2009.. the year on the streets.

As the sun sets on 2009, what was that

year about exactly?

Or is it even necessary to sum up a year?

All I know from walking around ,

meeting people from various cities ,

photographing creative thinkers,

inspiring street art and design,

and just observing what is out there

on the streets I have visited;

is that despite the continuous bombardment

of media negativity,

there is an optimism in the air.

I think these ideas can sort of elude to the

year that was;

1. Making the most of what we had.

Reinvention, recycling, craft as design,

new simplicity.

2. Overt materialism is naff.

I haven't seen many labels splashed

across Tees or flash handbags.

They have been replaced by the humble

canvas shoulder bag and yummy,

perfectly loose, basic cotton tee.

3. Icons are everywhere ,with images

of the late M.J. dominating new stands,

Obama sweatshirts still going strong

and murals inspired by rock legends

popping up all over our streets.

4. Gossip. From clothing labels,

to TV shows.. nothing spreads faster.

Via text, word of mouth, blogs or

trashy mags; tongues are wagging and

appetite for juicy tit bits of

information seems to be insatiable.

I have noticed a lot of young people

reading magazines like 'Vanity Fair'

rather than 'OK', which is perhaps a sign

that articles about the environment,

or taste makers and shape shifters with

substance, are starting to appeal more than

endless images of Brangelina.

5. Colour. Everywhere. Bright, fun , light,

and a distraction from the doom and gloom

economy.

6. Bloodsucking sex symbols.

Dark and mysterious.

Who wants to live forever. Maybe we all do

hence our fascination for vampires of late.

7.Creativity is often ignited when

economy is down. There is a definite buzz

surrounding street art projects such as the

knitted street scape in Sydney recently.

Personal style has definitely gotten more

expressive and experimental.

I have also seen a lot of street poetry,

dance and mime ( and I am not talking

about someone spray painted silver with

a statue of liberty torch made of foam

rubber in there hands.)

8. Flower Power returns. From small

flower stickers stuck on the walls of

many streets in many cities to fresh

flowers worn in peoples hair.

The symbol of a new world blooming..

hope so.

9. Pink. Rosy pink cheeks and fluro pink

sculptures. Neon hair and

hot pink 80's blazers. This colour was the

brave shade of '09.

10. Cartoon madness was painted on walls,

stuck on lamp posts and sewn onto

denim cut-offs , back pockets.

Big global brands installed huge kooky

sculptures in their flagship stores and

street artists went nuts with their twisted,

sometimes edgy and dark, but always

intriguing characters.

Happy New Year everyone and hope you

all have a creative and exciting 2010.