We Are Side by Side

During the third course, we won a commission to paint a mural at Wearside Service Centre, where Lewisham Council runs its refuse and recycling. The students were very excited to develop ideas with the refuse collectors and even go with them on their 6 am runs!

We could not run workshops in the traditional style, where we sit down for a while to think, play and develop ideas off each other. We had to get the workers during their tea time just before they went out on their bin collection runs and we had to win their trust with a bit of attitude and spontaneity.

Someone said ¨Paint money!¨ so we worked on what is behind that comment - we are here for our reward, to feed ourselves and our families. We also started to work on a logo with the moto: Early Bird Catches The Worm! You can see the undulating design which wrapped around on the other side.

In participatory muralism, it's important to be able to hear what the participants say to us and to be able to interpret in a way that we, as artists make sure we will arrive to a visually interesting image. Ideas not always make for interesting images. We wrapped around the building mural to emphasise the sense of team and identity of WEARSIDE. We are Side by Side.

Another challenge was the canvas, which had a large number of windows across the middle of the wall. The 3D lettering had to be clear, yet dynamic, while also being easily readable from a distance.

In an interview with Sean Hamilton, a refuse lorry driver, he said: it was good for everyone's metal health, its vibrant and brings lots of positive energy.

Even if we had to work really hard for long hours, there was always time for a break and a chat. On site, the students had to learn to organise their work, paint in teams in the same style, working safely at heights and make sure we kept to the schedule.