With Sydney, Melbourne & Gold Coast openings this is gonna be one rad show for such a great cause…go to www.onexonexone.com.au for participating artist’s links.  Presented by Three Sixty Project

I was stoked to get my mitz on a Ride snowboard to do my thing with for the 2011 Sidewayz exhibition…I no sooner got it back to base and took to it with my trusty angle grinder. The snowboard, which I may add was in great nic, now is divided into four separate pieces. Now what to make of it? hmmm.

I am told there is now over 65 contributing artists each doing their own thing on a skate deck or snowboard to be auctioned, with the proceeds going towards the Christchurch and Japan Earthquake reliefs. If you are around Sydney you should get along to this great cause, coz it’s gonna be huge! Brought to you by the good folk from Westsyde Connection and Balmoral Boards. Check the list of artists below.

Sidewayz 2011 contributers include; Scott Marr, PigeonBoy, Konsumterra, Kalen, Sarah Scully, RJ Williams, Esjay, Vars, SMC[3], Stylo, E.L.K, Teem, Bennett, Anton Benois, Tim Andrew, Brandon Els, Qwux, Willem Van Stom, Tez, Phibs, Lise Pod, Jimmy Neilly, KON, Ellie Schroeder, Dave Kaziro, Benny Haz, Reka, Ben Goad, Ben Frost, Pinky, Lucas McGrath, kulk, Zoe Young, Wade Burkitt, Robert Bates, Rick Swaine, Beastman, Ollie Lucas, Mia Taninaka, Luke Taaffe, Julie Doye, Dina Raus, Deb, Cameron Wall, Bridge, Beth Josey, Barrett, Jeremy Shaw, Dave Smith, Kane Stamp, Liz Laughton, Jon Jones, Andrew Fawcet…plus heaps more!

Westsyde Connection is an independently run skate shop in Dulwich Hill, in Sydney’s inner west. During it’s relatively short existence of a couple of years, it has quickly manifested into what could be better described as a collective hub than your usual run of the mill skate store. Not only do they cater for skaters of all levels, they also support the local arts by hosting regular exhibitions in their gallery space and showcase some amazing art on their walls from emerging artists to the more established players on the scene…which brings us to the issue at hand.

It seems that their neighbours The Salvation Army have taken issue with one wall in particular, this being their common boundary wall and now Westsyde Connection has a Supreme Court lawsuit on it’s hands.  The wall displays a massive mural that was completed over the course of 2009 and 2010 by a whole bunch of Sydney and Melbourne crew. After having a chat to Westsyde’s RJ Williams, it was decided to leave the artists involved names out of this post due to legalities.

What is hard to comprehend is that the wall actually faces back into Westsyde’s backyard, better known as “the compound” and in no way does it encroach upon the Salvos or anyone else for that matter. Infact it has livened up an otherwise massive ugly brown brick wall. I bet If the fellas from Westsyde had chosen to slap up a few sheets of lattice and plant some climbers the Salvos wouldn’t have any issues. So what has become apparent is their sheer ignorance and awareness towards their community’s youth culture (the youth who they claim to support) and creativity in general. Surely the dollars would be far better spent on more charitable causes rather than wasted on pursuing ridiculous lawsuits upon their neighbours.

Salvos, practice what you preach…Matthew 19:19 “Love your neighbour as yourself”.

Yeah right.

Check the mural below that has created the shit fight and be sure to sign the petition to show your support!

RJ Williams and the the Westsyde Connection Mural. Pic supplied by RJ.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm1HjqK0ABg[/youtube]

Subtle. Shouts to Hunter.