The Australian Bite

Graffiti, death & ruined pianos

4 April 2009

Listen and download: MP3

A mixed bag of stories on this week’s Bite. We meet a West Australian composer whose passion is collecting and composing music on old “ruined” pianos. We take a look inside a Sunshine Coast crematorium. And grafftti artists tell us why walls and pavements are better than paper.

Art or vandalism? Graffiti artists speak.

Most people have an opinion on the virtues or otherwise of graffiti. Whatever the case, most of it is actually illegal. A Sydney magistrate recently sentenced an 18 year old woman to a three month jail term for writing on the wall of a cafe. She successfully appealed that sentence – but laws against graffiti artists are getting tougher in parts of the country. There are many different groups within the graffiti community – and Brendan Trembath gained the trust of some to better understand why they tag the walls around us.

Brendan Trembarth produced a great programme called  ”Graffiti, art and fear”  for ABC Radio National’s Background Briefing.   You can listen to the programme, download a transcript and take a look at a gallery of photos here: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2009/2518181.htm#transcript

Inside a crematorium

Of the 130 thousand or so people who die in Australia each year, just over half are cremated – and the figure is rising by about half a percent every year.  But probably not many people have pondered the questions of what kind of oven a crematorium uses? Or how long it takes for a body to be turned to ashes?  Sheila Waterman is a funeral director on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and she shows reporter Rob Blackmore around the crematorium and answer those questions and more.

The Australian Museum has a very interesting website called “Death – The Last Taboo” which looks at what happens to us when we die, and the different ways that people deal with death. 

“Ruined” pianos bring music to the ears

For years, West Australian musician and avant-garde composer Ross Bolleter has been searching the world for “ruined” pianos. The more out of tune and dilapidated the better. In his quest, he found 88 Tasmanian pianos – and his favourites are now on display at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.  Fran Kelly spoke with Ross Bolleter at the “10 Days on the Island” arts and culture festival, held every two years in Hobart.

So now you’re totally intrigued and wanting to dive deeper into the world of ruined pianos.   Well Ross Bolleter and Stephen Scott (of Bowed Piano celebrity, and Professor of music at Colorado Collage) have formed WARPS - The World Association for Ruined Pianos.  Visit it here  http://www.warpsmusic.com/ to find out more.

Music (not in podcast)

Perth- based Downsyde have been one of Australia’s most popular and enduring hip hop acts. Late last year they released their fourth album called All City – and we play the latest single from it – “Unstoppable”

Artist: Downsyde
Track: Unstoppable
Album: All City

Band website: http://www.downsyde.com.au/