One Way Street Party
Surfers Paradise One Way Street Party was an eclectic fusion
of arts and culture set to the industrialised backdrop of the Bruce Bishop car park.
Gold Coast’s leading cultural festival showcased the best of local talent and
gave Gold Coasters the opportunity to nibble tasty morsels of up and coming
indie music acts, vintage shopping and interactive artwork. I grabbed a hay
bale, a glass of sav and enjoyed the wistful acoustics of Gold Coast musicians.
The One Way Street Party illustrated an alternative view of
the traditional tourist side of the Gold Coast. It was a cultural boiling pot
of performance artists dazzling passer bys, suitcase rummages with unique
vintage finds and chances for community involvement in public art projects.
There were boards with people free to contribute whatever they wished and
chances for children to create mini 2D self-portraits to attach to paper pole
trees. There was artist Guido Van Halten immortalising the Surf Life Savers
with a street mural using spray paints. The unique opportunity to witness the
creative process from start to finish was truly inspirational.
The festival also has a philanthropic side – with the One
Way Youth Inclusion Project giving disadvantaged youths a chance to express
themselves in a collaborative art project. There was also the opportunity to contribute
to Dr Haya Cohen’s live textile performance piece by weaving in a piece of your
own fabric. The interactive aspect and ability to contribute to a range of
aspects is what makes the day unique.
