By JESSE GRAHAM
Update: 4.50pm, 11 September
YARRA Glen community leader Mike Baimbridge has labelled a graffiti piece painted over a town mural as “grandstanding,” after being alerted to the defacement earlier today.
On Thursday 10 September, Mr Baimbridge visited the Yarra Glen Skate Park with the Mail, to survey the damage after a graffiti piece was reportedly painted over a mural.
The mural, which was funded by Yarra Ranges Council, organised by [Glen.] Youth Group in 2013 and then painted by artist Jordy Bridge, originally read “Yarra Glen” in large, colourful letters.
But the piece is hardly recognisable, after being covered by a large, blue graffiti piece.
The mural was painted on the park, along with numerous other pieces designed by children from the town, and was officially opened on 11 July, 2013, with a skate event.
“The artwork, predominantly, was submitted by local students,” Mr Baimbridge said.
“I can point to it and tell you some of the names, that’s the sort of ownership that it gave.”
Though many of the pieces on the skate-able surfaces have worn down, the murals on the sides of the quarter-pipes, facing the park, were still intact and vibrant.
“The front and side are prominent artwork that can be seen from the park and give it a good look,” he said.
“This is just grandstanding – they wanted to have some notoriety in some shape or form, and I don’t want to give it notoriety.”
Mr Baimbridge noted that the piece, believed to be painted in recent weeks, was not a hastily-painted tag, but a large piece, and lamented the fact that the artist had not used their artistic capabilities better.
“It’s a shame that the person that did it looks like they could do something good and meaningful with their art,” he said.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Manager of Economic, Youth and Community Development, James Collins said the council was “just as disappointed as the community” about the damage.
“We work in partnership with the community to encourage people to express themselves in creative ways which are meaningful and considerate to the rest of the community,” Mr Collins said.
“Our approach includes proactively educating the community about graffiti, raising peoples awareness, supporting art murals and encouraging the proper management of graffiti.”
Mr Baimbridge said the piece would likely be entirely painted over, but doubted that the mural would be replaced.
In a post on the Yarra Glen Noticeboard Facebook page, Mr Baimbridge urged anyone with information on the incident to contact Yarra Ranges Council (1300 368 333) or Yarra Glen police (9730 1296).
The Mail contacted Yarra Glen Police, but an officer said the graffiti had not been reported.
