MES CREW PRESENT
OPERATION: BOOMBOX
OVERCOMING A LACK OF SPACE FOR MUSIC AND ART IN OXFORD, WHILST OFFERING A FRESH FACE FOR THE CITY’S STREET FURNITURE...
MES Crew, supported using public funding by Arts Council England and in partnership with BT Openreach, are bringing artists and musicians together to turn the city's green utility boxes into ‘boomboxes’ - visually attractive, musically-themed places where passers by can access the sounds of local musicians through their mobile phones and where local artists can bring that music to life using their craft.
BOX NUMBER: 02
LUNATIC X KANADIA
MES Crew's LUNATIC paints their response to Kanadia's My Oh My
For my artistic representation of this tune, I chose to use a mix of my own style, as well as pay a nod to the actual album art - representing a mountain side with its gradients and a cloudy sky.
I usually work off doodle sketches and then incorporate a lot of freestyling during the painting. This process is semi-related to the song lyrics, touching on ones mind and sometimes doubting yourself. I trust in the process and let the artwork take shape, leaving some room for it to breathe between rectangles, squares, circles and triangles. The use of shapes and a minimalist design is also an ode to the extensively abstract cover art catalogue of Kanadia.
///daring.foster.august
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.
BOX NUMBER: 04
The Big Orange M X Tiger Mendoza
MES Crew's Big Orange M paints their response to Tiger Mendoza's Circle Of Love
Tiger mendoza record is a truly fantastic one. I feel very lucky to be partnered with him.
His collaboration with Mike Ginger provided a very powerful piece of music which I interpreted into colour. I very much wanted to translate the pulling and pushing of sound waves within the track. I felt a lot of movement within the song that I hope came through in my box design.
///supper.pills.cakes
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.
BOX NUMBER: 05
FELICITY TATTERSALL X BETHANY WEIMERS
artist Felicity Tattersall paints their response to Bethany Weimers' 'Circles'
///supper.pills.cakes
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.
BOX NUMBER: 06
SEVEN X Manacles of Acid
MES Crew's own SEVEN paints their response to Manacles Of Acid - Well I was Cool FINISH
Seven met Tim (Manacles of Acid) way back when he was 16 and they were working at a call centre. Tim left an early impression on Seven as a young writer and gave him a dope sketch which he still has today “that sh*t’s the mad note”.
The design was inspired from several sources: the endpapers in old books, sampling and ‘looping’ and the lyrics featured in the track.
///supper.pills.cakes
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.
BOX NUMBER: 07
Must One X Evolucian
MES Graffiti Crew's Must One paints their response to Evolucian - Melt (prod. Zatoichi's Ears)
From the very first few lines beginning "Light fantastic, mind gymnastics", it's clear the lyrics in Evo's track guide a path to discovery. Reflecting the playful lyricism, it had me wanting to create something vibrant and emotive, something with impact that appears as though it's carved out of the darkness. The blue light at the feet suggesting notion that in amongst the beauty and wonder of the light fantastic, the inspiration you seek is often right there at your feet. - MUST
///supper.pills.cakes
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.
BOX NUMBER: 08
AS BIRDMAN X VOICE TRIO
AS Birdman paints their response to Voice Trio's Nunc gaudeant by St Hildegard of Bingen
I was given the brief to work in correspondence to the all female trio group called Voice. They have a very medieval sound about their choral music which reminds me a great deal of some of the frescos in churches I visited as a kid in Italy with my family and later on in my 20’s. When I listen to them I think of a mural in San Gimignano by Benozzo Gozzoli a Quattro Cento artist who depicted Saint Augustine coming from Egypt and arriving in ancient Ostia.
They have a magical sound which I tried to achieve using the idea of a Tetramorph combining the evangelical spirits. I included a God-like character, a child/ lamb and bird/beast character. I later created smaller symmetrical stencils that could frame the work to evoke the feeling of a spiritual place of worship. Masking tape was used to break he image into stains glass Pained components. I think the video of m working shows my concentration and spray can skills and hopefully vibrancy and excitement of creating this piece.
///deep.ranged.hers
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.
BOX NUMBER: 09
Julius Muraga X
Oxford artist Julius Muraga paints their response to Rawz's Space Holiday
I’m so greatful to have collaborated with Rawz on this project, I chose the song space holiday because I like the visual the tittle represents as well as it’s the themes I tend to draw anyway.
At first I tried to stick to the theme of tech billionaires going into space and not prioritising earthly issues but then I thought, hmm I’d love to go to space and if space travel was affordable MAN, I’m there. See the earth stars, also in this future I’m creating, space suits aren’t clunky they are like clothing.
This was a great enjoyment for me all I had to do was draw things I like doing, going with the flow and letting go.
///deep.ranged.hers
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.
GET INVOLVED!
Are you a local artist or musician and want to get involved? There's still time! Contact us using the button below with a link to your work and we'll take a look!
WHO ARE MES CREW?
We are MES Graffiti Crew, and we bring with us a whole host of friends, partners, acquaintances and colleagues...
We championed the Open Walls Network. An initiative that, alongside Oxford City and County Councils, has seen lost and forgotten spaces around the city (and its surrounding towns), opened up for the use of graffiti and street art.
Not only has this breathed new life into forgotten and difficult to maintain spaces, but it has also allowed us to offer venues for youth and community groups to explore their creativity and build a stronger connection to the environments around them.