About All Fresco
All Fresco was created in 2013 in response to a desire from the Karangahape Business Association (KBA) to develop a platform to create large scale public murals within the precinct. Ross Liew and the KBA collaborated to create a public art festival and alongside First Thursdays founder Cleo Barnett, developed the basis for what is now known as All Fresco. For the inaugural event 15 artists were invited to participate in the creation of 14 murals over four days. This painting activity was supported by an exhibition showcasing the selected artists’ studio practice.
The event objectives are to;
positively build on existing relationships between the KBA and building owners and tenants, and establish new ones where applicable.
articulate and celebrate the identity of the K Road community through recognising our heritage, honouring our history, promoting diversity of thought issues and ideas and acknowledging the variety of cultural practices, religions and people in the K’ Road area.
deliver a platform for participating artists to produce high quality artworks in a supportive and safe environment.
positively contribute to the long legacy of creative culture on K’ Road.
promote K’ Road as a destination for authentic experiences within a diverse, vibrant and unique area of Auckland.
In line with the objectives of the festival, delivering artworks that acknowledge and contribute to the community they are located in should be prioritised. The event should be clear about how and why it engages with artists around murals, and should look to ensure that any KBA commissioned mural activity within the precinct should fulfil or align with the All Fresco objectives.
A key approach to delivering on All Fresco objectives lies in engaging artists sympathetic and responsive to supplied provocations, as well as those whose practice holds some degree of community engagement. In addition to this artists should have demonstrable capability, experience and expertise in regards to creating work within a public setting. All Fresco is intended as a platform for intermediate to senior artists working within the street art, graffiti and mural fields.
All Fresco murals are located throughout the Karangahape Rd area. Walking tours are also run periodically by the KBA and are hosted by local artist Johnny 4 Higher.
To book a walking tour click here..
All Fresco 2019/20
After a hiatus for several years All Fresco returns to Karanghape Road over the summer of 2019/20. All Fresco is also moving from a festival event to a programme model. This is largely in response to a renewed focus on delivering outcomes that address issues of identity for the diverse communities present on Karangahape Road.
The approach adopted for this new programme of All Fresco murals is centered around delivering the participating artists an informed position to work from. Taking a representative one of the K’ Rd communities and filming a conversation about the nature of who they or their organisation is, what it is they do, how they operate within the wider community and what they are ultimately trying to communicate about all of that, creates a provocation for an artist to respond to.
All Fresco has always maintained a belief that participating artists must retain artistic autonomy. That they should be free to paint what they want. However, with the introduction of a supplied provocation it is now anticipated that the mural outcomes will host stories close to the K’ Rd community while still allowing artists to respond how they see fit.
The conversations that perform as artist provocations can be seen below..
MURAL ONE: BODY POSITIVE
Interview with Mark Fischer of Body Positive.
Body Positive Inc was set up in response to the emergence of HIV in the early 1980's. As an independent and autonomous initiative started by HIV positive people it was different from other organisations in the field. Body Positive provides a broad range of services for people living with HIV in an attempt to break down the sense of isolation HIV+ people often experience and to build a sense of community. The services they provide include a drop in centre, 1 on 1 counselling, free testing for HIV, massage therapy WINZ support, foodbank and budgeting, podiatrist and quit smoking support.
Artist One
The artist responding to the Body Positive provocation will be announced soon...
ALL FRESCO ARCHIVE
Featured artists in All Fresco 2013:
BMD, Eno, Erin Forsyth, Deus, Dagar, Mica Still, Wert 159, Xoe Hall and Ha-Ha.
Featured artists in All Fresco 2014:
Benjamin Work, BMD, Charles & Janine Williams, Elliot Francis Stewart, Mica Still, Misery & Tom Tom, Nigel Roberts and Owen Dippie.
Featured artists in All Fresco 2015:
Askew One, Berst, Cinzah, Component, Erin Forsyth, Gasp, Haunt One, Jeremy Shirley, Jon Drypnz, Misery, TrustMe & Xoe Hall.