Alejandra Lajo Ferrer
Spatial Designer
Design is everywhere, make it yours, leave your footprint.
Mock-up of Little Smith Street made by me, simulating a concert of Music Mural. Musical Mural (2023) Melbourne
A public art project about bringing Fitzroy’s culture to the streets. In this case, concerts of local people were made in a laneway, to promote the typical social sense and musical culture in the neighbourhood.
After listening to the Yalinguth audios, I found a lot of background about Fitzroy and Gertrude Street. The aboriginal culture is everywhere but it is not seen. The neighbourhood is now a trendy area that does not show the original roots of the area. The idea is to give a space to the history of the neighbourhood through art and music, which is what Fitzroy is full of, and what Melbourne is famous for.
Therefore the project will propose this through the creation of a mural that showcases different record covers of local musicians. The mural will also be activated through monthly concerts of local musicians, that will generate activity and sense of community and belonging.
Therefore the project will propose this through the creation of a mural that showcases different record covers of local musicians. The mural will also be activated through monthly concerts of local musicians, that will generate activity and sense of community and belonging.
Fitzroy has been through a tough history of events, known as one of the worst areas to live in for most of the 20th century (Robertson, 2008), but also as a place of trust and support for anyone, throughout time. It has always maintained its commercial activity, a place that Aboriginies returned to, somewhere that breathes multiculturality and respect, nowadays known as the vibrant, trendy and gentrified area of Melbourne. It could be known as the microcosm of the city.
When listening to Yalinguth, it occured to me that in the 60s people’s way of enjoy life and be with others and socialise was around music. It was their happy moment and a creation of culture, which represents First Nations in the area.
When listening to Yalinguth, it occured to me that in the 60s people’s way of enjoy life and be with others and socialise was around music. It was their happy moment and a creation of culture, which represents First Nations in the area.
The Trippy Taco photo, Source: The Trippy Taco facebook. Northside Records, Source: Northside Records website. Evie’s Building, Source: Evie’s Bar & Diner website. Chai Shai Fitzroy, Taken by me.
As I am mostly interested in the music industry, I went to a record store called ‘Northside Records’, and talked to a very friendly and enthusiastic man called Chris. He had been living in Fitzroy and has working in the music industry all of his life. He told me how Gertrude Street is the area of ‘Funk’, and how it was made of beautiful people.
This motivated me to choose the location near Northside records, it is an area full of activity, as you can see in the diagram I made to the top left, which will help get the project circulated around. The project will bring visibility to the artistic vein of Fitzroy hence pedestrians will know how valuable the sense of Community is for the neighbourhood, and what it stands for.
Photoshopped image of Little Smith Street with the possible vynil covers painted on the mural. About materiality, there will be a few must haves in order for the project to work. I had the idea of using an inexpensive way to organise the area, and mark the difference between the scenario and the crowd, and I thought the use of chalk could be a good idea, as its size can be variated, and it goes away with water.
The musicians will consist of local artists, as they will be representing their neighbourhood. They will be found through advertising with posters through Fitzroy, and social media. The musicians will need to bring their own equipment in order to play, and we might need to ask the stores around to plug any necessary instrument to a speaker.
The crowd will be a very important element of the project. The record store near, will hopefully bring us loyal clientele, and more people will be called through
The musicians will consist of local artists, as they will be representing their neighbourhood. They will be found through advertising with posters through Fitzroy, and social media. The musicians will need to bring their own equipment in order to play, and we might need to ask the stores around to plug any necessary instrument to a speaker.
The crowd will be a very important element of the project. The record store near, will hopefully bring us loyal clientele, and more people will be called through
posters placed around and through social media, promoting future events. I trust Fitzroy as a very supporting community, and mostly to the music industry.
Artists will be needed in order to paint the mural and create a masterpiece. Also graphic designers will be needed to generate posters that promote concerts and capture possible musicians.
This removable stool will be for people to sit on during concerts. This example is from a German studio called Object Studio, and the stool is called ‘Coronacrisiskruk’. The idea would be to generate sustainable, removable stools that are easy to take away and keep them stored for the next concert (made from cardboard or wood).
Artists will be needed in order to paint the mural and create a masterpiece. Also graphic designers will be needed to generate posters that promote concerts and capture possible musicians.
This removable stool will be for people to sit on during concerts. This example is from a German studio called Object Studio, and the stool is called ‘Coronacrisiskruk’. The idea would be to generate sustainable, removable stools that are easy to take away and keep them stored for the next concert (made from cardboard or wood).
Mock-up of a poster that would be put on the streets and stores and shops of a fake concert.
Mock-up of a poster that would be put on the streets and stores and shops to invite artists.
‘Coronacrisiskruk’, German studio called Object Studio.
Aerial view of the design of the concert area. The laneways are, in my opinion, a perfect situation where to add something to be observed. Hence there is usually no traffic and people can stop and admire the art, learn about the community in the neighbourhood and interact with the project.
This will be the look of the area from aerial view. The pink area would be a possible chalk-created scenario, and the crowd would be around, as the brown lines mark.
The public would come and either sit down on the mountable stools or stand up. There are many available stores around this point so they could even grab drinks and food and watch the concert.
The mural will have a QR code that takes them to Musical Mural’s website, from there they can go into their instagram. check what the future events are and get to know the artists that are featured in the mural.
This will be the look of the area from aerial view. The pink area would be a possible chalk-created scenario, and the crowd would be around, as the brown lines mark.
The public would come and either sit down on the mountable stools or stand up. There are many available stores around this point so they could even grab drinks and food and watch the concert.
The mural will have a QR code that takes them to Musical Mural’s website, from there they can go into their instagram. check what the future events are and get to know the artists that are featured in the mural.