Live Outside 2017 production for JanSport International

JanSport and media agency partners Teak SF scouted Authority Creative from the United States and invited them to curate and produce their global Live Outside Campaign for 2017 in Sydney, Australia.

Live Outside celebrates a wanderlust lifestyle based on discovery and self-expression and this grassroots campaign is driven by artworks created by local street artists. For Live Outside’s 5th year in action, these California based teams packed up their JanSport backpacks for an adventure down under.

Authority Creative was challenged to produce not only a spectacular street art project, but to also find a location that locals can appreciate, yet caters to a full production crew, three artists, security, private parking, wrap up party, and heavy machinery. After many road trips and extensive scouting, Authority Creative found the perfect canvas for this unique activation.

Once consent was granted by the building owners to paint this Newtown monster wall, Authority organised everything under the sun from council permits to paints. Wilson Street then became Authority Creative’s new home for the week of the activation. As the wall producers, the Authority crew were on site - rain or shine (but mostly rain) making sure clients JanSport and Teak were well looked after. The outcome was a smooth installation and an amazing finished artwork.

Time was of the major essence as the clients had an extremely restricted timeline. JanSport and Teak SF were flying over from San Francisco for the project especially armed with a production crew of more than 10 people. The artists had only 5 days to complete the entire artwork as Jansport needed to film the entire creative process, plus host a wrap-up party before leaving Australia.

Day one on site was spent buffing the background colour and marking up all line work, which left the artists only four days to complete all 390 square metres. Not only was time an obstacle, but Sydney was also forecasted to rain for the remaining four days.

Three of Australia’s most prominent street artists, George Rose, Shannon Crees and Ruskidd battled the unfortunate Sydney weather and for five days straight, painting night and day, to complete this 360-square metre masterpiece within five days. Each day the artists battled the elements. Stopping and starting painting between patches of light and heavy downpour. On the fifth day at 7pm, paint brushes were dropped and this amazing project was celebrated in style, with a community a BBQ and live music.

The artist’s intention for the design was for the final artwork to represent the essence of journey and discovery. Something that inspires each of the artists daily and aligns perfectly with the JanSport brand ethos. The portrait embodies self-expression; she transforms and conforms to her environment and you discover new aspects of the work as you look into the layers that become a kaleidoscopic landscape. The artists wanted to use a bright and fun colour palette to create a dynamic and tropical feeling that people can escape into over the darker days of winter. Not only this but all three of the artist’s incorporate this style of colour scheme into their daily arts practice and both George Rose and Shannon Crees use Resene as their preferred acrylic when painting in this medium. The final colour palette was extensive using Resene Bullitt, Resene Pukeko, Resene Smitten, Resene Riptide, Resene Spritzer, Resene Daisy Bush, Resene Blue Gem, Resene Christalle, Resene Scrumptious, Resene California, Resene Paua, Resene Chetwode Blue, Resene White, Resene Studio and Resene Governor Bay.

Resene Lumbersider was the product of choice as the mural artwork needs to stand the test of time battling all weather conditions. This artwork will live on for many years and the quality of the materials used is essential. A low sheen acrylic is also the perfect finish for all of Authority’s outdoor projects.

Locals and tourists alike joined daily throughout the installation phase to see the spectacular artwork come to life and it has now injected colour and vibrancy to a once mundane laneway.

Artists and creators: Shannon Crees, Russkidd, George Rose
Client: JanSport
Colour selection: Artist: George Rose
Production: Teak SF
Photographer: Kiera Chevall
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2017