Ambush Exhibiting , Westwood Place Melbourne

Charlie don’t live here anymore. Acrylic on board. 85x60cm.

I put a work out in the city on Friday in Westwood Place Melbourne, off Collins Street behind the Melbourne club. 

I normally place a note next to the artwork saying 'For You' which grabs people's attention. This time I thought I wouldn't make it so easy, instead stuck the note behind the work and lent it against the wall then found myself a vantage point across the road where I could stand and watch through a carpark, to see if anyone took the painting while I was watching. 

It gives me a thrill if I'm there to witness someone taking it.

The location I chose wasn't that busy itself but it was lunch time and only a few metres from a bustling Little Collins St. I stood there for about half an hour and not one person went over or it seemed even barely noticed the painting. Lately works haven't been lasting more than 10 mins on the street. I was getting hungry and so leaving the work there sitting on the street unclaimed, went off for a Japanese lunch and beer. At lunch I decided that if the work hadn't been taken when I got back I'd maybe make it a bit more obvious and take the note off and stick it on the wall next to the painting like I normally do.

After lunch I went back to Westwood Place, this time from the other end via the small pedestrian walkway off Collins Street. Just as I turned into the lane I could see a lady looking at the painting. Getting closer I could see it was a 'bag lady' with fully loaded trolley and all. She was inspecting the note and obviously deciding whether she should take it or not. 

She did take the painting and piled it on top of her trolley. Intrigued I followed her down Little Collins Street.

The note I left with it said 'this is art that has escaped the gallery', she headed in the general direction of Melbourne's main gallery the NGV and I thought that she may have taken the note quite literally, intending to return my painting to it's rightful home. Feeling like a bit of a stalker I followed from a distance until she turned into a deadend laneway a few blocks down that had another laneway branching off it. 

Where was she going? Is this where she lives? Who knows?

Many people have commented how well she was dressed for a bag lady which makes her even more intriguing. Who is our mysterious art lover? Anyone know who she is or anything about her?

I hope she's enjoying her new acquisition.

Ambush Exhibiting Calle de Jalapa in Roma Norte, Mexico City

Ambush Exhibiting in Mexico thanks to foreign Correspondent Jackie Hocking

Hey Troy

I've been back from Mexico now two weeks and every day I keep meaning to send you a pic of your painting in Mexico…

I carried it all over Mexico with me and to Cuba too and finally picked Calle de Jalapa in Roma Norte, Mexico City.

Jalapa was more or less the first place I was in when I got to Mexico as well so the street name was a great little coincidence. 

I'm sorry the photos are so blurry… must have been the fog I was in after a night of beers and Luche Libre.. very good fun…

I'm curious! Has anyone contacted you? (No)  I translated the note into Spanish and then I thought about going back and writing it in English but we had too much to do and see so I didn't go back. 

I hope your painting has gone to a cool home in Roma Norte or surrounds as this was a cool part of Mexico City.

Anyway see you soon.

Hasta luego amigo

Jackie

Ambush Exhibiting Devonport, Auckland New Zealand

Ambush Exhibiting in New Zealnd thanks to Foreign Correspondent Nicol Tonkin.

May have procrastinated on location for too long and too many days that rained so I just did it. am sitting in a cafe for a while hoping that someone passes with it while I am here. Hahaha good fun.

Great!! Thanks Nicol Yeah i do the same. I mean the work's for free so what's it matter where it goes?... but it does matter somehow... and then you hope someone takes it while you're there. I don't always get to watch them. great you've got a spot. What suburb? I'll put it on Instagram.
Devonport on the North Shore. 
People don't trust taking it. Have watched a few stop and the unease they display. I'm like TAKE IT.

Ha ha ha this is great! Some people drive across the city to try and get one of my works and I can't even give it away to others.
Let me know how it goes I have left it in the hands of the people.
Ahh thanks heaps. Now we waait. Sometimes i hear from them but many times I never know what happens to them. It's all part of it.

Update the next day via Instagram:

Ambush Exhibiting, Byron Bay New South Wales Australia

Ambush Exhibiting Collingwood, Melbourne

 

Ambush exhibitng today in Peel St Collingwood, Melbourne

Ambush Exhibiting London

Bermondsey London Bridge

Helmut Row (Off Old Street)

Kings Road Chelsea

Markham Street Chelsea

Update months later:

Ambush Exhibiting, East Melbourne

East Melbourne, Australia. 2014.

Ambush Exhibiting Brunswick, Melbourne

Brunswick, Melbourne Australia. 2014

A hug for art

There was a cafe near the recent Abbotsford spot where I could stake out and see if anybody took the work. First interest only took 9 mins but unfortunately the painting wouldn't fit in their car so they put it back. So grateful they got in touch on instagram, thanks guys.

A few minutes later this lucky lady, picked it up. She was so rapt she gave me a hug. A hug for art. What a great day.

Sorry to David Patston who got there just in time to see it being carried down the Street

Abbotsford

Abbotsford, Melbourne Australia.2013

I’m a bad mother wolf - Woof! 122 x 122cm. Acrylic on Canvas