Mural has graffiti problem covered

AN OCEAN GROVE address notorious for graffiti and vandalism has been treated to a serious makeover thanks to a street artist and students from Bellarine Secondary college.

The shop wall in The Parade has had graffiti removed five times since 2014.

In an effort to combat the expensive mess Bellarine Sec- ondary College students have created a street art mural in the space under the guidance of world-renowned Melbourne street artist Buff Diss.

Buff Diss specialises in creating work with tape and exploring use of line.

“It’s so natural to want to draw on walls, we’ve been doing it for millennia. I wanted the kids to have the opportunity to each have their little section that they can see every time they go by,” he said.

“I hope it broadens the kids’ horizons of what art can be. You don’t have to do art on a canvas, it can be anywhere.”

City of Greater Geelong director of investment and attraction Brett Luxford said he hoped the new artwork would halt vandalism that had been plaguing the area.

“Incorporating public art projects in the streetscape has been a largely successful strategy in deterring graffiti,” he said. “The City has partnered with private property owners and developers to deliver a range of successful public art initiatives that not only minimise and reduce the instances of graffiti but also add cultural value to the streetscape of our municipality.”

Buff Diss praised the collaborative nature of the project which he said would help the community see that public space should be shared.