.
“Over two weekends the Chapel Street precinct welcomes 30 artists as they create artworks live on the street in four highly-visible locations; Grattan Gardens, the Colonnade, Yarra Lane and corner Maddock & Chapel Streets. ART-Town visitors and passers-by are treated to a rare glimpse into the artists’ creative process as they are inspired by their surroundings.”
Hurwitz said he was used to painting “en plein air” even though the bustling street was not his comfort zone. However, painting is not the only medium to which artists are restricted in the competition. Expect to see artists painting, drawing, carving or even creating digital art that could then be displayed by poster printing.
For more information about ART-Town’s live art weekends see the website: www.chapelstreet.com.au