Being aware of the recent graffiti arrests made in Durban, Forwarding African Transport Services (FATS) marketing manager, John Harris, initiated a special form of exhibition. Titled “A Load Off”, it sought to “take a load off the minds of municipal authorities and members of the police”, he told FTW. “For many, graffiti is viewed as vandalism, but FATS believes – when executed appropriately – it is an art form that brings colour to the streets of our city.” So, with 10 sponsors for the project (including FTW), the company hosted the graffiti jam on a 258sqm red brick wall in its own premises. The 10 artists were each tasked with creating a vibrant graffiti mural for their selected sponsor, and the “Jam” held a prize from the sponsors of R10 000 for the artist who best expressed the theme of the event – “transportation”. FATS will host the “Jam” on a yearly basis.
